In heroine Tempest Raj, modern-day queen of the locked room mystery Gigi Pandian has created a brilliant homage to the greats of classic detective fiction.

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 they’re being framed.

When Tempest receives an urgent midnight phone call from Julian, she decides to meet him at the historic Whispering Creek Theater—only to find his dead body, a sword through his chest. After a blade appears from thin air to claim another victim, Tempest is certain they’re dealing with a booby trap… something Secret Staircase Construction could easily build. Tempest refuses to wait for the investigation to turn to her or her loved ones. She knows the pieces of the puzzle are right in front of her, she just has to put them together correctly before more disaster strikes.

Multiple award-winning author Gigi Pandian and her sleuth Tempest Raj return in A Midnight Puzzle, where an old theater reveals a deadly booby trap, secrets, and one puzzle of a mystery. (GoodReads synopsis)

I haven’t read any other book in this series, so it was a privilege to see the protagonist solve not only the current murder but one that deeply affects her and her family. This book has so much creativity in it, not just the plot but the characters and their careers.

I wanted more Ivy because I am a librarian who loves classic mysteries. She is literally the person I related to the most and she wasn’t there enough. I found architectural puzzles/illusions or whatever Tempest and her family call them unique. Everything about this series intrigued me to the point of needing the previous 2 books.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

This third installment of The Secret Staircase Mystery series gets us closer to learning the truth about what happened to Tempest's aunt and mother years ago. Are their mysterious murder and disappearance, respectively, part of the Raj family curse or something more sinister? Tempest must also try to clear the reputation of the family construction business while solving the murder of the man accusing The Secret Staircase Construction Company of his wife's near death accident.

There is a lot going on in this book. I highly recommend you read at least the previous book first to understand the backstory and some of the characters a little better. I really enjoy this locked room mystery series. Interesting murder scenarios, terrific architecture and stage magic references and absolutely fantastic food descriptions are hallmarks of this series. Tempest's grandparents Ash and Morag are always my favorites.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐢𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.”

I love this series so much and was so excited to be reunited with the Secret Staircase crew.

Gigi Pandian does locked-room fair play mysteries SO well, and she does not disappoint in this third outing of Tempest Raj and her friends, starting off with an inventive murder: a booby-trapped sword slicing through the front door of the theatre Tempest is renting to stage her final illusionist show - which also happens to be the same theatre her mother disappeared from five years ago. Not only does Pandian pay hommage to classic mysteries, she also clearly does her research into magicians and illusions, alongside the inventive creations of the Secret Staircase company that are so fun (and detailed!) to picture. The mystery is intriguing, with all of its twisty, impossible pieces; the characters continue to be loveable, especially as Tempest realizes all of the support she has around her in her family and close friends. The traditional “gathered” reveal of an impossible crime is bigger and more majestic this time, using Tempest’s skills as a magician to stage the biggest show of her life, which I absolutely loved. Finally, there’s some well deserved closure to the mystery behind the Raj family curse, which is satisfying and will allow the series to branch out and transition.

A Midnight Puzzle is a story of protection, family, misdirection, the impossible, and justice. It marks the end of this part of a ‘trilogy’ of sorts, and I can’t wait to see where Pandian takes this series next. Thank you to Minotaur, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

“𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲, 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫?”

This was the first book I have read by Gigi Pandian and I'm really glad I found this author. This is part of a series but I thought it was fine as a standalone. I would like to go back and read the other two books. I was entertained through out this book. I felt like this had great pacing and plenty of possible culprits. This was a fun mystery that I couldn’t get enough of and can't wait to see what Gigi comes up with next. I would recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

One of the things I appreciate about Gigi Pandian is that she knows when it’s time to provide her fans with some answers. I mentioned in my reviews of the first two Secret Staircase books that the mysterious disappearance of protagonist Tempest Raj’s mother played a significant role in both novels. Some authors would try to draw the plotline out as long as possible, but Pandian wraps it all up in A Midnight Puzzle, ending the trilogy on a satisfying note.

That’s not the only mystery in the book, however. Tempest is a onetime magician whose Las Vegas career ended in disgrace; she now works for her family’s construction company, which specializes in architectural puzzles, like hidden rooms and, yes, secret staircases. A client is threatening to sue them, claiming his wife was injured by one of their creations. When the man is killed by a cleverly-designed booby trap, apparently lured to the spot by a note from Tempest, she is justifiably concerned the police will assume she had something to do with it.

The location of the murder happens to be the Whispering Creek Theater, where Tempest’s mom disappeared five years ago. Magic junkies and curious onlookers start flocking to the site, livestreaming their conspiracy theories—could her mom’s ghost be haunting the place? When Tempest’s magician mentor is seriously injured there as well, she needs to determine what’s really going on at the theater.

Even though A Midnight Puzzle is a conclusion of sorts, Pandian knows how to keep her readers hooked—the last page of the book teases a new crime for Tempest to investigate, a murder in a library devoted to locked-room mysteries. Tempest may have taken her final bow onstage, but as a sleuth, she’s just getting started.

