I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Midnight Puzzle (Secret Staircase Mystery #3) by Gigi Pandian from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press /Minotaur Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…I adore this series and this entry really had it all, a complex, interesting mystery with thrill, chills, and intrigue….…

A huge fan of author Gigi Pandian, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review her latest,A Midnight Puzzle, the third book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries.

This whimsical cozy mystery series, features Tempest Raj who is finally settling in as an “architectural illusionist” for her family’s construction company, Secret Staircase Constructions whose specialty is creating magical spaces, secret rooms, and hidden staircases. Our protagonist Tempest, a former Vegas magician who until recently had followed the family’s magical tradition. The rumour of a family curse, the “eldest dies by magic” has rung true in the past including the unsolved murder of her magician mother in addition to the disasters that have plagued her career and family.

Her new career is in jeopardy as a result of Julian Rhodes, the client from hell tries to kill his wife, then blames his wife’s so-called “accident” which has left her in a coma on the Secret Staircase Construction’s shoddy work, an accusation that could ruin them. Tempest is also preparing for her final magic show to bid adieu to her past stage persona to be held at the Whispering Creek Theater, a creepy gothic landmark and the place where Tempest’s mother took her last breath.

Tempest is so happy when her mentor and friend, illusionist Nicodemus the Necromancer arrives from Scotland while planning his retirement tour. Their visit is interrupted when Tempest gets a call from Julian telling her he got her message, is at the theater and wants to know where she is. When Tempest arrives at the theater, she gets more than she bargained for when she stumbles across Julian’s body along with a note in Tempest’s handwriting.

With everything casting a shadow on her and her family Tempest is on the case with the help of good friends to prove their innocence by finding the real killer. The more she uncovers the more she uncovers connections to her mother’s murder five years earlier.

Gigi Pandian has done it again, a brilliantly unique and extremely fun cozy mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seat. One of my favorite things about Pandian’s books is her ability to create diverse, quirky, multi-faceted characters who all feel well-formed. My only complaint is that she often tends to “tell” and not “show”.

I adore this series and this entry really had it all, a complex, interesting mystery with thrill, chills, and intrigue. I really enjoyed this entry and would highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more of Tempest’s adventures.

This is the third Book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series by Gigi Pandian. I had read and enjoyed the first book in this series, but missed the second one. I was happy to grab this one.

Description:
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.

My Thoughts:

I like the magician elements in this series as well as the aspect of the construction company building secret staircases and hidden rooms. It's just fun. The history of the curst in Tempest's family adds and element of intrigue as well. Tempest makes a great character with her skills as a magician as well as her detective abilities. Other characters in the book including her family members and her friends are also fun and interesting. The plot moved well and kept my attention throughout. There are many twists to the investigation which truly seems to be unsolvable. This is a fun and addictive series that i would recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on March 19, 2024.

Oooh, I finished the green book on St. Patrick's Day!

But I digress. This is the third book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series and it is probably my favorite. But I think it's partly because Tempest finally has some closure over the mysterious deaths of her aunt and mother, as well as a lot of information about the family curse. Does this mean this is the last book? I hope not! The ending seems to leave things open for additional books in this series and I hope this will be the case!

Tempest has finally accepted that she is in a new phase of her life and that it's a role she will find very fulfilling, if only she can lay the family curse to rest. She is now working for her father, using her amazing stage skills to help their clients realize their vision of architectural creation. When their "absolutely sorry excuse for a human" client is suddenly murdered at the theatre where her mother disappeared/died (that's part of the mystery), she is force to figure out what happened, and what it might have to do with her family history. What I loved about this story was how much she was able to lean on her family and friends. This is such a family-centered series and I love all the main characters. Tempest herself has done a lot of maturing, making me like her even more. I especially like that she is realizing her strength lies in the support of her family and friends. I am constantly salivating over Ash's food and wish I could try it. I may have to try out some of the recipes included at the end of the book. But even more than the food, I wish I could explore their property, and meet Abra, the giant rabbit. I would also love to visit Ivy in the library.

As for the mystery, some aspects of it I was able to figure out, but the specific details? Not at all. I loved how I was kept guessing, and that when I learned how everything was done, it just made so much sense. I also love the nod to classic detective stories (like Carr in this one) and that books are what drew Ivy and Tempest together in the first place.

