Delayed ARC review!

This was my first book by this author and in this secret staircase mystery series. It definitely can be read as a stand alone.

It was a really fun read and a good palate cleanser for me from my usual genres of romance and thrillers. It was a fun read as someone who is a big bookish person and enjoys mysteries. Check it out if it sounds interesting to you at all- it's available now!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this e-ARC!

The 4th in a series, and probably best read in order rather than as a standalone as the characters make frequent references to events that happened in previous books. Tempest and her friends slowly piece together the solution to a murder, with some scenes dragged out making the book's pacing rather slow. The motivation behind the murder fell flat for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

The Library Game, the fourth book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries series (no need to read the first three), is a charming cozy mystery with a literary twist. Set in Hidden Creek, it follows Tempest Raj, a magician-turned-contractor, as she helps convert a private home into a library honoring classic detective fiction. When an actor dies during a murder mystery rehearsal—and the body vanishes—Tempest uses her sleight-of-hand skills to uncover secrets. Full of Golden Age nods, quirky characters, and heart, this witty, well-paced mystery is both nostalgic and delightfully original.

Full disclosure: I did not read the other books in the series, yet. I felt a little out of the loop on the character connections, but that did not stop me from really enjoying this book. It had all the perfect elements, a locked room mystery set partially in an escape room with a magic show. Disappearing bodies, haunting sounds, including the voice of the recently deceased homeowner, and a nosy neighbor all kept me hooked. If I had read the others in the series and been more connected with the characters, this would have been a five-star read for me. I am going to start at the beginning to get ready for the next book!

This is the most confounding Secret Staircase Mystery yet. An impossible murder, an unclear motive, and a disappearing corpse all combine to create this latest Gigi Pandian cozy mystery.

Tempest Raj was a Vegas magician, a master of illusion and the art of misdirection. She sounds a little like a mystery author, doesn't she? Tempest is now a part of the Secret Staircase Construction company, created by her parents. There is a bit of a backstory involving the death of her mom, it is touched on in this book, but you should really read the first three books to get the full story. Fortunately, it isn't necessary to enjoy this latest book. In fact, all four books are very good as stand-alone stories but the first three build very nicely on each other. In addition to being cozy, they also have a wonderful culinary aspect. Each book lays out some deliciously descriptive scenes with amazing food created/cooked/crafted by Tempest's grandfather, Ashok "Ash" Raj. Ash has an incredible ability to make tasty food that he shares with anyone and everyone. He also has a rolodex, yes, a literal rolodex of all his contacts, and that is a lot of people. This installment comes with the recipe for Blackberry Crumble Cobbler, and I can attest to how easy it is to make and how yummy it tastes with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

As usual, the team of Tempest, Gideon, Ivy, and Sunjay do a great job of adding unique perspectives and personality to the book. There is even a furry companion, Abra the big lop-eared emotional support bunny. Abra isn't technically a support bunny but there is something soothing about stroking bunny fur while trying to figure out a mystery or deal with a stressful or sad situation. I could have used a little support while I was chasing red herrings upstream because I did not have a clue who the killer was or why they did it until the reveal. In fact, the moment that Tempest figured it out, I actually sighed in an "oh no" sort of way. Thank goodness I had Blackberry Crumble Cobbler to make me feel better. This was another great cozy and if you get the chance to check out the audio versions, they are excellent as well with the voice talents of Soneela Nankani. She does a great job of bringing each and every character to life just as I have imagined they would sound. I look forward to reading the next book, hopefully next March as they seem to come out about a year apart.

The Library Game is the fourth installment in the Secret Staircase Mysteries series (you don’t have to have read the first 3 - think Miss Marple) offering readers a delightful blend of cozy mystery and literary homage. Set in the charming town of Hidden Creek, the story follows Tempest Raj, a former magician turned contractor, as she and her family business, Secret Staircase Construction, embark on a unique project: transforming a private home into a public library dedicated to classic detective fiction.

The plot takes a thrilling turn during a rehearsal for an interactive murder mystery dinner, when an actor is found dead, only to have the body mysteriously vanish. Drawing on her background in magic and illusion, Tempest delves into the case, uncovering a web of secrets and misdirections.

The narrative is rich with references to Golden Age mysteries, adding depth and nostalgia for fans of the genre.

