I listened to the audiobook of The Library Game, the 4th book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries by Gigi Pandian. Not having read or listened to any of the prior books in the series, I chose to listen to this one because the premise was unique: a murder in a newly renovated library once a private home. The series features Tempest Raj, a former magician who now works in the family construction business, which is known for unique architectural features such as hidden passages and sliding bookshelves. The mystery in this story involves the murder of an actor who was hired to help stage an escape room play in the library during the town's spring showcase of local businesses. While the murder at first appeared to be committed by supernatural forces, I enjoyed Tempest using her magician tricks of "sleight of hand" to solve the mystery. The narrator was Soneela Nankani who did an admirable job, providing unique voices to the variety of characters. Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to this audiobook in exchange for my unbiased review.

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!

Mysteries, bookshelves, and magicians oh my! You get all that and more with The Library Game: A Secret Staircase (#4) Novel by Gigi Pandian. I got access to the audiobook that was narrated by Soneela Nankani through NetGally. This was my first book I have read in this series and my first Gigi Pandian novel. The overall story was good with witty banter that helped carry a lot of the book for me. The mystery itself was underwhelming and a lot of the twists and turns of the book just didn’t feel helpful to the plot in my personal option. I gave this listen 3 out of 5 strawberries on my rating scale, but I will say I will be checking out the first 3 books in the series because I want to get more of the lore of each character I meet in this book. I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and I do love the idea of getting a sneak peek into the behind-the-scenes of professional magicians. A big thanks to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to enjoy this interesting mystery.

This was a great addition to the series! It’s an new sort of journey as we see Tempest and her crew solving this mystery as a cohesive team whereas Tempest felt more like a lone sleuth or a duo with Ivy in some of the other books. Having all the “Abracadabras” together brought in more fun social interactions. We also see Tempest after her mother’s mystery is solved. The double mystery was a great part of the other books, but this mystery felt a bit more streamlined, which was also nice!
An excellent read and continuation of the series!

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.

The narrator was good and handled the variety of names with grace.

Thank you to Net Galley and MacMillan Audio for the DLC. All opinions are my own.

I did not realize that this was the 4th book in a cozy mystery series. If I had read the earlier books it would have made it easier to keep all the characters straight! As it was I found that a little difficult as I listened to this book. I love cozy mysteries and this series seems like it is fun. It centers around the planning of an escape room mystery play that most of the characters are in. Several of these characters are also experienced as magicians so when fowl play starts their first reactions are to think that someone is playing a trick or that they are being deceived by misdirection. Just like a good B-movie (or any other cozy mystery), this book offers quirky characters with plenty of odd ball additions to the mix (ex. Tempest the main character lives in a tree house guest house and has a big fluffy temperamental pet rabbit).

Thank you to NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for my audio arc of this book

Tempest, a former magician, returned to her hometown and started working with her father's construction company, Secret Staircase Construction. They are currently working on a classic detective fiction library. For the opening weekend, they are putting one a real-life locked in room mystery game. The first rehearsal, Sunjay, Tempest's magician friend, volunteered to play a part to help an actor impress his crush. During the rehearsal, after the lights were turned out and a cap gun was the fired, the actor was supposed to give the first clue, however nothing happened. Tempest released the actor wasn't faking his death but was actually dead. They all ran to get their phones from the kitchen because they had been locked up to make the play feel more realistic. After calling the police, they went back to the room and the body was gone but they could all see each other so what happened to the body? The police thought it was some kind of prank and left after taking their statements.

Second rehearsal day, Tempest, Gideon, Ivy, and Cameron (the soon-to-be owner of the new classic detective fiction library) decided to have a dinner beforehand. The actress came early so they invited her to join them. The dinner was interrupted by a scream for help upstairs and the voice sounded eerily similar to the former owner of the house. They all went charging up without their phones and got locked into a room where they found very scary clues including that the windows were poisoned. Nearly an hour later, they were finally able to escape the room and went back downstairs only to find the missing body from the day before in the same place. They called the police again and this time the body did not disappear. Where did the body come from?

The plot is really engaging with exciting puzzles and a whole lot of twists. If you like carefully crafted mysteries and well thought out plots, this is a book for you.

Special thank you to NetGalley & MacMillian Audio for letting me read this book early!

Rating: 4/5
I received the eARC for my honest opinion.

This is book four, but I didn’t know that until I dived in but even knowing that I was still able to understand what was going on, the characters and the plot. I will be going back and reading the other three books, it was that great. In this book you will meet Tempest and her friends. Tempest is working for her family business “Secret Staircase Construction”, they’re transforming a home into a public library that celebrates history’s greatest fictional detectives. Her family’s business makes sliding bookshelves and secret libraries and they’re a huge hit.

