Book Review: The Library Game by Gigi Pandian (Secret Staircase Mysteries #4)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Tempest and crew in another fun, twisty impossible crime

Cons: Listing cons is not a game

The Bottom Line:

Rehearsal body

But where did the victim go?

The pages fly by

Murder Strolls into a Library

I keep saying I need to go back and read more of Gigi Pandian’s books. I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve read, but I have quite a few I haven’t gotten to yet, including one series I haven’t started. But I am making sure I stay up to date on the Secret Staircase Mysteries, so I sat down to read The Library Game not long after I got it. 

This series features Tempest Raj, a retired stage magician. She’s now back in her hometown of Hidden Creek and helping with her family’s construction company. The company specializes in fun construction projects, things like hidden rooms and passageways. 

This is the fourth book in the series. While Tempest was on a quest early on dealing with some family tragedies, that storyline has been resolved. There are a couple of vague references here, but nothing that comes close to a spoiler. Honestly, if you wanted to pick this book up, it would work as a good standalone. 

Tempest and the rest of the team are working on turning a house into a new library in Hidden Creek, this one focused on classic mysteries. While the library isn’t ready to open yet, they are participating in the Summer Stroll program that kicks off in a few days. Their contribution will be an escape room and an interactive mystery play that Tempest wrote with her best friend, Ivy. Naturally, Tempest is there for a dress rehearsal. Unfortunately, it goes horribly wrong with one of the actors turning up dead after a scripted power outage. However, by the time they call the police, the body is gone. Is he really dead? If so, who moved the body?

This series firmly plants itself in the locked room, or impossible crime, mystery sub-genre. Believe me, what I’ve teased is only part of what else is going on in this plot. I was completely hooked by the mystery, and very satisfied when Tempest finally figured things out. It might have slowed down a little in the middle, but I’m probably just being nitpicky. If so, it wasn’t for very long. 

Tempest has a core group of friends who are an active part of each book. They are a great group, and I love spending time with them again. There are some interesting developments with them, and I’m curious to see where things pick up in the next book. Meanwhile, we also spend some time with Tempest’s family, which I also enjoyed. The suspects did their job of keeping me confused. 

While this isn’t a culinary cozy as such, there is lots of talk of food thanks to Tempest’s grandfather. And there’s a delicious sounding recipe for Blackberry Crumble Cobbler at the end of the book. 

As always, this series pays tribute to classic mysteries, especially of the locked room variety. I really need to make the time to read some of those older books mentioned here.

Series fans who might be concerned about the future of the series now that Tempest solved her big case need not worry. The Library Game is another strong mystery that will keep you turning pages until you reached the only possible ending. 

Check out the rest of the Secret Staircase Mysteries.