The more I read Gigi Pandian, the more she begins to secure a permanent spot on my book shelves. I adored the first in this series, and enjoyed the sophomore entry very much. Pandian gives us another very clever mystery featuring Tempest Raj, one of the most interesting characters I’ve read in a very long time.

The writing is well-developed, comfortable, and uncomplicated, but the plot is as intricate as ever. We learn more about Tempest, her friends, and her family and are treated to some fascinating magic and mystery.

I totally want to see this series be adapted for television!

Secret Staircase Construction just finished their first project with Tempest Raj officially a part of the team—a classic mystery novel-themed home interior. Their client is now ready to celebrate her new life without her cheating ex-husband, famous mystery author Corbin Colt. First up, a party, and Tempest and Grandpa Ash are invited to the exclusive mock séance to remove any trace of Corbin from the property—for good. It's all lighthearted fun until Corbin's dead body crashes the party. This is the second book in a wonderful series. All the characters are great fun and this kept me guessing until the end much like the first book. I highly recommend reading the first book in the series as it explains some relationships and character background but the author does a good job recapping in this one without going overboard and becoming repetitive. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the copy of The Raven Thief. I read Under Lock and Key and really liked Tempest and the infusion of illusions in the story. The cool setting was still fun, but not as fun as the first time. In this book I liked the same things, but the mystery wasn’t as compelling and I had trouble connecting to any of the other characters this time. It’s still a solid read, but I would have liked a few more surprises.

I reiterate - I want my future house to be this cool. But minus all of the murder at my book club, definitely prefer that to remain strictly on the page. In the follow up to Under Lock & Skeleton Key, we follow Tempest Raj as she continues to research the mysterious murders that plague her family. This one is particularly corvid themed and centers around a mystery classics book club. I loved all of the references to authors like Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr, but also the frequent references to magic. I feel like this book did a particularly good job with its supernatural focus, as well as adding intrigue with the reintroduction of an old fiend from the previous book. Where this is going overall, I'm unsure... but you best bet I'll be along for the ride.

*Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Tempest Raj has recently joined Secret Staircase Construction - her family's business - and been part of the most recent build for a newly divorced woman who is ready to start her new life. Of course what one does to celebrate a new phase in life is to naturally host a séance to rid one's new space bad vibes. What one doesn't account for is their recently divorced spouse to appear out of seemingly nowhere dead. When Tempest's grandfather becomes the number one suspect, Tempest steps in the solve a mystery with four impossibilities.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series for all that at times I felt a bit turned around at the twists in the narrative. But I think this is a series that benefits from familiarity. Being familiar with the characters, what to expect out of the mystery, as well as Gigi Pandian's writing, I found myself enjoying this book more than the first.

I think that the main mysteries of the two books are similar in that they're both considered "locked room" and I enjoyed seeing Tempest, with her knowledge of illusions and slight of hand, put her skills to use in order to solve a seemingly unsolvable mystery. It just really makes sense that a stage magician with all their knowledge of how to present "magic" on stage would be able to piece together the inconsistencies to look beyond what the eye can see.

Gigi Pandian couples this with the ongoing mystery surrounding Tempest's mother's disappearance. For me, that was the more interesting mystery of the two, I think, simply because it's the more intriguing of the two. However, I have appreciated up to this point that Gigi Pandian has been able to make the mysteries very personal (in the first book Tempest was trying to clear her name and this time around it's her grandfather's) without making it feel like a cookie-cutter rinse and repeat type story.

Overall, I'll say you'll probably not be able to guess all the twists and turns in this one, but you'll enjoy following the clues along with Tempest. These two books have been enjoyable reads and I look forward to the continuing series and learning more about the characters.

Book Title: The Raven Thief
Series: Secret Staircase Mystery # 2
Author: Gigi Pendian
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: March 21, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars!

I read and loved "Under Lock and Skelton Key" which was the first in the Secret Staircase Mystery series.
I got my love of mysteries when I was eight years-old and read the Trixie Belton series then moved on to Nancy Drew. So this series sounded perfect for me!

Story stars when out protagonist Tempest Raj was in a disastrous accident on stage in Vegas. This accident has certainly put a halt to her career. When she leaves Vegas, Sanjay Rai aka “the Hindi Houdini” (he thinks of himself as an escape artist ;his illusions blend Eastern and Western magic ) is Tempest’s friend who believes her innocence, in fact he offered her a job as his assistant; which doesn’t go well with Tempest. She is actually insulted.
Tempest returns to her childhood home in northern California.
Her father has offered her a job in his design company “Secret Staircase Construction”. His company and designers brings hidden staircases and other magic into homes as well as backyard treehouses.
Note to other Avid readers: Doesn’t a secret room behind a sliding bookcase sound like the
perfect spot for a reading room?

In this story Tempest’s friend Sanjay, another magician, is dismayed when a local woman, Lavinia, asks him to come to her place (newly renovated by SSC) to hold a séance banishing the bad vibes of her ex. He agrees, but everyone is shocked when there is a murder and Tempest's grandfather is the #1 suspect. Ignoring all advice, Tempest decides to investigate to try and clear her grandfather.

