A Midnight Puzzle

Secret Staircase Mystery #3

by Gigi Pandian

In heroine Tempest Raj, modern-day queen of the locked room mystery Gigi Pandian has created a brilliant homage to the greats of classic detective fiction.

Secret Staircase Construction is under attack, and Tempest Raj feels helpless. After former client Julian Rhodes tried to kill his wife, he blamed her "accident" on the home renovation company’s craftsmanship. Now the family business—known for bringing magic into homes through hidden doors, floating staircases, and architectural puzzle walls—is at a breaking point. No amount of Scottish and Indian meals from her grandfather can distract Tempest from the they’re being framed.

When Tempest receives an urgent midnight phone call from Julian, she decides to meet him at the historic Whispering Creek Theater—only to find his dead body, a sword through his chest. After a blade appears from thin air to claim another victim, Tempest is certain they’re dealing with a booby trap… something Secret Staircase Construction could easily build. Tempest refuses to wait for the investigation to turn to her or her loved ones. She knows the pieces of the puzzle are right in front of her, she just has to put them together correctly before more disaster strikes.

Multiple award-winning author Gigi Pandian and her sleuth Tempest Raj return in A Midnight Puzzle, where an old theater reveals a deadly booby trap, secrets, and one puzzle of a mystery.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Cozy, Magic, Mystery Thriller

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 19, 2024

About the author

Gigi Pandian is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning mystery author, breast cancer survivor, and accidental almost-vegan. She's the child of professors from New Mexico and the southern tip of India, and spent her childhood traveling around the world on their research trips. She now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and a gargoyle who watches over the garden.


She writes the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mystery series, the Accidental Alchemist mysteries, and the Secret Staircase Mysteries.


Her debut novel was awarded a Malice Domestic Grant and named a Best of 2012 Debut by Suspense Magazine, her mysteries have been awarded the Agatha, Rose, Lefty, and Derringer awards, and been short-listed for the Edgar.

Reviews

[Dorie - Cats&Books :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***

This is a review of the audiobook!

This is the third book in the Secret Stairway mystery series and I think this is the best!!

First off you really need to read at least the first book in the series “Under Lock and Skeleton Key”. This one introduces of the characters, and there are a lot! It's a gradual build-up of characters throughout the three books.

The novel is told through Tempest Raj’ POV. Tempest has been surprised that she is really enjoying working for the family company!! She has settled into designing architectural puzzles. They are a great group of friends and family and everyone’s job is different.

Now the reputation of the company is in question. A customer, Julian Rhodes, is bringing a lawsuit against the company. His wife was seriously injured when she fell down the new staircase they built. He feels that Secret Staircase is responsible for it’s “shoddy” construction.

The blurb on this novel is lengthy and I don’t want to ruin this very engaging read by talking about the plot.

This one has everything you’ll love:

Interesting and fun combination of Scottish and Indian parents, the food sounds so delicious!!

Great characters that I’m getting to know better with every book.

A quite twisty and intricate plot that was so well done it kept me guessing for a long time.

In this novel Tempest finally feels some resolution for the death of her aunt and the disappearance of her mother. I think this is a great transition – now Tempest can get on with her life and I can’t wait to come along with her.

I really enjoy this series and highly recommend this novel to everyone. FYI no harm comes to the pet bunny named Abracadabra - perhaps excessive snuggling?

I received an audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author says it better than I could: “I melded so many of my favorite elements together in this new book: A gothic backdrop, a supposed haunting at a creepy old theater, a regenerating booby trap, a devious impossible crime, and lots of cozy fun with Tempest and her friends and family working together to solve multiple mysteries.“

A Midnight Puzzle is the third book in this delightful cozy mystery series, featuring a family-owned construction company that specializes in creating secret nooks, hidden bookcases, etc. - Secret Staircase Construction. The main character is Tempest Raj, a former magician/illusionist whose family has a historic connection to magicians, of both Indian and Scottish heritage. She is now living at her family home in the San Francisco Bay area, which is filled with all kinds of quirky features, thanks to the family business, and she’s enjoying working with the business. In addition to the mystery in this book, a continuing theme is: Is there a family curse, by which the “eldest dies by magic”? In this one, we finally find out what really happened to Tempest’s mother and Tempest’s aunt, who once worked together as the Selkie Sisters illusionists.

