Award-winning author C.J. Chase, pictured above, plans the murder of another fictional Warren County citizen for this year’s all-new Murder Mystery Dinner, Three Wives and a Funeral. Join the Warren County Historical Society for this special evening on Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Conewango Club.

Warren County Historical Association will host its second annual murder mystery dinner, titled “Three Wives and a Funeral” at the Conewango Club on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m.

The story for the night, written by C.J. Chase, Warren Country Historical Association program manager, will have those attending assessing suspects, looking for clues, and asking questions to solve a murder.

Chase didn’t want to spoil the entire plot for those planning to attend, but she shared that the play would take place in the Bicentennial year of 1976 with friends and family gathering at the funeral of Warren socialite Kay Diver. But when her son’s three wives meet, the interaction leads to a murder.

Chase took inspiration from the Semiquincentennial (250 anniversary) of the U.S. taking place in 2026.

She also said that when coming up with a setting, she wanted the story to take place at an event, such as a family reunion, concert or holiday.

“What are situations in our lives where a group of people get together with a lot of people they know? And that’s how I came up with a funeral,” said Chase.

Chase said she has been working on the story on and off for about a year, but work on the project picked up heavily around August.

Although this is her first time writing a murder mystery for the Historical Association, Chase’s past experience as a writer was helpful for creating a plot, characters and a setting. However, much of the dialogue will be improvised by the play’s actors, most of which are local and some are even trying out acting for the first time.

The show recently sold out, selling 170 tickets.

“I am very happy we sold out early. That was nice on many levels,” said Chase.

The murder mystery dinner is the last fundraiser of the year for the Historical Association. The event will also include basket raffles, a 50/50, and prizes for the table who correctly solves the murder.

Chase believes the Historical Association is a very important aspect of the Warren County Community.

“People who don’t know their past will flounder in the future. It’s important to know our past so that we can build on what was done well and so that we don’t make the same mistakes.”