I always love reading the author’s ‘Acknowledgements and or Notes’. In this case, Ms. Pandian tells us her inspiration for writing this story came from classic locked-room mysteries especially by one of her favorite author - John Dickson Carr as well as many classic Japanese mystery writers. She, of course, added her own spin with a wonderful character like Tempest Raj.
This is a traditional mystery with puzzle plots~ with little violence and the sweating is mentioned but thankfully not the actually words and most wasn’t necessary.

The book also includes many recipes: Cardamom Chocolate Chip Scones, Homemade Blackberry jam, and Turmeric Pizza with Jackfruit pizza topping.
Book it certainly interesting!!

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Book for granted me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 21, 2023

I enjoyed reading the first book in this cozy mystery series and was excited to see the sequel on Netgalley. I’m happy I was able to get the audiobook as the narration was well done!

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Tempest Raj. She is working at the family business with her dad after her magician job didn’t pan out well after the tragedies in book one. I was curious to see what she would be up to and although she isn’t a practicing magician, she still has a few tricks up her sleeve!

I like Tempest. She is strong willed and family is very important to her. It’s not easy to see her grandpa, and even her dad, in tough spots as the investigation gets going for the death of Corbin. The family is always there for one another regardless of the circumstances and they always have friends to back them up to. It’s a really great community. It’s surprising that death is always following them, haha.

Even though there is not a lot of development for the side characters, I didn’t mind. It adds a bit of mystery to them and what we do find out helps give us clues as to who may be the murderer. I never guessed who it was! I did like that a lot of the clues surround books. I love a book about books.

Overall, this was another good book in the series. There is still one mystery that hasn’t been solved yet which deals with Tempest’s mother. Hopefully that means we will get more books!

This was fun but forgettable. It was one of those skimmable books are easily set aside for something else.

I just love the way Gigi Pandian tells a story. She has such a fantastic grasp of the magical. When you pair that with interesting and unusual characters who are well developed and fully round individuals, plots that are comfortably recognizable with elements of classic mystery artfully blended with wholly original twists and turns, and a sense of pacing that is spot-on for keeping the reader engaged by balancing backstory with forward momentum, the result is absolutely delightful.

The second in series was every bit as wonderful as the first. I must confess I did not remember a lot of the details from the first book, as I absolutely inhaled it when I first read it. She did a fantastic job providing just enough relevant material to trigger my memories though, and that is no small task.

This is a fantastic series and I really love these characters - from The Tempest to Sanjay to her absolutely magnificent grandparents. There is a slowly developing plot line that I find fascinating and that pairs beautifully with the mystery she brings to each new novel. I cannot wait to see where things go next!

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

This second-in-a-series book is pretty good. A locked room mystery, it brings back many of the characters from the previous book and introduces a few more. There are a couple of nicely executed red herrings to distract us, and nice explanations for the several "impossible" plot items that made up the locked room aspect of the book. However, it doesn't give us much progress toward the "what really happened to mom?" subplot introduced in the previous book. Oh, and I still find myself continuing to be annoyed by the actions and attitudes of the almost-boyfriend and can only hope that that relationship might terminate at some point.

Gigi Pandian is the contemporary queen of locked room mysteries. The author does not disappoint in this 2nd book of the Secret Staircase Mystery series. Tempest Raj, her friends, and her family are delightfully quirky. Readers who enjoy maximal details and a touch of whimsy to their mystery setting will enjoy this series.

Another winner from Gigi Pandian! I really wish I could hire the Secret Staircase Construction company to build me a secret room (though perhaps without the dead bodies that seem to appear when Tempest is around). Once again, Tempest is confronted with a locked room mystery that seems to have no possible solution, but this time her grandfather is a prime suspect. With the mysterious disappearance of her mother always in the background, Tempest skirts the law to clear her grandfather and unmask the real culprit. Highly recommend this second volume in this series!

There are some things I loved about The Raven Thief and some things I could do without. The mystery itself is well-done. Tempest and her grandfather are invited to a “seance” to rid a woman’s house of the bad vibes of her ex-husband. Right in the middle, however, her ex drops onto the table – dead, surrounded by raven feathers. Ash, Tempest’s grandfather, becomes the chief suspect, so of course, Tempest has to do everything she can to clear his name.

Tempest is a former stage magician, so is the perfect person to figure out how the “trick” was done. I’m pretty sure it’s a fair play mystery, that the reader gets all the same clues as Tempest and her sidekicks, but I didn’t put them together. These books rely a lot on misdirection on the killer’s part that our magicians and builders need to unravel, which is fun. I enjoy the puzzle of it. Tempest is a great character, too – tenacious, smart, and caring. Her friends and family are charming and loyal. I even enjoy the occasional appearance of her nemesis/biggest fan. He adds a bit of tension and is an interesting character in his own right.

