This is the first book I read by Gigi Pandian, I discovered it is the 4th volume of the saga "Secret Staircase Mystery".
The Library Game by Gigi Pandian starts with a premise that really sparks excitement: a library dedicated to the greatest fictional detectives, a renovation featuring secret passages, and a murder mystery dinner that turns into a real-life case. However, despite these intriguing elements, the book fails to live up to its promise.

The protagonist, Tempest Raj, is involved in the renovation of the Gray House Library, but both her story and the mystery that unfolds fail to captivate. While there are some interesting ideas, the plot moves in a too-predictable way, and the central mystery lacks the tension you'd expect from a thriller. The events, which should be gripping, end up feeling flat and unengaging.
The characters also fall short in bringing the story to life. Tempest, despite being the lead character, feels more like a background figure than a true driving force. Her reactions and decisions often don't feel believable, making it hard to emotionally invest in her journey. The team surrounding her lacks the charisma to lift the story, and they often seem more like supporting players than central figures.
In conclusion, The Library Game has a fascinating premise but fails to develop it satisfactorily. The mystery never really takes off, and the characters aren't compelling enough to carry the story. A missed opportunity for what could have been an engaging thriller.

Such a fun book! A locked room mystery that takes place in a library-themed escape room? The perfect cozy mystery!

loved this romance and finding love and remembering love before the one. love the friends and the chemistry between the couple was on fire and loved the banter.

Ex-Illusionist Tempest Raj and her crew of amateur sleuths are back, turning a home into a library focused exclusively on classic mystery novels. For the town's Summer Stroll, they have decided to put on a murder mystery show, but during one of their final rehearsals, one of the actors turns up dead...but how, and who did it? When the body disappears and re-appears days later, things get even more puzzling. Tempest and her friends have to solve the murder before the Summer Stroll so the library can open on time.

Everyone is a suspect, so they have to put all of their talents together to determine the how, why, and who of the murder. With people keeping secrets, and no answers in sight, it could be anyone. Is it the nosy neighbor who's trying to stop the library? Or Sanjay, who was filling in for the actor. Could it be Cameron, who inherited the house?

These books are so interesting. From the magic tricks and secret rooms, to the librarians who know all the mysteries, and the family who have useful connections, these are always a fun time. I couldn't figure out who the killer was any more than the Abracadabras could. Every Secret Staircase novel keeps you guessing until the end.

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

All in all, I highly recommend this entire series! If you love a great cozy mystery with a close-knit group of family and friends, interesting characters and plots, and a slight romance, then definitely give these a read!

Take my review with a grain of salt, since I did not know going in that this is the fourth book in a series. I was very attracted to the premise: hidden staircases, escape rooms and a murder to solve. However, I never really became engaged with the story. The murder victim (unless he was developed in a previous book) came and went so quickly, it was hard to be invested in the crime. After the murder there was a lot of discussion and theories about what happened but there was very little action. The best part for me was the cute bunny Abracadabra. My advice would be to read the previous books first for the best experience.

This enchanting, book-centered cozy mystery unfolds the tale of Tempest Raj and her close-knit circle of friends. The Gray House transforms into a library celebrating the golden age of detective fiction, while the story’s backdrop features a charming small-town festival, a literary-themed escape room, and a murder mystery play that takes an unexpected turn. With the help of Ivy, Gideon, and Sanjay, Tempest dives headfirst into an intriguing world of books, ghosts, and captivating illusions.
Additionally, readers are treated to glimpses of the innovative projects undertaken by the Secret Staircase Construction company—a dream come true for any book enthusiast—and the mouthwatering culinary delights prepared by Grandfather Ash. Pro tip: keep some snacks nearby, as the delectable descriptions will surely leave you hungry!
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

These books are so much fun and perfect for cozy mystery lovers. Every time I read one of these books, I want to visit Tempest's family's home in San Francisco. I want to meet her grandfather and be fed by him, I want to hug her grandmother and receive her wisdom, explore their treehouse and Tempest's current room, cuddle Abracadabra, and look at the plans for Tempest's eventual home on the property. And of course, I want to meet the rest of the cast of characters!