There is so much to love about this series and this book leaves everything in a very satisfying place. I would love to read more, perhaps with a new plot arc.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Midnight Puzzle is definitely not my favorite entry in the Secret Staircase Mystery series, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. What I love about this series is the found family of the construction crew of Secret Staircase Construction and the incredible puzzles they construct (think hidden libraries behind staircases), along with the bad-ass lady detective-ness of Tempest, along with her grandparents, best friend Ivy, and a whole host of other characters. This book just had less of that than the other books in the series. It was more focused on the overarching mystery of what happened to Tempest's mom and aunt, which gets solved -- but don't worry, it seems like even though that's been solved, there are still more Secret Staircase Mysteries to be solved.

The mystery itself has lots of misdirection, which is to be expected, and it's interwoven with Tempest's acrobatics and illusions. It wasn't the most satisfying to solve, and while I did gasp at times, it was due to a gruesome finding at the end. (Though, it was a fitting gruesome finding. It just resulted in an all caps text at midnight while I finished the book.) Still, I'll continue to read these books -- there's something so fun about the premise and the setting, not to mention the delicious things that Grandpa Ash keeps cooking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an eARC of A Midnight Puzzle in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this cozy (impossible) mystery. It was full of hints and clues throughout. I did not read the first two novels in the series, so I can safely say that this can be read as a standalone. I felt the beginning a little slower as I got to know the characters and what happened in the past that is relevant to the current mystery at hand. As I became invested in the characters and the potential for a resolution, the second half of the book flew by. The author’s pacing for reveals was good - information was relayed to the audience as needed, but not too soon as to keep the reader in suspense. I enjoyed the characters. I am curious about the previous books, but this one is a conclusion to the over-arching mystery of the previous too, so I think I know too much. I will continue following this authors work and read any future books with this cast of characters. One of the strongest elements of this story is the sense of family. Tempest’s family and friends play a big part in her life and she doesn’t feel the need to venture out on her own. She trusts her family and friends, so the reader doesn’t have those “that was dumb” moments.
Many thank to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a digital arc. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

A unique concept....building secret staircases and out of sight rooms to stir the interest and skills of home owners and mystery lovers. But what if.....you built a secret room that is used to murder? In this case, the murderer did not count on a cast of investigative experts to follow the clues and solve the crime.

I enjoyed reading Tempest’s latest adventure as an amateur sleuth. The stakes felt a lot higher this time around, but Tempest and her friends and family stepped up to the challenge. The mystery itself was complex and interesting. I admit there were one or two twists I didn’t see coming.

There are several brief sections that act as flashbacks to times and places that Tempest has not personally experienced. I was a little confused at first, but it all made sense by the end and I feel like they added a lot to the reader’s understanding of the story.

This book wraps up the overarching mystery about what happened to Tempest’s mom and aunt. Never fear though! The author states in the acknowledgements that she’s already working on the next book and has many more plans for Tempest’s future adventures.

Note: This is the third book in an ongoing series and is best read in order. Book 1 is Under Lock and Skeleton Key.

Additional Note: Although this story mainly fits into the same “gothic cozy” genre as the rest of the series, there are a few brief moments that veer into the horror/thriller category. There was one detail in particular that I found quite unsettling.

I've really enjoyed this series with its magical elements and dramatic characters. Tempest is starting to enjoy her new life off stage and working with her family's construction business that focuses on architectural misdirection. Unfortunately for her though, Tempest is Tempest and nothing can stay peaceful for long. The family business becomes involved in a nasty lawsuit followed quickly by murder with a side of rumors and a dash of ghost. Tempest with her mentor Nicky (aka Nicodemius the Necromancer) are pulled into a murder investigation that reaches into the past.

Tempest's home at Fiddler's Folly is a place I wish was real as I would love to explore all the secret passages and hidden nooks. As well, I wish the construction company really did exist as I would love to have one of their creations. This was quite the entertaining mystery with legends and stories and magic. It kept me guessing as to how things would unravel and what was connected to what - and of course was anything like it seemed.

My only complaint was the story went into the weeds a bit during the reveal as Tempest's performance got a bit long winded and a little confusing. Things did get ironed out in a satisfying manner but it just seemed like I could have done with less performance. Overall, this is a fun and unique mystery series with interesting characters and a bit of showmanship.

