A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE by Gigi Pandian is the third installment in her Secret Staircase Mystery series, starring former stage illusionist Tempest Raj and the curious murder puzzles she stumbles across. I'm a big fan of this series: a strong female lead, overarching family lore, and a close-knit community make this such an enjoyable series. On top of all that, the mysteries are delightfully intricate. Pandian pens wonderful fair-play mysteries that are both an homage to traditional detective stories and wholly original in their whimsical themes.

I think A Midnight Puzzle might be the strongest book in the series so far, with the strongest mystery and the most intriguing plot. This is one of those rare cozy series that deserves to be read in order. There is an overarching plot that spans these first three books; I'm happy to have closure on it in this third installment. I was also so pleased that this book suggests future installments; I'm not ready to say goodbye to Tempest just yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Midnight Puzzle is the third installment in Gigi Pandian's Secret Staircase Mystery series. A cozy mystery featuring a former illusionist who now works for her family's construction business, building secret gardens, hidden staircases, and puzzle rooms.

Tempest used to be a magician/illusionist until her career literally went up in flames. Now, she's back home with her father and grandparents (who live in a treehouse!! What?!) helping to design and build whatever crazy things their clients ask for. Their last client, Julian Rhodes, was difficult to work with, and after they finished, Julian's wife Paloma fell down their floating staircase and sues the family for doing shoddy work. When he calls Tempest and she meets him at the Whispering Creek Theater, she finds him dead at the front door, killed by a booby trap. Thus begins the roller coaster story.

This book had so many twists and was completely unpredictable. The police are ineffectual at finding the perpetrator, as their focused on Paloma but can't find her. Would she have known how to set up a booby trap to murder her husband? And why would she use the theater that Tempest is renting to do it? There's a relatively big cast of characters, and no one is safe from suspicion. There was a good amount of suspense and misdirection, and I would never have guessed whodunit.

All in all, this was an interesting cozy mystery featuring a loving family, a creative FMC, and twists galore. I haven't read the first two books in the series yet, but if they're as good as this one, then I recommend reading the whole series.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Minotaur_Books for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

This is such a fun series. I like all the descriptions of magic and the secret passageways. I can’t believe this is book 3 in the series. It can definitely be read as a stand alone, but this one advances Tempest’s search into her aunt and mother’s death. The author provides plenty of detail for a reader to enjoy the book, but I think those that have read the series are more invested in those cases.

Instead of a locked room mystery, this time there is an impossible crime. An enemy of the Tempest family is found dead in a theater and they are at the front of the suspect list as the police investigate.

The cozy mystery is the focus of this book and series, but I also love the cast of characters and the friendship and family at the core. There is always a meal (and recipes at the end of book) shared and the food descriptions always make me hungry.

For being what I’d consider a cozy mystery, the plot was complex and kept me guessing. There were red herrings and misdirections that I fell for.

Soneela Nankani narrates the audiobook and does a fabulous job with bringing all the characters and their accents to life. This is one I enjoyed listening to as much as I enjoyed reading.

Such a fun series for anyone that appreciates magic, locked room mysteries or interesting characters.

A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian is fantastic. The author is a master at mystery and magnificent at bringing cultures together.

Will Tempest finally unmask her mother's killer before she is caught in a trap?

This is the conclusion of the Raj curse. Tempest and her Scooby gang are still investigating the murder of Tempest's mom and aunt. However, the lawsuit that has been filed against her family business is trying on her nerves. Then she has friends from her days of magic visiting.

This installment let's us see how Tempest and the Raj family handle stress. I loved how her family and friends stand by her. Tempest is a strong character; she has excellent instincts, but sometimes she doesn't listen. I do believe that she has learned not to go off on her own. Honestly, in this installment, I feel that Tempest grows the most.

The mystery doesn't wrap up the way that Tempest would like, but in real life, things don't always follow your plan, and the author brings that point home. The author left an opening for Tempest to investigate new mysteries; I hope that works out for them.

