
Member Reviews

One of my favorite series. I love these characters, their love of classic detective stories, the diversity of characters & the mysteries Tempest encounters. Tempest is preparing for farewell show in the theater where her mother disappeared 5 years ago, dealing with a lawsuit against her family's construction company, and still working at solving the murders of her aunt & mother. She gets a mysterious phone call from the customer suing her family about her not showing up for a meeting at the theater. When she arrives, she discovers he has been murdered.
The story pulled me in from the first chapter. Excellently paced, and these characters continue to be charming and engaging. The layers & complexity to the mystery is wonderfully crafted. The culture of Tempest's family is a lovely touch.
I truly love this series!! Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read & review this title. All opinions are mine.

This was a cute cozy fantasy read! I really loved the character in this one! They felt very realistic and easy to get to know and enjoy. The plot was fun and I loved all the twists that this book ended up having. Overall a fun lighthearted read that is great for when you are in the mood for quick and fast paced cozy mystery.

I love spending time with Tempest, and this most recent addition is no exception. Fresh and well-plotted, with characters that have real foibles that make them even easier to root for! I've recommended this on my socials and in my newsletter--five stars. Thank you to Minotaur, the author, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian!

Pandian is a masterful storyteller and this book wraps up the first major arc of the series wonderfully. While there was technically an episodic type mystery, the main plot was really the much longer game. I’m super curious about how the series will evolve now that Tempest has solved the underlying mystery.

This was a fun mystery, with a classic element. It kept my attention throughout and it was fun to try to figure out the story as I was reading. I would in interested to read more by this autho.

A Midnight Puzzle: A Magical Mystery
Gigi Pandian's A Midnight Puzzle is a delightful blend of mystery, magic, and family intrigue. This third installment in the Secret Staircase Mystery series continues to enchant readers with its unique blend of historical fiction and contemporary fantasy.
The novel follows Tempest Raj, a young woman with a knack for solving puzzles and a family legacy rooted in magic and illusion. When a seemingly simple construction project turns deadly, Tempest finds herself embroiled in a dangerous mystery that threatens to expose dark secrets from her family's past.
Pandian's writing is both engaging and informative, seamlessly weaving historical details into the narrative. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with Tempest's witty banter and sharp intellect making her a standout protagonist. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the final reveal.
What sets this series apart is its unique blend of magic and reality. Pandian's imaginative world-building and attention to detail bring the magical elements to life without overshadowing the mystery. The exploration of family history and the generational impact of secrets adds depth and emotional weight to the story.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of magic and a dash of historical intrigue, A Midnight Puzzle is a must-read.

Another wonderful puzzle mystery from Pandian.
The usual delightful characters.
I'd love to have a grandfather who cooks all the time like hers!
I've suggested that they proofread/edit again. There were a few repetitions and missed words.

Gigi Pandian's A Midnight Puzzle is a charming and engaging cozy mystery that offers a fresh take on the genre. Set in the vibrant city of San Francisco, the story follows Saffron, a talented puzzle maker who finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation.
Pandian's writing is witty and fast-paced, keeping readers hooked from the very beginning. The characters are well-developed and endearing, with Saffron's passion for puzzles and her quirky personality shining through. The supporting cast, including Saffron's friends and family, add depth and humor to the story.

The blurb I read about this book made me go out and get the first 2 books in the series. (Plus ebook) anther personal favourite read

This was another fun Secret Staircase mystery. It has some great puzzles and several different mysteries to solve. And three books in we finally get resolution for the Raj curse which was satisfying. And I so glad the series is going to continue on even with that finally being solved.

Pandian is a marvel at both the locked room and the fair play subgenres for mystery lovers.
In A Midnight Puzzle, she adheres to the rules of a fair play mystery: no red herrings, both the reader and the detective have access to the same clues at the same time, and a logical solution is available if only the reader paid attention. Our amateur sleuth, Tempest, is confronted with several fair play puzzles. In this case, a nefarious bully, who has elected to sue her family's construction company, is found dead, pinned to the door of a theater. Found with the body is a note asking for a meeting, written in Tempest's own hand.
Misdirection is the core of magic, as it is in Pandian's series. Here, we are both enchanted with Gideon's presence. He is soon to become a gallery artist. And who is Niccodemus, and why now is he planning his farewell tour to be held in the US and not in Scotland, his home base? Most of all, the Whispering Creek Theater becomes more than just a setting. This is where Tempest's mother disappeared five years earlier, and now this is where Tempest has planned her final performance. Most shatteringly, this is where the bodies in this novel are found.
Pandian, a lover of magic, has included explanations of the craft in each of her novels. Niccodemus is a master of folded card pop-ups – a theater technique where three-dimensional figures are created from a flat piece of cardstock. Throughout the novel, the pop-ups serve as leitmotifs that help the plot unfold (pun intended). The overarching mystery of the series concerns the Curse of the Raj family.
It appears that all questions have been answered. Or have they? More to come in book 4, which is already on preorder.
Very highly recommended for fans of magic, mysteries with a touch of fantasy.
Full disclosure: I received this ARC from Minotaur Books and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. Another book that is a part of a series that I wasn't aware of but feel as though I didn't miss too much without reading the first two. This was a fun read and I enjoyed it.

The mystery continues but for some reason it felt like more red herrings so that you couldn't figure out the why. I wasn't necessarily as invested in solving the mystery in this one but I do want Tempest to finally get some reprieve.

Tempest and members of the secret staircase construction company are likeable characters but my favorite part of the book are the grandparents who live in the
treehouse in the backyard. There are many twist and turns - literally!
You can read this as a stand alone book but i recommend starting with book one in the series.

In this third installment in this fun series, Tempest and her family and friends are confronted with a seemingly impossible crime. The man who is suing Secret Staircase Construction is murdered by what appears to be a regenerating boobytrap that could only have been rigged by a magician. This book does function fairly well as a standalone, but to really showcase and understand Tempest’s mission to solve her aunt’s murder and her mother’s disappearance, it’s best to start the series from the beginning. This is a creative series with unique and interesting characters.

I know, I know. This is 3rd in the series and I should have started with book 1. But I was really anxious to read this so just jumped in and, though I knew I was missing background, didn't want to stop. So I guess it's safe to say that this works just fine as a standalone, even though if might be good to read the series in order (if that sort of thing matters to you).
This book contains lots of fun elements--Tempest Raj and the rest of the cast of characters are a ton of fun. In this entry, Tempest is seeking answers to her family's apparent curse. It's a fun locked room mystery that harkens back to the golden age of detective fiction. I enjoyed the story and the characters--now I have to go back and read the first two!
A solid novel, alone or in the series.

This is book 3 in the Secret Staircase series. I didn't enjoy this book as much as book 2. 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 truth: they’re being framed.

I haven't read the first ones in this series but I could follow the story easily. It is very well written, and although I didn't connect to the protagonist, Tempest, I really wanted to get to the end as quickly as possible. I enjoy learning about the world of magic on stage. And I loved how I was surprised at the end. Great mystery!
**Thank you, Gigi Pandian, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC. **

Sadly not my favorite of this series. It really leaned more onto the more ridiculous side this time and also moved too slow