Hunt a Killer Subscription Box
Hunt a Killer is a relatively new subscription service that may be of interest to the true crime, thriller/mystery loving members of the Bitchery. It’s essentially an ongoing, monthly puzzle that will have you poring over the contents of the box, endlessly Googling to work out each piece of “evidence” sent to you.
As of right now, the cost is $30 a month with the first “season” being eight boxes long. But more on that later, since I know some of you (me included) might be intimidated by the subscription cost.
With each box, I guarantee you that your feelings will start with anticipation and move on to utter confusion. I was so excited to receive my first Hunt a Killer box to see how this mystery will start. And admittedly, whatever crime you’re supposed to help solve won’t be clear in the first couple boxes. It’s more about getting your bearings.
The general premise is that you’ve entered into this pen pal-esque program called the Listening Friends of America. Your pen pal could come from a variety of institutions such as prisons, assisted living residences, or mental health facilities. Each box comes with a letter from your pen pal (the same one every time) and a variety of items, most of which won’t make sense right away. Seriously, the first box contained one of those expandable paper ketchup cups you fill at fast food places. What the hell am I going to do with that?
My boyfriend and I decided to work on the first box together and I can assure you that if you work in a group, there will be at least one fight. He was the “good” cop, wanting to catalog every aspect of each item into a spreadsheet. I was the opposite. We had this exchange:
Him: Is the letter typewritten like from a typewriter or is it from a computer?
Me: It doesn’t matter.
Him: Of course it matters. Everything matters!
This box will probably have you making a murder board, complete with red string and triangulated maps.
One thing I really loved about the box is that the mystery goes beyond the items they send to you. There are websites to go to and research to be done, and when you figure something out or decipher some clue, it’s such an intense rush. The boxes also provide quite a lot of entertainment and you could easily spend hours upon hours on the first box alone.
Admittedly, it can get frustrating at times when a clue won’t make sense. Quite a bit of patience is required. An item may not fit into the overall mystery until you get another item two or three boxes later. It’s imperative you keep everything from every box. Feelings of defeat and dejectedness were common. It’s a rollercoaster of an experience and I loved it.
Regarding the price, $30 for a month to month plan is a bit steep, but splitting the cost with a group is a great way to offset the price and get friends together. I know the Hunt a Killer staff was trying to get true crime and mystery book club groups to pick up the box and I think that’s a lovely idea. The special Facebook group has photos of people huddled around tables, laptops out, as they work on a box together. I definitely recommend going that route.
But recently Hunt a Killer started a new box. The standard Hunt a Killer monthly subscription operates more like a TV show, with each box as separate episodes in a season with an overarching plot. However, they started a one-time premium box called 1934, which is more like a movie. The mystery starts and is solved in just one box. It’s rather pricey (like really pricey at nearly $300), given that it’s akin to taking several of the regular HaK boxes and putting it into one. They’re taking preorders until June 1st.
You have to “apply” for membership, but eventually everyone gets accepted. Don’t worry! I believe they do this just to manage new subscriptions evenly. Also, everyone starts with box one. There’s no fear of jumping in midway through the mystery.
One other thing I want to mention is that the HaK team is wonderful about responding the community. After surveying some of their members, they made changes to their boxes. They included an item sheet, so subscribers can make sure they received all the contents of the box. I believe they’re also included a “solution” sheet in each box, in case a clue truly stumps you.There is also a great online community that can help if you’d rather be gently nudged in the right direction.
I really loved the experience of this box. It’s a new idea I haven’t seen much before and is a great alternative to spending time with friends or a loved one. The price is high if you’re on your own, and it can be frustrating at times when you feel like you can’t make any more sense of a clue. I can attest that things do progress from box to box and I never felt that I’d be throwing money away on a box that didn’t further the storyline.
If you can split the subscription with friends, I recommend giving it a shot, especially if you’re the kind of person who tries to solve a mystery before any big reveals, whether on TV, in a book, or in a movie.
If you’re curious about trying the Hunt a Killer box, include the code SMART at checkout for 10% off your entire purchase. This is a single-use discount with no expiration date at this time.
For those who wind up trying the box out, let me know what you think!
Thanks for this! I heard an ad for it on a true crime podcast and was very curious about how it worked. Sounds like a really cool group activity, similar to the “legacy” board games that are meant to be played through once over several sessions (Pandemic Legacy, TIME Stories) and the exit games. I wish my local friends were into stuff like that!
It does sound interesting, too bad I don’t have a group to play it with. It’s already hard enough for me to get three people together to play T.I.M.E Stories, and that’s way lighter on the puzzles.
My son gave me this for Mother’s Day. Honestly, it seemed like homework that I wouldn’t have time for, but your review has encouraged me to give it a look.