Five Stars
I loved the wrap-up but was appalled by some things that people close to the Raj family did while still calling themselves friends. Ms. Pandian kept me on the seat of my chair, but I didn't figure out how the killings happened or who the culprit was. My rating for A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian is five stars. I highly recommend it to all mystery readers out there. Ms. Pandian is a master at the locked room aspect. I believe she would give Ms. Christie a run for her money.

A few recipes are included at the end of the book: Quick-Cook Dosa, Chocolate Almond Spread, and Mango Ice Cream.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

I figured out who is was early on, but the why and a couple other twists were really surprising! There were magicians tricks and family secrets that kept me very entertained. I like that this wrapped up the overall family mystery as well as the murder in this book. It was so good!

So-So Mystery

Tempest Raj has re-joined the family business. And it is the most unusual business. Her family’s construction company creates secret staircases.

The opening of the story was a bit confusing but Tempest is determined to save the company. Litigation is obstructing the company from moving forward since a man named Julian Rhodes is suing the company. The basis of the lawsuit regards the death of his wife Paloma. Julian maintains Paloma fell to her death from a circular staircase built and designed by the firm.

Tempest believes that they are being framed with these false charges. Julian Rhodes is the next victim of murder. Tempest is desperate to solve the mystery and keep the family company afloat. She does want to be arrested for murder. She and her family are determined to solve this enigma and close the book on these career-altering murders. I

My gratitude to NetGalley and Minotaur for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @minotaur_books for the #gifted ARC/ALC!

I’m so thrilled this delightful mystery series is continuing! I adored the first two books in the series and A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE did not disappoint with another locked room type mystery this time with a murderous door at a haunted theater.

I love how clever this series is. It reminds me so much of the Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie books I grew up reading and sparked my love of mysteries. They aren’t quite what I would call a cozy mystery but also aren’t full of the shock factor twists that many thrillers have now.

Tempest Raj, the MC, has a great character arc over the first three books in the series and I’m glad that one of the mystery arcs across the books has finally come to a resolution. But now there is even more room for growth for these characters and the ending is definitely set up for a book 4!

I listened to the audio and adored the narrator. She does an excellent job of representing Tempest’s Scottish and Indian heritage as well as the diverse cast of her family and friends.

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Tempest Raj, once a world famous stage magician, now helps her family with their amazing unique company, Secret Staircase Construction. But someone is suing them-and then that someone is murdered by a mysterious blade through the door of the theater Tempest is planning to perform her final show in.

I absolutely love this series, to the point where I bought the first two books after reading them. Tempest is an absolutely brilliant lead character, and the supporting characters are all amazing. The mysteries are always excellent, and always surprising. I absolutely highly recommend this book and this series.

This Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian is the third book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries, and it’s another excellent read and mystery.

Pandian’s characters are diverse and so well developed. Combine that with her outstanding world building, where you actually feel like you are in a secret room or on a magical stairway, that I would love to see a TV series made from these books.

Since it’s a Mystery, I don’t want to give anything away, but there are some great red herrings, and I am super excited for the next book in the series.

If you enjoy mysteries, especially ones with puzzles and secret passages, I highly recommend this series!

This is a really clever continuation of The Secret Staircase series, as Tempest and her crew are back, creating illusions in homes and finding themselves in the middle of mysteries. When a former client is killed in their building by a booby-trapped door, Tempest is on the case, trying to exonerate her company and another surprise suspect.

Although this is part of a series, it easily stands alone as the author does a good job of catching the reader up on events. The cast of characters is fun and intriguing, and the story has plenty of twists and turns.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

What a fun and woven tale!

I really enjoyed the first two installments, so I was excited to dive back into Tempest’s realm! What I really wish is that Secret Staircase existed as a real life company in today’s world.

There is so much world building in this story - you can feel the different elements in your minds eye. You’re really there and present in such a magical world.

There are some time jumps, but not to the detriment of the story; it helped give the reader more context/backstory and set the stage for the story. Curious as to what happens after the end of this tale…

Thank you so much to the author, Gigi Pandian, Minotaur books and NetGalley for this eARC copy of A Midnight Puzzle!