In this latest installment the Secret Staircase Construction crew has been hired to renovate the old Gray house to turn it into a library for Classic Detective mysteries. The new owner also wants them to create an escape room murder mystery event for the grand opening (and maybe as a regular thing?).

Not surprisingly, there is a murder, and then there isn't. And then there is. This mystery is full of twists and turns, and just when one of the characters announces they have solved the mystery and proceed to give us a logical sequence of events, something happens and it's one of those, "but wait!" moments. What I have loved about these stories is that I have always managed to guess part of the mystery but never the whole thing. Pandian is great at leading you down wild goose chases that end at a blind alley.

As I said, if you love cozy mysteries, you should definitely check out this series. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and the publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian is another delightful addition to the Secret Staircase Mysteries series, and I had such a great time tagging along with Tempest and the rest of the Abracadabras crew! This fourth installment brings us a cozy locked-room mystery set against the atmospheric backdrop of a historic library—a setting I absolutely adored. I mean, a murder mystery in a secret-filled library? Yes, please!

What I appreciated most about The Library Game is how streamlined the mystery felt compared to earlier books in the series. The plot was tight, the pacing solid, and even though the villain was close to hand, the reveal still packed a punch. There’s something so satisfying about a diabolical mastermind hiding in plain sight—and Pandian nails that slow unfurling of clues that keeps you flipping pages and second-guessing everything. It’s not overly twisty or confusing, which actually made it feel more grounded and satisfying. The puzzle was clever, and the locked-room setup gave off strong classic mystery vibes without feeling stale.

Tempest is still the quirky, resourceful illusionist we’ve come to know and love, and it’s fun watching her continue to grow as a sleuth. I loved the team dynamic in this one—her friends (a.k.a. the Abracadabras!) continue to bring warmth, humor, and helpful insight to every case. There’s such a sense of camaraderie between them, and their banter always makes me smile. I also loved the mix of real-life history and illusion that Pandian weaves into her storytelling—it adds this rich, whimsical layer to the mystery that makes the whole experience feel like a cozy escape.

While it didn’t quite reach “favorite of the series” status for me, it was an incredibly fun read that scratched all my cozy mystery itches. If you love clever locked-room setups, charming characters, and magical realism that feels just grounded enough, The Library Game is definitely worth picking up. Now I’m off to reread book one, because I’m not ready to leave the secret staircases behind just yet.

The whole Secret Staircase family is back, with Tempest, Ivy and Sanjay involved in a murder investigation. The construction company has transformed the former home of a resident into a library that features only Golden Age and other classic mysteries. Before the opening, the owner arranges a rehearsal of the murder mystery escape room with actors playing characters in a murder mystery.

Unfortunately, things go from fun to awful when one of the actors is found dead, then, to make matters worse, his body disappears. Because Sanjay and the actor had planned a bit of a joke/magic trick as part of the staged mystery, Sanjay is prime suspect.

Of course Tempest knows she has to investigate, and she finds out more about the impetus to create the classic mysteries library, as well as the opposition to the business. Grandpa Ash is busy making scrumptious dishes to keep everyone fed, while he also works his town contacts to find out all sorts of things the police detective does not know, but that helps Tempest determine who the culprit is.

This was a nicely twisty mystery, with a fast-moving plot and plenty of banter and humour to liven up the character interactions. Though you could start here, I'd recommend reading this series in order as there are details about the characters, and Tempest's family's past, that are described in previous entries, and which deepen one's enjoyment of this book, consequently.

I both listened and read this story, and Soneela Nankani does her usual great job of voicing characters. She captures Tempest's energy, and I like how Ivy, Tempest's best friend, is also voiced. Nankani's Sanjay always makes me laugh, and Grandpa Ash's warmth and gentle presence is voiced beautifully.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and to Macmillan Audio for these ARCs in exchange for my review.

