Blackball, the most influential talent critic in Equestria, holds a sweepstakes to give out four invitations to his annual murder mystery party. Those four invitations land in the hooves of Octavia, Lyra, Curtain Call, and Alvin Del Signo, three of whom bring along a plus one. The four invitees all have one thing in common: a mutual hatred of the host. While enjoying their dinner, Blackball gets shot by a mysterious pony under the alias of Red Herring. While everypony attempts to figure out who the murderer is, they begin to die off one by one. The ponies drop, and the tension rises as the party guests have to find out who Red Herring is, before they fall victim to his/her master plan.