This was a very interesting take on the locked room mystery! I loved the diversity of the characters, it made me feel so much more at home. Occasionally things seemed a bit complicated or confusing, but it all worked its way out. I enjoyed following the great group while they solved the mystery and seeing the police work together with them. The additional characters added so much to the story (grandparents, father, neighbor, etc) and I enjoyed it immensely!

Title: The Library Game
Author: Gigi Pandian
Series: Secret Staircase Mystery #4
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: March 18, 2025

I received complimentary eARC and ALCs from Minotaur Books (a division of St. Martin's Press) and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Amusing • Lighthearted • Unsurprising

📖 S Y N O P S I S

There's a body in the library—and everyone is a suspect.

Tempest Raj couldn’t be happier that the family business, Secret Staircase Construction, is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Known for enchanting architectural features like sliding bookshelves and secret passageways, the company is now taking on a dream project: transforming a home into a public library that celebrates history's greatest fictional detectives.

Though the work is far from done, Gray House Library’s new owner is eager to host a murder mystery dinner and literary themed escape room. But when a rehearsal ends with an actor murdered and the body vanishes, Tempest is witness to a seemingly impossible crime. Fueled by her grandfather’s Scottish and Indian meals, Tempest and the rest of the crew must figure out who is making beloved classic mystery plots come to life in a deadly game.

💭 T H O U G H T S

A library renovation combined with a murder mystery dinner and a literary themed escape room - these are the elements that made me immediately added The Library Game to my list of 2025 anticipated releases. What I failed to realize until I had started reading was it is the fourth installment in the Secret Staircase Mystery series. Oops.

Like so many of the cozy mysteries I pick up, I absolutely adored the small town community and the old house turned library setting. Tempest's character is certainly interesting and entertaining, yet at times it feels like the author has made her too eccentric. I did, however, appreciate the diverseness of the cast. The heart of this book really is the relationships between the characters, and I may have missed out of some of that relationship building not having read the previous books in the series.

When it comes to the mystery element, it was pretty simple to figure out whodunit. In my opinion, there were too many clue and rather than subtly inserting throughout the narrative, they were so in your face that it disrupted the overall flow. My interest level also shifted erratically while reading, as opposed to remaining consistently invested.

I tandem read the audiobook, narrated by Soneela Nankani, along with the digital copy. While the audiobook helped speed up the reading process, there is nothing about it that really stood out. The narration is fine and did the job. I know cozy mysteries don't always have a lot of emotion, yet I felt that was lacking in the voicing of the story.

The Library Game is meant to be a locked room mystery, however, much of the action takes place outside of the locked-room. It has so many elements I adore, yet how they come together just didn't work for me. Maybe if I'd have had more context from the previous books, it'd have been a better experience. Cozy mysteries are not my go-to genre, so it's quite possible people who love cozies will enjoy this a lot more.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• escape rooms
• books about books
• cozy mysteries

⚠️ CW: death, murder

Even though this was #4 in the series, I hoped I could jump in mid-way and pick up the thread. Well, it didn't quite work for me. I never felt I had traction in the story,the characters all felt like strangers to me, and the "mystery" didn't really pique my interest. Clearly a lot of folks like the series, unfortunately it didn't really click in my mind.

Not that it's important, but the name "Tempest" reminded me of an old-school "performer" with that name, and that thought was hard to shake.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

A whimsical confetti of a locked room mystery is the fourth crime solving venture for former Las Vegas magician and illusionist Tempest Raj who has come home a joined her family’s business Secret Staircase Construction which specializes in constructing hidden features in homes. The company’s latest venture is for Harold Gray, a wealthy older man who hired them to convert his elegant home into a public library for his classic detective fiction collection. In the meantime, Harold has died and his grandnephew Cameron, who stands to inherit the house and a tiny apartment built for him in the attic, has taken over a point person. Taj and her close Ivy have also been working on a murder mystery play that Harold wanted to host as a public welcome to the new library.