This book just wasn’t for me. Not bad but didn’t hold my interest. Perhaps reading the entirety of the series would have helped but if they are all like this one, I’m not sure I would have gotten through them all.

I really enjoyed this book! The cover was cool too! I can’t give too much away but would recommend for anyone looking for their next book!

I'm still shocked that this series is not more well known! It is SO good. I love the family, the puzzles, the mystery- it all works together so well, and it's always such a joy to read these books. There is just the right amount of intrigue and heart to create a captivating, enjoyable read. The literary themed escape room was a fun touch in this one. I definitely recommend this book to those that enjoy cozy mysteries or even books such as The Inheritance Games or the Finlay Donovan series.

An act of sabotage may have ended Tempest Raj’s career in Vegas as a professional magician, but now she is happily settled in as part of her family’s Californian Secret Staircase Construction company. As the name indicates, they specialize in creating hidden spaces and rooms for their customers, with their latest project being the transformation of the historic Gray House into a public library. The Gray House is hosting a mystery literary-themed escape room for Hidden Creek’s annual summer stroll event, with one of the major clues hidden behind a secret bookcase. When one of the three hired actors has a schedule conflict, Tempest’s magician friend Sanjay Rai steps in as Lucas Cruz’s replacement. A stage illusionist known as the Hindu Houdini, Sanjay revels in the attention until it makes him a suspect for murder. After a series of baffling body swaps where Lucas unexpectedly appears – as a corpse – and then disappears, police initially write it off as a practical joke until a body reappears at a most inconvenient time.

While Sanjay worries that he may be the prime target of the investigating detectives, Tempest wonders if the murder was part of a plan to keep the library from ever opening at all. Its neighbor Mrs. Hudson was petitioning to prevent the public facility from being permitted in a residential area, going so far as to surveil and track the movements of those going in and out of the home. While this is initially helpful in attempting to figure out exactly what happens, her assertion that the ghost of the previous owner is involved only confuses the entire situation. The more Tempest learns about Lucas and the elaborate escape room scenarios, the more she begins to wonder if Lucas was the actual intended murder target.

This 4th in a series by one of my favorite authors explores the family and friendships Tempest has built among her Hidden Creek hometown. She will need to rely on those as their company’s stonemason Gideon Torres accepts a three-month long internship in France, interrupting the progress they’d made into a possible relationship. The friends-and-never-more situation between Tempest and Sanjay contains a small frisson of tension, as it’s clear that he harbors feelings that she doesn’t yet return. A tense interaction between them emphasizes that sometimes just being there, listening and commiserating, is what’s needed more than action or advice. Tempest’s grandfather continues to cook mouthwatering South Indian dishes for his family, in addition to bringing lunches for their working crew. As appropriate for an Agatha-themed locked-room mystery game, clues are scattered throughout this novel, playing fair and allowing the reader to pick up on a possible culprit. Library and book lovers will of course love this mystery that celebrates the love of reading, especially since it contains references to classic detective mystery novels. Having solved the personal mysteries of her past that haunted her, Tempest is finally able to look forward towards a future where she builds a life that combines her love of stagecraft, illusions, and architecture. This is a mystery-loving novel that will appeal to those who will appreciate this spunky, extremely sharp-witted heroine as adept with illusions as she is in solving an elaborate puzzle.

Thank you MacMillain Audio and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a fun and lighthearted mystery read! I had not read anything by Gigi Pandian before, and was excited to hear this was a series that I could potentially jump into. Although the mystery was interesting, it seemed to be a little "messy" and all over the place. Without giving any spoilers away, I felt unsatisfied by the ending.

Thank you again for the ARC!