First off, I wish I had read the other two in the series first. It was okay as a standalone, but I think reading the others first would have made more sense.

I really enjoyed this book. It was very original with the magician aspects and the hidden rooms and such in the story. It really moved along well, the characters were interesting and of course, I had no idea who was actually guilty in the end.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Gigi Pandian writes the most creative mysteries with intricate plot twists and fascinating characters. Please see my complete review at www.reviewingtheevidence.com.

I am a big fan of this series and always look forward to each new installment. Pandian has a unique style of writing, where she skillfully weaves locked-room, fair-play mysteries, and elements of stage magic and architecture. Her books are full of hidden doors, puzzle walls, and other elements of illusion. I am always impressed by the detail and vivid imagery that Pandian incorporates into her books. The world-building is really fantastic. This one also had Gothic vibes with a possibly haunted, booby-trapped theatre. I love all the nods to the Golden Age of mystery in these books.

One of the many strengths of this book is the beautifully diverse cast of secondary characters, each with their unique traits and backgrounds and strong bonds of family and found family. Tempest's grandfather, my personal favorite, adds a delightful touch with his Indian heritage, former medical career in Scotland, and love for cooking. The dishes he prepares are mouthwatering, and his joy in feeding everyone is infectious. Pandian also includes several recipes at the end of these books.

There has been overarching mystery across these books, a personal tragedy for Tempest and her family, and seeing how that played out in this book, with answers finally coming, was intriguing. Overall, I enjoyed this. The mystery has plenty of red herrings and twists. However, the pacing seemed slower than in the first two books in the series. Still, I recommend this and the entire series and can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for the free book!

Gigi Pandian’s A Midnight Puzzle is a fun, relatively light mystery centering around a family of magicians. This premise feels fresh—as a frequent mystery reader I don’t think I’ve come across something like this before. A Midnight Puzzle is the third book in Pandian’s Secret Staircase Mystery series and I do think some context is lost if you haven’t read the first two, though this can be read as a standalone if you’re ok not fully understanding certain aspects of prior books that led to where this book begins. This is in many ways the conclusion to a three-novel arc within the series.

Classic illusionist Nicodemus the Necromancer has always been a mentor to Tempest Raj (of the Raj family of magicians). When Nicodemus begins his retirement tour, it comes with bittersweet feelings about leaving his stage persona and work behind. Tempest doesn’t relate—she has left stage magic behind and is working at her father’s company, Secret Staircase Construction. This outlet allows Tempest to be creative and work with her hands to create illusory works of architectural art.

Tempest has always lived with a cloud over her that her father’s family has been cursed for centuries. The curse posits that the eldest child of the Raj family dies by magic. Tempest has seen other members of their family fall victim to the curse. Tempest is glad to work in her current role away from magic. When her client Julian Rhodes mysteriously dies, it’s unclear whether the cause of death was supernatural or something more grounded in the physical world. Tempest must prove that Secret Staircase wasn’t responsible for his death and determine how this all connects to her family’s curse!

This book picks up where the previous book The Raven Thief left off and it does feel like a conclusion of sorts to the mystery that has spanned the first three books. When I finished, I actually wondered if Pandian plans to wrap this as a trilogy or continue the series. Either way would work—there is certainly plenty of story that could be told about the Raj family in future books.

The combination of Indian and Scottish heritage in this series has been a high point. The food always sounds delicious and I find myself wanting to be there to try what the characters are eating—especially the food cooked by Tempest’s grandfather, Ash! There are a few recipes at the end of the book so perhaps I will be able to try some of the food myself.

The blend of the two cultures is one of my favorite parts to this series. In A Midnight Puzzle, the reader finally gets an answer to what happened to Tempest’s mother and aunt who used to work together as illusionists. Is there truly a curse on their family that the oldest dies by magic? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

This is more cerebral than an average cozy mystery, though it definitely still fits within the genre. I think it is fun in these books that the trope in cozy mysteries of “is that a dead body or a mannequin?” actually makes a ton of sense in this series because there are plenty of fake deaths in magic! The plot is complex—a lot of subplots interweave into the central mystery. The plot is really a puzzle in and of itself, but if you give it the time you’ll surely find the twists at the end satisfying!