In addition to the mystery, there’s an emphasis on family and friendship. There were several terrific side characters: her grandfather Ash, who cooks fabulous Indian-inspired food; her dad, Darius; her friend Ivy; her magician friend, Sanjay, and artist-stone carver Gideon, among others.

While you could read this as a standalone, I think you would be better off having read at least the first book in the series, Under Lock and Skeleton Key, to understand all the main characters and their background stories.

Bonus: There are a few recipes at the end of the book.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read. The audiobook was narrated by Soneela Nankani, who did a great job with the many characters and accents.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series by Gigi Pandian. I had read and enjoyed the first book in this series, but missed the second one. I was happy to grab this one.

Description:
Secret Staircase Construction is under attack, and Tempest Raj feels helpless. After former client Julian Rhodes tried to kill his wife, he blamed her "accident" on the home renovation company’s craftsmanship. Now the family business—known for bringing magic into homes through hidden doors, floating staircases, and architectural puzzle walls—is at a breaking point. No amount of Scottish and Indian meals from her grandfather can distract Tempest from the they’re being framed.

When Tempest receives an urgent midnight phone call from Julian, she decides to meet him at the historic Whispering Creek Theater—only to find his dead body, a sword through his chest. After a blade appears from thin air to claim another victim, Tempest is certain they’re dealing with a booby trap… something Secret Staircase Construction could easily build. Tempest refuses to wait for the investigation to turn to her or her loved ones. She knows the pieces of the puzzle are right in front of her, she just has to put them together correctly before more disaster strikes.

My Thoughts:

I like the magician elements in this series as well as the aspect of the construction company building secret staircases and hidden rooms. It's just fun. The history of the curst in Tempest's family adds and element of intrigue as well. Tempest makes a great character with her skills as a magician as well as her detective abilities. Other characters in the book including her family members and her friends are also fun and interesting. The plot moved well and kept my attention throughout. There are many twists to the investigation which truly seems to be unsolvable. This is a fun and addictive series that i would recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on March 19, 2024.

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tempest, a former stage magician, works with her dad's Secret Staircase construction company. A customer is filing a lawsuit against them, but he is murdered in a surprising way, and Tempest and her friends investigate. Who could build such clever and murderous booby traps? And is this death related to earlier ones in Tempest's own family? I could be an outlier, but for me this book had too many characters and too many subplots-- I enjoyed the earlier ones in the series more. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the Secret Staircase Mystery series. I hadn’t read the first two books and I felt it worked well as a standalone. I listened to the audiobook for this one and I really liked the narrator, but I thought there were a couple too many accents required and a few times it got a little muddled on who was talking. I like a good locked room mystery so I was initially very caught up with this one, but I thought it moved slower than it needed to, and I found some bits to be repetitive (I was really tired of the words booby trap). I really did like Tempest and her friends (even if I needed her to just pick one of the love interests). Tempest’s world is rocked when the man suing her family business is found dead at the door to the theater she is renting with a note written in her handwriting telling him to go inside on the door. It appears the door had been booby trapped and this is reinforced when one of the paramedics is injured. Tempest slowly realizes that there are ties between this murder and the murders of her mother and aunt that took place years before. I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded up because I did like the characters a lot.

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly entertaining story with plenty of nods to the Golden Age of detective fiction. The premise of having so much of the story relate to stage magicians just isn't one that I personally find that interesting, as the illusions and stagecraft are so intensely visual that it's hard to get them to come across plausibly on the page. For my brain, anyway.
It was not difficult to pick out the villain just based on the options and the basic principle of misdirection, so it didn't feel too surprising at the end.
My favorite part, though, is the Locked Room Library with its train car meeting room, and all the shout-outs to clever writers of the past, like John Dickson Carr. If you enjoy genre fiction of the cozy mystery type, you might find this fun.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this digital review copy!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! There was so much going on that I didn’t want to put this one down. So many questions finally answered. So much creativity goes into the mystery with the booby traps and I had so much fun keeping up with Tempest as she tries to clear the family name and get to the bottom of the family curse. Great pacing, plenty of possible culprits, this was a fun mystery that I couldn’t get enough of. Can’t wait for the next one!

