The Crime Scene features fictional crime cases in a unique combination of interactive fiction and gaming. Each week, Yoknapatawpha County detectives post evidence from the current case. You are invited to participate in the investigation by reviewing the presented evidence and offering your theories and questions to the detectives and other web sleuths.

It's easy to start at anytime in the investigation. Instant access is available for $3.95 for 30 days, $29.95 for a year or free with a purchase from the detective store. Join Now!

What's the Difference between Paid and Free Participation?

[Paid] Case Detectives, our paid members, see new evidence before anyone else. As a Case Detective, you can interact directly with our detectives through our members-only Question/Answer page. You and other Case Detectives can post questions and our detectives will provide answers to help you solve the case. Case Detectives also have exclusive access to the Evidence Search Engine, which allows you to quickly locate all evidence items related to a particular topic. In addition to these special member features, Case Detectives have access to all information, the Viewer Comment Area, and the e-mail newsletter presented to the free viewers.

[Free] Case Viewers, our non-paying viewers, pay nothing to examine the available evidence files or to post theories and questions in the viewer comments area. Evidence is not issued to Case Viewers until after Case Detectives have reviewed it and not all information is available for free. If you sign up as a Case Viewer, an e-mail newsletter will notify you when new evidence is released. Registration is not required to participate.

How Do I Become a Case Detective?

You may become a Case Detective at any time during an investigation by following the "Join Here" link provided at the top of each case page. We accept credit cards, Paypal and mail orders. Instant access is available when you pay online with our secure server. If you feel the hours of entertainment you receive from the Crime Scene are not worth the money you paid, we will refund your money. Details here.

Sign up for free or paid membership here. To begin your investigation return to the main case page here.

How Do I Start?

To participate, examine the case evidence. In evidence categories of Interviews, Evidence, Biographies, and Press, some of the items you'll see include evidence photos, coroner reports, witness interviews and surveillance video. Links to each category are provided on the main case page and at the top and bottom of each case page. Click on these links to move between categories and view the different pieces of evidence. New information appears each week.

I've Reviewed the Evidence. Now What?

Once you've examined the case files, use the viewer discussion area to communicate with your fellow web sleuths. Pose your questions, view others' theories, and share your thoughts about the case. Do you have a theory about how or why the crime was committed? Who should be the prime suspect? What clues should the detectives follow next and what evidence do they need to gather? Crime Scene investigations are propelled by input from the viewers, so everyone's contribution is helpful.}

Where Can I Post My Input?

There are two levels of participation - as a Case Detective (Paid Membership) or as a Case Viewer (Free). Case Detectives can post their theories and questions in either of our discussion areas. To get answers from our detectives, Case Detectives can submit questions in the members-only Question/Answer area. To discuss theories with other Crime Scene participants, Case Detectives and Case Viewers can post in the Viewer Comment Area.

How Do I Win?

No one wins the Crime Scene. It is a community of web sleuths who enjoy sharing ideas and theories. Everyone wins the Crime Scene as the participants' collective efforts refine theories and narrow down clues to ultimately reveal the culprit.

Where is this Yoknapatawpha County?

Yoknapatawpha County was created and immortalized by the legendary William Faulkner. The fictional county includes Faulkner's own hometown of Oxford, Mississippi and surrounding areas.

Sign up for free or paid membership here. To begin your investigation return to the main case page here.

Thanks,

Det. Murphy