This is a fun, cozy mystery. I enjoyed following Tempest as she and her crew built up this secret library and murder mystery game. The mystery itself was full of twists and turns, and I didn't know what was going to happen next. There were some parts in the story where the pacing slowed down, and I felt it dragged the story out a bit too long.
Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable story, and while it's the fourth book in this series, I didn't have any trouble following what was happening.

This author is new to me, but I will be keeping an eye out for anything else they publish. I loved the story and the characters. The pacing of the story was great and the characters were relatable.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S THE LIBRARY GAME ABOUT?
The project that Secret Staircase Construction is about to wrap up has a couple of distinctive elements (on top of the sliding bookshelves, escape room, etc.)—their client is dead, and his death is not a mystery at all. Most people might not consider that very distinctive, but those people haven't read a mystery novel featuring Tempest Raj.

This client was an aficionado of classic mysteries—okay, aficionado is an understatement—he was borderline obsessed and had the money to indulge that obsession. As his death neared, he decided to turn most of his house into a library (leaving room for an apartment for his librarian nephew), stocked with his own collection. This sounds like a dream come true for most of my readers, right?

He hired Secret Staircase to give it just the right look and touch, even turning part of it into an Escape Room. Sadly, he died before it was completed, leaving his nephew to bring his vision to life.

While the library is being finished—and waiting for official approval to make it a public entity—there's a neighborhood festival. To get some promotion for the library (and to be good neighbors), they've hired some local actors to stage a little performance.

During a dress rehearsal for that performance, something goes wrong—one of the actors disappears (I'm glossing over a lot here), so they try again the next day—in the midst of that... I don't even know how to gloss over this. It's like they all chanted "Macbeth!" while walking under a ladder and crossing a black cat's path or something—so many things go wrong, and a body is discovered. Tempest's magician friend, Sanjay, appears to be the prime suspect—although the rest of the actors and workers aren't above suspicion either.

Well, more than one person floats the idea of the deceased client's ghost being behind it all. So, there are plenty of suspects, however unlikely.

Tempest (and her friend group and family) has her work cut out for her if she's going to clear Sanjay's name, find the killer, and get the Library set for the festival.

THE SENSE OF FUN
Yes, this is a murder mystery. Livelihoods, wrongful convictions, and more are on the line. But there is a strong sense of fun to this book. Our amateur sleuths are a group of friends who've been down this road before (three times to be exact)—in one way or another.

They like the challenge, they enjoy mysteries, illusions, and everything else going on here—and they can't help but enjoy this in some way—and this comes out in their interactions with each other.

There's a sense of play here as they work through this, some running jokes, and so on. I'm not saying that books two and three were absent fun, but it was played down a bit because of everything else. This is as fun as the first book—and maybe more so, because the relationships are better settled and Tempest isn't under that cloud anymore.

Beyond the greater sense of fun than we've had for a bit, there's the cozy and warm feeling you get from reading a solid found family/friend group (in the midst of a flesh and blood family), these people like each other. It's hard to beat that feeling.

All of that serves as a bonus to a clever mystery.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE LIBRARY GAME?
I was fairly convinced that the previous book in the series, The Raven Thief was going to be the last one as it wrapped up a three-book arc, serving as a nice trilogy. I was so happy to be wrong—I wanted more time with Tempest and her friends—especially Ivy (I'd take a spin-off book full of her essays on locked-room mysteries) and Abra. Not to mention the fun of imagining Ash's culinary offerings.

Beyond the characters, Pandian knows how to deliver a contemporary locked-room crime and how to keep the tension building while keeping the whole book entertaining. I need to make time for her backlist soon to see how these books compare with her earlier offerings.

I'd like Ernest Cunningham (or Ivy, I guess) to weigh in on Pandian's books because I'm not entirely certain that she plays fair with her clues and solutions. Particularly in this case. But that's just to satisfy a mental itch, because I really don't care—I thought the solution to this and the reveal were pulled off satisfyingly well.

This would make a good jumping-on point for someone new to this world and is a must-read for people who enjoyed any of the previous three. It's a clever book, a smart mystery, filled with good friends and warm feelings. Who doesn't want that?

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.

4.5 stars

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian follows Tempest as she helps transform a home into a library with hidden passages and all sorts of fun stuff. One night, while rehearsing with the group tasked to create a murder mystery for the library's opening they discover a body. When they call the police, the body has disappeared. They must figure out who murdered the person and find out what happened to the body while finishing the last touches on the new library.

Disclaimer, I'm a HUGE Gigi Pandian fan. So I was absolutely delighted to read this book. I did start the series on this book so some of my information is not complete but I was able to pick up the story from context clues. I really appreciated that Sanjay was a part of this story since the Jaya Jones novels are some of my favorites. I'm not sure if he makes an appearance on the other books in the series but I am definitely going to pick them up as I had so much fun with this book.