I received a copy from #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, and #Macmillan.audio for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a must read for fans of locked room and fair play mysteries. And giant bunnies.

Former stage magician Tempest is still trying to find the answer to what happened to her mother and is the family curse real?

Add in multiple twists and surprises and you have another intricately plotted book in the series. While the plots are first rate, the true strength in the series comes from the complex, fully realized characters with rich back stories and interwoven lives.

Includes delicious Indian fusion recipes.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I find myself in the position of reviewing the third book in a series. I have very much enjoyed the first two books in this series (Under Lock and Skeleton Key, and The Raven Thief), and was eagerly awaiting the third, so I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to review this ARC. Readers who have read and enjoyed the prior entries in this series will find a lot to like about this new work--the same found family cozy vibes, the luscious descriptions of food, and the seemingly impossible mysteries are all still present, as are the characters we’ve come to know and love.

I confess myself to have been less interested in the overarching mystery that has been driving Tempest through the series--and more interested in the mystery of the week flavor. In this book the overarching mystery comes to take center stage, which somewhat (but not a lot) influenced my enjoyment of the book. I also felt that there was something of a drop off in the tightness and creativity of the “impossible” mysteries in this book (though that might be because The Raven Thief set such a high bar in that regard). I’m also less interested in the budding love triangle, which is playing a more prominent role in this book.

Finally, I did predict the culprit a pretty long way out, whereas some of the other books in the series kept me guessing all the way until the end. So overall I’d say that this is a slightly disappointing, but overall still quite enjoyable entry in the series. However, as a warning, if you aren’t already reading this series--begin at the beginning--this is not a series that you can dip into and out of with no regard for order. If you enjoy locked room mysteries, found families, and mysteries that are more concerned with entertaining you than “realism,” this would be a good series to try--just start at Under Lock and Skeleton Key.

What I am most grateful to this book and series for is introducing me to John Dickson Carr--one of my favorite mystery authors, and also bringing its usual brand of charm and whimsy to my life.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for this honest review.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tempest Raj and her family have a unique business called Secret Staircase Construction. They create rooms that are referred to as architectural misdirection. The family business is under attack. Could the company's most recent construction be responsible for the death of one of their clients?

This series is written from Tempest's POV. I love her character! She is smart-mouthed, but insanely clever and talented. The idea of architectural puzzles is really cool and it was fun to imagine being in a room that had such a clever design. Of course, this book has a serious edge since there was a death, and this death had to be investigated. Of course, Tempest felt it was up to her to find the person responsible.

I so love this series. It is a literal case of locked room mysteries, and the first two book, Under Lock & Skeleton Key and The Raven Thief. In each book there is a unique construction that factors into the current mystery. In this book, A Midnight Puzzle, the family is in dire straits and I love how this book came along. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

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

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really clever continuation of The Secret Staircase series, as Tempest and her crew are back, creating illusions in homes and finding themselves in the middle of mysteries. When a former client is killed in their building by a booby-trapped door, Tempest is on the case, trying to exonerate her company and another surprise suspect.

Although this is part of a series, it easily stands alone as the author does a good job of catching the reader up on events. The cast of characters is fun and intriguing, and the story has plenty of twists and turns.

Soneela Nankani does a great job narrating the audiobook.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from MacMillan Audio via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Megyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Midnight Puzzle is the third in a mystery series that follows a magician. Tempest works for her dads construction company that builds secret rooms and things like that. When someone is trying to sue the company and ends up dead, Tempest is on the hunt for the killer. She is also still trying to figure out who killed her aunt and what happened to her mom.

I liked this book but not as much as the other two in the series. I love the characters and the magic aspects throughout. It is fun to read about the stuff behind magic performances. The mysteries were interested and I did want to figure out what happened.

I think my biggest complaint is that it seemed to take forever to reveal what happened. I feel like it drug on a lot in the middle. It felt a bit repetitive as well. I’m not sure if I’ll continue on this series or not.