I did not read the previous book by this author, so had no background. I found the premise of building hidden rooms and passages intriguing, and the disappearing and reappearing body also interesting. I had a difficult time connecting with the characters or understanding their connections
That took away from my enjoyment

The Library Game is the first book I have read by Gigi Pandian and it was entertaining and well written. I was not grabbed and pulled in but Gigi wrote it well. Because I like more action and drama I had to push myself to keep reading the book but I was glad I did. I feel I would be drawn into it more and felt the characters more had I read the previous books with these characters. It was an endeavor to create a mystery theater library that this book centered on. The murder of a mystery actor was not in the plan. For those who have already read more of these delightful characters, I know you'll love the book. I was a little bored with it unfortunately but I am a reader of true crime, police procedurals, and drama thrillers so this was just too tame for me. It was well written and if it's your genre I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press Publishing Group for this eARP these are my own thoughts on this book. I would recommend it to those who read this genre.

rounded up to 4 stars.

The mystery was excellent. I will admit, I always suspected the mail culprit - but how they got around to it was interesting.

Good characters, good storyline that keeps you guessing as to the how and the who and def the why.

My only complaint, and the reason it wasn't a solid 4 stars, was that the ending got messy and convoluted.

Former Vegas headliner, Tempest Raj, is performing other feats of magic as she joins her father’s Secret Staircase business where they create whatever the imagination and the budget can conceive. They are working on turning a newly bequeathed house into a special library but someone seems to be determined to do anything to halt the process. During a dress rehearsal for their inaugural show, a body appears. Not just any body but one of the cast. And then abracadbra, he disappears only to reappear- very dead.

It is a book that tries to create the closed door and limited suspects books of the golden age. Add in the various talents of the professional magicians involved and a therapy rabbit, you have a real hodgepodge of conundrums to solve. But like so many of the classics, it is only when you strip away all the assumptions and conclusions do you discover the who and they why. It does seem to have its share of tropes including the cookie baking grandfather but it still manages to be entertaining. Not a book that I could not wait to pick up but still worth a read. Four purrs but only one paw up.

The Library game is like a mix of Agatha Christie and Scooby Doo. In fact, the characters often refer to themselves as similar from the gang except they have a rabbit. Fans of lighthearted, yet still dramatic, locked room mysteries will enjoy this story. There are also love triangles and new love, quirky grandparents, and lots of red herrings. This book would be great for mixed audiences.

As someone for whom this:
<img src="//i.pinimg.com/originals/fe/cb/fe/fecbfecc96928b5225d1fbcb636352b4.jpg"width=500">

...represents the apotheosis of all my life's desires, this book and series could be written solely for me. Add in Tempest's history as an illusionist of renown on the stages of Las Vegas, and I'm deeper into infatuation.

As this entry in the series is not set in the same place, or with the same precise cast, as previous ones (which I have not read), and I'm at the proper starting place, though it must be said that there are a lot of relationships that aren't formed in this book. Be prepared to infer a lot from the offhanded remarks of the cast if you're starting here, but it's really not onerous. The story Author Pandian tells us here is a very cozy one...you know, dead bodies and suchlike goins-on, but no gore and precious little that could even be considered violence in the world we live in...and a murder whose most chilling aspect is how it ties in to a bookish social community's attempts to fix up a person's home library for a destination vacation spot, plus lots of good food descriptions and a recipe or two— however can I resist?

Small things detract from perfection, like the way Tempest jumps to an absolutely wrong conclusion at one point and it's simply never dealt with, but we're not here for the locked-room puzzle. This is a relationship-driven book, one with kind, good people who really care for each other and for books and food and community. The reveal of the guilty party came as no surprise to me, experienced mystery reader that I am, mostly because I knew none of the people involved and was thus not distracted by the intended red herrings.

The presence of pet bunny Abracadabra, and a pivotal character called Mrs. Hudson, made this feel very Golden-Age mystery. While I think it's lots of fun to read, I don't see myself getting books one through three to catch up. The issue with cozies for me is I need some kind of alchemical falling-in-love moment or they become rather like TV shows. I felt here as though I could easily watch this crew doing their thing on Acorn or Britbox and love it. On the page I liked it fine, but not quite enough to get to four stars.