About this book specifically I enjoyed Tempest, her friends, and her family a lot. I was also not able to figure out the mystery until it was unfolding in the book but to be fair, I try not to figure it out so that I'm surprised by the end. I thought the romance element was sweet but did not distract from the mystery at all. I also really liked the nosy neighbor. Now the only thing that kept me from giving it a 5 star is that I wish there was more about the renovation because it was advertised but maybe it is in other books? I might update my review after reading the other books.

Anyway, overall I would highly recommend this book even if you haven't read the other three. I think Gigi Pandian does a wonderful job at painting a compelling mystery with wonderful characters. If you like cozy mysteries then this book is for sure for you!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Gigi Pandian for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a nice easy cozy mystery to get into. It has a lot of references towards Agatha Christie's work which was nice but also felt repetitive at times but had some nice parts of feeling like you are in an escape room trying to solve what is going on. A good guessing game of who done it.

What a very interesting book and remind me of I AG ATH AC.HRI ST.I.E novels. This one reminds me of clue as well. Because this all takes place in this library.That's so called murder mystery , dinner and Escape rooms. Everybody had different ideas and opinions in this book.But somebody did get murdered It was like a game.I had to figure out everything.What the next person?Was gonna do. It was good written and I liked it because it kept me on my toes

DNF :( Could not get into this one, maybe just too cozy for this moment but I wasn't feeling it. Would try again in the future!

The Library Game is the fourth book in the series featuring Tempest Raj, her family's construction business, and her gang of quirky friends. One of her friends is murdered at a rehearsal for a mystery dinner, and then the body disappears. The setting is a soon-to-be-open public library based in the home of a deceased avid mystery collector. This locked-door mystery has many twists, turns, and references to classic mysteries that will keep you guessing until the end.

As each Secret Staircase Mystery is published, the crimes become more intricate (and impossible), the characters more developed and beloved, and the number of architectural marvels I find myself adding to my fictional dream home keeps getting bigger and bigger. In The Library Game, Tempest and the crew are back at it again in another humorous, cozy, and delightful mystery. Full of nods to the locked room mysteries of yore and classic authors of the genre, this case finds the danger hitting close to home as one of them is toeing a teetering line between suspected victim or primary suspect. Can't wait to see where Pandian takes this series next!

With each book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries series, I just learn to love this series even more. The latest installement finds a murder at a newly renovated library with hidden doors perfect for an escape room. When one of the actors in a local trope is found murdered, Tempest and her friends ban together to find the killer.

If you are new to the series, I highly suggest starting with the first book in the series, Under Lock & Skeleton Key. While the books can be read outside of their publishing order, I think the first book is always a good place to start. This cozy mystery series is perfect for readers who want a light dose of murder with a splash of mystery, but don't worry there isn't any gore. I really hope this isn't the last book in the series and we see more from Tempest and her friends.

Thank you to Minotaur and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for review consideration.

Ms. Pandian's latest foray is another wonderful, locked room mystery, featuring Tempest Raj. Tempest is a former stage magician who is now working with her father to create unique rooms for their company, the Secret Staircase Construction company. Spaces are created with hidden features or special features, creating magical and special spaces. This series is such fun and Ms. Pandian is an expert crafter of these mysteries.

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.

Tempest Raj couldn’t be happier that the family business, Secret Staircase Construction, is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Known for enchanting architectural features like sliding bookshelves and secret passageways, the company is now taking on a dream project: transforming a home into a public library that celebrates history's greatest fictional detectives.

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. Fueled by her grandfather’s Scottish and Indian meals, Tempest and the rest of the crew must figure out who is making beloved classic mystery plots come to life in a deadly game.

Multiple award winning author Gigi Pandian masterfully weaves wit and warmth in the Secret Staircase Mysteries. Readers will delight in the surprises Secret Staircase Construction uncovers behind the next locked door.

Be warned this is part of a series and references prior books quite often. The story can be followed without but I believe some things would have been clearer if I had read the other books. I am not basing my review or my opinions on that though.

Tempest is working to get a new library up and running in the house of Harold Gray. There are plans for a murder mystery show but during dress rehearsal, they end up with an actual dead body. Twists and turns abound as the cast of quirky characters work to independently solve the case so the show can go on.

The characters were fun and quirky, but lacked depth in some areas. There was a strong attempt at a "cozy" vibe that warred with the murder. The book was quite predictable in many ways with only a few questions that needed to be answered. It was enjoyable but not something that will linger.

