A murder mystery dinner in a crime-themed house and a crime-themed escape room? Sign me up! But when things go awry, Tempest Raj and her crew must figure out the truth behind the illusions. I really enjoyed the crime-themed elements of this story and thought it was so interesting to have Tempest and her crew actually caught in the escape room. The reveal at the end of how everything was done was so intriguing! I have to admit, though, that the magic of the previous three books wasn't quite there in this book. This book was fun and I still love the characters, but things felt almost too normal for Tempest, and the tension between Gideon and Sanjay was just weird to me. It added a layer that was frustrating, and I missed the almost sibling-like relationship Sanjay and Tempest had in previous books. It felt more like she was trying to put him off a relationship here rather than just enjoying each other's company as friends. But I so love Gigi Pandian's writing and her mysteries always are filled with twists and turns that I love.

5/5 stars: This fourth entry in Pandian's Secret Staircase Mystery series, which is a BIPOC DIY Cozy Mystery that takes place in California and follows an Indian American former stage magician who works for her family's home renovation company designing sliding bookshelves, secret passageways and other tricky architectural features. While finishing up her latest project, a private home turned classic detective fiction library, where an interactive murder mystery play will be performed, she and a group of friends and actors are trapped in the literary themed escape room by someone playing a deadly game. After their escape they discover one of the actor's dead and when her best friend's implicated, she turns sleuth to solve this impossible crime. With plenty of twists and turns, Pandian has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Pandian's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Tempest, her friends (especially Sanjay), and family, her colleagues at Secret Staircase Construction and the eclectic townsfolk of Hidden Creek. I love seeing Tempest and Gideon's relationship progressing. And of course, one must forget Tempest's ten-pound, lop-eared rabbit, Abra AKA Abracadabra. Additionally, I love the Raj's fabulous family estate, Fiddler's Folly, and all the unique architectural features. Oh and you'll for sure want to try out the absolutely yummy recipe included. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Under Lock & Skeleton Key. This is favorite series; highly recommend!

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

(3.75 stars)
The fourth book in the Secret Staircase mystery series is another delightful locked-room mystery. This time the family-owned specialty construction company doesn’t figure into the story very much, but the talents of the former magician, Tempest Raj, definitely does. Tempest and her friends are putting on a show that is an escape room/murder mystery dinner play. It’s being staged in Gray House, which was a private home filled with classic mystery novels that is being turned into a library - if the town council approves the plan. The show is supposed to be part of the town’s Summer Stroll festivities. But when one of the actors is found murdered, will the show be able to go on?

There are several characters to keep track of, but if you’ve read at least one of the previous books, that won’t be an issue. The main “players” include Tempest’s friend and possible future boyfriend, Gideon, a talented stone carver; Sanjay, her magician friend who bills himself as the Hindu Houdini; Ivy, who runs the existing local mystery-themed library, and more. As usual, Grandpa Ash provides delicious-sounding food! (Don’t miss the blackberry crumble cobbler recipe at the end of the book.) And Abra, Tempest’s pet rabbit, makes a couple of appearances.

The locked-room aspect was well done, as always. Do we actually see what we think we see? In addition to the mystery, there’s an emphasis on family and friendship, which I always appreciate.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was narrated by Soneela Nankani, who once again did a great job with the many characters and accents.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read The Library Game, book #4 in the Secret Staircase locked-room mystery series by Gigi Pandian. Although I had heard of the author (and even met her at a conference), this is the first book of hers that I've read. And I'd like to read more.
Although this book is part of a series, the author provided enough backstory about the characters and their relationships so it works as a standalone.
Tempest Raj, the protagonist, is a strong, smart heroine with a logical mind for figuring out clues and leveraging the skills and connections of her friends and family. A former magician, she now works for her family's construction business, building secret staircases and hidden rooms. Her current project is setting up an interactive murder mystery play and a literary-themed escape room as part of their town's summer stroll. The setting is Gray House, whose recently deceased owner directed that the mansion be turned into a public library dedicated to classic detective fiction.
On the first night of rehearsal, the play goes terribly wrong when the "victim" turns out to be really dead. The players immediately call 911, but by the time the police arrive, the body has disappeared. The actor who supposedly died later sends everyone text messages and locks them all in the escape room, but no one has actually seen him.
This was a well-constructed mystery with memorable characters who work together as a team to solve the murder. Highly recommended for readers who love good puzzles.

The Library game is a suspenseful with a murder mystery dinner that is hosted at Gray House things go wrong. This book is well written with some humor and suspense.

When I requested to review this book, I didnt realize it was part of a series. However, despite not having read the previous books in the series, the author included bits and pieces from past stories. It was an overall light read despite the topic of murder.

ARC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️ for The Library Game by Gigi Pandian

Book 4 in the Secret Staircase Mysteries has Tempest and her friends solving another crime. Tempest’s family business, Secret Staircase construction, is renovating a new library, but before it can open, the murder mystery dinner is facing a real murder.

