I've just had the privilege of playing through Death in Scarlet — a hidden object game starring the women of James Patterson's Women's Murder Club. I say hidden object game, but truthfully, Death in Scarlet is so much more. Honestly, I felt like I was playing through a murder mystery that I just couldn't put down.
Death in Scarlet stars the characters from the James Patterson series, but this story is completely new for the game. It's not a long story, but I found it meaty and satisfying none-the-less. While there are four main characters in the Patterson stories, you'll only actually be playing three of the characters in Death in Scarlet. Lindsay is the homicide detective. Claire is the forensic examiner. Cindy is the newspaper reports. Jill, the assistant district attorney, makes some appearances during the game, but you won't actually play as that character. Of the main characters from the books, Jacobi, Lindsay's partner, is also part of the story. You'll see him and he'll be part of keeping things moving along, but you won't be playing him either.
I begin the story as Lindsay. I'm called to the scene of the first homicide. I get to have a peek at the body (don't worry parents — it's handled well and not at all gory) and get to search the scene for clues. What sets this apart from most hidden object games is that a number of objects that I find will have to be used to solve puzzles to further the story. My hat is off to the game developers for that decision. Well done!
The hand-off between characters is nicely handled. When I finish my initial investigation as Lindsay, I call in Claire to do the forensic work. If we need gossip gathered or archives searched, Cindy is our go-to gal. You always know which character you're playing by their picture in the upper-left hand corner of the screen. I like that each character is handling parts of the investigation appropriate for what they actually do.
I found each scene to be beautifully detailed and extremely well done. Yes, some of the objects I need to find are in unusual places, but everything was to scale for the room it was in. If you're looking for a chess piece, for example, you'd better think small and realistic. I love that the dust motes dance in the light, that lights flicker, and that steam rises from a cup of tea, just to name a few of the visual effects.
As far as the characters are concerned, I found all the people to be nicely drawn. While the characters don't match their television counterparts one hundred percent, it's possible that they are a closer match to the descriptions from the books. It's been a bit since I read one of them, so I'm not really sure in this area.
The music is equally well done. It's atmospheric and went well with the action. I never found it annoying (as can sometimes happen with such things). Sound effects were appropriate — like typing noises in an office or police radio chatter in a police station. There isn't any voice acting, true, but the sound that is there is just right.
There are puzzles to be solved for nearly every scene. While repeat visits to the same scene have variations on the same kind of puzzle, the puzzles between different scenes are always different. You'll arrange bottles of chemicals before doing analysis in Claire's lab. You get to figure out patterns for microfiche cartridges at Cindy's desk. There's a nifty word game puzzle at the Deadlines Coffee place that Cindy favors. I enjoyed the Chinese zodiac puzzle at the orphanage, though the puzzle with the little glass men at the same location was something of a stumper for me.
You will have five hints available for each chapter of the investigation. There were a few scenes where I needed that extra help, but I went through the entire game always having some hints left. If the puzzles give you trouble, you do have an option to bypass. I'm not sure if you can bypass more than one. I didn't bypass any so it wasn't an issue. I will give you a free hint for doing the microfiche searches at Cindy's desk. This isn't Google you're working with. You have two lines and can type one key word on each line. Keep it simple and you'll do fine.
In keeping with the feeling of more playing a story and solving a crime, I wasn't racing any clock. I didn't get any penalties for clicking around either. I'm glad I was able to savor each scene on my way through the store. Watching a timer would have totally ruined that. As far as the random clicking — it doesn't really help you in this game. It's not like a ton of items are piled on top of each other. Each thing is in its place. If you see it, you can click it. There's so much ground to cover in each scene, just clicking like a madman is not going to get you anywhere — and since you're not going to run out of time — there's no point to random clicks anyway.
The mystery story itself was intriguing enough to keep me doing just one more scene, far longer than I should have. I played all the way through over the course of the weekend. I really felt invested in what was going on, and was shocked at some of the twists and turns. You, dear gamer, may be a cleverer detective than I, but I was totally surprised at the end of the game when I found out whodunit.
I'm pretty sure this won't be part of the retail release of the game, but I was totally delighted when my review copy of the game arrived in a sealed evidence bag. Even better, my name had been written in as next in the chain of custody. Go me! And yes, I am saving the bag.
