Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for an early copy of this library mystery. This review is my personal opinion.
I will admit I was a little lost at first in reading this book until I went back and read that this is the 4th book in this standalone series. Although the author did reference enough from the previous books to catch the reader up quickly. Construction to the Gray House Library has been ongoing and a dinner and mystery theater production is planned to garner more interest in the library. It is dress rehearsal night and everything is planned to go off without a hitch. But that was before a murder was committed! Tempest Raj and the rest of the characters that make up the Secret Staircase Construction Company, must determine who is recreating a murder mystery plot that includes a disappearing corpse! With murder, misdirection and a number of twists this turned out to be an enjoyable cozy.

This is a sweet cozy mystery that is big on atmosphere and light on suspense and thrills. The characters are colorful and entertaining, and the magic element will appeal to lovers of the fantastic. I must admit it is not my cup of tea (or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for a whimsical tale), but I think it will find its proper readers--the story flows well, and the characters are easy to root for (or against, as the case may be). For readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with elements of magic and small-town romance and friendship, this one should appeal.

The Library Game is book 4 in Gigi Pandian's Secret Staircase Mystery Series, but it's easily read as a standalone novel.

Tempest Raj and her family's company, Secret Staircase Construction, have been hired to convert historic home, Gray House, into a mystery library. Although the renovations are still in progress, the owner is hosting an interactive murder mystery play and literary themed escape room to highlight the library, as part of the town's annual summer stroll event. During one of their final dress rehearsals, in which Tempest and some of her friends are taking part, one of the actors winds up dead, and the group of friends must find the culprit so that the play and opening of the escape room can go on.

I really enjoyed this locked-room/closed-circle mystery. The characters were interesting, and I enjoyed the camaraderie between the characters in Tempest's friend group. What made the mystery even more interesting was that there were no outside suspects, and almost all of the people who were suspects were seemingly nice people, with no obvious problem with the deceased, which made the mystery more difficult to solve.

I also enjoyed the magical elements…not supernatural magic, but stage magic…which was a refreshing twist since there are many cozy mysteries out there with supernatural magic themes. I enjoyed the way the logic of setting up an illusion of magic was used to help explain the mystery of both the death of the actor, and the side mystery of the burglary of the other library.

I think any lover of cozy mysteries will enjoy The Library Game, and I will be looking for more books in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“The Library Game” by Gigi Pandian
A Good Mystery
This was an interesting mystery. Alas, I had a really hard time keeping myself engaged; so I skipped several chapters. I don’t think it was the story’s fault, but just life got in the way of challenging my mind to discover the mystery of who, why, how, etc.. before the author would clue me in. Happy Reading ! ! Enjoy the mystery.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. The Library Game by Gigi Pandian is a delightful and engaging mystery that combines elements of library settings with intriguing puzzles. The story follows the protagonist, a librarian, who is thrust into a complex situation involving hidden treasures and long-buried secrets. Pandian’s writing is accessible and fast-paced, making it a quick and enjoyable read for mystery lovers. The characters are well-developed, and the library setting adds a cozy, yet suspenseful atmosphere. Overall, The Library Game is a charming blend of adventure and intrigue, perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of history.

"In The Library Game, Tempest Raj and Secret Staircase Construction are renovating a classic detective fiction library that just got its first real-life mystery.

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.

Multiple award winning author Gigi Pandian masterfully weaves wit and warmth in the Secret Staircase Mysteries. Readers will delight in the surprises Secret Staircase Construction uncovers behind the next locked door."

Oh, I know there's a risk I could be murdered, but can I get an invite to the dinner and escape room?

A fun bookish mystery with a magical twist! The Library Game is a delightful mix of mystery, magic, and literary fun. Turning a house into a detective-themed library is the perfect setting for an escape-room-style whodunit, and Gigi Pandian makes great use of secret passages and clever illusions. The impossible crime kept me guessing, and the book is packed with fun nods to classic mysteries. Some parts felt a little over the top, but that’s part of the charm. A must-read for fans of locked-room puzzles and bookish adventures!

Thank you Gigi Pandian, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I thought I was over cozy mysteries but this series has me in a chokehold. I love that the characters make sense to be trying to unfold what happened and don’t seem to be going out of their way to investigate like lil busy bodies.