Thank you Minotaur Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Magic, illusions, murder and a complex mystery make A Midnight Puzzle a story to love. This is the third book in Gigi Pandian’s Secret Staircase series. While she provides enough background to enable new readers to enjoy this entry, there is a lot to be gained by starting with Under Lock and Skeleton Key. Tempest Raj returned home to work with her family after her performance as a magician was sabotaged. The family owns a construction business that specializes in hidden rooms and floating staircases and Tempest has been designing projects for clients. When one of their clients is killed by a booby trap at a local theater, Tempest is drawn into the investigation. Five years earlier her mother disappeared from that same theater and social media is blaming the death on her mother's spirit. Tempest sees connections to the disappearance as well as the earlier death of her aunt while performing a magic trick. Both cases have gone unsolved. She calls on her friends who have helped in the past. Ivy, her best friend, is a librarian and a mystery buff, Gideon is a sculptor who works for the family and has an interest in Tempest, and Sanjay is an illusionist. She also calls on detective Blackburn, who retired after he was unable to solve her mother’s disappearance. This is a case that Tempest has pursued through all three of Pandian’s novels. In a stunning midnight performance, Tempest finally reveals the solution to her aunt’s death and the fate of her mother.

Pandian’s story revolves around family. Ash, Tempest’s grandfather, is a retired doctor who spends his time in the kitchen making food that brings them all together. The author even includes some of the recipes for his creations at the story’s conclusion. The three generations live in a family compound where their homes are filled with their own hidden passages. Pandian’s characters are delightful and she keeps you guessing every time that Tempest informs her friends that “I have a plan”. This is a wonderful mystery and the last pages hint at more to come. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book for my review.

A Midnight Puzzle is book 3 in the Secret Staircase Mystery series by Gigi Pandian.
Pandian has created a unique murder mystery, and it is a joy to read.
It was so much fun being back in the company of Tempest.
This was a very well done and engaging mystery.
The writing was lively and sharp, and the mystery was surprising.
With engaging characters and a plot that left me guessing, this novel will not disappoint.

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

3.5

Secret Staircase Construction is facing a terrible lawsuit and a threat to their good name after a client fell down the twisting stairs Secret Staircase Construction built. Lying in a coma, her husband has decided to bring forth a lawsuit. But it hasn't gone without notice that the husband, Julian Rhodes, is not a nice person and could potentially have framed Secret Staircase in order to overshadow his attempt at murdering his wife.

But when Julian Rhodes himself winds up dead at the Whispering Creek Theater - that Tempest just so happens to be renting - it becomes apparent that things are not just connected to Tempest, but to the entire Raj family past, specifically the mysterious deaths of Tempest's mother and aunt.

I was unprepared for this entry in the series to tackle the biggest mystery looming over the story thus far. Namely, the Raj family curse. I was happy that we were finally getting to it because I don't know how sustainable the series would continue to be dragging that along for however many more book are to come, but it also just felt like it was time.

With that said, however, there's also a part of me that feels like it was tacked on. We know it's been something looming over the series, but I almost wish that we had gotten small crumbs of information prior to this book. If we did, I don't remember. I solidly remember the previous two books focusing exclusively on their respective mysteries. Yes, it would be mentioned that Tempest's mother disappeared five years ago and her aunt was killed on stage, but as far as getting small pieces of the mystery strung throughout those first two books, I don't believe that we did. So, for me, making it part of this story and not really allowing readers to build upon this huge revelation, it felt convenient.

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the various twists and turns that the mystery took. I always love the choices that Gigi Pandian makes that end up altering how we view what just transpired. I know people feel different ways about the obligation of the mystery novel providing enough information to give the reader a chance to figure it out with our, in this case, amateur detectives. There are those who just love the big reveal at the end. I'm kind of in the former category. I don't mind if I missed something or didn't put the piece together myself, I at least want the option available. This book walks a fine line between both scenarios I'd say, but I'd say it leans more toward the former.