But on rehearsal night, one of actors appears dead on the ground after a shooting with a toy gun followed by a black out, and then the body disappears. Taj, her friends, boyfriend Gideon, and her close-knit family, set out to try to solve what seems an impossible crime. Sanjay Ray, another close friend of Taj and a famous magician had lent his special compartmented trunk to the rehearsal at the actor’s request and emerges the prime suspect. The local town of Hidden Creek’s savvy Detective Blackburn gets on the case, but Taj and her friends all scramble to help. Potential motives for all the characters emerge, and danger lurks around every bend as Taj and company pursue the killer.
With wit and twists, the killer gets caught. A fun book to curl up on the couch and immerse yourself!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press Minotaur books and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

This is the first book in this series that I have read. I can honestly say you don't have to read the earlier books to catch onto the action. I enjoyed Tempest and her crew of fellow sleuths and will go back and read the earlier books. A new library is set to open with detective fiction and to celebrate, Tempest and Ivy have written a mystery play to involve the audience. When it comes time for dress rehearsal, one of the actors ends up dead and then missing. An interesting problem to solve, especially when the body turns up the next day. Well written and plotted with red herrings that lead to new thinking and discoveries. Can't wait for the next adventure!
I was given an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I have always been a fan of GIgi Pandian and looked forward to this book. Unfortunately it did not live up to my expectations. It had an intriguing locked room, closed circle plot, but lacked a real motive for the murder. It was plodding and ponderous and the planning for solving the crime was repeayed so many time, I was bored.

Another excellent romp with Tempest and friends! I'm sad to have finished because now I have to wait for Pandian to write the next one!

Raj Tempest is a great character and I enjoy reading the Staircase Mystery series. This book is the 4th in the series but can be read as a standalone. Raj and her friends have good chemistry. I liked the pace of this book and the character relationships. The twists are solid and kept me guessing,

This was fun! This is book 4 of the Secret Staircase series but may be read as a standalone. This locked room mystery kept me guessing and was extremely entertaining. This is definitely a book for book lovers. Taking place in a library will connect with bookaholics. Tempest is a magnetic main character who drives the plot and kept me engaged. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy.

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian is a rather cozy mystery novel in which a group of friends and a rabbit (which does not talk) work together to solve two impossible crimes.

Secret Staircase Construction is a company which installs secret passageways and other neat additions to houses, and they’ve been hired to work on transforming a house into a classical mystery library. Before the library opens, they plan to host a murder mystery dinner and a library escape room… until one of the actors shows up dead, potentially destroying the plans for the library until the mystery is solved.

When I initially read the blurb for this book I was a bit worried about the premise being too cheesy, as having an actual murder occur during a murder mystery dinner isn’t the most original of ideas. But I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t too overdone, and the majority of the sleuthing doesn’t occur trapped in the house, and this is just the set up for a locked-room mystery.

Also, when I began this book I quickly realized I had unwittingly started a series on the fourth book. I don’t feel this hampered my enjoyment too much as the relationships between all the characters were still explained, and I actually want to read the first books in the series now. While past events were alluded to, the past mysteries that they solved weren’t revealed completely, so starting on this book doesn’t spoil previous books too much (to my knowledge).

Reminiscent of classical mystery stories, all of the clues are hidden in the details, which I appreciated a lot, as I feel that modern mystery novels often seem to choose a killer at random rather than nicely following a string of clues.

The characters were enjoyable and the fact that the main characters are magicians adds a fun touch to the mysteries. I wouldn’t say it was a page turner exactly, but it was a cozy and entertaining read. I plan on reading the first books in the series in the future, and would pick up any future books down the line.

*Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

First I would like to point out that I did not know this was the 4th book in a series when I requested and started it. I am glad to report that this series is written in a way that not reading the first 3 books didnt make me completely lost from the start just had me not knowing how all the characters feel and are to each other (luckily the author restated the relationships in a way that made everything smooth picture in my mind).

This was a bit slow starting off but lets be honest what cozy murder mystery isnt? The whole point of cozy is not to be jump scared, fear for the shadows around the readers rooms at night, and be comfortable knowing that most of the cast will survive to the end of the book.

