A Midnight Puzzle

(Secret Staircase Mystery #3)

by Gigi Pandian

Release date: March 19th, 2024

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I received a complimentary ARC copy of A Midnight Puzzle (Secret Staircase Mystery #3) by Gigi Pandian from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press /Minotaur Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…I adore this series and this entry really had it all, a complex, interesting mystery with thrill, chills, and intrigue….…

A huge fan of author Gigi Pandian, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review her latest,A Midnight Puzzle, the third book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries.

This whimsical cozy mystery series, features Tempest Raj who is finally settling in as an “architectural illusionist” for her family’s construction company, Secret Staircase Constructions whose specialty is creating magical spaces, secret rooms, and hidden staircases. Our protagonist Tempest, a former Vegas magician who until recently had followed the family’s magical tradition. The rumour of a family curse, the “eldest dies by magic” has rung true in the past including the unsolved murder of her magician mother in addition to the disasters that have plagued her career and family.

Her new career is in jeopardy as a result of Julian Rhodes, the client from hell tries to kill his wife, then blames his wife’s so-called “accident” which has left her in a coma on the Secret Staircase Construction’s shoddy work, an accusation that could ruin them. Tempest is also preparing for her final magic show to bid adieu to her past stage persona to be held at the Whispering Creek Theater, a creepy gothic landmark and the place where Tempest’s mother took her last breath.

Tempest is so happy when her mentor and friend, illusionist Nicodemus the Necromancer arrives from Scotland while planning his retirement tour. Their visit is interrupted when Tempest gets a call from Julian telling her he got her message, is at the theater and wants to know where she is. When Tempest arrives at the theater, she gets more than she bargained for when she stumbles across Julian’s body along with a note in Tempest’s handwriting.

With everything casting a shadow on her and her family Tempest is on the case with the help of good friends to prove their innocence by finding the real killer. The more she uncovers the more she uncovers connections to her mother’s murder five years earlier.

Gigi Pandian has done it again, a brilliantly unique and extremely fun cozy mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seat. One of my favorite things about Pandian’s books is her ability to create diverse, quirky, multi-faceted characters who all feel well-formed. My only complaint is that she often tends to “tell” and not “show”.

I adore this series and this entry really had it all, a complex, interesting mystery with thrill, chills, and intrigue. I really enjoyed this entry and would highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more of Tempest’s adventures.