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Escape Room Challenge > Escape Room: Silver Screen Sleuths - The BESt Sleuths (15)

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message 1: by Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer (new)

Michelle's Empty Nest (mlundy5) | 10005 comments Mod


Escape Room: Silver Screen Sleuths
Partner/Team Challenge; Open-Ended
Grab Your Detective Hat on August 1, 2025



📖 The Storyline 📖

In the heart of 1940s Los Angeles, you and your partner, Peggy, are drawn into a challenging case. Chief Inspector Theodore Harrington hands you a cryptic letter, hinting at a sinister plot involving a fake charity and a MURDER.


Your investigation begins at the police precinct, where a mysterious figure left the letter and three ticket stubs. The charity, presented as a force for good, hides dark secrets. The murder victim holds THE KEY to unraveling the entire scheme.


As you navigate the city’s labyrinthine streets, from opulent theaters to grimy back alleys, you’ll piece together intricate CLUES and solve demanding PUZZLES. Each step uncovers new secrets, bringing you closer to the truth.


“Silver Screen Sleuths” is designed for true detective enthusiasts. With its complex storyline and puzzles, this game will TEST your skills and CHALLENGE your wits.


📓 The Plan 📓

Grab a PARTNER - or TWO or THREE - and get ready to solve this mystery!


This is a SPREADSHEET-BASED challenge where only your team will have access in order to keep the clues you uncover a SECRET from other prying eyes. After all, we don't want to be solving the crime for another team of detectives, do we??


You will receive a set of CLUES and a stack of EVIDENCE for each Chapter in this mystery. You will also receive one "FREE" hint at the beginning of the Chapter. If you can find the answer to the clue, you will move on to the Prompt and Tasks for the Chapter. If you are unable to find the answer to the clue, you will read a book that fits the general Hooked on Books guidelines as "PAYMENT" for a NEW HINT. There are THREE hints available for each Chapter, and there are TEN Chapters in all. So you will read between ONE and THREE books per Chapter, depending on how sharp your detective skills are.


Once you see the spreadsheet and get through the first Chapter, anything that sounds confusing above will make much more sense, I PROMISE! Also, I will share the "WALKTHROUGH" at the end of each Chapter so you can start to see how the clues and evidence are being used to solve the mystery.


📝 The Sidenote 📝

While we are trying to keep our detective work to ourselves, this is NOT a race-to-the-finish challenge. However, with that being said, I would suggest using the space at the bottom of your spreadsheet for any discussions - INSTEAD OF in your team thread. Again...prying eyes and all. 👀 You will need to take a little time to SORT THROUGH the evidence and CRACK the clues, just like in a real investigation and a real escape room scenario.


👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Partnering Up 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

I would LOVE for you to play with a partner or group of up to four of YOUR choosing. Since reading speed won't be of critical importance for this Escape Room Challenge, I want to allow you to create your partnerships/groups on your own. So discuss it among yourselves and let me know who will be together. ALL members will still need to post a sign-up so I can be sure they are aware of their commitment to this challenge. If you want me to partner you with someone random, please let me know that when you sign up as well. I would love to have teams IN PLACE by July 28th to give me a few days to set everything up for you. However, you can STILL start a new team after that time.


😓 The Hard Truth 😓

If you CAN'T access and maneuver Google Sheets on your device, this MAY NOT be the challenge for you to participate in. Sorry about that. This was the best way I could determine to run this particular challenge.


The Tidbits

There will be a FEW more details about how to post your "hint payment" books and checking in, etc., in your team threads. Your Super-Secret Silver Screen Sleuths Spreadsheet link will also be there.


📚 The Challenge Rules 📚

📗 Standard Rules Apply
📕 I will create a team thread for you prior to the start date.
📘 You may begin reading your first book for the Introduction Prompt prior to the start date, but it MAY NOT be completed before August 1, 2025.
📗 Books MUST be completed after you receive new information. If you get your new Chapter/Prompt on August 4th, you can't use a book you completed on August 3rd.
📕 The Challenge will run for as long as you need to complete all ten Chapters.


message 2: by Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer (last edited Jul 31, 2025 01:28AM) (new)

Michelle's Empty Nest (mlundy5) | 10005 comments Mod
The Tidbits


📛 First off, CHECK IN with your teammate(s) and decide on a TEAM NAME. Please post it in the Check-In Thread so that I don't miss seeing it.