A murder mystery is being hosted in the house, they even have an escape room but when doing a test run, a murder happens. Tempest and her friends start to investigate but when Tempest's friend Sanjay is the prime suspect, they all band together to figure out the truth and to prove him innocent. I found the plot to be cute and engaging. I liked the author's writing style a lot. The words just flowed, which allowed for the pace of the book to be perfect. The character development was great, I loved that the author had a diverse character. I think my favorite character was the nosy neighbor across the street and Tempest's grandfather. I loved the action, the drama and all the mystery that was built into this cozy mystery book. I didn’t mind the small amount of romance that was in the book, it was more like a small sub plot line.

I also received the audio to this book, and I really liked the narrator Soneela Nankani. She helped to bring the characters' feelings out and added a new layer to the tension of the murder mystery. I would recommend the book and/or the audio for anyone who loves murder mystery books.

I want to thank NetGalley, SMP and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to review this book.

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.

This is a bit like playing the game Clue! There are lots of guesses, suspects and suggestions, especially with the magician’s equipment and the secret stairs. This just adds to the “whodunnit” element.

I enjoyed the secrecy and the hunt for what the devil is going on. However, there are a lot of characters and sometimes the hidden secret is a bit too easy to guess.

The narrator, Soneela Nankani, did a very good job. Tons of voices in this novel and there is a distinct voice for everyone.

Need a cute tale with a pretty good guessing game..THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Tempest Raj has been a fan of mystery novels since she was a kid. And while she trained as a stage magician and now works for her family’s construction company, Secret Staircase Construction, she is so happy that they’ve been hired to turn a house into the town’s newest library for the great mystery novels of the past.

Usually her family works on adding secret passageways and hidden staircases to homes, but this job is unique. Harold Gray started the project before his death, and he left it to his grand-nephew Cameron, a librarian and the only one to visit Harold and read to him when he was ill. Now Tempest and her family are making over the house, creating a beautiful library and a small apartment for Cameron in the top floor.

But before Gray House can open as a library, even before all the books get organized and shelved, they’ve decided to host a literary-themed escape room celebrating locked-room mysteries. Tempest’s friend Sanjay, also a stage magician, has agreed to help with the rehearsal, as one of the actors wasn’t able to make it. He even offered his trunk as a prop in the mini-drama. Tempest and her best friend Ivy wrote a short script with a murder, and after that, the audience will be locked in the room until they find the clues to find the killer.

But during the rehearsal, something goes terribly wrong. Sanjay had been standing in for Lucas, and with Sanjay dressed the way Lucas was going to for the role, they looked very similar. When the lights went out, there was supposed to be a shot from a cap gun, and the lights came back on and showed that Sanjay had been shot, pointing towards the first clue for the audience. But when the lights came back on in the rehearsal, it wasn’t Sanjay on the floor. It was Lucas. And Tempest thought he was really dead.

The rest of the cast ran to the kitchen for their phones, and while they were out of the room, Lucas disappeared. They still called the police, but they clearly thought that someone had been playing a joke on the cast. But when they gathered the next day to try to figure out what had happened, they get locked in the room with the clues. When they finally get out, Lucas is back. But this time he is definitely dead.

Mrs. Hudson, who lives across the street and has been vocal in her displeasure about the library opening at Gray House, has been watching the house. She can tell the police who was there and when. And during the time everyone was locked in the clue room, she insists no one came to or left from the house. How is it possible that someone came to the house, killed Lucas, and left without being seen or making any noise?

Tempest is used to reading locked-room mysteries and creating misdirection in her magic shows. But this is impossible crime after impossible crime in a locked-room with a closed-circle of people. Is it possible for her figure out this complicated mystery while keeping herself and her closest friends safe from this killer?

The Library Game is book 4 in Gigi Pandian’s popular Secret Staircase Mystery series. This one had a mystery that was particularly complicated, with layers of secrets and misdirection. There is a grandfather who keeps everyone fed with delicious meals and a rabbit named Abracadabra with exceptional skills at reading people. But with a long-term storyline getting resolved in the last book, Tempest has a newfound lightness to her soul, opening her up to interesting possibilities in her romantic life. I’m so ready for the next book in the series, to see what happens in her life.

I listened to The Library Game on audio, narrated to perfection by Soneela Nankani. She brings the perfect amount of intelligence and humor to the voice of Tempest. And her skill with accents brings the Indian and Scottish heritage of various family members and friends to life. I have listened to several of these books on audio, and Nankani does such a good job with the various characters that you can tell who is speaking from her cues with ease. I think the audio books are a lovely way to enjoy this series.

