The Library Game by Gigi Pandian Narrator: Soneela Nankani
Series: Secret Staircase Mystery #4
Published by Macmillan Audio on March 18, 2025
Source: NetGalley, Partners in Crime Tours
Genres: Cozy Mystery
Length: 9 hrs 3 mins
Pages: 320
Format: Audiobook
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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.
The Library Game is the fourth in the Secret Staircase series, and I do think they are best read in order. Tempest, a former stage magician, is enjoying her work with her father’s Secret Staircase Construction company. This time around they’re working on changing a Gray House, large private home, in to a classic mystery library and will be presenting an escape room/mystery play in the house for the town’s “Summer Stroll” weekend. During a play rehearsal, one of the actors is murdered during a planned on-stage blackout, but the body disappears when everyone leaves the room to get their phones.
Tempest’s friend, Sanjay, aka “The Hindi Houdini,” is one of the suspects – or maybe he was supposed to be the victim. Either way, Tempest and her “Scooby” gang, Ivy, Gideon, and Sanjay, need to solve the case. The author does a great job of weaving in the elements important in stage magic like forcing choices, misdirection, and sleight of hand, into the mystery. I didn’t guess who the killer was, but probably should have.
I listened to the audiobook. The book is from Tempest’s point of view and the narrator does a great job. The characters are well-differentiated and I appreciated the variety of accents.
I do still love how close Tempest and her family and friends are. I’m a little sad the Gideon’s going to France for a few months. And the food her grandfather cooks sounds absolutely delicious. I also like the nods to Golden Age mysteries.
About Gigi Pandian
Gigi Pandian is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning mystery author, breast cancer survivor, and accidental almost-vegan. The child of cultural anthropologists from New Mexico and the southern tip of India, she spent her childhood being dragged around the world on their research trips and now lives outside San Francisco. She writes the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries, Accidental Alchemist mysteries, and Secret Staircase mysteries. She’s been awarded Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Derringer awards, and is a co-founder of Crime Writers of Color.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
I love the idea of a secret staircase company. I am gonna have to look into the series.
It is a neat idea. You see a little more of their actual construction projects in the earlier books.
How fun!!
I admit I love cozy mysteries.
Glad to hear you enjoyed this one. I’ve got it pre-ordered.
I actually like it better now that that one overarching mystery is cleared up.
This sounds like a fun series!