💰 For books that are being used as "HINT PAYMENTS," please list them in this Team Thread as you typically would, and then post as a team in the Check-In with the Chief: Check-In Thread. This is due to the fact that you won't be giving anything away to another team, as no actual hints or clues will be typed out here. After all, we ALL KNOW that eyes go wandering around. I know MINE do! 😅


➡️ Please use this format for your Team Thread.

Chapter #:
Hint #2 or #3: {number ONLY, NO words}
Book/Author:
Date Read:
Pages:
How it Fits:
Meets general HOB guidelines


➡️ You can just do a Team Completion with links to each post in the Check-In Thread.

Player 1: Link
Player 2: Link
Etc.


🕵🏼‍♀️ Once you've answered the clue question correctly and are ready to submit your books for the Prompt/Tasks, post ONLY A LINK to the proper SPREADSHEET CHAPTER TAB in the Check-In Thread. PLEASE DO NOT list those books here in your Team Thread. The same goes for the Introduction and the Conclusion. Handle them the same way, please.


➡️ Please use this format for the Chapters/Introduction/Conclusion.

Team Name:
Link to Team Thread:
Link to Spreadsheet Chapter Tab:



The very last tab in the Spreadsheet is the ANSWER CHECKER. There are instructions included about how to use it.


✏️ Pencil and paper MAY come in handy for a few of the clues to do some SCRATCH WORK. They also might help with the ANSWER CHECKER. You'll see how as you start to use it.


🔗 Super-Secret Silver Screen Sleuths Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...


😎 You will need to REQUEST ACCESS to the Spreadsheet the first time you try to use it.


🙋🏼‍♂️ Questions about anything?? Post them in the Call in a Favor: Q&A Thread.


message 3: by Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer (last edited Jul 31, 2025 02:10PM) (new)

Michelle's Empty Nest (mlundy5) | 10005 comments Mod
Team 15


🕵🏼 Bubbles (117)
🕵🏼 esther ⭐️ (in school) (121)
🕵🏼 Samantha (132)


message 4: by Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer (new)

Michelle's Empty Nest (mlundy5) | 10005 comments Mod
Reserved


message 5: by Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer (new)

Michelle's Empty Nest (mlundy5) | 10005 comments Mod
🔗 Your Super-Secret Silver Screen Sleuths Spreadsheet link will be added to Message 2 closer to the start date.


message 6: by Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer (new)

Michelle's Empty Nest (mlundy5) | 10005 comments Mod
🔗 Your SS link has been added to Message 2. Please go ahead and request access as soon as you see this. 🕵🏼


message 7: by Bubbles (last edited Jul 31, 2025 02:58AM) (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments Hello all! Checking in. Any ideas for a team name?


esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments hi bubbles! we're in the same team for another challenge too! forgot what it is, i think i MAY have joined a little too many challenges... with exams coming up.. oops 😅


esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments Bubbles wrote: "Hello all! Checking in. Any ideas for a team name?"

how about BESt sleuths ?
B for bubbles
E for esther
S for samantha


message 10: by Bubbles (last edited Jul 31, 2025 10:33AM) (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments esther ⭐️ (in school) wrote: "hi bubbles! we're in the same team for another challenge too! forgot what it is, i think i MAY have joined a little too many challenges... with exams coming up.. oops 😅"

It is the Scrabble challenge!! We are also in another one but I can't remember which one right now for this month lol.

Also, I LOVE the name suggestion :)


message 11: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments O, we have our first prompts on the spreadsheet. If it is okay with everyone, I am going to do book has windows on the cover.


message 12: by Samantha (new)

Samantha | 9 comments The BESt Sleuths is cute! I also asked AI and thought "The Alibi-brarians" was cute as well.

