CASE #01 · Death in the Shadows · Questo Originals

Madison, WI murder mystery. Solve a case on your own streets

You know the old saying, “The boyfriend did it”? On an ill-fated night, love goes terribly wrong for Bella Wanderlust and Walter Bridges.

  • No booking, start anytime
  • 2.1 km · 12 points
  • $8.99/person for two · $6.00 in a group
Unlock the case · $17.99 for two

Full refund until you start playing · $6.00/person as a group

4.52 · 23 verified reviews in Madison, WI · also playing in 769 cities

Gather your party

Who's playing tonight?

One pass unlocks the whole group's phones: the Duo covers 2, the Fellowship 5. Everyone plays on their own screen.

Like an escape room. The room is Madison, WI.

Escape rooms are genuinely good. They also want a slot booked days ahead and a fixed hour. This is the version you can decide on at 7pm: outdoors, across 2.1 km of Madison, WI.

This caseEscape room
Price / person$8.99 for two, $6.00 in a group of 5$25–40
Party size2 or 5 phonesfixed 4–8
Bookingnone, play nowslot, days ahead
Where2.1 km of Madison, WIa windowless room

The case file · written by Questo Originals

Bella Wanderlust died on a ghost tour. The tour kept going.

Bella, a famous travel blogger, was found dead during a ghost tour led by the theatrical Percy Shadows. Now, it’s up to you to uncover the truth.

Was it Walter, the obsessed boyfriend? Percy, the ghost tour guide with a flair for the dramatic? Or is someone else hiding in the shadows?

Gather clues, interrogate suspects, and expose the real murderer before they strike again. Make sure to have your pen and paper ready to jot down all the crucial evidence.

  • 12 challenge locations
  • ≈2,730 steps
  • 1 final accusation
  • Investigate a Chilling Mystery

    Step into the shoes of a detective and uncover the truth behind Bella's murder.

  • Solve Puzzles & Follow Clues

    Explore historic streets, decipher hidden messages, and piece together the evidence.

  • Uncover a Deadly Secret

    Explore famous landmarks and hidden corners as you piece together the truth behind Bella’s murder.

  • Perfect for Date Night… Or a Killer Group Activity

    Play with your partner, a group of friends, or even solo, just don’t end up the next victim!

On the streets of Madison, WI

  • Players on the Madison, WI case route, photo 1
  • Players on the Madison, WI case route, photo 2
  • Players on the Madison, WI case route, photo 3
  • Players on the Madison, WI case route, photo 4
  • Players on the Madison, WI case route, photo 5

The streets, the suspects, the app, in 30 seconds

How tonight works

  1. 1

    Unlock now

    Pay and the case opens in the Questo app straight away: no guide, no group, no time slot. 30 seconds, not a confirmation email.

  2. 2

    Walk to Point 1

    1 Wisconsin Historical Society · Library Mall, 715 State St, Madison, WI 53703, USA. From there the case runs through 12 stops and finishes at 12 Memorial Library at State St · 701 State St, Madison, WI 53703, USA, a 2.1 km route through Madison, WI.

  3. 3

    Solve it together

    Everyone gets clues on their own phone. Each puzzle you crack unlocks the next location, and the finish puts you on the Madison, WI leaderboard.

The route

Start
1 Wisconsin Historical Society · Library Mall, 715 State St, Madison, WI 53703, USA
Finish
12 Memorial Library at State St · 701 State St, Madison, WI 53703, USA

What Madison, WI players say

4.52

23 verified reviews

61%

rated it 5 stars

★★★★★

Story was very cool. Please make more of these.
LemonWalrus · Aug 14, 2026

★★★★

Could be more interactive/meaningful with campus and downtown. Code was hard to find. Other than that fun little side quest
faith baker · Dec 28, 2025

★★★★

fun but not as interactive with Madison as I had hoped
Kayla Malovrh · Jun 27, 2025

★★★★

wish they involved more things in the surroundings.
Ashley Lentz · May 26, 2025

Questions locals ask

Multiplayer quest · gather your party

Start the case tonight

It unlocks the moment you pay. Walk to 1 Wisconsin Historical Society · Library Mall, 715 State St, Madison, WI 53703, USA, open the app, and the investigation starts.

Full refund until you start playing.

Buy tonight, decide later. The case doesn't expire. Pause any time and pick it up another evening.

Giving it to someone?

Works as a birthday, hen do or anniversary present. They pick the evening, in Madison, WI or any other city.

Gift this case →

Have a code? Use unlock code →

Choose your pass

Unlock · $17.99 for two

Instant unlock · full refund until you start playing

  1. 1 ·Pay. The case unlocks in 30 seconds
  2. 2 ·Get the free Questo app (2 min, iOS & Android)
  3. 3 ·Walk to Point 1 whenever, tonight or any night

Outdoor murder mystery in Madison, WI

A citywide case for mystery and escape-room fans

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Madison, WI is a self-guided murder mystery you play on foot in Madison, WI. A detective game for date nights, friends and families who would rather run the investigation themselves than watch a staged dinner show. No guide, no group, no booking.

Self-guided over 2.1 km with 12 challenge locations, at your own pace, any evening of the week: an outdoor escape room the size of Madison, WI, with no slot to book. It's one of the few things to do in Madison, WI you can decide on at 7pm without a reservation.