I think you could read it as a standalone but WHY?! I’d start from the beginning it’s all great.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan for an alc

This book is such a fun twist on a cozy mystery. I love that the characters are dynamic and from such unique fields of work. This book reminds me of a game of Clue with magic tricks built in, and it is just lovely. Readers are going to be swept up in a mystery that will enchant and stump them, more importantly it will keep them guessing till the very end. Truly this is pleasure to read from start to finish, and I am excited to recommend it soon.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

The Library Game is the fourth in the Secret Staircaae Mysteries series. Secret Staircase Construction is a family company which designs and creates incredible quirky home features such as secret staircases and hidden panels, anything an imaginative client dreams of. This time, Tempest is especially thrilled to work on the Gary House Library project, the ultimate fairy tale-ish house which is to become a library. Tempest and her coworker and friend Ivy pour their hearts into it with the support of others. But not all the neighbours are on board. Murder is added to the mix.

The blurb promised a compelling mystery and in theory it is irresistible to me, especially as I really like this series. But it is not as strong as the previous installments. Maybe it just didn't meet my expectations. The mystery itself lacked oomph. However, I liked the nods to Golden Age authors and libraries as well as the bookish clues and construction project.

This cozy series is fun to leap into but do start with the others. Not that this can't be a standalone...it can. It's just that the first three deliver more of a punch which is important when starting.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the other Secret Staircase. The middle was too long. The characters didn’t find the solution quickly enough to keep me interested. I suppose some of it was to show Tempest’s confusion between her feelings for her two suitors. I recommend this book. You don’t have to have read any others in the series, although it helps with the relationships between all the characters.
Thank you to Net Gallery for the preview opportunity.

The Library Game is the 4th book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series and it is an intriguing locked room cozy mystery. The characters are very likable and the mystery kept me guessing. I enjoy how the parts of the mystery are solved a little at a time. Tempest Raj was a stage magician but now works for her family's Secret Staircase Construction Company. Her friends Ivy, Sanjay, and Gideon are wonderful, supportive friends and help with investigating. Tempest has finally chosen one of the guys to date but they all still hang out. Secret Staircase Construction is renovating a house into a mystery library. The new owner wants to host a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater and all four friends are helping out. During one of the rehearsals, they think a local is dead and then he disappears. The group is together and no one leaves the room so they are confused how it could happen. There are some strange things going on as well to complicate the situation. This is such an intriguing book and series and I am looking forward to more adventures with the friends. #TheLibraryGame #TheSecretStaircaseMystery #MinotaurBooks #StMartinsPress #GigiPandian

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for the copy of this book for review.

This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author with these characters. I’m very much enjoying the series. The main character is Tempest Raj, a woman who was an entertainer for many years who is now working in her family’s business of remodeling homes. But these remodels have a twist. The company specializes in secret staircases, hidden alcoves, trick entries and other seemingly magical architectural details.
Tempest’s family are very supportive of each other as well as their community and friends.

The characters in these stories have come to feel like friends to this reader as well. They have quirks in their personalities and each one is unique.
In this story, Tempest and her gang are working on a house they are transforming into a library. The owner passed away and left a vast number of volumes of old-school mystery books. He left funds for his nephew to renovate the house and make it into a specialty library with living quarters above.

To introduce the new specialty library to the community, a play is written to entertain the crowds during a weekend event. While rehearsing the play, things begin to go awry. From what seemed to be a murder victim, to a disappearing body, a busybody neighbor, and one of Tempest’s friends being put under surveillance by the police, this story is full of twists and turns. One issue after another arises and Tempest and her friends have to solve the real life mysteries before someone else gets hurt or killed.

Another successful adventure by Gigi Pandian. Even though I figured out many parts of it, I love these characters and plot lines so much that it’s like hanging out with old friends. Bring on the next one.

Tempest Raj returns to our shelves in another mystery. This time we are delighted with a more locked room mystery than previously. As Secret Staircase's latest project is nearing its opening, a dead body is found. Could this be the work of someone with a grudge against the victim? Or someone who doesn't want to see the project (a themed library) finished and in business? The answers to these questions are what Tempest intends to uncover.

This is the fourth book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries, and we are treated back to cozy murder mystery vibes again. I see from a lot of advanced reviews that many people didn't realize this was a series, and while I think it could possibly be read as a standalone, there is not enough exposition to do it justice as such. You don't really get the level of character development in this one as you do in all of the previous ones. I think that once this is published and more people who are familiar with the series put in their reviews, it will be more appreciated.

With the exception of the character Gideon, there is not much that is changed by the end of the book in terms of the characters lives. So this book was more contained within itself and didn't really progress the overarching story-line of Secret Staircase Mysteries.

While this was still an enjoyable novel, I found this to be my least favourite of the series so far. I didn't feel as pulled in by the mystery, and maybe part of that is that I am not the biggest fan of Sanjay, and he featured a little more heavily in this book.