My understanding is that the television series for Women's Murder Club was not renewed — and I wonder how much is owed to the whole writer's strike mess for that… The book series is already seven strong and not showing any sign of stopping. I can only hope that enough people love Death in Scarlet as much I have that the adventure/puzzle/hidden object game series continues as well. In case you have any doubts at this point, I highly recommend Women's Murder Club — Death in Scarlet. Get playing already!
I’m a working mom – married with one child. My daughter is 7 and she has autism. Everything else in my life moves around this core. Online gaming has been a big part of my social life over the last several years due to the difficulty of going out and about. I have to say that my daughter Alissa is awesome at computer games. She has skills with electronics that amaze me. When I get away from the computer, I like doing craft projects (knitting, crocheting, sewing, painting, quilling, whatever sounds fun) and reading. I mainly read suspense these days but I have a pretty eclectic collection and a library of about 6000 books. I’ve been using a computer since grade school – I started with an Apple IIe and have upgraded considerably and many times since then. I played Dungeons and Dragons for at least a few decades. I met and married my husband through gaming. He was my DM. I stopped tabletop gaming more from lack of time than anything. It’s easier to meet and game with friends online than it is to coordinate real life schedules around my daughter’s needs.
I have the same problem. I can't seem to find the proper search terms to find the correct newspaper story in the archive. I have tried every relevant name given, but it keeps giving me bad links. How did you get past this part of the game?
I'M STUCK IN QIAN GAI'S APARTMENT, I HAVE FOUND THE BLOOD ON THE DESK BUT CAN'T SEEM TO LIFT IT OFF WITH THE SWAB IS THIS A GLITCH IN THE GAME OR SOMETHING I HAVE MISSED
I think I've also run into a glitch. I'm on investigation 4 and there's a picture on the back wall that's glowing, but if I click on it nothing happens. I've found everything on the list, but have no idea what i'm supposed to do next to move forward. I'm just stuck here. Anyone else having this problem?
Linda You need to take the photo of Jane Doe and hold it up to the photo on the wall. Took me a while to get it figured out but once I did, the game moved on. Good Luck
Any hints on solving the Glass men puzzle in Investigation 3??
I can't find the snowflake at Amita's apartment, the second time you go there. I've looked everywhere and I cannot find it. Any ideas?
For the Glass men puzzle start with the man in the hat with his left hand up, next comes the man with no hat with his right up. Put the men in order from here so they are holding hands with the figure next to it - alternating hats, then no hats.
I AM ENJOYING THE GAME BUT MY ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT SOME OF THE ROOMS ARE TOO DARK FOR PEOPLE WITH LESS THAN PERFECT VISION.
I'M ALSO STUCK IN QIAN GAI'S APARTMENT, AND HAVE FOUND THE BLOOD ON THE DESK. BUT CAN'T SEEM TO LIFT IT OFF WITH THE SWAB, OR EVEN CLICK ON IT TO ENLARGE, IS THIS A GLITCH IN THE GAME OR SOMETHING I HAVE MISSED
I am not able to move past the picture in investigation 4. I have tried to hold the picture of Jane Doe up next to the glowing one, but, nothing. I'm still stuck.
I'm stuck in Quian Gai's apartment, too. I've been able to pick up the blood sample, but then the game just seems to hang--can't get anywhere. HELP!!!!
I need help on investingation #4 I can't seem to get out of the orphange, can someone help me.
I cannot get past investigation 4 in the orphanage. I am unable to click on the photo on the wall. Please help. I even restarted the game and still have the same problem!!!
I Cannot move past Wong Ltd. investigation #5 because it is too dark I used all my clues in the too dark orphanage and now i have to find 2 masks and I, for the life of me, cannot find them anywhere.
HELP!!!!! I cannot find the stupid snowflake in Amita's apartment.... anywhere!! Can anyone help me out with this?
Why are some of the rooms soooo dark? I have tried everything. I am at #8 and can't find a necklace and butterfly. Any tips on how to lighten things up?
CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME FIND THAT FREAKING SNOWFLAKE!
I need help with the search terms for the microfich computer in investigation 3. Please help!!!! I'm stuck!!!
FINALLY! I got out of investigation #4. You need to take the picture of Jane Doe and click directly on the photo on the wall. You might have to click a few times, but make sure you are right over the picture.
