The Escape Game

by Marissa Meyer, Tamara Moss

“An absolute winner—sharp, suspenseful, and so much fun.” —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

An unforgettable YA murder mystery set in an escape-room themed game show, by Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles, and Tamara Moss, rising star and acclaimed author of Lintang series.

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of who killed Alicia Angelos?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer and rising star Tamara Moss comes a twisty thrill-ride, filled with sabotage, betrayal, and puzzles to die for.

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction

416 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 7, 2026

About the author

I live in Tacoma, Washington, with my husband and beautiful twin daughters. Represented by Jill Grinberg. Learn more about me and my upcoming books at http://www.marissameyer.com.

Reviews

[Carolina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 ✰ ?? It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me!

I wanna start off by saying that I was so so so excited for this book for a lot of different reasons: the author, the sinopses, the premise of it, etc … !!!!!!!!

Unfortunately I’m not gonna lie and say I had a fabulous time :/

I could say that it might be me, honestly… maybe it wasn’t the right time or maybe this isn’t for me and that’s okay!!!

𝐈𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 !!! 💕

For about 60% of the book I was bored and forcing myself to continue it, the characters didn’t click for me and the game rooms were not that fun to read about ( 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 , 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝 ) 💀

The plot for me was solid, nothing crazy to be honest, I wasn’t that surprised. 😭

Don’t have much to say to be honest, it’s not memorable at all, by tomorrow my mind will have erased and wiped this book away from it. 🥱

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 !!!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a devoted fan of literal locked-room stories and murder mysteries, this book felt like a match made in heaven for me! On top of that, it’s filled with eccentric, hyper-nerdy, and wonderfully unconventional main characters. At first, you doubt them—they’re not instantly lovable—but slowly, their quirks grow on you. Before you know it, you’re embracing every peculiar trait and wanting to give each of them a big hug by the end.

Each escape-room challenge is brilliantly designed—clever, intricate, and smart enough to make your brain cells work overtime. You’re constantly trying to piece together what’s happening while marveling at each character’s intelligence and fast-paced problem-solving. It’s entertaining, incredibly sharp, and action-packed. The murder-mystery clues sprinkled throughout are also well executed. I did guess the mastermind behind the scheme, but several twists were absolutely unforeseeable and genuinely made me gasp.

The story unfolds on The Escape Game, a wildly popular TV show that became a huge hit and moved to Hitflix with a massive budget and a one-million-dollar prize. Contestants will do anything to win—even kill a teammate. Six months ago, Alicia Angelos was murdered, found inside a coffin during a challenge. One of the prime suspects was her own sister, Sierra, who had fought with her and lacked an airtight alibi. Though there wasn’t enough evidence to charge her, online forums remain convinced she got away with murder.

Now a new season begins, filled with competitive, brilliantly skilled contestants. One team in particular—Team Helsing—draws the most attention. Not necessarily because of Aditya Parvesh, the bookish cryptographer; or Symphony Parvesh, the glamorous movie star and influencer; or Carter Kelly, the famous math prodigy whose online avatar is “Kick It Carter”; or Beck Matheson, a transgender, aspiring game master who designs mind-bending rooms using his synesthesia. No—the shock comes from Sierra Angelos’ return.

A presumed murderer stepping back onto the show instantly makes her the reluctant leader of the group. The others are so busy panicking about eliminations that they secretly pray she won’t kill them in their sleep. What they don’t realize is that Sierra is actually innocent. Beneath her artsy, goth, intimidating exterior, she’s a caring soul who grew up in foster homes, longing for love. She’s determined to find her sister’s real killer, and the villa where Alicia stayed during the competition might hold crucial clues. Meanwhile, a mysterious figure known as the real game master has been leaving messages inside the rooms and on the forums—someone who could be either the murderer or Sierra’s unexpected ally.

Can Sierra trust her new teammates, who slowly but surely win her over? Sweet, good-hearted Beck, who is the first to reach out with kindness; Carter, battling her own self-confidence issues and her crush on Fitz, the charming Australian host; and Adi, quiet and brooding, weighed down by secrets and parents who have damaged him. And can they uncover the true killer before someone else becomes a target?

This was an incredibly entertaining page-turner—I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m thrilled that more books and more games are coming. I’m already attached to these characters, especially Beck and Carter, and I can’t wait to jump into another adventure when the sequels arrive.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group / G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for providing this addictive YA mystery’s digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Sarah ⚘]

New release from Marissa Meyer? Say no more, I'm reading it. ✋

[⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆ Kim ⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆]

⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹 (12/1/2025): To all my fellow USA NetGalley users, this is READ NOW FOR 48 HOURS! I snatched this ARC up so fast; I'm excited to see what Marissa Meyer has in store with this book! I won't be reading this until a bit closer to the publishing date in April, but grab your ARCs now while you can! I've only read Heartless by her a few years ago and I believe this is her first mystery/thriller book, so I can't wait to see her spin on this genre!