Egalleys for The Library Game were provided by Minotaur Books and an early copy of the audio book was provided by Macmillan Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Review for ALC: Tempest Raj and her team are at it again in this 4th installment of the Secret Staircase Mystery Series. A body is discovered in the library and now everyone is a suspect. It seems that Tempest can’t catch a break and now it is up to her and her team to try to solve this before one of their own gets framed for it!
This audiobook is great for anyone who loves a good cozy mystery with a whodunit feel to it. The narrator does a great job in this audiobook. I’ve enjoyed her narration in the other books from the series as well!
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. All opinions are my own.

Tempest Raj, former Vegas stage magician, has settled into life working for the family business in the bay area of California. Her latest project for Secret Staircase Construction is an escape room/interactive theatre experience set in a library dedicated to classic crime fiction. When one of the actors turns up dead (or maybe not?), Tempest and her friends must once again put their unusual set of skills to work to solve the mystery.

I enjoyed reading Tempest’s latest adventure as an amateur sleuth with its “gothic cozy” vibes. I like the way Tempest’s friends and family members each play a role in solving the mystery and I got a kick out of the parallels to the Scooby Gang. As usual, I enjoyed the mix of classic crime fiction and modern stage magic. I was also intrigued by the escape room angle. The mystery itself was complex and included lots of twists, turns, and misdirection.

The audiobook was narrated by Soneela Nankani. She did a good job bringing Tempest’s adventures to life.

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑳𝑰𝑩𝑹𝑨𝑹𝒀 𝑮𝑨𝑴𝑬 𝒃𝒚 𝑮𝒊𝒈𝒊 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏 narrated by Soneela Nankani was graciously provided to me from @macmillan.audio & @minotaur_books via @netgalley!

This is the 4th in the Secret Staircase Novels, and it was a perfect light mystery for me after some rather heavier themed books. I have loved sinking into this cozy series for several reasons. I am not an big cozy reader, but this series has intricate puzzles, clever twists, and I love the multicultural cast of characters that allow for a much broader experience of story. I also love all the food references with a fusion of Scottish and Indian flair (with recipes!). I also love the idea of a business in creating custom secret spaces, that are not creepy!

This mystery has once again created a locked room murder scenario inside an old home under construction to become a public library. A big nod to the importance of public libraries! Another nod to the locked room greats as there seem to be classic mystery plots involved in this murder.

I enjoyed this dive back into this fun mystery crew. I did feel it had a bit less of the deeper family connections that the others have had, but I still enjoyed the story. The audio was a delight as this is the same narrator as the other books, and it feels familiar to me now. I also love that my digital copy has the recipe for my eyeballs to follow!

For a cozy mystery that effortlessly gives a broader diversity of characters, flavor, and story, look no further!

This series is like a love letter to classic crime, locked room mysteries, and book lovers. Pick this up if you like these elements in a mystery:
- Cleverly plotted
- Scooby gang vibes
- Modern take on crime classic genre
- Impossible crime

Tempest is a former magician, and now works at her family’s business - Secret Staircase Construction - to bring magic into client’s homes with hidden features and whimsical touches. In this fourth outing, Tempest and the gang (the Abracadabras) are working to turn a private home into a public library for classic mysteries. Until they discover an impossible mystery that threatens to close down the library before it ever opens.

Secret Staircase books are just a delight to read. The Abracadabras are all great characters with ups and downs and fun banter, and this outing really focuses on this group of friends. We do get some time with Tempest’s grandfather as well - be warned that you will probably get hungry reading about all the culinary delights he prepares for friends and family. And suspects!

Ms. Pandian expertly plots these impossible mysteries to a satisfying conclusion. The reader is never left wondering how the impossible is possible, and it is a fun read to the finish line. While this is the fourth in the series, you can absolutely start here. The first three books did have an overarching mystery - this fourth book continues character development, but the mystery is a standalone.

I love to listen to this series, Soneela Nankani is the perfect narrator. I took notes in my ebook as I went along, trying to piece the mystery together. Don't miss this impossible crime read, perfect for all mystery lovers!

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the #gifted ALC!

THE LIBRARY GAME is the fourth book in the SECRET STAIRCASE MYSTERY series, although I do think this one could be read as a standalone. This series is technically falls in the cozy mystery genre but I feel like it’s a lot less cheesy than some cozy mysteries. It reminds me more of classic mysteries (which several of the characters are big fans of). It has fun twists and turns without the over the top, plot twists that modern thrillers have.