A Midnight Puzzle is the third volume in the Secret Staircase cozy series which is full of illusions, building, and stage magic by Gigi Pandian. Due out 19th March 2024 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 352 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Readers who already enjoy stage magic mysteries and illusions, with a heaping side order of old houses with hidden rooms and architectural easter-eggs like bookcases which are secret doors and mantelpieces with hidden catches to open secret panels will *love* this series. The plot turns around an ensemble cast of specialty builders, stonemasons, and woodworkers who design and install secret rooms and hidden staircases. This is a limited suspect pool cozy with hidden rooms aplenty, secret alcoves, puzzle rooms, and eccentric characters.

Although it's a murder mystery, it felt as though it were written more for a younger (YA/NA) audience. It has a definite Nancy Drew vibe with a little whiff of Scooby Doo, and in fact the author refers to the group of friends investigating the mystery as the Scooby Gang.

Throw in lots and lots of stage magic, a family curse (the eldest child shall die by magic), hidden motives, and crazy architectural prestidigitation, and stir well. The book is also absolutely full of bookish references and readers who enjoy classic mysteries from the Golden Age of fiction will find lots and lots of titles and authors to follow up.

The MCs family is multi-ethnic and the requisite cozy recipes at the back of the book reflect that background and are a really eclectic mix of odd and whimsical.There is a strong romance sub-element as well which will please readers who enjoy light mysteries with romance elements. The story is self-contained in this volume, but it's the third book in the series and there are a fair number of spoilers included here for developments contained in the first two books; so it's best read in order.

The unabridged audiobook format has a run time of 10 hours 38 minutes and is capably read by series narrator Soneela Nankani. She has a warm and nuanced voice and does a good job delineating a wide range of characters across a range of ages and both male and female. There are a number of Scottish characters, and the narrator struggles mightily with the various accents, not entirely successfully. She does a much more mellifluous job with the Indian and American accents. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Four stars. It would make a good choice for library acquisition, as well as a long weekend binge / buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gigi Pandian for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Midnight Puzzle coming out March 19, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I didn’t realize this was a series. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I thought it was a really fun mystery. I loved the characters and the suspense. I think theater mysteries create a lot of rivalry and drama which can lead to murder. I loved the Secret Staircase and the magic behind that. I thought this book felt like a cozy mystery, which I love, but it also offered a lot more mystery and suspense. I’ll definitely have to read the other books in the series.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys magical mysteries!

In A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE by Gigi Panadian, Tempest Raj and friends return in another HIDDEN STAIRCASE MYSTERY to unravel a murder and address a legendary family curse in a story that showcases career magicians and illusionists and homes with hidden staircases and complex puzzles built into their ceilings—all served up with generous portions of Southern Indian food (recipes included). The story is a true delight but don’t begin reading A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE too late in the day—you’ll be up past midnight puzzling through Tempest and the gang’s quest to find the killer.

There was so much that happened in this book and lots of action that kept me turning the Kindle pages and reading like crazy. What a wild series of twists at the end! That showdown was frenzied and while it had a sad ending to it, the mystery still ended well with a satisfying catching of the perp.

At the very end, is Tempest being asked to solve yet another mystery? I guess we’ll find out in the next book! She’s definitely good at it and it was great to see Blackburn in the picture as a PI now. Don’t miss this book’s release on March 19.

I voluntarily read and reviewed and ARC of this book and my opinions are my own.

I'd highly recommend reading at least the first book in this series (if not the first two) before starting this one because it very much builds on scenarios and characters. Tempest Raj has joined her family business building architectural oddities into homes and other place- and she solves murders. This time out, Julian claims the family's work was shoddy and then he's murdered! What really happened? Well, to be honest, the mystery, which is fairly complex was somewhat less interesting to me that the situations in the Raj family, which has been cursed. Tempest will learn what happened to her mother and aunt, an issue which has threaded through the series. AND the food! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read

3.5
In this mystery, modern-day sleuth Tempest Raj finds herself entangled in a web of secrets and danger. The family business, Secret Staircase Construction, renowned for its magical architectural creations like hidden doors and floating staircases, faces a crisis. Former client Julian Rhodes blames the company for his wife’s “accident,” and now they’re being framed. When Julian’s urgent midnight call leads Tempest to a historic theater, she discovers something sinister! Strange things continue to happen and Tempest races against time to unravel the puzzle before disaster strikes again.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A good cozy mystery depends on its characters, which is why this book is so enjoyable. Tempest Raj is a terrific character, mixing magic tricks into everyday life. Tempest helps out with the family business and also helps figure out mysteries.
Someone dies mysteriously in a way that could make her family business look negligent, and Tempest is barely staying ahead of the unfolding events.
The mystery was interesting and there were enough moving parts to keep it interesting til the end. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book.