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Marissa Meyer, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Escape Game will be officially published on April 7th, 2026!

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is for the nerds that love puzzles, murder mysteries and yes, escape rooms.
It is a fairly simple story and I clocked the twist really early but I enjoyed the journey so much! I like all the characters and it moved really fast so I wasn’t bored at any point(I'm getting over a reading slump so this is an important thing).
I’m so here for the sequel, gimme!

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for the arc.

[Cat Carstairs]

A murder mystery set in an escape room?? Written by Marissa Meyer??? I AM SO HERE FOR THIS

[jo ୨୧]

i NEED this book rn

[layla]

i’d read marissa meyer’s grocery list if she published it

[vaishnavi ☆ﾟ⁠.⁠* is editing reviews!]

pre-read જ⁀➴
╰┈➤ a new YA murder-mystery?? i'm sat.
╰┈➤ requested an arc. might cry if i get it. might cry if i don't.

[niyya نية]

marissa I will read anything you write

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published April 7, 2026.

4 stars

Escape rooms must still be pretty popular (I love them) as there are still a number of books (generally YA….maybe I need to become friends with a bunch of teenagers so they’ll invite me to go with them? Yep, it’s all fun and games til the cops come and you try to give them that excuse when they call you a perv.) about them. However, looking at it from just a game standpoint, this is the best one I’ve read. Usually they are long on murders, short on actual game detail, but this one goes into some detail on the clever puzzles found within.

Last season on “The Escape Game” contestant Sierra Angelos opened a coffin to find…the body of her sister, fellow contestant Alicia Angelos. Sierra is back this season (what because she is over it? I would be rocking back and forth hugging myself in Ye Olde Loonybin after that.) and looking for revenge. Also on her team are Adi, son of a faded star, Carter, host of a fan room and a math genius and Beck who creates game rooms. Can they win the million dollars and determine who killed Alicia?

Well, it’s probably no spoiler to say that the smart money is on them and it’s fun getting there. The rooms are great (never mind that I would pee my pants in fright in each and every one. I am clearly not meant for greatness.)

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absolute page-turner- you’re solving a murder in a LITERAL locked room, a reality show about ESCAPE room nerdom- if you love the locked room mystery trope, the shadiness of production of reality shows and a YA intensity- this book needs
To go on your TBR.

I’m a huge fan of the lunar chronicles series by Marissa Meyer, and this is a return to her best work - intriguing characters with a load of secrets, a fun setting and plenty of twists and turns. I am not a big escape room person, because I lack the intelligence or patience and critical thinking- but it was so much fun to read about characters that are smarter than me and see how they uncovered puzzles.

I stayed up late into the night and I was completely shocked at the ending!

Thanks to NetGalley and GP Putnam books for young readers.

Book to be published April 6, 2026.

[Hannah Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe I got to read an ARC!!!

I want part two. No, I need part two. This book was masterfully written from start to finish. I kept thinking I knew “who dunnit” only to be wrong again and again. The characters were all well rounded with secrets and journeys of their own which all got fleshed out (I want to see them more fleshed out) and I really felt like this was a real show with a fandom a large viewership (although it bugged me that they kept saying things like “all that time ago when it the show had been going for five seasons”)

My favorite part HAD to be the escape rooms. I felt like I was inside the rooms with the characters. The rooms were vividly described and I could understand exactly how the characters got from point a to point b. I didn’t feel lost at any point and yet, the tension was REAL. I constantly was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next, what the next clue was and would they finish in time?? I also loved the character dynamics of the team and how the escape rooms brought those out.

While there were minor flaws (ie there being only five seasons of a show that was talked about like it had gone on for decades) the book was a huge hit for me which, given my general lack of love for murder mystery is an impressive feat in and of itself. You’ve done it again Marissa Meyer and props to you Tamara Moss.

[Jewnifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the mystery and the entire game setup. The escape-room concept was so well done and immediately pulled me in. Each room raised the stakes, but the final escape room was easily my favorite. It had me completely on edge and flying through the pages.

I also loved how different each of the characters were and how we got to know them.

I genuinely didn’t see the twist coming. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story flipped the board and proved me wrong. Overall, this was a fast-paced, suspenseful read that kept me hooked.