I need help wit investigation 9 ive found evrything on the list but i need to get a blood type sample from Judge Tso its in the trash can but eveytime i click on it nothing happens and there is no cotton bud orthat little bag for me to take it and it give it to claire help
I have tried all of the above suggestions and am unable to get out of investigation #4. Have held the picture over the picture on the wall, have clicked until the cows came home & nothing!
i need help with the info connecting judge to kwongs, what do i put into computer, please help
i'm stuck in Quian Gai's apartment and can't get the blood from the desk on the cotton swab. can anyone help me?
I am convinced there is a software problem with this program.
I finally found the stupid snowflake in level 8. I'ts to the left of top picture on the wall.u know how they have the three pics, one on each shelf.its by the top one.
For investigation 3, use Kwong in one search line and Judge in the other line. I finally found help on a different site!
I can't get past investigation #7 because I can't figure out what "specimen from Yao' is. please help!
Investigation 3 HELP How can you type the words in the computer. I only see the microfiches. but cannot type anything in the computer.
Specimen from Yao is the cigar
I am stuck on the order of the chemical bottles the third time. I have tried numerical order, odds, evens, subtracting the numbers and none seem to work. Please advise.
IN INVESTIGATION 9 APPARENTLY THERES A BAG IN THE INVENTORY THAT YOU CLICK ON THE TRASH BAG WITH TO GET THE BLOOD SAMPLE - PROBLEM IS I DON'T HAVE THE BAG AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO GET IT HELP PLEASE!!
Thx 4 Molode, I just pass thru & complete the task
Ellen: To get past #4, click on the Jane Doe picture in your "inventory." Then click on the photo on the wall. Click when your cursor is over the wall picture, not when the Jane Doe picture is covering the wall picture. It took me a few times, also.
Having trouble finding "probable cause" in Investigation #5 now. I'm sure it has something to do with an emblem on the "strange book" in my evidence, but I cannot find a matching one.
Can't get the key to work in the diary in Level 7. Any advice???
Where's the umbrella at the docks in investigation number 5???
Does anyone have any info on investigation 6? I seem to be stuck here. I am in the ceiling looking down into the restaurant and no matter where I crawl I get nothing. H E L P!!!
hi , does ne one know , wheres d ancient key , investigation 5!!!!
investigation 6
plz help , i cant find d butterfly
im out of clues plz help ,
):
I am stuck at the beginning of investigation 3. Can't pick up the blood from the rose, can't skip and can't go anywhere else. Is it me or is there a fault (or faults) in this game?
I'm with Marg, I can't seem to solve the chemical bottles eiher. Please help!
Sherbear: If you still need help to find the Dragon Room, crawl all the way up and then go right and follow the tunnels always going right.
To find the way out, crawl on the main tunnel on the left and at the first left turn left towards Inventory until you stop.
I cannot find the antique key in Investigation 5. Its starting to really bother me. Anyone know where it is? I would be indebted to you!!!
I can't get the blood off the desk in Investigation 8 either. I have the swab but nothing happens. Please, please help!
Tracy, the antique key in Investigation 5 is on the flap of the box in front of the storage container.
I need help linking an article of Kwong and the judge
i cant find the snowflake in investigation 8 will u tell me where it is thanks!!
Umbrella in investigation 5 is to the left of the newspaper, not exact since it's so dark!
elise, look at the wall, there are 3pics verticaly one on another, look next to the top one(on right), snowflake's on the wall and it's pretty hard to notice, but it's there.
When you're searching for an article about the Kwongs and the judge, just type "judge" in the first line and "kwongs" on the second. That should work.
need help getting the second set of chemical bottles in order in invetstigation #7 do know know what else to do i am completly lost plz HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm in Judge Teo's office invest. 9 and can't pick up his blood sample on the tissue in the trash - is anyone else stuck on this or know what to do?
HI! im stuck at the part where you have to find dirt on donald wong in the computer! i've tried putting in donald wong+chinatown, chinatown+secret club, donald wong+murderer...EVERYTHING! PLEASE HELP!
I am having trouble figuring out the pattern of the little glass figures at the orphange. I put the picture in the correct place and got the girl's name but I can't get past this level 4 problem. Please help.
I've tried clicking on the girl's picture on investigation 4 but nothing has happened. I'm stuck...please help.
I am totally stuck at Investigation 7. I have found all the light bulbs and they are in Inventory. I have found the cigar and the handkerchief, both also in Inventory.
