In this fourth novel in the Secret Staircase Mysteries, a home is converted to a detective-focused fiction library, and as part of its grand opening, its owner is holding a murder mystery dinner/escape room combo. However, an actor in the production is found dead, indicating that someone amongst those putting on the grand opening has nefarious plans. I hadn’t realized this was a sequel when I started reading it, but I didn’t feel like I needed to have read the previous books to understand this one. It was a decent mystery, though I wish I had paid better attention to details in the initial scenes (as well as the many character names) given how much of the book revolves around the characters talking through different theories. While it seemed somewhat long on conversation, short on action, I still found it entertaining. I imagine if I had known the characters better through the earlier books it would have affected my reading experience. 3.5 stars

A twisty murder mystery that constantly keeps you on your toes and unsure who's to be believed. I was constantly engaged and trying to figure out who was the culprit. It's also super funny and keeps the banter going.

Title: The Library Game
Author: Gigi Pandian
Series: Secret Staircase Mystery #4
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: March 18, 2025

I received complimentary eARC and ALCs from Minotaur Books (a division of St. Martin's Press) and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Amusing • Lighthearted • Unsurprising

📖 S Y N O P S I S

There's a body in the library—and everyone is a suspect.

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.

💭 T H O U G H T S

A library renovation combined with a murder mystery dinner and a literary themed escape room - these are the elements that made me immediately added The Library Game to my list of 2025 anticipated releases. What I failed to realize until I had started reading was it is the fourth installment in the Secret Staircase Mystery series. Oops.

Like so many of the cozy mysteries I pick up, I absolutely adored the small town community and the old house turned library setting. Tempest's character is certainly interesting and entertaining, yet at times it feels like the author has made her too eccentric. I did, however, appreciate the diverseness of the cast. The heart of this book really is the relationships between the characters, and I may have missed out of some of that relationship building not having read the previous books in the series.

When it comes to the mystery element, it was pretty simple to figure out whodunit. In my opinion, there were too many clue and rather than subtly inserting throughout the narrative, they were so in your face that it disrupted the overall flow. My interest level also shifted erratically while reading, as opposed to remaining consistently invested.

I tandem read the audiobook, narrated by Soneela Nankani, along with the digital copy. While the audiobook helped speed up the reading process, there is nothing about it that really stood out. The narration is fine and did the job. I know cozy mysteries don't always have a lot of emotion, yet I felt that was lacking in the voicing of the story.

The Library Game is meant to be a locked room mystery, however, much of the action takes place outside of the locked-room. It has so many elements I adore, yet how they come together just didn't work for me. Maybe if I'd have had more context from the previous books, it'd have been a better experience. Cozy mysteries are not my go-to genre, so it's quite possible people who love cozies will enjoy this a lot more.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• escape rooms
• books about books
• cozy mysteries

⚠️ CW: death, murder

This is the first time I have listened/read anything by this author. I am always look for new authors for our small town library. I love the idea of secret and hidden places in a house, that is what intrigued me.

Tempest is working for her Dad's company Secret Staircase Construction Company. Her current job is for a homeowner that wants to hold a murder mystery party and an escape room. Things go awry and there is a dead body that disappears. This book goes through the process of elimination of locked room murders until they find the culprit.

The Library Game
A Secret Staircase Novel
by Gigi Pandian
Narrated by Soneela Nankani
"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."
As always, my reviews are of the audio version of this book. As a rule, I listen at 70% speed or less as this makes it easier to hear details without needing to rewind as often. If things get tedious, I generally speed up.
Present in all of my reviews will be notes marked by an asterisk. These are pretty much just random thoughts I have, ignore them if they are annoying. I tend to think out loud...or in writing.

I have been burned by Tempest and Co in the past, *see review of A Midnight Puzzle* but I'm going to give them another go.
One of the things I disliked about the previous book was the fact that EVERY male Tempest encounters seems to be considered a possible love interest...by Tempest, that is. Girlfriend needs to check out Tinder already.
Aside from that, so far, Tempest is much less annoying than in the previous book. This is a hopeful sign.
The tale was dragging a bit, but got much more interesting at about 15%.
*Note: I dislike the term "lizard brain". My lizard is quite smart, her name is Cleo, she's a 20 yr old Mack Snow gecko. That's the only one I have.
It's going a little wonky now. About 3 minutes past the point I just said it had gotten interesting.
I'm a bit concerned as all the fairly logical, book loving adults involved are now on some kind of trip involving ghosts. Not actually, at least, they're just imagining them so far. I can't abide a ghost-y story unless I know what I'm signing on for.
There does seem to be a bit of fabricated drama, but maybe it'll pass. These are performers, after all.
I'm getting a feeling that, aside from some fairly mild language, this could be a pretty good YA book. I mean, they're grown ups, but if that wasn't clearly implied in the book, you definitely couldn't tell.
Thankfully, in this installment, there weren't as many accents to keep straight which made me enjoy this one much more than the last. I believe there were about five distinctly different accents in the last and it really detracted from my enjoyment and made things very chaotic.
All in all, it was a good cozy with an original protagonist. I, at least, have never encountered a book centered around magicians.
The ending was somewhat dragged out, with Tempest accusing every single character before the reveal, but it WAS a cozy, after all.
I may check out the next in the series as they seem to be getting better as I go along!
As always, thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to this audiobook in exchange for a (brutally) honest review!