Pandian's writing is both engaging and witty, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The inclusion of Tempest's supportive family adds warmth and charm to the story, making it a heartwarming read as well as a captivating mystery.

Read if you enjoy:
📖 Literary references
🧩 Intricate puzzles
🏡 HGTV (because home reno!?)
😂 Witty dialogue that will make you chuckle

Thank you to NetGalley & Minotaur Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for a copy of this book. This was a fun read but I had not read the other books in the series so I'm not sure if it would have been more enjoyable but i still liked it a lot without knowing anything!

First I would like to thank St. Martin's Press for providing me an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

What I loved:
- Abracadabras, the group of friends who work together to figure out this mystery which bares a striking resemblance to another group with a pet mascot, theirs is Abracadabra the Bunny
- Gray House Library, I love the idea of a house being converted into a mystery library
- Escape Room, I would have LOVED to do the escape game Tempest and Ivy created for Gray House
- Mystery, there were multiple facets to the mystery within this story and it really did keep me guessing
- Raj Family, Tempest's dad and grandparents are fun side characters who weave within the story at the perfect time and bring the support and levity needed in the moment

If you are looking for a cozy mystery with magical elements, detective stories, amazing characters and a supportive friend and family group I would absolutely recommend this book!

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian is a wonderfully written magical mystery.

Will Tempest and her friends save the Gray House Library?

Tempest and her friends are working on a new library with a closed room mystery theater that Tempest and Ivy wrote. The library will be an extension of the current library, but feature only classic mysteries.

The Mystery
Our mystery has two parts that may be linked. The first part is the other library that Secret Staircase Construction worked on before, which was broken into, but it doesn't look as though anything was taken. Also, the culprit seemed invisible. The second part is at their first rehearsal for the play part, and Sanjay is recruited to replace one of the three actors for the night. That actor turns up dead and then disappears. There is a lot of redirection and slight of hand going on with this investigation. Also, with limited suspects, and the house was under surveillance the entire time, it is quite a doozy of a mystery.

The Gang
The gang is starting to click together with these mysteries. Instead of calling themselves the Scoobies, they will use the Abracadabras since their mascot is a flobby-eared bunny.

However, Gideon is preparing to leave for a three-month internship in France. Tempest is torn up about him going, but can't seem to talk to him about it. Sanjay may want more than friendship with Tempest, but I can't be sure of that. Ivy is looking for a place to live since she has to move from her apartment. There are lots of changes going on with the gang. The constant being Tempest's family, her dad is always there for them, and her grandparents offer lots of yummy food, comfort, and wisdom.

Five Stars
My rating for The Library Game by Gigi Pandian is five stars. I love the way the author pulls together so many classic mysteries, balancing them with magic, family, and friendship in a wonderful setting.

Check out the Blackberry Crumble Cobbler recipe at the book's end. It sounds amazing.

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 The Library Game by Gigi Pandian.

Until the next time,
~Jen

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

The latest entry in the Secret Staircase series does not disappoint. Tempest and friends find themselves in a locked room mystery while preparing to host a mystery themed escape room at Gray House, which will soon be opening as a mystery library. Solving this one will take everyone in the Secret Staircase crew.

The mystery is engaging and complex. The references to classic mysteries is a delight. What keeps me coming back are these characters and their relationships. I love this series.

In The Library Game, Gigi Pandian delivers another charming mystery full of hidden rooms, literary puzzles, and light suspense. When a local library’s book-themed treasure hunt turns deadly, Tempest Raj—magician and accidental sleuth, must unravel the clues before the killer strikes again.

Pandian keeps the tone cozy and clever, with a likable cast and just enough twists to keep things interesting. The mystery is fun, the setting is rich with secret nooks, and the love for books is clear on every page.

It’s a quick, engaging read for anyone who enjoys brainy puzzles and a touch of magic in their mysteries.

Tempest and her friends are back, this time turning a home into a public library for classic mysteries. But then a murder occurs and Tempest finds herself in her own classic "locked room" mystery.

Well written as always, this book is not really a standalone. The series should be read in order.

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

This was good! The Library Game is the fourth book of the Secret Staircase series, but holds up as a standalone. I'm up for any novel about libraries and books! I will be going back the read the beginning of the series. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for my copy.