I just received access to the spreadsheet so I will take a look around.


message 13: by Samantha (new)

Samantha | 9 comments Bubbles wrote: "O, we have our first prompts on the spreadsheet. If it is okay with everyone, I am going to do book has windows on the cover."

I think we can repeat tasks if we want so book with windows on the cover sounds great! I'm going to do title starts with a letter in PEGGY.

I'm listening to PS I Hate You by Lauren Connolly right now


esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments Samantha wrote: "The BESt Sleuths is cute! I also asked AI and thought "The Alibi-brarians" was cute as well.

I just received access to the spreadsheet so I will take a look around."


which should we go for?


message 15: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments I like The BESt Sleuths


message 16: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments I logged my first book on the spreadsheet :)


message 17: by Samantha (new)

Samantha | 9 comments I've logged my Intro book as well! Ended up finishing Emily Wilde first.


esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments sorry guys! still getting through the prison healer


message 19: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments esther ⭐️ (in school) wrote: "sorry guys! still getting through the prison healer"

You are fine! All just for fun and we have plenty of time :)


message 20: by Samantha (new)

Samantha | 9 comments It looks like we've all completed the Intro task! Are you good with me submitting / getting us checked in?


message 21: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments Samantha wrote: "It looks like we've all completed the Intro task! Are you good with me submitting / getting us checked in?"

Go for it :)


message 22: by Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer (new)

Michelle's Empty Nest (mlundy5) | 10005 comments Mod



Chapter 1 has been added to your SS!


Remember, you MUST use the evidence and clues/hints to make a correct guess in #2 before you move on to reading for the tasks in #3. You may begin planning your books, but they can't be completed and checked in before you make a correct guess. 🕵🏼


message 23: by esther ⭐️ (in school) (last edited Aug 11, 2025 11:52PM) (new)

esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments Samantha wrote: "It looks like we've all completed the Intro task! Are you good with me submitting / getting us checked in?"

oh wait, i thought we had to read for all 4 so i didn’t update that i was done 😅


esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments don’t really know how the ticket stubs work (i don’t live somewhere that use those), so i probably won’t be useful for this


message 25: by Samantha (new)

Samantha | 9 comments I think i know the answer! I put it in the Guess space but let me know if anyone feels differently!


message 26: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments I agree Samantha. It matches up with the stops on the bus passes and street car!


esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments thanks guys!


message 28: by Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer (new)

Michelle's Empty Nest (mlundy5) | 10005 comments Mod



AWESOME JOB, team!!!


You may now read for Chapter 1's tasks!


esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments yay!!! good job Samantha! ⭐


message 30: by esther ⭐️ (in school) (last edited Aug 24, 2025 06:33AM) (new)

esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments hii girls how's the reading going ! :)


message 31: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments Slow this week. Should have my book finished tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest.

This past week so full of doctor appointments and family stuff lol


message 32: by Samantha (new)

Samantha | 9 comments Sorry team, I have a weird work schedule this week and on top of my normal 9-5, I'm also supporting stores! hoping to get something read by this weekend! apologies for the slowdown


message 33: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments Samantha wrote: "Sorry team, I have a weird work schedule this week and on top of my normal 9-5, I'm also supporting stores! hoping to get something read by this weekend! apologies for the slowdown"

Don't feel bad :)

I haven't finished either. I caught a stomach bug this weekend and just DNFed my current book so having to start over today. Luckily, this is one is open ended so we have plenty of time


message 34: by Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer (new)

Michelle's Empty Nest (mlundy5) | 10005 comments Mod
Yes, please don't feel rushed. 😊


esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments yep, take your time :)


message 36: by Samantha (new)

Samantha | 9 comments Finished my book if someone wants to check us in!


message 37: by Bubbles (new)

Bubbles | 61 comments I'll check us in now :)


message 38: by Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer (new)

Michelle's Empty Nest (mlundy5) | 10005 comments Mod



Excellent!


I have added Chapter 2 to your SS. Good luck!


esther ⭐️ (in school) | 26 comments i input my thoughts into the ss already, but i’m not sure of the answer yet


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