Ok yes yes yes!!!! What a great book!! I highly recommend. This book had me blocked from page one.

One of my favorite things about this series has been the descriptions of the clever secret architectural constructions of "Secret Staircase Construction". While there is less whimsy in this third in the series novel, Pandian continues to build interesting plots. I was afraid we were reaching the end of the series with Tempest's final discovery of the story behind her aunt and mother's disappearance and death, but a last page knock on the door seems to happily augur a continuation.

I listened to the first half of the audiobook (narrated by Soneela Nankani), but midway through I decided that I wanted to move more quickly through the plot. The narration was good, if a little distracting with the multiple characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian is the third in the delightfully quirky Secret Staircase series. The title (and series name) alone beckoned to me as a rabid fan of hidden rooms, nooks and staircases. I love the jibs and other construction descriptions as well as behind-the-scenes illusions/tricks. The lip-smacking food is making me hungry as I write this review! For me the small details such as these enrich a reading experience. Add fascinating characters, family and friendships, booby traps and murder and give it a good stir.

Former illusionist Tempest Raj is an amateur sleuth and helps out at a family business, Secret Staircase Construction. She doesn't profess to be an expert painter but her natural curiosity and inveigling make her an ideal investigator. Though interesting, her character is not a favourite of mine but one needn't like all the characters to get a kick out of a book! The company is bewildered by a lawsuit by a former client whose wife had an accident. But the company knows they aren't responsible. The Whispering Creek Theater becomes a final death scene but real blood and a blade are tricky to fake. Tempest's mother had disappeared five years earlier which has left a gaping hole in her heart. Grandfather Ash is the kind of mentor many would like. Plus he cooks with love.

The story is fun but phrases are sometimes repetitive and the pacing occasionally lagged. However, there are twists and secrets galore. Locked room mysteries are my wheelhouse and this series could be yours, too, especially if you hanker something light with a bit of something special.

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this smashing novel.

I love locked room/closed circle mysteries, so I really love this series! The whole backstory of Tempest, her career in magic/illusion, her family history, and the Secret Staircase construction company make these stories so fun and interesting. Add in some wonderful supporting characters and you've got an entertaining mystery waiting for you. This book really has a LOT going on - multiple mysteries, lots of characters, and lots of puzzling out theories - but it definitely was worth keeping track of it all to see how everything unravels in the end. I can't wait for the next one! Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the advance digital copy!

In "A Midnight Puzzle," Gigi Pandian crafts a captivating homage to classic detective fiction while introducing readers to the dynamic and resourceful sleuth, Tempest Raj.

As the queen of locked room mysteries, Tempest finds herself embroiled in a complex case involving Secret Staircase Construction, a family business under attack. When former client Julian Rhodes is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Tempest is drawn into a web of deception and danger.

Pandian's storytelling is both clever and engaging, weaving together elements of magic, intrigue, and suspense to keep readers guessing until the very end. The intricate plot unfolds at a brisk pace, with twists and turns that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages.

What sets "A Midnight Puzzle" apart is its richly drawn characters and vividly depicted setting. Tempest Raj is a captivating protagonist, combining intelligence and intuition with a touch of vulnerability that makes her relatable and endearing. The supporting cast, including Tempest's grandfather and fellow sleuths, adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

The mystery itself is expertly crafted, with clues and red herrings scattered throughout the story to keep readers guessing. As Tempest unravels the puzzle, she must confront not only a deadly booby trap but also the secrets and betrayals hidden within the walls of Whispering Creek Theater.

Overall, "A Midnight Puzzle" is a delightful and satisfying read that will appeal to fans of classic detective fiction and cozy mysteries alike. With its charming protagonist, atmospheric setting, and clever plot twists, this book is sure to entertain and enthrall readers until the very last page.