THE LIBRARY GAME finds Tempest and her friends investigating a locked room murder in which they were all present when the murder occurred… at a new private library that is about to open just for classic mystery fans!

One of my favorite aspects of this series is the Tempest Raj, the MC, is a former stage magician so the way she approaches each mystery from the mindset that the crime committed can be explained via staging and sleight of hand.

I also love how Tempest has built such a strong community to support her throughout the series. Her budding relationship with Gideon is so sweet and I absolutely adore her Grandpa Ash and Grandma Morag.

The narrator is fabulous and I definitely recommend this format if you’re into audiobooks. I’ve actually listened to the whole series!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7402797236
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHWKKy4yNwW/

Tempest Raj and her “Scooby Team” have another murder mystery on their hands. Or do they? Tempest for her father, the owner of Secret Staircase Construction, and their latest renovation soon becomes much more.

Tempest is thrilled about the growth of her family business, especially with their unique renovations. She’s particularly excited about their newest job: transforming a home into a library. But this is no ordinary library; it’s to become a library dedicated to the work of renowned fictional detectives from over the decades.

As they work on the renovation, Tempest and her friends are looking forward to a murder mystery game is scheduled at the home. Everything goes awry when the game unfolds.

This book by Gigi Pandian is a delightful read, and the narration by Soneela Nankani enhances the storytelling experience. As a jigsaw puzzle enthusiast, I was particularly impressed by how the story was developed and progressed. Listening to this book in one sitting was sheer joy.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you, @gigipandian and @macmillan.audio for my free audiobook. #MacAudio2025 #macmillanaudio

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Library Game (Secret Staircase Mysteries, Book 4) by Gigi Pandian
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 320 / Genre: Cozy Mystery
Audiobook Narrator: Soneela Nankani
Duration: 9 hours 3 minutes
Release Date: March 18, 2025

Tempest’s family business, Secret Staircase Construction, is thriving and their latest project is transforming a sprawling mansion laden with a massive library into a public library. While the project is far from complete, the new owner decides to host a murder mystery dinner and escape room party, during which a body is found and this cozy mystery begins.

While the mystery part of this story was a little slow, it was still an enjoyable read. The characters and their relationships are really the stars of this book. Although this is fourth book in the series, it was the first one for me and can definitely be read as a standalone. I listened to the audiobook on this one and Soneela Nankani did a fabulous job narrating it.

I loved seeing Tempest and her group again. I am impressed with the number of ways Pandian can come up with to create a locked room mystery. I enjoyed finding out the secrets that some people were keeping. The resolution felt sufficiently weighty with the good and the bad.
The number of reveals about how it was done got a little annoying. Tempest would figure out one piece and go to confirm. Then she would come back and figure out another piece and go confirm. Then there was another piece she figured out. It got to be a little much. I know Tempest is the main character, so she is going to have most of the revelations. When there were so many revelations, it felt a little forced.
Overall this was a good addition to the Secret Staircase mysteries, but the reveals were not my favorite.

This was a 4 star review for me. I received the free ARC from #Netgalley and the author Gigi Pandigan. The story was incredibly well written as far as the plot, the reason this wasn't a 5 star review is the actions in 2 times were incredibly stupid and ill thought out. I.E the characters not taking their cellphones in and then getting locked in with no contact to the otuside world. The story starts with the main characters praticing for a locked room style play to benefit a new business getting started. The other weird thing the characters did was leave a potential dead or at least unconcsious body all alone and every person trooping to the kitchen. I will read the other books in this series and hope this is an isolated minor issue with this one book.

Being a huge fan of mysteries, locked room ones have always had a place in my heart for how they tie everything up in the end. Gigi Pandian was able to do that in “The Library Game” to the point when the reveal was happening I couldn’t stop listening!!

“The Library Game” is the fourth novel in the Secret Staircase Mystery. I was able to pick this book up not having read the previous ones and did not find it too hard to understand the characters or back stories.

I do admit a few of Tempest’s quirks made me go huh? Like checking out the bottom of a bookcase by doing a handstand (she’s trying to keep up her muscle), or needing to take a second so doing a pirouette on the sidewalk. I get that she was used to performing but to me, since her whole personality wasn’t like that it did make me stop for a moment.

The wide range or characters also made it seem that you were easily a part of the group and it did not feel that the story was being told to you, but that suggestive elements were used so you understood the clues right before it was revealed.

The narrator did a wonderful job with all the different characters and giving them unique personalities and quirks. The wide range of accents is no easy feat and Soneela Nankani was able to do it effortlessly it seemed.

The two mysteries were interesting and I appreciated how they were explained so well at the end which really tied up the locked room mysteries well.