The game includes "The Official Guide to the Leyendecker Museum", which also serves as the game's manual. It features a map of the main level of the museum and a rough drawing of the lower level.
Plot
The game is set in 1926, primarily in a museum, and reflects the Egyptology craze of the period. The protagonist is Laura Bow (a reference to Clara Bow), a Southern belle who has just graduated from Tulane University and moved to New York City, where she has landed a job at a prestigious newspaper. For her first assignment, she is asked to write a straightforward, lightweight story on a benefit held at a local museum to celebrate their new Egyptian exhibit. When a murder occurs during the party, however, she is locked inside with all of the other suspects. As other guests begin dying one by one, Laura must solve the numerous crimes occurring before the culprits escape or kill her.
Characters
Laura Bow – After graduating from Tulane University, Laura Bow was hired as a reporter by a prestigious New York newspaper. Her first assignment is to investigate and report on the theft of the Dagger of Amon Ra, taking over from the reporter Crodfoller T. Rhubarb.
Dr. Archibald Carrington III – Formerly a curator of the British Museum, Dr. Carrington was appointed to become the new president of the Leyendecker Museum after the death of the previous president, Sterling Waldorf-Carlton. When the story begins, Archibald had worked at the museum for only a few weeks.
Yvette Delacroix – Yvette is the amorous French secretary of the Leyendecker Museum president. She has worked as a secretary under both Dr. Archibald Carrington, the current president, and Sterling Waldorf-Carlton, Dr. Carrington's late predecessor. Years ago, Yvette worked as a call girl at a speakeasy. She has a deep sexual fondness for men and maintains relationships with several men at the same time including Ernie Leach and Detective Ryan O'Riley.
Dr. Pippin Carter – An arrogant, self-important English archeologist, Dr. Carter was the one who discovered the Dagger of Amon Ra within a long-buried temple in Egypt. In the weeks before the story begins, he had been busy preparing the new Egyptology section for the Leyendecker museum. Dr. Carter is fastidiously attentive to his personal hygiene and appearance. He sometimes talks about, and compares himself to, his cousin, who is implied to be the famous archaeologist Howard Carter.
Wolf Heimlich – As Chief of Security at the Leyendecker Museum, Wolf is obsessed with order and takes to his duties with an almost fanatical devotion. Dressed in a German military uniform, Wolf can often be found patrolling the museum grounds in a goosestep march. He also collects weapons of various types, keeping them in his office. Wolf is in a relationship with Dr. Olympia Myklos.
Dr. Olympia Myklos – A native of Athens, Greece, Dr. Myklos is a curator at the Leyendecker Museum, specializing in paleontology. She has a morbid fascination with death and keeps exotic pet animals, including a ferret named Daisy and an Egyptian cobra named Barney.
Ernie Leach – Ernie is the custodian and handyman of the Leyendecker Museum. A hard-working, African American man, Ernie took employment at the museum to pay off his gambling debts to a loan shark.
Ryan Hanrahan O'Riley – An Irish American detective in the NYPD, O'Riley is the detective assigned to investigate the theft of the Dagger of Amon Ra. He is the main antagonist. He keeps fit every day and is fond of grapes.
Steve Dorian – An art student, Steve Dorian works as a part-time dockworker to meet his financial needs. His name is a pun on the word "stevedore".
Dr. Ptahsheptut "Tut" Smith – A curator from the Egyptian Museum who is deeply opposed to Dr. Carter's claim over the Dagger of Amon Ra. His arguments with Dr. Pippin Carter concerning the Dagger have almost come to blows at times.
Lawrence "Ziggy" Ziegfeld – A small-time local criminal who sometimes works for the NYPD as an informant in exchange for leniency. He has many connections and resources within the criminal underworld and can often be found in one of New York's many speakeasies. Due to his status as a "stool pigeon", he is distrusted by criminals and police officers alike. Because of this, he is extremely paranoid and his face often twitches nervously.
Rameses Najeer – An Egyptian accountant of the museum, he is opposed to Dr. Carter's claim over the Dagger of Amon Ra. Rameses is a successful man who is married with one child and another on the way. He is extremely proud of his Egyptian heritage despite the fact that he has lived in the United States for many years. Others describe him as a hard worker and a good family man, but he can be intense and passionate at times.
Countess Lavinia Waldorf-Carlton – The widow of the previous museum president, Sterling Waldorf-Carlton. She is currently engaged in a legal battle concerning Sterling's will and her entitlements as his spouse. Apparently, Sterling and Lavinia met during a trip on board an ocean liner about a year ago and married only a month or two later.
Sam Augustini – The editor-in-chief of the New York newspaper, he is Laura's boss and the one who hired her to write a story on the museum's benefit party. He is close friends with Laura's father, John Bow, who once saved the editor's life.
Crodfoller T. Rhubarb – Laura's co-worker, he tries to help Laura whenever possible, but is also reluctant of Augustini's decision to send Laura to write a report of the dagger's theft when she is only just a rookie. If Laura fails to solve the murder mysteries and dagger theft, he would take over the case and solve them instead.
Lo Fat – Lo Fat is the jocular, Chinese American owner of Lo Fat's Laundry; a Chinese laundry in New York City. Originally from Newark, New Jersey, Fat is a faithful patron of the Leyendecker Museum. Through his business, he has made acquaintances with many major contributors to the museum. Laura acquires the names of many of the supporting characters through Fat's connections. Fat is also responsible for providing Laura with her distinctive evening dress to the museum party.
Watney Little – A known English fugitive and con artist wanted by Scotland Yard. Reports indicate that he has recently escaped from Dartmoor Prison. The local police are still investigating the circumstances behind the escape.
