Codename "MMM": The Story

I've had an idea for a murder mystery story in the back of my mind for awhile, with the broader intent of eventually turning it into a game. The basic story is that there's been a murder with a killer on the loose. The story, however, is designed to introduce basic detective skills, though with more of a focus on the logic and problem-solving tasks, rather than modern crime scene investigation procedures.
 
This project is codenamed "MMM," or Multiplayer Murder Mystery. Throughout the game, both predetermined and dynamic events guide the story. These may happen either at set intervals or when certain conditions have been met. For example, every 10 minutes, clues can be dropped in strategic locations that may lead the players to better determine who the killer is, such as a footprint involuntarily left by the killer. Or after 15 minutes of gameplay, the original victim appears as a ghost, and while unable to speak, tries to lead the player in the direction of the killer before disappearing a few seconds later, which only leaves a vague hint of who the killer might be.

But the story is ultimately developed by the players, as they play with other human participants. The players must solve a series of ongoing murders occurring during the game by examining various clues and taking note of the activities of possible suspects. However, there’s a catch: the killer is one of the players, selected at random when the game begins.

The setting of the story is an isolated mansion estate, immediately after a murder has taken place. The estate includes the mansion exterior, consisting of a cemetery, servants quarters, and a stable. The mansion interior consists of two floors plus a basement wine cellar and an attic, as well as towers and secret rooms.