Thanks so much to netgalley and St. Martins Press for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Midnight Puzzle is the third book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series, so if you haven't checked out the first two, I would recommend going back and reading them first as the characters and greater plot build throughout. A midnight puzzle nicely caps off the first part of the series, providing closure for the main character Tempest Raj and her family, but with another cliffhanger, it sounds like the series will go on!

Tempest works for Secret Staircase Construction, as a former stage magician she helps to transfer some of her skills in illusion into the family construction company. Her father's company has just been hit with a lawsuit from on of their former clients who is claiming negligence after his wife was put into a coma. When the former client ends up dead, outside of the very theatre that Tempest rents she finds herself once again immersed in a police investigation. Can she find the killer before they kill again? Is this murder tied to the famous Raj family curse?

Another great read, I have really enjoyed this series. Although I'm glad that there has been development in the over-arching plot of the series, I wasn't quite as enthralled as I was with the previous two books. Don't get me wrong, the plot is intriguing, the character interaction, and the mystery as a whole were entertaining, but I've previously not determined the killer this early on. So it was just waiting for the details to unfold in the second half of the book.

I love that some of the secondary characters are starting to get a bit more page-time. It's nice to see the growth of Ivy and Gideon, and the mystery of Moriarty too. I'm curious where Gigi Pandian will take us with the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gigi Pandian, and St.Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for this advanced copy. I received this copy for free but am leaving this review voluntarily.

[ColleenSC (colleenallbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @minotaur_books, @macmillan.audio, and @librofm for an ALC of A Midnight Puzzle by Gigi Pandian. This is my favorite so far in the Secret Staircase mystery series. The story was interesting especially with the flashbacks to different parts of the family history. You will definitely need to read the previous books to appreciate the impact this book has; I found it to be a very satisfying resolution to overarching mysteries in the series. It was a bit repetitive with explanations and it could have been shorter. But overall the plot was good, especially as it picked up steam towards the end.

Tempest is a former stage magician who is now working for her family’s construction company. Part of the book’s fun is finding out what unique work they are doing. Another delight of the book is Tempest’s charming grandparents, one a retired doctor who loves to cook for people and the other an artist. Of course I also love Tempest’s friend Ivy and her knowledge of Golden Age crime novels, aspects of which come into play as Tempest and Co. investigate.

The main thing I was thinking as I read this was that it is nice to read something totally different than other cozy mysteries. Tempest’s world of magic, misdirection, and architectural tricks offers something beyond the usual cats, books, and baked goods. Not that I’m against those things, as you know! 🤣 I highly recommend this series if you are looking for something unique and intriguing. Just make sure to start from the beginning.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really clever continuation of The Secret Staircase series, as Tempest and her crew are back, creating illusions in homes and finding themselves in the middle of mysteries. When a former client is killed in their building by a booby-trapped door, Tempest is on the case, trying to exonerate her company and another surprise suspect.

Although this is part of a series, it easily stands alone as the author does a good job of catching the reader up on events. The cast of characters is fun and intriguing, and the story has plenty of twists and turns.

Soneela Nankani does a great job narrating the audiobook.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from MacMillan Audio via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder finally solved.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tempest Raj is preparing for hew new show. She's rented the Whispering Creek theatre, which has a bit of a spooky reputation.

At the same time Secret Staircase Construction is being sued by Julian Rhodes, a former client, who tried to kill his wife, but blamed her injury and resulting coma on the construction team. He's a sleaze.

Nicodemus the Necromancer, Tempest's mentor and friend, is staying with the Rajs, before he starts his next set of shows, and he's accompanied by his Assistant/Manager Brodie.

When Tempest gets a call late at night to meet Julian at the Whispering Creek Theatre, Nicodemus joins her, concerned about Julian's intentions. They arrive to see a sword come out of the door and impale Julian, killing him. Tempest, though shocked, deduces that a booby trap was laid at the door to harm whoever arrived.

Though the police cordon off the place, another person is injured by yet another booby trap, and the suspects include the Secret Staircase crew, Nicodemus, and Julian's wife.

