Murdoch Mysteries: The Infernal Device turns fans into detectives
Fans can attend live 'crime scene' investigations in 6 events across Canada and in the UK
Murdoch Mysteries fans will get the chance to become detectives themselves, with the launch of a six-week interactive experience taking place across Canada, in the U.K., and online.
CBC and Smokebomb Entertainment announced Murdoch Mysteries: The Infernal Device, an interactive episode of the award-winning turn-of-the-century crime drama, on Thursday.
Every week starting this Saturday, a new chapter of The Infernal Device will launch on the Murdoch Mysteries website. The first chapter, Death on the Tracks, is online now and includes a video of Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris) inviting viewers into the Toronto Constabulary.
Each chapter will include a regional event that fans in the area can participate in, recreating an historically inspired "crime scene" that fans can investigate for clues.
The events will take place in these locations:
- Toronto on April 11.
- Vancouver on April 18.
- Edmonton on April 25.
- Montreal on May 2.
- London,U.K. on May 9
- Toronto on May 16.
The first event will be held at Roundhouse Park in Toronto, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm ET, according to the Murdoch Mysteries official Facebook page. Fans can also stream the events on Periscope, and are encouraged to gather evidence and share them on social media.
Download the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Periscope?src=hash">#Periscope</a> app and stream tomorrow's event live with us starting at 1:15pm ET <a href="https://t.co/UfBo4maO38">https://t.co/UfBo4maO38</a> <a href="http://t.co/olWkoVb1cn">pic.twitter.com/olWkoVb1cn</a>
—@CBCMurdochThe Infernal Device's plot involves the return of super spy Terrance Meyers (Peter Keleghan) in a matter of national security involving anti-Monarchist sentiments. With Detective Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) in Ottawa arranging a royal visit, Constable Crabtree recruits the show's fans for help.
Jay Bennett, VP and creative director at Smokebomb Entertainment, told Playback magazine that the chance to visit The Infernal Device sets drew interest from over 4,000 registrants.
"At this stage of the series, it's clear to us that we have a highly engaged fan base," he told Playback.
The Infernal Device was originally supposed to be an online-only experience, but the idea of real-life crime scene sets were added after the success of previous events that invited fans to visit the Murdoch Mysteries sets.