Thank you Penguin Books for an early physical copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

[Sarah Book Dragon]

so I actually got a Marissa Meyer arc??? this is actually so unreal omg

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book, and it did not disappoint! I have not read a book this fast in a while. The entire story was so fun, the puzzles and mysteries were very clever and genuinely kept me on the edge of my seat. It reminded me a lot of the Inheritance Games, so if you enjoy those books you will definitely enjoy this book! While I have not yet read anything by Tamara Moss, Marissa Meyer has been one of my favorite authors for a few years now, and this new book did not disappoint. I enjoyed it just as much as all of her other books.

[Fizah(Books tales by me) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual Rating 4.75

Thanks to the G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers and Penguin TEENS for this early copy

✅Reality TV Show

✅Sibling Rivalry

✅Murder Mystery

✅Misfit Team

✅Escape Games

✅Present Parents

An escape game-based reality show, which turned out to be a murder site, and all participants and affiliated people are smart enough to pull one off? Yes, give this book to me.

The story follows a new season of The Escape Game, a TV show where teens solve tricky escape rooms to win big money. But last season ended in tragedy when a contestant, Alicia Angelos, was found dead. Sierra, who was part of the opposite team in the show and had a rivalry with Alicia, was labeled as a killer by fans. She is back to play in season 5 to win the money. Joining her are three very different teammates. Carter, a popular influencer and math wiz online, is actually socially awkward. Beck, a outgoing, friendly and talkative contestant who has been designing and constructing his own escape rooms. Adi is a private person who doesn’t like talking to people except when they are solving puzzles. Their team is a combination of misfits; the only common thing is that they are all smart and really want to win.

The book is full of twists, puzzles, and secrets. The world-building is great, and each escape room feels intense and creative. The tension between the contestants makes it even better. I also loved how well-developed the characters were; everyone had their own distinct voice and personality, which is impressive when there are so many characters. One thing that really stood out to me (in the best way) was the PRESENT parents. The characters actually talk to or mention their parents, which is something you almost never see in YA books. Authors, please take note, it’s not that hard, and it makes the story feel so much more real.

This book wasn’t perfect, though. One thing that really got on my nerves was how often the characters started to drawl, it happened way too much 😒. I guessed a few twists and turns here and there, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying it. The ending was kinda underwhelming, I was expecting something more. Nevertheless, I couldn’t put this book down. And I wasn’t ready for this cliffhanger. Why did no one tell me it is not a STANDALONE?

[Edward]

Marissa Meyer. Escape room. Crime thriller. YA mystery.
Sooooooooo............this isn't on my shelf and that's a problem.

[Brittany Kilinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars? Maybe lower Idk.
I didn’t hate this at all but I also found it a little boring for such an exciting concept. A reality game show revolving around escape rooms. Last season ended with a shocking twist. A murder mystery that has a contestant back with a vengeance. So this should’ve been a hit for me but I just wasn’t invested enough to care. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and this has 4 different main characters with their own POV chapters so maybe that’s why. Will I read the sequel? Possibly, considering I didn’t feel inclined to dnf at any point and I still wanted to know who the killer was.

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book I’m rating it 3.75 stars rounded to 4.0.

I found this book quite enjoyable and I think other readers who enjoy a YA murder mystery like The Inheritance Games would certainly enjoy this read.

Although I found the culprit kind of predictable at first you do get hit with some big twists along the way that really throw you off the scent. I found the escape rooms to be so much fun, the clues were interesting in the game and outside of the game. This book is filled with danger and high stakes, but it also gives you found family vibes and some flawed yet likeable characters.

[Brooke Beeson-King · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Escape Game, four teens are teamed up for an incredibly twisty escape room thriller perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games. It’s an electrifying tale that blends the tension of an escape room with the intrigue of a murder mystery.

Team Hesling members include Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the designer of his own escape games; and Sierra, a possible murder suspect of her sister’s death. But not only is the team given puzzles and clues to escape the game, The Real Game Master is leaving clues to find out who the killer is.

Readers will find plenty to love here: twists, secrets that unravel just in time, and a finale that’s shocking. The Escape Game isn’t just about breaking out of a room, it’s about uncovering all the truths.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It’s a solid read but not what I expected completely. We get 5 rooms but they’re super short and I didn’t find them to be suspenseful. The action mostly happens outside the escape rooms. I was expecting edge-of-your-seat escape rooms like in Getting Away With Murder where the rooms were deadly but so were the contestants.

Loved the book tho. Solid character building and mystery. Def excited for book 2 because that ending???? Yep. Need book 2 haha

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the popularity of escape rooms and puzzle-solving of late plus the high circulation and sale of books in the “thriller” genre, this action-adventure murder mystery set in that world PLUS a major social media angle, The Escape Room is likely to fly off shelves. Even if browser’s don’t notice Marissa Meyer’s name printed on the cover!