Instead of leaving things to the police, Tempest and Ivy begin sleuthing, and uncover plenty of secrets, motives, and links back to Tempest's mother's murder.

This was both a fun instalment, and also a somewhat darker story than the previous entries in the series. Tempest uncovers things about people she's known for years and trusted, and what she finds out both angers and hurts her. But, most importantly, Tempest comes out the other side, knowing who she can trust, who she can count on, and that the mystery surrounding her mother's and aunt's deaths can finally be laid to rest.

It's a great way to end this part of the series: Tempest and her whole family, though saddened by the revelations, can finally begin to move on, and now Tempest can devote herself to creating new, interesting designs for Secret Staircase Construction, but can also feel like she can truly start a new chapter in her life.

I am really looking forward to the next book in this series, with all the fantastic food Grandpa Ash concocts at the drop of a hat, and a new mystery for amateur detectives Tempest and Ivy.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Pressfor this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Larry Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series is enjoyable, and I like the quirky lead character, Tempest. She has an interesting set of friends and a large family. The intricate plots are wonderful, full of tidbits about magic and its fabulous mechanics. Of course, Tempest is best at solving crimes and the ones in this book touch deeply on her family. I thought the book was a bit too long, but the ending was good.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh, I finished the green book on St. Patrick's Day!

But I digress. This is the third book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series and it is probably my favorite. But I think it's partly because Tempest finally has some closure over the mysterious deaths of her aunt and mother, as well as a lot of information about the family curse. Does this mean this is the last book? I hope not! The ending seems to leave things open for additional books in this series and I hope this will be the case!

Tempest has finally accepted that she is in a new phase of her life and that it's a role she will find very fulfilling, if only she can lay the family curse to rest. She is now working for her father, using her amazing stage skills to help their clients realize their vision of architectural creation. When their "absolutely sorry excuse for a human" client is suddenly murdered at the theatre where her mother disappeared/died (that's part of the mystery), she is force to figure out what happened, and what it might have to do with her family history. What I loved about this story was how much she was able to lean on her family and friends. This is such a family-centered series and I love all the main characters. Tempest herself has done a lot of maturing, making me like her even more. I especially like that she is realizing her strength lies in the support of her family and friends. I am constantly salivating over Ash's food and wish I could try it. I may have to try out some of the recipes included at the end of the book. But even more than the food, I wish I could explore their property, and meet Abra, the giant rabbit. I would also love to visit Ivy in the library.

As for the mystery, some aspects of it I was able to figure out, but the specific details? Not at all. I loved how I was kept guessing, and that when I learned how everything was done, it just made so much sense. I also love the nod to classic detective stories (like Carr in this one) and that books are what drew Ivy and Tempest together in the first place.

There is so much to love about this series and this book leaves everything in a very satisfying place. I would love to read more, perhaps with a new plot arc.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confession - I skipped reading The Raven Thief, as I wasn't sure I was going to continue the series after the first book, Under Lock and Skeleton Key because I just wasn't all that interested in Tempest. I found her a bit bombastic and immature with the whole "I am The Tempest" stage bit, and I was probably unjustly comparing her to Pandian's other heroines, who I love.

But I got an invitation to read A Midnight Puzzle, saw that it was an "impossible mystery," and gave it a go, and I am so glad I did. I did miss some backstory and character development by not having read the second book, but it didn't take away from my reading experience.

I do still enjoy the secondary characters, such as Tempest's grandparents and her best friend, a bit more, but I like how Tempest has worked on herself and grown since the first book. I like how we see a bit of how her grandfather has made friends with people from all over their community and hope we get more glimpses into her family and friends.

This is also a great nod to John Dickson Carr and all impossible mysteries. I had the whodunnit narrowed down to one of two characters fairly early on, but the howdunnit stumped me pretty much to the end. I love that!

Why you should read this: If you like a more cerebral cozy, this is your series. There are red herrings, twists, turns, and all sorts of misdirection.

Why you might not want to: Tempest has a LOT of internal monologue. Because of the nature of the mysteries she solves, that's kind of unavoidable, since she has to work through multiple puzzles, but it make for a lot of telling and not showing.