This was fun! This is book 4 of the Secret Staircase series but may be read as a standalone. This locked room mystery kept me guessing and was extremely entertaining. This is definitely a book for book lovers. Taking place in a library will connect with bookaholics. Tempest is a magnetic main character who drives the plot and kept me engaged. The narration adds a layer of suspense and mystery. Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook.

A cozy who-dun-it mystery. I enjoyed the read and thought it was well written and kept me intrigued to find out who was the murderer. Everyone’s characters at one point in time seemed like they could be the killer. The premise of it being at rehearsals for a murder mystery dinner was really fun too! This was my first time with the characters, but I really enjoyed them all. Tempest is such an enjoyable character too, and I’m kind of obsessed with her grandpa. I appreciated that these books could be read as a standalone, or at least it felt like it could!

The audiobook was well done and I had no troubles listening. The tone, voice, and speed were all great!

Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and Gigi Pandian for the ALC!

THE LIBRARY GAME is the fourth book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries by Gigi Pandian. I’ve been a fan of this series from the very start and have looked forward to spending time with the cast of delightful characters with each new release. While this can be read as a standalone, it’s worthwhile to start at the beginning and follow the character development of the core cast. Protagonist Tempest Raj, a former magician, is now working with her family’s Secret Staircase Construction business. I love the description of secret rooms, sliding bookshelves, and passageways, which lend a mysterious air to the story. Ms. Pandian’s strong descriptive skills bring each character to life, as well as assisting the reader to see the settings and experience the action going on as the story progresses.

The author is also a master at the locked room mystery and this newest release is no exception. I like how Tempest uses her magician skills to navigate the illusions and intricacies of the murder and the disappearance of the body. She puts her skills to good use when she and her friends become trapped in a room her family’s business has been renovating. There are twists and turns, and nothing is as it appears, until the clues fall into place as Tempest solves the crime. If you enjoy locked room mysteries, an escape room plot, a puzzling murder to solve, and memorable characters, you’ll want to read The Library Game!

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advance audiobook copy. The narrator, Soneela Nankani, did an amazing job capturing the personalities of the characters, and differentiating between female and male, as well as providing appropriate accents to the speech as required.

Everyone needs an emotional-support teen mystery series in their lives, and this one is mine. Once again I was absolutely delighted by Tempest and her whole crew. I loved how this book departs from the first three installments and really stands alone. I guessed a couple of the twists, but ultimately it's a very successful locked room mystery! This book did make me really miss Agatha Christie... I gotta get back into reading her this year. Still totally baffled by the love triangle but oh well! I'll keep reading these as long as they're published.

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian is a delightful blend of mystery, wit, and charm that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Tempest Raj, owner of the unique and imaginative Secret Staircase Construction, is given the exciting opportunity to help transform a historic home into a library dedicated to classic detective fiction. The project, already full of intrigue with its hidden bookshelves and secret passageways, takes an unexpected turn when a murder mystery dinner rehearsal leads to a real-life murder — and the body vanishes.

Pandian's writing shines with her trademark mix of suspense, humor, and intriguing characters. Tempest, with her keen instincts and personal connections to the culinary world (thanks to her Scottish and Indian heritage), is a refreshingly strong and relatable protagonist. The mystery unfolds through an array of clever twists and turns, creating a captivating game for readers to solve alongside Tempest and her team.

The setting is equally engaging, with the literary-themed escape room and the renovation of the detective fiction library adding a fun and unique layer to the plot. As part of the Secret Staircase Mysteries series, The Library Game delivers everything fans of cozy mysteries love — a compelling puzzle, rich character development, and a satisfying blend of humor and suspense.

Overall, The Library Game is a fantastic read for fans of cozy mysteries and anyone who enjoys a good literary whodunit with an imaginative twist.

This book, 4th in a series unknown to me, was a delight! The characters were likable and interesting. The pace of the book was enjoyable, and the narrator brought the story to life. Now that I have found that s series, I am already planning to go back and read the first three! I have high hopes for this series! Doesn’t everyone dream of a secret passage in her home! This book brings that dream to life throughout the cozy mystery!

Title: The Library Game
Series: Secret Staircase Mystery #4
Author: Gigi Pendian
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Sonella Nankani
Publisher: Macmillan Audio- Minotaur Books
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date: March 18, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Page: 320

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.

I love this series and have wanted to check ‘Angi' aka 'Angie’s List’ to see if there is a ‘Secret Staircase Construction' company in my area.