In season 4 of a popular online, now prime time streaming escape room show, Sierra’s sister and fellow contestant on an opposing team is found murdered and she is the prime suspect. Without any solid evidence, however, Sierra is not charged and goes home even more angry and belligerent than she was while competing but with an ax to grind and a murder to solve, she is returning to compete again on season 5. Joined by Adi, the neglected child of a once popular and self-absorbed actress, Beck, who needs the prize money to get his family out of a financial jam, and Carter, a social media phenom among the puzzle solving community but awkward in real life, the team is tasked by an online “game master” to find the lie and solve the murder. Beset by sabotages from other teams, an attempted murder, a drugged drink plus their own individual demons, things don’t go very well for the Helsing team and readers will be hooked wondering how everything will play out in the end.

Kudos to authors Meyer and Ross for their detailed descriptions of the escape rooms and puzzles ranging from obvious to creatively difficult. There are cyphers, use of the periodic table, math equations, map clues and references to literature and life, meaning something for all manner of readers. The personal difficulties of the main players are also varied and will hit home in some way with most. As for the murderer(s), the end result is likely to contain at least a few surprises. I had several things partially figured out, but was distracted by some red herrings conveniently sprinkled throughout the action. Readers may be disappointed at all the loose ends and unresolved character struggles but will pleased to discover that Carter’s insecurities, Adi’s need for a solid parent figure, Beck’s financial need, plus Sierra’s open animosity towards nearly everyone could be addressed in the next installment in this new series.

While overall, I enjoyed this book, it does get bogged down in the characters’ sideline issues at times and I found myself skimming some of those repeated or elaborated on sections. I also found the sudden and significant increase in profanity in the climactic end game chapters to be jarring. The entire book only had 2 or 3 mild swear words up until the end when F-bombs and G-damn’s were thrown around liberally and augmented with plenty of the more “mild” profanity.

Target audience: grade 9 & up

Representation: Adi is of Middle Eastern heritage; Beck makes the casual statement, “I am trans” mixed into all the other reasons he would make a good candidate for the game but other than one other mention of how his parents supported his dislike of dresses and his name change, and one comment about his binder helping to staunch blood flow (sorry, spoiler, he does get wounded), his sexual identity does not affect/influence his participation in the game or his interactions with other characters.

Violence/Sexual content: Absolutely present with murder, attempted murder, and a variety of weaponry factoring into the climax but there are no particularly graphic passages and while it becomes known that there is a sexual relationship at play and a sexual predator on the prowl, no details of any sexual activity are provided.

Thanks for the eARC, NetGalley.

[Nicole P · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5

The Escape Game drew me in instantly, and I was hooked for the entire duration of the book! The pacing of this story was great. I was consistently engaged, and every chapter felt like it brought a new element into the mystery. I really enjoyed the character dynamics; the team had a range of personalities, and I liked how each character's chapter perspectives felt unique, as if you were truly viewing the story through their eyes. I loved the reality tv escape room story concept; I think the authors did a great job combining this with a murder mystery. I was a little underwhelmed with some of the murder mystery clues and the ending of that plot, however, I am excited to see where the rest of this story goes in book two!

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen Canada for the ARC!!

[Stacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

First let me say I can't wait to see what a physical copy of this book looks like. I read the ebook version, and while that didn't lessen the experience, I think there's a lot that can be done to heighten it with a physical book.

This book was so much fun! The characters were interesting and well drawn, and perfectly suited to the "reality TV meets escape room" plot. I don't like books that use twists and turns as plot devices, but in this book they all felt organic and I felt like I was along for the ride with the characters. The escape room puzzles were challenging enough to be interesting but not so difficult as to be off-putting. The author did a good job of balancing the competitive spirt of the show, the tension between the cast members (and the additional tensions between cast and production crew of the show), and the home life of the cast members. The book ended on a cliffhanger, and I look forward to seeing where the authors go with the series.

Huge thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Marissa Meyer, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[tiana ♡]

pre-read notes:
ARC received! I saw the authors and the description and it was an automatic yes 🤭🖤 Published in April 2026 ✨

[Olivia Shulman · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the characters (BECK!!!!) and the puzzles, even if some of them were literally impossible for me to figure out in on my own…..

[Mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

woah woah woah I did not see that coming

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, locked room mystery with a unique style and cast of characters. This multiple POV YA story is filled with fun games and twists to keep you guessing. I love books about any kind of games but especially escape rooms so this one was right up my alley. Ive not read anything by either of these authors before but would after reading this. They write well and the story is engrossing and hooks you.