Thank you to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

This is book four and my first foray into the Secret Staircase mystery series. It does a good job of reintroducing characters and recapping previous series events so newcomers can follow along, while giving on,y enough information to entice readers to go back to the series begin to dive in.

The mystery itself is fun, a combination of locked room and closed circle mysteries. The characters are all huge mystery fans and are trope-savvy enough to both get in over their heads and provide readers with fun commentary throughout. I do love the combination of stage magic and architecture that forms the basis of the company Tempest and her friend work for, as well as the overall aesthetic of the series.

Overall a lot of fun, and a nice balance of giving the reader enough clues to figure out who the murderer is, while adding enough red herrings and side trails so those who catch on quickly aren’t bored waiting for the characters to catch up.

Former professional magician Tempest now works with her father and a couple friends at their company, Secret Staircase Construction. Their current project is transforming the late Harold Gray's home into a library/apartment for his nephew Cameron. Fresh off a break-in by an "invisible" intruder at another of their library projects, Tempest is determined to figure it out while simultaneously finishing work on the Gray House in time for the town's Summer Stroll. When a body is discovered during practice for the Stroll's mystery play and Tempest's friend is the prime suspect, she and her friends (and grandparents) are determined to find the truth. This is the fourth book in the series, but I felt like I could follow it enough for it to be a stand alone. The town is charming, but the characters are not fully developed, possibly because there are so many of them. There's unnecessary repetition that got on my nerves. For example, repeating Secret Staircase Construction, especially in the first half of the story. I think more creativity needed to be put into the naming of things, like the companies and libraries. I'm a fan of cozy mysteries, but it seemed pretty obvious who the killer would be fairly early on in the story.

The Library Game is fourth mystery in the Secret Staircase Mystery series. Tempest Raj and Secret Staircase Construction are renovating a house into a classic detective mystery library. It’s almost to show the space to the public, but during the dress rehearsal something goes terribly wrong. When one of the actors for the literary themed escape room turns up murdered and the body disappears Tempest and her friends start looking into it. Will they be able to uncover the secrets behind the murder and disappearance or will the killer get away with it?

I have been a fan of this series from the beginning and enjoy the magic and illusion elements of these mysteries. It is a great twist and very well done. Tempest is a great main character and her friends compliment her perfectly. I was hooked on this mystery from the first chapter and didn’t want to put it down. The fast paced mystery and twists kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn’t see the conclusion coming. I really hope there are more books in this series because I can’t wait to see Tempest in action again!

Tempest Raj couldn’t be happier with the family business, Secret Staircase
Gray House Library’s new owner is eager to host a murder mystery dinner and literary themed escape room. During the rehearsal, murder occurs. Lots of twists and turns,mayhem and unpredictable events make this a real page turner and a must read!

Gigi Pandian's "The Library Game" is an absolute gem in the world of cozy mysteries. From the moment I picked it up, I was transported into a world full of charm, intrigue, and delightful twists. Pandian masterfully crafts a story that combines elements of mystery, humor, and a touch of romance, creating a page-turner that I simply could not put down.

The protagonist is both relatable and inspiring, with a knack for solving puzzles and a love for literature that resonates deeply with any book lover. The setting—a quaint, atmospheric library—adds an enchanting backdrop that feels like a character in its own right. Pandian's vivid descriptions make you feel as though you are right there in the stacks, uncovering clues alongside the daring detective.

The plot is well-paced, with just the right amount of suspense to keep you guessing until the very end. The supporting cast is equally engaging, each character bringing their own quirks and secrets to the table, making for an entertaining and multi-dimensional narrative.

"The Library Game" is a delightful read that is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and anyone looking for a heartwarming story with a smart, resourceful hero at its core. Gigi Pandian has penned a truly unforgettable tale, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! Highly recommended for a cozy afternoon of reading.

Suspense! Misdirection! A dash of romance!

I’m really just dipping my toes into the cozy mystery genre after reading majority romance for the last 3 years. This was the perfect balance of romance and mystery to give me everything I love.

First thank you to st. Martins press and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars

Synopsis: tempest and her family business are doing great things. They are working on their biggest project turning a private home into a library celebrating famous literary detectives. Her friends are part of it by preparing a murder mystery party for opening night. However a real murder occurs during rehearsals that threatens the library opening unless tempest and her friends can solve the case in time.

What I liked: this is a cozy mystery set in a library celebrating famous literary detectives, how can you not like that? The representation is great with many nationalities and races represented. I also liked the librarian representation too.
One thing that did distract from it was this was more of a tell you instead of show you mystery. I do prefer the show me better and felt that many times we went down a tangent that didn’t necessarily add a lot to the plot.
I was able to pick this up as a stand-alone even through it is a series.