I received an advance copy from Minotaur Books via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

4.25 out of 5 stars. Recommended

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gigi Pandian for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Midnight Puzzle coming out March 19, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Secret Staircase Construction is under attack, and Tempest Raj feels helpless. After former client Julian Rhodes tried to kill his wife, he blamed her "accident" on the home renovation company’s craftsmanship. Now the family business—known for bringing magic into homes through hidden doors, floating staircases, and architectural puzzle walls—is at a breaking point. No amount of Scottish and Indian meals from her grandfather can distract Tempest from the truth: they’re being framed.

When Tempest receives an urgent midnight phone call from Julian, she decides to meet him at the historic Whispering Creek Theater—only to find his dead body, a sword through his chest. After a blade appears from thin air to claim another victim, Tempest is certain they’re dealing with a booby trap… something Secret Staircase Construction could easily build. Tempest refuses to wait for the investigation to turn to her or her loved ones. She knows the pieces of the puzzle are right in front of her, she just has to put them together correctly before more disaster strikes.

I didn’t realize this was a series. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I thought it was a really fun mystery. I loved the characters and the suspense. I think theater mysteries create a lot of rivalry and drama which can lead to murder. I loved the Secret Staircase and the magic behind that. I thought this book felt like a cozy mystery, which I love, but it also offered a lot more mystery and suspense. I’ll definitely have to read the other books in the series.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys magical mysteries!

[Star Gater · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to audibly read and review A Midnight Puzzle on NetGalley.

Published: 03/19/24

Stars: 2.5 (Not rounding up -- I couldn't recommend this unapologetically to young readers moving to clean adult mysteries.)

This was a difficult read. The biggest problem audibly was the narrator. She has the voice and performance skills perfect for a children's librarian. She has a kind, friendly, and happy voice; it's sugary sweet, clear and precise. Early on, by 25%, Secret Staircase Construction had been said so many times I thought I was being spun like a top. Also, the repetitive lines regarding her mother, figuratively I threw my hands up. This was in addition to Tempest being said so many times I didn't think I would finish.

With regards to the storyline I have no words. The architectural puzzles built into homes sounded incredible and fresh. Unfortunately all I heard was water dripping while I watched grass grow as I inched through the book.

Tempest is the main character. I didn't like her, nor have I ever enjoyed anyone with her traits. She undermines law enforcement, twists words to her advantage placing innocent people in harms way and she argues childishly in serious situations. That's not entertainment.

Credit: I don't recall any profanity.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Midnight Puzzle is definitely not my favorite entry in the Secret Staircase Mystery series, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. What I love about this series is the found family of the construction crew of Secret Staircase Construction and the incredible puzzles they construct (think hidden libraries behind staircases), along with the bad-ass lady detective-ness of Tempest, along with her grandparents, best friend Ivy, and a whole host of other characters. This book just had less of that than the other books in the series. It was more focused on the overarching mystery of what happened to Tempest's mom and aunt, which gets solved -- but don't worry, it seems like even though that's been solved, there are still more Secret Staircase Mysteries to be solved.

The mystery itself has lots of misdirection, which is to be expected, and it's interwoven with Tempest's acrobatics and illusions. It wasn't the most satisfying to solve, and while I did gasp at times, it was due to a gruesome finding at the end. (Though, it was a fitting gruesome finding. It just resulted in an all caps text at midnight while I finished the book.) Still, I'll continue to read these books -- there's something so fun about the premise and the setting, not to mention the delicious things that Grandpa Ash keeps cooking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an eARC of A Midnight Puzzle in exchange for my honest review.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not a standalone. You need to read the first two books to understand what is going on

Tempest finally finds out what happened to her mom after 5 years of wondering. I really enjoyed following tempest through her journey in her book with her friends and family and discovering what happened to not only her mom, aunt and the character Julian in this book who died.

I really enjoyed the magical aspect and fun adventure that GiGi put her characters through.

This book is told in present day, past and different characters perspectives which did confuse me a little since I was reading this book as an audiobook.

My only other issue is there are so many characters, it seemed like even Tempest didn’t want to talk to all the characters mentioned in the book. There were several scenes where it seemed like a character was mentioned and then they just didn’t show up or they just were forgotten by the main character.