Yes Tempest is still working with her dad, but her current pursuit involves a new escape room and mystery play being held at a local home possibly slated to become a library for classic detective fiction.
When one of the actors is found dead, Tempest, Sanjay, Gideon, and Ivy ‘the Scooby Gang’ have to turn to their detective skills.
With the help Grandpa Ash and his magic rolodex- they are in their element and the show ‘will go on’ while the house is still a crime scene.

The audiobook narrator, Sonella Nankani is the voice of ‘The Secret Staircase and is excellent in performing the characters.
There is no doubt that this is an enjoyable read! Now I am looking forward to the next adventure of this team as well as Temp and Sanjay’s romance. BTW: For you foodies there is an address at the end where you can subscribe and download a free email cookbook!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granted me the pleasure of listening to this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 18, 2025.

I typically really enjoy mystery stories, but this one fell flat for me.

Tempest is a former stage magician working for her family's business of building magic into people's homes - moving bookcases, secret stairways, and hidden levers to open hidden doors. They are working on putting together an escape room experience to promote the opening of the new private library they are helping to build, one that specializes in classic mysteries. But when one of the cast members shows up dead, Tempest and her friends must solve a real-life closed room mystery in order to prove their innocence and save the library.

I really enjoyed the setting for this book - the small town is adorable, and a library of mystery books inside an old house with hidden staircases and moving bookshelves? Dreamy!!! The diverse cast of characters really helps to bring the town to life too, it's nice to read a mystery that isn't just a white man solving a mystery in an all white town, again.

Unfortunately, the characters are also where the book started to fall flat for me. The dialog was clunky and didn't feel like how people actually talk to each other, and the characters tended to have emotional outbursts that didn't really make sense. Their moods would shift at the drop of a hat (pun intended). On top of that, Tempest seems like she is supposed to come across as "quirky," but just ends up being...kind of weird. She randomly does handstands instead of bending down, or will stand up and twirl to clear her head. The rest of the way she behaves feels so normal (almost bland at times), and so these behaviors just feel out of left field, even with the "former stage magician" explanation.

And it wasn't just the characters, the mystery aspects also felt clunky. My favorite mysteries are the ones where the details are described so seamlessly that you don't even realize you are being given clues - this book felt like it was pummeling me in the face with them. There were so many and they were so obvious, if I missed one it was because there were so many others to keep track of. And ultimately, the crime didn't feel believable. It goes back to the characters having unrealistic responses to things happening to them - I just can't really believe that the culprit really would have behaved the way they did.

Lastly, the format. I listened to the audiobook version of this book. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't really anything special either. Sometimes the readers emphasis felt off, or the emotion she put behind the words didn't quite fit, but otherwise it was a solid performance.

2/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian is a delightful twist on the classic locked-room mystery, filled with intrigue, clever plotting, and a touch of whimsy reminiscent of Scooby-Doo. The story unfolds in a captivating, atmospheric library setting, and the complex cast of characters keeps you guessing until the very end. Soneela Nankani’s narration is spot-on, bringing each character to life with subtle nuance and energy. If you love puzzles, mystery, and a hint of quirky charm, this book is a must-read/must-listen! (I received an advance listener copy and all opinions are my own.)

First thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book! This is definitely one that I need to read the rest of the series and then reread because I did not like this one very much at all. The narrator was oddly pitched and had a strange intonation, and the narration is extremely overwrought. There are so many moments where I just cringed for the weirdly specific descriptions of her strong hands or ample hips. I am reserving more negative feedback until I read the others as that may change the way I see it.

The latest adventure of Tempest Raj and her “Secret Staircase” companions (family and friends) was a delight! I’ve really grown to love this series, although this was the first one I’ve listened to on audiobook. For a small town, there are a lot of libraries, bookshops, and murder victims—but that is just part of the fun. These characters are obsessed with “locked room” mysteries and golden-age detective fiction, and their day job working for a construction company dedicated to secret compartments, moving bookcases, and other magical/illusionistic elements makes for a great mystery series. The ending leaves some dangling threads in the personal lives of Tempest and Ivy, and I’m already looking forward to seeing how they are addressed in book five. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

This book is a cute little mystery. It took me awhile to get into it and sort out the characters, but it did all end up coming together in the end

I absolutely adore this series and was thrilled to get the ARC! Tempest and her family have truly won my heart, and this mystery stands out as my favorite of the series so far. The suspense and twists kept me hooked, and I can't wait for many more adventures with Tempest and her fascinating family. Bring on more mysteries!

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This is the 4th book in the series but they can be read as stand alone with little issue. I love the world Gigi Pandian has created in this cozy mystery series and love the element of magic she weaves into each book. In this book, Tempest and her group find themselves trying to solve a locked room murder in a soon to open mystery book library. There is deception, snooping, a nosy neighbor, and redirections aplenty.

The narration was well done, Soneela Nankani has a wonderful voice that really brings the characters to life.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I had some issues with inconsistent pacing and remembering who all the characters were. That might be due to my having only read the first book in the series. These issues aren't enough to keep me from recommending this title to cozy mystery lovers.