The Yao blood type sample and the Woo sample are not crossed off as being found during this investigation so I assume something is to be done with them, but what and when? Must I do something with them before I put the light bulbs into the soxckets, which I cannot do, indicating that i am missing a step here?
Help, please.
I am also having a problem in #8 getting the blood off the desk. I have gone thru the game twice, and have gotten stuck here both times. Gotta be a glitch.
I have been trying for over a week to get the blood off the desk. It looks like many of you have not had a problem.
Please, please, please help me!
I too cannot get the blood off the desk, if that is blood and yet I find no other. Help
I got the answer from the blood. Enlarge the computer screen keyboard by clicking on the blood area, then use the black light. Now you have more blood to swipe.
I am stuck on investigation #6 my torch has gone out and i cant see where I am and have no idea what to do any help would be greatly appreciated
I can't figure out the correct way the chinese class figurines are supposed to be placed.
my microfiches will not go down in Investigation 9 what should i do
Ok, I am looking for help with the chemical bottles on level 3, the one with the numbers what on earth do they mean? So many people have asked what order to put them in but no one has answered! I can't find the answer on anysite, and it's getting frustrating. HELP!
Need help on level six cannot get the flashlight to work.. Have both the batteries and flashlight. HOw do i put them together
Lucy, you don't really need to use the batteries and flashlight. just start moving your girl up the maze. she has a flashlight already.
where is the freaking umbrella in case number 5 ?!?!?!?!
i need help in Investigation 3 whith micropiche machine.
I have played the free trial only online and I can't seemed to find any in stores. Any ideas
I am stuck at investigation number 9..the trash can is lit up with the tissue i need to get a sample of but i don't have a cotton to get it just a empty bag..help!!
This game was a complete rip off. I enjoyed playing it, but, It was just too short for the amount of money that I paid for it. Boo who
Jodie -- Just click the empty bag on the tissue. You don't need the QTip, because you're taking the whole thing.
Gabby, the umbrella that I had trouble finding on the waterfront site was a ripped-up looking thing toward the right-hand side of the scene.
Melanie, you probably have to complete the colored bulbs before you get to type the blood samples (which you do in the same way you always do, in the lab).
The colored bulbs follow the spectrum. Start with the red one that is put in for you, and put them in order as they go from red to orange to yellow to... whatever the order is.
You know you have a bulb in the right spot, because once it's right, it won't come back out again. So try putting them in, and use the process of elimination to get them all in their right sockets.
Good luck!
I need assistance with the glass figurines .... can't get the order. Any help would be appreciated because I don't want to skip. Thanks!
i spent my whole night playing this game. lucky i was able to finish it. great game i might say.
I'm on a Mac using a laser mouse so I don't have a right click button. Any ideas on how to turn the invitation pieces?
i cannot figure out Investigation 3 bottles what do the numbers mean it is so frustrating HELP PLEASE!!
I can not find the fork @ the wharf in Investigation 5. Any help would be appreciated!!
Investigation 5. i can not find the crown
I, too, cannot swab the blood in Qian Gai's apartment. I see the blood (green?) from a distance but cannot get close enough to swab it. Good grief. Doesn't tech support read these messages?
I found how to get the blood. You click on the compter's keyboard until spots of green blood appear (I had to click 5 or 6 times). Yhen you use the black light (for no evident reason) then you swab until you get results. This is not an easy process so just persevere.
For those who find the dark rooms difficult to manage, have trouble seeing things, you, too, have to darken your own environment and the objects are more visible. :)
Fantastic game but much too short. The problem of the dark rooms can be fixed if you adjust your brightness and contrast.
I cannot figure out what to do with the cigar and tissue in investigation seven I got everything else HELPo
The bottles for investagation #7 go in this order... 11-7-5-10-13.
Jenn, I bought the retail package with the novella included at Best Buy. I'm also stuck on swabbing up the green blood on the desk and keyboard in Investigation 8 and my dark light is gone from inventory. Sheesh! Some help from I-Play, the publisher would sure be welcome. Best of luck, David
I seem to hang while Investigation #7 is trying to download - does anyone know of any patches or tricks to fix this problem?
I seem to hang while Investigation #7 is trying to download - does anyone know of any patches or tricks to fix this problem?
I'm having trouble to find the right search criteria for the article to link the judge and Sun Loong in investigation 9. Please help me.
I'm stuck trying to find the newspaper article that links the judge with Kwong, can you help?