I got the yearly subscription $300/year so that I can get all 8 episodes for season one as they come out and a few of season two before my subscription re-ups. I am having a blast with the first box, there are puzzles to solve, but you have to know where to look. Things to identify, stories to read, people to get to know…it’s like the first chapter in any great mystery story. Box one sets the stage and introduces you to the characters and while it doesn’t tell you out right what you’re going to be doing or where all the bits and bobs fit into everything, there is a sense that something unexpected is going to happen somewhere down the line. I am looking forward to the 22nd of each month (that’s when they ship the boxes) and to what the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. box has in store. Be warned though, the boxes won’t hold your hand and they won’t spoon feed you answers…you have to look, dig and research. But that’s half the fun…chasing down rabbit holes.
We subscribed & are currently on Box 4 of the first Episode..we don’t always know what is going on, but we are truly enjoying ourselves!! We have also purchased the premium box 1968 and currently investigating that. The prices may be high but comparing that to taking a family of 4 to dinner and a movie once a month…it’s a steal!!!
In our opinion…totally worth every penny!!!!
I’m on Box 7 and I can assure you, there are no conclusion sheets with the monthly subscription. In fact, it was explicitly stated that at the end of the season, you’re supposed to decide for yourself how things ended. I’m not a fan of this. With no definitive solution, how can you check your results against the conclusion that the HAK team dreamed up when they created it? I wouldn’t mind a little bit of unsolved bits to lead into a second season, but that’s not what they’re doing — it’s apparently left wide open with no explanation at all.
There are too many people “playing” HAK to really enjoy it. Google searches are completely ruined; forums and Facebook pages are dangerous to visit because people spoiling things. There are so many people who are passing off their own theories as fact to “help” others that you end up chasing your own tail with no end in sight.
I’m a very meticulous researcher (as a grad student, so I have to be!) and I document everything, so I’m able to puzzle out a lot of things; there are some red herrings, some intentional errors, and plenty of ouroborian trails meant to stall subscribers. This leads me to believe that because there isn’t a tidy solution, subscribers like myself are flooded with superfluous data.
I’ll be cancelling after my next box, Box 8. There a different company, The Mysterious Package Company, that costs more, but has far better reviews and the materials that you are sent are of higher quality and contain conclusions.
So, if you were on the fence about this subscription, my advice to make a hard pass and grab an Agatha Christie novel instead because those never disappoint.
Rip off and totally bogus. Save your money and buy books.
I would think twice about buying this game. The quality of their customer service overall since the holidays has gone WAY down. If you call customer service, they won’t return your call for at least a week if at all and they never answer their phone anymore. They used to answer the phone all the time. Not anymore. If you email asking for help don’t expect an answer any time soon. They even take their sweet time if you reach out to someone on Facebook. They pay for reviews as they did with me on another site. They use current members to help generate new business for the company by providing these cards over the holidays to use to start a subscription for whichever game you are not currently subscribed too. You can use one card and the rest you give to other people with the hopes that they might sign up to play the game and become a new member. Essentially you are being used to generate more business for the company. Nice huh? I had no idea this business’s questionable business tactics until recently. Be careful what you are getting into with this company. The positive reviews you see might very well be paid for as was the case with me I’m ashamed to say. This review however is much more honest. I hear the Mysterious Package Company is pretty good. I have never tried them personally, but I’d be willing to if given the chance. Good luck!
Wow! I obviously should have checked the reviews on this game program before purchasing. So many bad reviews. Don’t waste your money. I seriously doubt the integrity of this company.
I, like others, did not realize that to find the killer you have to purchase multiple boxes (6 or so). I cannot and would not have made that commitment had I known. I just wanted to try one box.
After receiving the first box (which I held onto (unopened) until game night), I immediately cancelled my account online. As I said before, I just wanted to try it out. On game night, we opened the box to find that it was only one of a long series of games. We didn’t even look at the contents beyond the first page, taped the box back, and I planned to send it back.
The same week, I received an email saying the second box was sent. WHAT??? After it arrived, I again cancelled the subscription online, called customer service to verify the cancellation, and asked how to return the unused games for a full refund.
They don’t want the games back and will only refund the cost of the second box. Now I have 2/6 pieces of the puzzle, and am out $40. What a waste of time and money! I seriously doubt the integrity of this company.
I wouldnt even call it customer service … you reach out to them and all you get back is “how can we make this more enjoyable for you” and then a NO to any suggestions.
for the cost i think they should allow you to choose the case you would like to do. The one i ended up with its literally 10 pieces of photocopied paper in a box. end of story.
im looking for a place to trade or sell cases. once you are done they are useless