I am excited to see where the series can go from here. I feel like finally solving the unsolved cases of Tempest's aunt and mom frees up the direction where things can go. Maybe we can even focus more on other characters within Tempest's orbit.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Midnight Puzzle (Secret Staircase Mystery #3) by Gigi Pandian from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press /Minotaur Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…I adore this series and this entry really had it all, a complex, interesting mystery with thrill, chills, and intrigue….…

A huge fan of author Gigi Pandian, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review her latest,A Midnight Puzzle, the third book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries.

This whimsical cozy mystery series, features Tempest Raj who is finally settling in as an “architectural illusionist” for her family’s construction company, Secret Staircase Constructions whose specialty is creating magical spaces, secret rooms, and hidden staircases. Our protagonist Tempest, a former Vegas magician who until recently had followed the family’s magical tradition. The rumour of a family curse, the “eldest dies by magic” has rung true in the past including the unsolved murder of her magician mother in addition to the disasters that have plagued her career and family.

Her new career is in jeopardy as a result of Julian Rhodes, the client from hell tries to kill his wife, then blames his wife’s so-called “accident” which has left her in a coma on the Secret Staircase Construction’s shoddy work, an accusation that could ruin them. Tempest is also preparing for her final magic show to bid adieu to her past stage persona to be held at the Whispering Creek Theater, a creepy gothic landmark and the place where Tempest’s mother took her last breath.

Tempest is so happy when her mentor and friend, illusionist Nicodemus the Necromancer arrives from Scotland while planning his retirement tour. Their visit is interrupted when Tempest gets a call from Julian telling her he got her message, is at the theater and wants to know where she is. When Tempest arrives at the theater, she gets more than she bargained for when she stumbles across Julian’s body along with a note in Tempest’s handwriting.

With everything casting a shadow on her and her family Tempest is on the case with the help of good friends to prove their innocence by finding the real killer. The more she uncovers the more she uncovers connections to her mother’s murder five years earlier.

Gigi Pandian has done it again, a brilliantly unique and extremely fun cozy mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seat. One of my favorite things about Pandian’s books is her ability to create diverse, quirky, multi-faceted characters who all feel well-formed. My only complaint is that she often tends to “tell” and not “show”.

I adore this series and this entry really had it all, a complex, interesting mystery with thrill, chills, and intrigue. I really enjoyed this entry and would highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more of Tempest’s adventures.

This is the third Book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series by Gigi Pandian. I had read and enjoyed the first book in this series, but missed the second one. I was happy to grab this one.

Description:
Secret Staircase Construction is under attack, and Tempest Raj feels helpless. After former client Julian Rhodes tried to kill his wife, he blamed her "accident" on the home renovation company’s craftsmanship. Now the family business—known for bringing magic into homes through hidden doors, floating staircases, and architectural puzzle walls—is at a breaking point. No amount of Scottish and Indian meals from her grandfather can distract Tempest from the they’re being framed.

When Tempest receives an urgent midnight phone call from Julian, she decides to meet him at the historic Whispering Creek Theater—only to find his dead body, a sword through his chest. After a blade appears from thin air to claim another victim, Tempest is certain they’re dealing with a booby trap… something Secret Staircase Construction could easily build. Tempest refuses to wait for the investigation to turn to her or her loved ones. She knows the pieces of the puzzle are right in front of her, she just has to put them together correctly before more disaster strikes.

My Thoughts:

I like the magician elements in this series as well as the aspect of the construction company building secret staircases and hidden rooms. It's just fun. The history of the curst in Tempest's family adds and element of intrigue as well. Tempest makes a great character with her skills as a magician as well as her detective abilities. Other characters in the book including her family members and her friends are also fun and interesting. The plot moved well and kept my attention throughout. There are many twists to the investigation which truly seems to be unsolvable. This is a fun and addictive series that i would recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on March 19, 2024.