I was SO excited to get my hands on A Midnight Puzzle, book 3 in Gigi Pandian’s Secret Staircase Mystery. @gigipandian This series is seriously so much fun–it’s the perfect catnip for book lovers who have dreamed of having a house with a secret staircase leading to a reading nook filled with books. A space where no one could find you to interrupt your reading. I’ve read all three now (I listened to books one and two and they were great on audio) and am such a fan. There are so many things to love–wonderful characters, especially Tempest’s family (I would so love to be adopted by her grandfather). Tempest herself is daring and determined, and as a librarian myself, I’m a bit partial to her best friend Ivy. If you haven’t read books one and two, you must promise me to do so–you won’t regret it and this entry answers so many questions from the first two books. Such a great read that kept me turning the pages.

4 books into this series and I still love the overall conceit of magicians solving crimes/murders and these books are bit more cerebral than typical cozy mysteries too. The core characters and their relationships are still the star of this series though with Tempests family and friends featuring more and more as the series goes on. In this books we finally get the wrap up to the overarching Raj family curse plotline that has been going for multiple books, and I found the conclusion to be as compelling as I hoped.

I did find this installment not as good as the first few books, but I think that might be because of the set up of this crime felt halfway started and then stalled as we pivot to the overarching plotline.

I would say that this book does a good job of being standalone and not spoiling the previous books, but also sums up anything a reader may have forgotten (or not know) from previous books so you don't get lost. A good cozy mystery, with updated takes on classics making it a solid choice for favorites of the genre.

This is the third installment in The Secret Staircase Mysteries by Gigi Pandian. Once again we are following along as Tempest Raj, a former Vegas magician, is trying to solve a murder in her hometown but this time the ties back to her own family’s past will play a much bigger role.
This was another fantastic cozy mystery from Pandian. I love that we finally got answers to the questions that have been tucked in the previous stories in the series. I was worried that getting these answers would mean and end to one of my new favorite series but the ending definitely left open the continuation of Tempest’s adventures in crime solving. I can’t wait to see where Pandian takes Tempest story next.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE by Gigi Pandian is the third installment in her Secret Staircase Mystery series, starring former stage illusionist Tempest Raj and the curious murder puzzles she stumbles across. I'm a big fan of this series: a strong female lead, overarching family lore, and a close-knit community make this such an enjoyable series. On top of all that, the mysteries are delightfully intricate. Pandian pens wonderful fair-play mysteries that are both an homage to traditional detective stories and wholly original in their whimsical themes.

I think A Midnight Puzzle might be the strongest book in the series so far, with the strongest mystery and the most intriguing plot. This is one of those rare cozy series that deserves to be read in order. There is an overarching plot that spans these first three books; I'm happy to have closure on it in this third installment. I was also so pleased that this book suggests future installments; I'm not ready to say goodbye to Tempest just yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Midnight Puzzle is the third installment in Gigi Pandian's Secret Staircase Mystery series. A cozy mystery featuring a former illusionist who now works for her family's construction business, building secret gardens, hidden staircases, and puzzle rooms.

Tempest used to be a magician/illusionist until her career literally went up in flames. Now, she's back home with her father and grandparents (who live in a treehouse!! What?!) helping to design and build whatever crazy things their clients ask for. Their last client, Julian Rhodes, was difficult to work with, and after they finished, Julian's wife Paloma fell down their floating staircase and sues the family for doing shoddy work. When he calls Tempest and she meets him at the Whispering Creek Theater, she finds him dead at the front door, killed by a booby trap. Thus begins the roller coaster story.

This book had so many twists and was completely unpredictable. The police are ineffectual at finding the perpetrator, as their focused on Paloma but can't find her. Would she have known how to set up a booby trap to murder her husband? And why would she use the theater that Tempest is renting to do it? There's a relatively big cast of characters, and no one is safe from suspicion. There was a good amount of suspense and misdirection, and I would never have guessed whodunit.

All in all, this was an interesting cozy mystery featuring a loving family, a creative FMC, and twists galore. I haven't read the first two books in the series yet, but if they're as good as this one, then I recommend reading the whole series.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @Minotaur_Books for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

This is such a fun series. I like all the descriptions of magic and the secret passageways. I can’t believe this is book 3 in the series. It can definitely be read as a stand alone, but this one advances Tempest’s search into her aunt and mother’s death. The author provides plenty of detail for a reader to enjoy the book, but I think those that have read the series are more invested in those cases.

Instead of a locked room mystery, this time there is an impossible crime. An enemy of the Tempest family is found dead in a theater and they are at the front of the suspect list as the police investigate.

The cozy mystery is the focus of this book and series, but I also love the cast of characters and the friendship and family at the core. There is always a meal (and recipes at the end of book) shared and the food descriptions always make me hungry.

For being what I’d consider a cozy mystery, the plot was complex and kept me guessing. There were red herrings and misdirections that I fell for.

Soneela Nankani narrates the audiobook and does a fabulous job with bringing all the characters and their accents to life. This is one I enjoyed listening to as much as I enjoyed reading.

Such a fun series for anyone that appreciates magic, locked room mysteries or interesting characters.

A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian is fantastic. The author is a master at mystery and magnificent at bringing cultures together.