But I am interested to see if GiGi continues this series and where it would go from here now that the big mystery is solved. If we would get more of an Ivy perspective or if the love triangle would ever be solved. But I would recommend and can’t wait to see what GiGi does next

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This continues to be a fun series with a wonderful cast of characters, but here in the third installment, the plot has really begun to go off the rails.

I love spending time in the Secret Staircase universe, so I expect these will always be fun to read regardless of the quality of the mystery in any particular installment. The first two books in the series were notably well-plotted in this regard, but this one felt rushed and messy with a solve that fails to satisfy.

I’m not sure the broader mystery that has been extant all throughout the series needed to be solved at this point either, unless the series is unexpectedly ending here. It just felt rushed and like a plot point that got shoe-horned in to match up with the mystery at the center of this book. There’s also an element of real sadness to one component of the mystery and it’s solve that felt out of place and really inconsistent with both the tone and the content of the series.

Perhaps this series was just never fit to be a lo g-running one, but I still hope that perhaps it can bounce back if there’s another installment in the future.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Manon (mysterymanon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE by Gigi Pandian is the third installment in her Secret Staircase Mystery series, starring former stage illusionist Tempest Raj and the curious murder puzzles she stumbles across. I'm a big fan of this series: a strong female lead, overarching family lore, and a close-knit community make this such an enjoyable series. On top of all that, the mysteries are delightfully intricate. Pandian pens wonderful fair-play mysteries that are both an homage to traditional detective stories and wholly original in their whimsical themes.

I think A Midnight Puzzle might be the strongest book in the series so far, with the strongest mystery and the most intriguing plot. This is one of those rare cozy series that deserves to be read in order. There is an overarching plot that spans these first three books; I'm happy to have closure on it in this third installment. I was also so pleased that this book suggests future installments; I'm not ready to say goodbye to Tempest just yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun and woven tale!

I really enjoyed the first two installments, so I was excited to dive back into Tempest’s realm! What I really wish is that Secret Staircase existed as a real life company in today’s world.

There is so much world building in this story - you can feel the different elements in your minds eye. You’re really there and present in such a magical world.

There are some time jumps, but not to the detriment of the story; it helped give the reader more context/backstory and set the stage for the story. Curious as to what happens after the end of this tale…

Thank you so much to the author, Gigi Pandian, Minotaur books and NetGalley for this eARC copy of A Midnight Puzzle!

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I jumped into this series at the third book and while I do think it works as a standalone, I also think it would be best read in order.

Tempest is an illusionist who works with her dad, owner of Secret Staircase Construction, a construction company that specializes in hidden doors, floating staircases, and architectural puzzle walls. When a former client threatens to sue after an accident involving his wife, weird things start to pop up that pulls together Tempest's late mother, a family curse and murder.

If you love magic, magicians and performance art, this cozy mystery is right up your alley. With a who done it style mystery, author Gigi Pandian did a good job at pacing and keeping the big ah-ha moments a real surprise. I enjoyed the cast of characters and the detail that went into explaining the various traps and stunts used during the action scenes.

I do love the addition of recipes at the end.

Thank you Minotaur Books & Macmillan Audio for the gifted ARC/ALC.

[Rummanah (Books in the Spotlight) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the characters and this fun, underrated cozy mystery series. This third installment, however, had some serious pacing issues and felt really convoluted with multiple subplots going on. I wouldn't have mind if the overarching mystery regarding Tempest's mom's disappearance stretched out a bit longer if it made the story stronger. When we do get to the part of the big reveal about Tempest's mom and aunt it felt underwhelming and anti-climatic. While I am slightly disappointed, I still enjoyed it and will be continuing the series.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this series! The quirky characters, magic and elaborate puzzles make it so much fun to read. This one involves Tempest trying to finally solve the family curse as well as the new murders that take place. Can she solve it in time to prevent another loved one's death? A Midnight Puzzle is full of twists and turns. Some of the events near the end of this book were quite surprising! I didn't expect them at all. The way it ended made me wish the next book was out already. I can't wait to read it! Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. Expected publication is March 19, 2024.