I don’t enjoy the potential love triangle – those are never my cup of tea. I also don’t enjoy the “family mystery” aspect that hangs over the series. Tempest needs to solve the deaths of her mother and aunt. I know an overarching plotline like that is a good way to keep a series connected, but I kind of hate it. I would just like Tempest to solve it so we can concentrate on the present-day mysteries and construction projects.

I’ve been reading this author for years, and when she started a non-paranormal series, I was reluctant to start it, but I went ahead and took the plunge. This is the second book in the series, and I enjoyed this one as well as the first. The author throws in many “older” mystery authors and gives us a little background on other illusionists which I adored reading about. Add in some great descriptions, hints about the overall mystery of her family, and some great red herrings, I quite enjoyed this book overall, even if I didn’t quite believe the reason her grandfather was a suspect. I loved locked-room mysteries, and this was very good. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I haven't read book one but didn't feel lost at all. This is a take on a closed/locked room mystery and I really enjoyed it. The characters are wonderful which is important to me in cozy mysteries and I will definitely read the rest of the series.

The great Tempest Raj is back! In book two, our heroine, formally a highly paid illusionist with parents hailing from India and Scotland is working with her parents after a very public disaster during her act. In this cosy mystery,
Tempest, along with Grandpa Ash are invited to a seance. Somehow, with everyone present, a murder occurs.

Tempest dedicates all of her skills to solving this locked room mystery and 'discovers a few more threads to her own family mystery. Gigi Pandian is fantastic and has created a unique and interesting twist on the locked room genre. If you love a locked room mystery, are a fan of fantastic writing, or just want a new cozy story this winter, grab The Raven Thief!
#STMartins

Tempest and Grandpa Ash finished their latest project and are invited to a seance at the home. The goal is for the new owner to rid herself of all traces of her ex husband as she moves forward with her new life. When the uninvited husband’s body shows up, it’s a real mystery.

With all the attendees holding hands around the table, how could one of them have done it? It seems impossible, but Tempest is going to use all of her abilities to figure out who killed a man during a seance in order to save Grandpa Ash from being blamed for a murder he didn’t commit.

This was a great read, and it kept my mind running to figure out not only who did it, but how they did it. It’s a take on the classical locked room mysteries…without the lock! A really great mystery that you do not want to miss!

I am so impressed with the way Gigi Pandian has fashioned a seemingly impossible puzzle of a plot that sure-handedly leads the protagonist--and the reader--from one baffling clue to the next. Tempest Raj is singularly equipped to solve the puzzle, as she is both a stage magician and a member of her family's construction business. Her magician background makes her an expert at recognizing misdirection, and Secret Staircase Construction specializes in designing and installing "real-life" magical features for their clients' houses, including not only secret staircases but sliding bookcases, hidden rooms, optical illusions, and the like.

But Tempest's talents are challenged when the local cafe proprietor, a new client, asks Tempest's magician friend to conduct a fake séance to clear her recently remodeled home of all traces of her cheating ex-husband. Tempest and her beloved Grandpa Ash are among the eight attendees, all of their clasped hands making a circle around a table, when the lights go out briefly. To their horror, the philandering spouse himself appears to fall onto the table, with a bloody knife in his chest, although an unbreakable alibi puts him miles away. When Grandpa Ash, a physician, is deemed the prime suspect, Tempest is determined to use her skills to identify the real murderer.

The second in the Secret Staircase Mystery series is decidedly plot-driven, challenging the reader to solve the puzzle along with Tempest, who recognizes some similarities with the case to her own family history. The character of Tempest remains somewhat of a mystery herself, although we know her to be brilliant and loyal, with an undercurrent of sadness. As with the first in the series, I relished the descriptions of the way the family has furnished their own and their clients' homes with wonderfully creative features. It appears that some of the family mysteries remain unsolved at the end of this book, which is encouraging because it must mean there will be more books in the series.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the quirky architecture and all the nods to great Golden Age mystery authors. The mystery was a puzzling one, with not just one, but four impossibilities teasing the mental capacities of our sleuth, Tempest Raj.
I also enjoyed the occasional popping in of Tempest's biggest fan/nemesis and the hinting at her family mystery which still needs to be solved. Those two things effectively build tension and expectation to keep the series going.
I felt the story as a whole, though, went on a bit long and could have been tightened up somewhat. Also, I couldn't quite suspend my disbelief for the way the police were behaving -- deciding to reopen a cold case because someone wrote up a fanciful, fictional account of it? Little things like that took me out of the story somewhat. But if you like locked room mysteries and would enjoy a contemporary twist, pick this up. It's a fun diversion.

The Raven Thief is the second in the Secret
Staircase mystery series. Their Construction company just finished a home renovation for a woman who invites them to her fake seance to eliminate all traces of her cheating ex-husband, famous mystery writer. Corbin Colt. There are eight people clasping hands around the seance table. When the candle flickers they discover Corbins dead body in the middle of the table with a bloody knife in his chest.. Grandpa Ash is the main suspect as he is the only one with blood on his hands. Tempest Raj has to find the real murderer to prove her beloved grandfather's innocence. This was a nice cozy mystery with interesting characters and plenty of red herrings. Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley for providing me with this Arc.


Secret