Gigi Pandian continues her Secret Staircase mysteries in The Library Game. Tempest Raj is showcasing a mystery play in her just prepared Gray House L:ibrary; during rehearsal one of the players is discovered dead in a puzzle trunk. The actors are trapped in the Gray House in mysterious ways. Is the former owner dead or alive? Is his ghost interfering. Raj uses her team of actors to narrow the suspects, but cannot find the murderer. Enjoy this puzzle game.

The Library Game (Secret Staircase Mystery #4) by Gigi Pandian – I love everything about this wonderful mystery series. (Really, they had me at “secret staircase.” Say no more. I will read.) I have read them all and hope there will still be more to come.

“In The Library Game, Tempest Raj and Secret Staircase Construction are renovating a classic detective fiction library that just got its first real-life mystery. Though the work is far from done, Gray House Library’s new owner is eager to host a murder mystery dinner and literary themed escape room. But when a rehearsal ends with an actor murdered and the body vanishes, Tempest is witness to a seemingly impossible crime.”

I grabbed this latest entry on audio because that has been my favorite way to take in the series, and I binge listened in one day. The mystery is page-turning and feels impossible to solve. The friendships, a little bit of romance, and Tempest’s delightful family all add to the charm of this story. Such an entertaining listen. There’s also lots of bookish references and library love, plus some humor. It really is so much fun.

The latest Secret Staircase novel, featuring ex-stage magician Tempest Raj and her friends, winks at the similarities between her crew and the gang on the animated series “Scooby-Doo”—although Tempest has a pet bunny instead of a Great Dane. Of course, in the Scooby mysteries, the supernatural-seeming crime in each episode had inevitably been committed by some normal dude in a costume, who would have gotten away with it if not for “those meddling kids.” The Library Game revolves around a murder in a home that seems to be haunted by its late owner. But it’s going to take more than a ghost to scare off Tempest, who is determined to solve the case.

Harold Gray had hired Secret Staircase Construction, Tempest’s family’s business, to turn his home into a library devoted to the crime novels he’d spent a lifetime collecting, but he passed away before their work was completed. Tempest thought the house would be the perfect place to hold a mystery-themed play and escape room during her town’s summer stroll. One of the cast members is murdered by an unknown assailant when the lights go off during a rehearsal; the body curiously disappears without a trace, only to reappear a day later. In another odd turn of events, Harold’s nosy neighbor comes by the house, convinced she heard the dead man calling for help.

It’s always fun to see Tempest putting the pieces together, her expertise in the art of illusion giving her an edge over the prosaic minds of the local police force. Gigi Pandian’s ability to come up with one locked-room puzzle after another is a special kind of magic.

Tempest's family business, Secret Staircase Construction, is taking off as they renovate a soon-to-be public library celebrating fictional detectives. They are set to christen the space with a murder mystery dinner...which soon turns into a real murder scene. Tempest and her friends must then try to solve the crime by drawing inspiration from some of the best crime writers. The puzzle of the mystery is fun to follow along with, and I loved the dynamics between the friends. I hadn't realized this was fourth in a series (entirely my fault!) so I was missing some context, but the author did a good job of giving enough that I wasn't really lost. A really fun read overall!

Tempest Raj is helping for the Gray House to become a detective fiction library. Tempest and her friends are rehearsing a play to take place at he Gray House but one of their friends turns up dead. But the dead body disappears? Tempest has to figure out who killed their friend plus help keep the library to open.
This was enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Minotaur Books.

This is so bingeable. I finished it in one sitting and absolutely loved it. What I applaud the author for is that despite being the fourth book in the series, this was very much readable for someone who had no knowledge of prior books like me. Yes, there were references to previous books in parts which I could recognize, but it didn't take away from my experience of this one.

Very fun read that has made me curious. I might read the other books in the series too!

THÉ LIBRARY GAME by GIGI PANDIAN

I had a great experience with this fourth novel in the Secret Staircase Mystery series!

I could jump right in without needing to read the earlier books.

As for most of us book lovers, libraries do have a special charm, and it’s wonderful that the book captures that atmosphere.

The blend of mystery and the love for books likely makes for an engaging read.

I am considering reading the previous entries in the series to see how the characters developed.

Thank you to @netgalley , @minotaur_books and @gigipandian for the ebook.