This is a closed door type of whodunnit.
Tempest is doing a show in the same theater whete her mom disappeared because she wants to reveal who killed her mom.
But death starts happening everywhere and she is fighting to figure out what is going one and not to be blamed for it.
I definitely didn't see/guess how this was going to end.
My biggest frustration was, there were so many people when the reveal happened I went "who"
Also it was a very slow start so you have to give it time.
I definitely want to read more in this world. Good if you love a mystery

A Midnight Puzzle is the 3rd book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series. Tempest Raj is a magician, who has not been performing due to an incident a year earlier. She works for her family's company, Secret Staircase Construction. They are being sued by Julian, a man whose wife was injured in one of their rooms, however he was the one who tried to kill her. She has been in a coma, but has recently come out of it and is in hiding from him. When Tempest gets a call from Julian to meet him at the historic Whispering Creek Theater, she goes, only to find his dead body impaled on a door. When the paramedics arrive, another blade shoots out of the door wounding one of them. Tempest realizes that the door has been booby trapped. Her family and even Tempest are suspected of murder, as they were being sued and would be capable of setting a booby trap. His wife is also a suspect, but they can't find her. Tempest puts her puzzle skills to work to solve the crime and get her loved ones off the hook.

I enjoy this series as it has lots of elements I enjoy. The family connections are wonderful, she has great friends, the magic acts are interesting, and the murders are always well plotted. Tempest's family is a combination of Indian and Scottish, which is a great mix. Her grandparents are wonderful and loving. There is an ongoing mystery in this series dealing with Tempest's mother and aunt, and I am happy to say it is finally solved in this book. Tempest's friends are so supportive of her and will drop everything when she needs help, just like she would do for them. Some of the characters are a bit quirky and eccentric, which adds to the likability of the cast. This mystery was not an easy one to solve and when she finally does it results in some uncomfortable situations due to betrayal and lies.

Tempest Raj is planning her new show. A stage magician by trade, she now works with her family’s Secret Staircase Construction, where they install hidden rooms, bookshelf passageways, and yes, secret staircases in people’s homes. As someone steeped in misdirection, Tempest understands how to hide something in plain sight in a way that’s entertaining and special.

Her last show in Las Vegas did not end well, and she ended up having to move home to California. But she found that moving home brought her back to the family and friends she loved most, and she truly enjoyed her work with the Secret Staircase clients. But she wants more. So she has rented the local theater to put together one last show.

At least that’s what she’s telling everyone who asks. The truth is that her mother, also a stage magician, had a show at that theater five years ago and disappeared. Tempest has rented the theater to try to figure out what happened to her mother that night.

But for now, Tempest is distracted. The company is being sued by one of their clients. They had done some work in the home of Julian and Paloma Rhodes, creating a floating circular staircase, among other things. Paloma had tripped coming down the stairs and ended up in a coma. Julian is suing Secret Staircase Construction for shoddy work, and it is affecting their business, even though Tempest is convinced that Julian had damaged the step himself in an attempt to kill his wife.

But when Julian shows up at the theater at midnight one night, after calling Tempest, angry that she had asked him to come to the theater and then not shown up, Tempest knew immediately that trouble was brewing. She heads there, but it’s too late. Julian has been stabbed through the door. And then, when emergency personnel try to free him, one of them get stabbed also. He survives, but to Tempest it’s cleat that someone pretending to be her had lured Julian to the theater to make it look like she killed him.

Now Tempest has another murder to solve. And at the same theater. Will Tempest be able to solve the mysteries, or will she lose her family’s business, her freedom, and her one chance to finally figure out what happened to her mother?

A Midnight Puzzle is book 3 in Gigi Pandian’s clever Secret Staircase Mystery series. These books are smart and unusual, with an undercurrent of magic but nothing supernatural about the solutions. There is a lot of thoughtful misdirection and drama along with a grandfather who keeps everyone well fed, a fellow magician known as The Hindi Houdini, the Locked Room Library with a meeting room designed to look like a vintage train car, a rabbit names Abracadabra, and two potential love interests.

I listened to the audio book, narrated beautifully by Soneela Nankani. Nankani does an amazing job with all of Tempest’s family and friends, and her voice work of Tempest might be the best. It’s very dramatic and seems over the top at first, but the more you spend time with Tempest, the more you understand that is exactly how Tempest probably sounds inside her own head. It’s a perfect reading for the character, and now I can’t Imagine reading these books without Nankani’s voice in my head.

I really enjoyed A Midnight Puzzle. I love Tempest’s family and friends, and getting to spend time in this universe is always such a treat. And then there is the way I get to see a glimpse of the unusual world of the stage magician. The mysteries are well crafted, but there is humor and compassion throughout the book, so the story doesn’t get too dark. I thought the ending for this one was particularly satisfying, and I look forward to seeing how Tempest moves forward from this story.

Egalleys for A Midnight Puzzle were provided by Minotaur Books, with many thanks, but I bought the audio book myself through Audible.

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.