This was a cozy mystery in a quaint town full of magic rooms and libraries galore. I found the mystery entertaining enough, but unfortunately did not enjoy the characters (except Sanjay, he was funny). This could be because it’s my first read of the series and I’m missing out on some development in previous books. I thought it was nice that they paid homage to the classic mystery authors. I loved the short chapters and felt that they made it a quick fun read.
Cozy mystery fans, The Library Game by Gigi Pandian is out March 18th, 2025.
Thank you to #netgalley and Minotaur books for the opportunity to read this e-arc.

When she finished Tempest’s main arc in A Midnight Puzzle, I was worried that we’d stop getting Secret Staircase mysteries. I’m happy to say there is no cause to worry about that! Tempest is back and better than ever. I actually think perhaps shedding all the backstory was good for the pacing of these, as we could do without some of the exposition. But in any case, this time there has been a murder at a new library, and Tempest and her friends (and her rabbit) are on the case.

As always when I am reviewing the nth book in a series, I’ll answer two questions. First, if I’m already a fan of the series, should I read this book? If you’ve been along for the ride, and you have a good set of snacks handy, jump right in on The Library Game. It’s got all the scrumptious food descriptions, impossible murders, immaculate classic murder mystery vibes, that you could want. Go forth and enjoy.

The second question is for people who haven’t started the series and want to know if they should start at all, and if so, do they have to start at the beginning. I’ll answer these in reverse order. Yes. You have to start at the beginning. That main arc I talked about in the first paragraph? Totally spoiled if you jump in now. Should you read the series? That depends.

John Dickson Carr, one of the mystery writers who is an inspiration for these books, has a self insert character go on a tirade about how everyone is always on him to make his books “plausible” and says something to the effect of “I’m not in the business of “plausible,” I’m in the business of possible.” If you want your detective fiction to be “realistic” or “plausible” or “gritty” this is not the series for you. If you want something warm and cozy without being odd or saccharine. But you’ve also gotta like your cozies with a little bit of edge. Not, like a lot of edge, but a little. You’ve gotta be down with a little bit of meta-fictional discussion. If you’re in for some cozy-meta mystery, come on in, the water’s fine.

Will post and add links closer to the actual pub date.

The Library Game was my first book by Gigi Pandian. This is the fourth book in the series in this series, but was easy enough to follow without having to read the other three books.

I loved Tempest but her family stole my heart. Her quirky, loving, and supporting father and grandparents are everything a happy family dynamic should be. Their family business, Secret Staircase Construction, is a dream come true that combines whimsical architecture, books, and magic.
The family’s most recent job was to convert the home of Harold Gray into a library comprised exclusively of classic detective fiction as he had requested in his will prior to his death. His grandnephew would live in the attic, which Secret Staircase Construction, had converted into a cozy apartment and run the library. Prior to opening the library to the public, Tempest and friends decide to draw attention to the newest addition to their little town of Hidden Creek by hosting a murder mystery play and escape room. Things take a turn when a real murder takes place during the dress rehearsal. Now it is up to Tempest, her friends, her family, the police, and her trusty grumpy bunny sidekick to solve the murder so that the library can open.

This was a fun read and kept me guessing until the end. The beginning was a bit slow and didn’t draw me in quickly but that could have been due to the fact that I was starting on book four so it took time to warm up to the characters. Once I got to know them and the murder unfolded, then I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read and review The Library Game prior to its release.

3.25 stars. I enjoyed this sequel as a cozy snowy-day read. I didn't expect it to carry as much emotional heft as the previous entry (where Tempest discovers the truth about her mother and aunt), but it was maybe a little too surface-depth. And the characters' actions and dialogue in the first half of the book were somewhat unnatural and clunky, not like how people really act or talk to each other.. which is one of my pet peeves. But if you're looking for something lighthearted, easy, with a satisfying conclusion, this series is a good bet.

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian has all the makings of a great cozy mystery: an old house being transformed into a library, a murder mystery dinner, and a literary-themed escape room. These elements made it an immediate addition to my 2025 anticipated reads list. However, I didn’t realize it was the fourth book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series until I started reading, and that may have impacted my overall enjoyment.

The setting—a small-town library renovation with hidden passageways and nods to classic detective fiction—is absolutely charming. Tempest Raj, the protagonist, is quirky and entertaining, though her eccentricities sometimes feel overdone. The diverse cast of characters adds depth, and the relationships between them seem to be the heart of the story. However, having not read the earlier books, I felt like I missed some of the established dynamics that might have made those connections more meaningful.

As for the mystery, the “locked-room” premise had a lot of potential, but it fell a bit flat for me. The clues were overly obvious and inserted too bluntly into the narrative, which disrupted the flow and made it easy to figure out the culprit early on. While the idea of a seemingly impossible crime was intriguing, much of the action occurred outside the locked-room setting, which detracted from the core premise. My interest also fluctuated throughout, rather than staying consistently engaged.
While cozy mysteries aren’t always emotionally charged, I would have appreciated more energy in the performance.