Over all a good book. I did predict the killer and motive but not all the things that would happen to lead to the ending.

Would recommend to others.

A cozy who-dun-it mystery. I enjoyed the read and thought it was well written and kept me intrigued to find out who was the murderer. Everyone’s characters at one point in time seemed like they could be the killer. The premise of it being at rehearsals for a murder mystery dinner was really fun too! This was my first time with the characters, but I really enjoyed them all. Tempest is such an enjoyable character too, and I’m kind of obsessed with her grandpa. I appreciated that these books could be read as a standalone, or at least it felt like it could!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Gigi Pandian for the ARC!

Gigi Pandian, I’ve been a fan of her writing since her very first book. The author has a knack with locked room mysteries and this newest release is no exception. There are lots twists and turns, and nothing is as it appears. If you enjoy locked room mysteries, and memorable characters, you’ll want to read The Library Game!

I typically don't like to begin several books into a series but I made an exception with The Library Game. Very enjoyable although a little hard to follow not having read the previous books. It made me want to start at the beginning and read them all. Likable characters and fun atmosphere and plot. Will definitely continue with this series. But I can I also say....bring back Jaya Jones please!

I didn't realize this the fourth book in a series when I picked it up, so it took me longer to get into the story as I was a bit lost in terms of character dynamics and world building. Still, I found this a fun and fast mystery read. The characters were likeable, the setting was cozy, and the ending was satisfying--the same level of spirit and development as a Hallmark Channel movie. I enjoy a good escape room, locked room mystery, and library setting, so the combined premise was right up my alley. It should likewise appeal to any fan of the cozy mystery genre who want a quick and light story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Gigi Pandian's latest in her Secret Staircase Mysteries was new to me. I have to go back and read her previous books immediately. This escape room murder mystery was a blast. It had me until the end.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

THE LIBRARY GAME is the fourth book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries by Gigi Pandian. I’ve been a fan of this series from the very start and have looked forward to spending time with the cast of delightful characters with each new release. While this can be read as a standalone, it’s worthwhile to start at the beginning and follow the character development of the core cast. Protagonist Tempest Raj, a former magician, is now working with her family’s Secret Staircase Construction business. I love the description of secret rooms, sliding bookshelves, and passageways, which lend a mysterious air to the story. Ms. Pandian’s strong descriptive skills bring each character to life, as well as assisting the reader to see the settings and experience the action going on as the story progresses.

The author is also a master at the locked room mystery and this newest release is no exception. I like how Tempest uses her magician skills to navigate the illusions and intricacies of the murder and the disappearance of the body. She puts her skills to good use when she and her friends become trapped in a room her family’s business has been renovating. There are twists and turns, and nothing is as it appears, until the clues fall into place as Tempest solves the crime. If you enjoy locked room mysteries, an escape room plot, a puzzling murder to solve, and memorable characters, you’ll want to read The Library Game!

I was provided with an advance ebook copy, thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian was an absolute delight! The story kept me engaged from start to finish with its clever twists, intriguing mystery, and captivating characters. The pacing was just right, making it hard to put down, and I loved how the book blended suspense with a rich, immersive setting. If you’re looking for a mystery that will keep you hooked until the very last page, this one is definitely worth picking up!

Tempest and her friends are caught up in another murder mystery. Even though I haven’t read the earlier books in the series, I still really enjoyed this one. The author adeptly shares information about the past, enhancing the current narrative without overwhelming it. I was just as stumped as the characters, but once we all set aside our biases of friendship, the culprit became clear. This book is a fantastic closed-room mystery, paying tribute to the classics. The characters are relatable and well-developed. I appreciated that, despite their efforts to solve the crime, they also involved the police.
I would definitely read other books by this author.
Thank you, NetGalley and Gigi Pandian for the ARC.

This cozy mystery series has a really unique premise. It follows a family that owns the secret staircase construction company. The mysteries in the whole series are real puzzlers.