Who Killed Thomas Sanders? (Sanders Sides Interactive Murder Mystery)

Introduction

April 24th, 1920

Congratulations! You've been invited to the birthday ball of Thomas Sanders, to be held on the 24th of April, beginning at 6:00pm. Come join the revelries and fun as our beloved Thomas celebrates his 30th birthday!

Happy Tidings!
Sanders Manor.

It was 12:00am when Thomas Sanders was found murdered in his bedroom, bleeding heavily from a laceration to the head, a bloody candlestick holder nearby.
The party had been shut down immediately, the house on lockdown until detectives could place who had done it.
After an hour, an arrest was made.
Remy Harris, the family waiter, was charged with the murder of Thomas Sanders at 1:00am on the 25th Of April.
You and a few other guests milled around the house after the police left with Remy, hoping to console the Sanders. You found yourself in Thomas' room, just looking around.
There was a large bloodstain on the rug in the middle of the room, the candlestick moved. Everything else appeared to be untouched. You skated past the bloodstain, deciding to have a look around while you had the chance.
The more you poked around, however, the more you realised...
Remy Harris could not have been the killer.
There was nothing in the room that indicated Remy had been there. What you did find, however, were these:

- A yellow glove, belonging to Ethan Blackmore, a wealthy lawyer and neighbour of the Sanders.

- A white silk handkerchief, embroidered with the letters 'LL', belonging to Logan Lattimer, Ethan's partner in the firm.

- A big brass coat button with ornate floral patterns, belonging to local actor Roman Prince.

- A silver pocket watch with 'PL + RP' stamped on the back, an engagement present of Patton Lovett, the local doctor and Romans fiancée.

- A golden locket with a cursive 'V' engraved in the front, belonging to Virgil Sanders, Thomas' younger brother.

- An open drawer that appeared to be broken on the sides, a small key taped to the top.

- A crack in the plaster above the fireplace, exposing the brick working underneath.

- A family photo with a tear down the side where Virgil has been ripped out.

Gathering all the clues you had found, you came to one conclusion.
Only five people showed any trace of being in the room with Thomas.
Ethan Blackmore was a known compulsive liar, as charming as anything, and as cunning as a snake.
Logan was more logical, using fact rather than feeling to conduct all matters, but his frustration could lead to anger at any moment.
Roman was prone to emotional outbursts, even at the smallest of slights.
Patton was a sweet man who tended to bottle emotions in fear of upsetting others, especially his fiancée.
And Virgil was an anxious soul, mysterious and dark.

As you went through your notes, you tried to recall if you'd seen each man.

Patton and Roman seemed upset and angry all night, and Patton had spent most of his time in the kitchen by himself as Roman moodily made rounds.

Logan and Virgil both huddled themselves in different corners of the room and seemed to spend the night casting glances at each other, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Ethan did as he usually did; he lurked. He lurked, chatting people up and working his charm to achieve things he wanted.

Every guest could attest to all five of them being gone at the same point in the night, but whoever you asked, they could always put Remy in the same spot; at the counter in the kitchen, serving drinks for the guests, nowhere near Thomas' upstairs bedroom.

Remy had no motive, and was placed nowhere near the crime.

These five men, however, must have been in Thomas' room sometime before or during the murder.

You went through the notes you had. Each man had opportunity, but who had the motive?

That's where you come in. You're going to solve the murder and find which of these men was the real killer. Each chapter you will vote on where to go next, each clue getting you closer to the killer.

Which lead should you follow first?

1. Ethan's Glove

2. Logan's handkerchief

3. Romans button

4. Patton's watch

5. Virgil's locket

6. The open drawer

7. The crack in the plaster

8. The missing photo

Good luck, dear reader. Happy Hunting.