A fairly entertaining story with plenty of nods to the Golden Age of detective fiction. The premise of having so much of the story relate to stage magicians just isn't one that I personally find that interesting, as the illusions and stagecraft are so intensely visual that it's hard to get them to come across plausibly on the page. For my brain, anyway.
It was not difficult to pick out the villain just based on the options and basic principles of misdirection, so it didn't feel too surprising at the end.
My favorite part, though, is the Locked Room Library with its train car meeting room, and all the shout-outs to clever writers of the past, like John Dickson Carr. If you enjoy genre fiction of the cozy mystery type, you might find this fun.

Tempest Raj is back again with another murder to solve, and this murder may solve more than she realizes. The Secret Staircase Construction is involved in a lawsuit brought on by a former client, Julian Rhodes who claims the shoddy work of the company caused his wife, Paloma to fall nearly to her death. But when Julian is murdered outside the theater that Tempest has rented, suspicion and rumors begin to appear everywhere on social media. Including a paranormal investigation into Emma Raj’s (Tempest mother) ghost having a hand in his death. Luckily, for Tempest, her best friend Ivy, smitten friend Sanjay, co-worker Gideon and with the support of her family, she might just be able to solve the case!

This is the second book I’ve reviewed by Gigi Pandian and I was just as enthralled in this book as I was the first. Gigi has a wonderful way of letting clues out without you realizing she has handed you another piece of the puzzle. I honestly want to have Secret Staircase Construction build me a hidden door that leads to a secret library, the descriptions of the mechanisms and illusions created are just as much a part of the story as is the mystery itself. You can feel the concern, love and warmth of Tempest’s family, the descriptions of her grandfather Ash’s cooking make me want to go eat Indian food and the genuine love of family comes across in the writing. Tempest’s friends and co-workers are a big part of her life and I enjoy the friendship, the way the characters interact with each other creates another layer to this lovely book. This is a good mystery, has intriguing characters and is a wonderful story to boot, don’t past this book by. Now, I just need directions to Hidden Creek.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the copy of A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian. This is the third book in the series and it can be read as a standalone. Tempest and her quirky family and friends are really growing on me. I love the inventiveness of the construction company, and the addition of magic and puzzles is always intriguing. The story was so interesting and complex I couldn’t wait until the big reveal. I always love the bonus of recipes too. If you want an immersive read with original characters and a fun story, don’t miss this book!

I just love this series! The quirky characters, magic and elaborate puzzles make it so much fun to read. This one involves Tempest trying to finally solve the family curse as well as the new murders that take place. Can she solve it in time to prevent another loved one's death? A Midnight Puzzle is full of twists and turns. Some of the events near the end of this book were quite surprising! I didn't expect them at all. The way it ended made me wish the next book was out already. I can't wait to read it! Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. Expected publication is March 19, 2024.

As usual Gigi does not disappoint. This is yet another twisty puzzle for Tempest and us. I love this series. I love most everything this author writes. I really enjoy her other series featuring Jaya Jones. I hope both series will continue for a very long time.

Secrets, lies, and booby traps! Tempest has her hands full trying to figure out the puzzle of the murders of the past that she is sure ties into the recent murders at the old historic theater she rented. This book was a page turner that kept me reading well into the night. Wonderful well drawn out characters and a twisty plot. 5/5 *****

I enjoy reading about Tempest Raj, her friends and family, and her magical misdirection, architectural or magic. This story deepens into the Raj Family Curseas and several new murders. There were many twists and turns, dead ends, and hidden doors, and it was fun to try and solve the murders and curse along with Tempest. I have become a huge fan of Gigi Pandian's locked room mysteries! I love the references to other mysteries written in the same genre -- my reading list grew significantly!