Will Tempest finally unmask her mother's killer before she is caught in a trap?

This is the conclusion of the Raj curse. Tempest and her Scooby gang are still investigating the murder of Tempest's mom and aunt. However, the lawsuit that has been filed against her family business is trying on her nerves. Then she has friends from her days of magic visiting.

This installment let's us see how Tempest and the Raj family handle stress. I loved how her family and friends stand by her. Tempest is a strong character; she has excellent instincts, but sometimes she doesn't listen. I do believe that she has learned not to go off on her own. Honestly, in this installment, I feel that Tempest grows the most.

The mystery doesn't wrap up the way that Tempest would like, but in real life, things don't always follow your plan, and the author brings that point home. The author left an opening for Tempest to investigate new mysteries; I hope that works out for them.

Five Stars
I loved the wrap-up but was appalled by some things that people close to the Raj family did while still calling themselves friends. Ms. Pandian kept me on the seat of my chair, but I didn't figure out how the killings happened or who the culprit was. My rating for A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian is five stars. I highly recommend it to all mystery readers out there. Ms. Pandian is a master at the locked room aspect. I believe she would give Ms. Christie a run for her money.

A few recipes are included at the end of the book: Quick-Cook Dosa, Chocolate Almond Spread, and Mango Ice Cream.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

I figured out who is was early on, but the why and a couple other twists were really surprising! There were magicians tricks and family secrets that kept me very entertained. I like that this wrapped up the overall family mystery as well as the murder in this book. It was so good!

So-So Mystery

Tempest Raj has re-joined the family business. And it is the most unusual business. Her family’s construction company creates secret staircases.

The opening of the story was a bit confusing but Tempest is determined to save the company. Litigation is obstructing the company from moving forward since a man named Julian Rhodes is suing the company. The basis of the lawsuit regards the death of his wife Paloma. Julian maintains Paloma fell to her death from a circular staircase built and designed by the firm.

Tempest believes that they are being framed with these false charges. Julian Rhodes is the next victim of murder. Tempest is desperate to solve the mystery and keep the family company afloat. She does want to be arrested for murder. She and her family are determined to solve this enigma and close the book on these career-altering murders. I

My gratitude to NetGalley and Minotaur for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @minotaur_books for the #gifted ARC/ALC!

I’m so thrilled this delightful mystery series is continuing! I adored the first two books in the series and A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE did not disappoint with another locked room type mystery this time with a murderous door at a haunted theater.

I love how clever this series is. It reminds me so much of the Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie books I grew up reading and sparked my love of mysteries. They aren’t quite what I would call a cozy mystery but also aren’t full of the shock factor twists that many thrillers have now.

Tempest Raj, the MC, has a great character arc over the first three books in the series and I’m glad that one of the mystery arcs across the books has finally come to a resolution. But now there is even more room for growth for these characters and the ending is definitely set up for a book 4!

I listened to the audio and adored the narrator. She does an excellent job of representing Tempest’s Scottish and Indian heritage as well as the diverse cast of her family and friends.

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Tempest Raj, once a world famous stage magician, now helps her family with their amazing unique company, Secret Staircase Construction. But someone is suing them-and then that someone is murdered by a mysterious blade through the door of the theater Tempest is planning to perform her final show in.

I absolutely love this series, to the point where I bought the first two books after reading them. Tempest is an absolutely brilliant lead character, and the supporting characters are all amazing. The mysteries are always excellent, and always surprising. I absolutely highly recommend this book and this series.

This Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian is the third book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries, and it’s another excellent read and mystery.

Pandian’s characters are diverse and so well developed. Combine that with her outstanding world building, where you actually feel like you are in a secret room or on a magical stairway, that I would love to see a TV series made from these books.

Since it’s a Mystery, I don’t want to give anything away, but there are some great red herrings, and I am super excited for the next book in the series.

If you enjoy mysteries, especially ones with puzzles and secret passages, I highly recommend this series!

This is a really clever continuation of The Secret Staircase series, as Tempest and her crew are back, creating illusions in homes and finding themselves in the middle of mysteries. When a former client is killed in their building by a booby-trapped door, Tempest is on the case, trying to exonerate her company and another surprise suspect.

Although this is part of a series, it easily stands alone as the author does a good job of catching the reader up on events. The cast of characters is fun and intriguing, and the story has plenty of twists and turns.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

What a fun and woven tale!

I really enjoyed the first two installments, so I was excited to dive back into Tempest’s realm! What I really wish is that Secret Staircase existed as a real life company in today’s world.

There is so much world building in this story - you can feel the different elements in your minds eye. You’re really there and present in such a magical world.

There are some time jumps, but not to the detriment of the story; it helped give the reader more context/backstory and set the stage for the story. Curious as to what happens after the end of this tale…

Thank you so much to the author, Gigi Pandian, Minotaur books and NetGalley for this eARC copy of A Midnight Puzzle!

First off, I wish I had read the other two in the series first. It was okay as a standalone, but I think reading the others first would have made more sense.

I really enjoyed this book. It was very original with the magician aspects and the hidden rooms and such in the story. It really moved along well, the characters were interesting and of course, I had no idea who was actually guilty in the end.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.