Regardless, this was still a fun book, and will be a worthwhile read for anyone who is a fan of the series!

3.5 rounded up to 4

Another enjoyable read from Gigi Pandian, and the fourth in the Secret Staircase series.

In terms of the mystery and the quality of how the characters are written, this was a return to form for the series, which slipped a lot in the third book. Here we get the best of Tempest, Ivy, and the rest of the gang, as well as a well plotted mystery.

I still wish this series would spend more time on the architectural detail and the stage magic driven stuff that made the first book in the series so exceptional. This one gives us a bit more of the latter, but not much of the former. I wish we saw more of Tempest’s relatives as well, who are delightful and featured more prominently earlier in the series.

I was very happy with the mystery itself, which felt both solidly plotted and thoroughly enjoyable. It seems like Pandian won’t have any trouble keeping this series going, so I hope we see another installment in the not too distant future.

This is a great cozy mystery series that I constantly recommend to others. I enjoyed this new installment, which involves busybody neighbors, a dream local library for mystery lovers, and dinner theater--until the solution was revealed. Without giving too much away, I thought the entire debacle hinged on an established character acting in a way that was in opposition to their character. This is the first time I've been less than impressed with a Pandian reveal, however. I will still recommend this series as a whole and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

I want to start my review with a disclaimer: I have not read any of the other books in the Secret Staircase series. I have a feeling I would have liked the book better had I already been familiar with the characters and their relationships.

Tempest Raj and her friends are close to complete on renovations to turn an old mansion into a library for mysteries, per the will of the deceased owner. As part of the upcoming town event, they plan to soft launch with a murder mystery play and a themed escape room, but when lights come up andn one of the actors is dead, the locked-room mystery becomes all too real. A nosy neighbor, magic tricks gone awry, possible hauntings, and lots of twists and turns ensue as the almost-Scooby-gang works to solve the mystery and save the library.

Cozy mysteries and books with book themes or magic are comfort reads for me, so I had high hopes for a book that combined all of these elements. Some of the elements were clever, like the high-stakes locked escape room mystery within the locked-room mystery. However, while I thought many of the characters and their relationships had potential, I felt a lack of connection and investment in their lives. I trust that this was due to the fact that this is book 4 of a series, but am still debating whether I care enough to go back and find books 1-3. Others feel flat for me. I rounded up from 2.5 stars, because I think if you have read the others in the series, you'd like it more than I did.

This should have been an easy like for me, I love a good mystery involving libraries, books etc, plus the promise of secret passages and a locked room murder seemed like my thing. Everything felt flat though. I couldn't get into it and ultimately didn't want to continue. The characters and writing needed a lot more meat on their bones to keep the pages turning.

Tempest Raj and her family’s company, Secret Staircase Construction, are working on their dream project—transforming a home into a public library dedicated to history’s greatest fictional detectives. But when a rehearsal for a mystery dinner takes a deadly turn, Tempest finds herself caught in an impossible crime where fiction meets reality.

This sounded like something I would love, but unfortunately, it fell flat. I pushed through hoping to get pulled into the mystery, but I just couldn’t get into it.

I really wanted to like The Library Game. Maybe it’s because I haven’t read the other books in the Secret Staircase Mysteries series, or maybe I need to accept that not all cozy mysteries are for me. The synopsis made it sound like something I’d enjoy—architectural secrets, a literary escape room, a seemingly impossible crime—but in reality, it just didn’t grip me.

At 50% in, I felt no connection to the characters, and the storyline didn't hold my interest. It’s not that I need a thriller-level pace, but I’ve read other cozies that kept me engaged. This one feels too much like Scooby-Doo—a lot happening, yet nothing actually happening.

Then there’s the cast. I don’t even know what age range these characters are supposed to be, but they felt… naïve. Let’s be real, they’re kind of clueless, and it’s frustrating. Maybe I’m just too old for this one, but I kept waiting for something to click, and it never did.

I was torn on whether to push through or DNF, and I hate DNFing ARCs. But if I kept reading and getting nothing in return, what’s the point? Maybe fans of the series will get more out of this, but for me, it just didn't work.

Such a fun read! This was a NetGalley selection I reviewed, and enjoyed very much!
While I wish I had known this was #4 in a series before I started it, I am happy to say the author developed the characters and storyline so well, it felt much more like a stand alone story.
I enjoyed the plot and that the path to uncovering "whodunit " was a complex one, so it definitely kept me engaged and guessing.
Looking forward to reading the previous books in the series as well as others by this author in the future! Definitely recommend! 4.5 stars