While The Library Game has plenty of elements I adore—books, libraries, and a classic murder mystery vibe—the execution didn’t fully work for me. That said, cozy mystery fans or readers familiar with the series may enjoy it more, as they’ll likely appreciate the recurring characters and community. For me, it was a mixed experience, though I might revisit earlier books in the series for better context. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC.

This was cute and sweet I had so much fun! This is the perfect read for someone who is in a slump and just needs to break out of it. It was fast paced and not too complicated. The plot was succinct and I loved that. Perfect for a cozy rainy day in!

I really enjoyed this cozy, locked-in mystery! It was entertaining with a very fun cast of characters and great pace. I will pick up more by this author.

Tempest Raj, magician and designer at the family business Secret Staircase Construction, are renovating a home into a classic detective fiction library. She and her friends, along with rabbit Abra, and working play to be performed in soon to open library. On rehearsal night, an actor appears dead and then disappears. Where is the body? Who is causing all the ruckus? Is it the bird watching retired librarian? Our beloved Sanjay (when will my favorite guy find love?)? Whoever it is, continues to leave red herrings and threats of poison making our gang of sleuths fear their lives. Another fun and twisty mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this DRC.
#TheLibraryGame #NetGalley

Tempest and her friends are setting up a mystery play for an old home that is being turned into a classic mystery book library. During a rehearsal, an actor appears to actually be shot, but then the body disappears! Tempest uses her experience as a magician to solve the seemingly impossible and solve the mystery. Tempest and her friends and family are great characters, especially Grandpa Ash, the magician turned doctor retired to cook delicious food. This is a fun cozy mystery and I love the unusual addition of a former stage magician to the story.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks for the opportunity to read.
This book was a good page turner. It's funny, thoughtful and a great read. I can't wait for the next one!

The fourth book in the series, and it's a series I enjoy.

This time Tempest and the Secret Staircase construction team are renovating a library, that will be home to detective fiction. Soon enough, they are embroiled in their own mystery to solve, as they attempt to host a murder mystery dinner and an escape room game.

All of the usual characters return, including grandpa Ash with his delectable food, Ivy, Gideon and Sanjay. The characters are likeable, and there is plenty of humor sprinkled in amongst the mysteries. I particularly enjoyed the addition of the nosy neighbor who keeps the crew on their toes!

Literary references abound as we attempt to solve a murder.

A book about libraries and books is always of interest to me, and this was fun with Tempest and the crew.

hen I began reading the Secret Staircase Mysteries, I assumed Pandian was writing a trilogy, as the ending of the third book hinted at a cliffhanger. I was therefore delighted to discover the fourth installment,

The Library Game. As with the previous books in the series, Pandian presents a locked-room mystery. The setting is Gray House, a three-story Victorian mansion. Secret Staircase Construction has been hired by the owner to convert his home into a private library that will house his collection of over 10,000 classic detective and mystery titles. To introduce the library, Tempest and her crew have created an interactive mystery play as part of Hidden Creek's Summer Stroll, an event that has generated considerable interest, judging by ticket sales. However, not everyone in Hidden Creek is enthusiastic about the library. A petition has been circulated, and acts of sabotage seem to be disrupting the escape room performance. The plot thickens with the death of a cast member during the dress rehearsal, a disappearing body, and bewildered witnesses. Sanjay, a long-time character who first appeared in Pandian's Jaya Jones series, becomes the prime suspect. True to his character, he does not handle the situation well. His over-the-top whining, pouting, and self-centered misery, while played for comedic effect, almost made him an unlikeable character for me.

Other recurring characters remain true to form. Ivy is still clad in pink and pursuing her library career. Ash continues to be the wizard of Indian cuisine, tempting everyone, including this reader, with his delicious dishes. And Abracadabra, Tempest's rabbit, serves as the perfect mascot for this "Scooby" gang of mystery solvers.

Cozy mysteries are known for their lighthearted tone, but Pandian enjoys subverting expectations. In this case, the tension is so high that a reader might be tempted to skim through the pages. However, the prose is so rich and evocative that one is also inclined to linger and savor every word.

Full disclosure: I received this copy from NetGalley and Minotaur in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for the opportunity.

My thanks to Net Galley, St Martin's, and Minotaur for allowing me this arc.

This was a fun , cozy , locked room mystery. A body is found in a library escape room. Whodunit? Tempest and her friends try to solve while dealing with nosy neighbor Mrs Hudson.

I liked the premise but found the reason and motivation for the murder a bit flat.

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian is the fourth book in her Secret Staircase Mystery series. It follows the main character, Tempest, and her friends as they prepare for a locked room mystery play at a private library that features mystery books.

I haven’t read the previous books in the series, but didn’t feel like I was missing anything. I liked the mystery; the story started with fast paced action then slowed down as the friends tried to work out what was happening.

It was clever how the different characters used their skills as magicians, actors, artists and librarians to work out the clues to solve the crime. There were nods and references to classic murder mysteries by many authors, including Agatha Christie.

The supporting characters were also fun, from the nosy neighbor across the street to the sweetest grandfather who kept them all well fed. I recommend this for fans of cozy murder mysteries.

Thank you to the publisher St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books, author Gigi Pandian, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.