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Secret Staircase Mystery #2
The Raven Thief
Multiple award-winning author Gigi Pandian is one of the best locked room mystery writers working today. Her newest heroine, Tempest Raj, returns in The Raven Thief , where sliding bookcases, trick tables, and hidden reading nooks hide something much more sinister than the Secret Staircase Construction crew ever imagined.
One murder. Four impossibilities. A fake séance hides a very real crime.
Secret Staircase Construction just finished their first project with Tempest Raj officially a part of the team―a classic mystery novel-themed home interior. Their client is now ready to celebrate her new life without her cheating ex-husband, famous mystery author Corbin Colt. First up, a party, and Tempest and Grandpa Ash are invited to the exclusive mock séance to remove any trace of Corbin from the property―for good. It's all lighthearted fun until Corbin's dead body crashes the party.
The only possible suspects are the eight people around the séance table―a circle of clasped hands that wasn't broken. Suspicion quickly falls on Grandpa Ash, the only one with actual blood on him. To prove her beloved grandfather’s innocence, Tempest must figure out what really happened―and how ―or Ash will be cooking his delectable Indian and Scottish creations nevermore.
One murder. Four impossibilities. A fake séance hides a very real crime.
Secret Staircase Construction just finished their first project with Tempest Raj officially a part of the team―a classic mystery novel-themed home interior. Their client is now ready to celebrate her new life without her cheating ex-husband, famous mystery author Corbin Colt. First up, a party, and Tempest and Grandpa Ash are invited to the exclusive mock séance to remove any trace of Corbin from the property―for good. It's all lighthearted fun until Corbin's dead body crashes the party.
The only possible suspects are the eight people around the séance table―a circle of clasped hands that wasn't broken. Suspicion quickly falls on Grandpa Ash, the only one with actual blood on him. To prove her beloved grandfather’s innocence, Tempest must figure out what really happened―and how ―or Ash will be cooking his delectable Indian and Scottish creations nevermore.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published March 21, 2023
About the author
Gigi Pandian
43 books1,410 followersGigi 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
March 21, 2023
This second installment of the Secret Staircase Mystery series is another fun cozy-style mystery. Although it isn't critical to read the first book in the series before this one, you will get more of a background of Tempest, her family, and their backgrounds if you read Under Lock & Skeleton Key first.
In this book, Tempest's friend Sanjay is tasked with conducting a fake séance to banish the "ghost" of Lavinia's cheating ex-husband, mystery author Corbin Colt. She just wants his aura cleared from her home The ceremony takes place in the new "lair" that Tempest and her family just completed for Lavinia, full of secret passageways and hiding places. However, when the lights go out and come back on during the séance, Corbin's dead body has landed right in the middle of the room. How did he get in the locked room and killed? Suspicion is thrown on Tempest's grandfather Ash, and so she puts on her detective hat once again to try to find the real culprit.
This series is very enjoyable and this book has all of the elements of a classic locked room mystery. I like Tempest as a character and even though I usually don't care for armchair detectives, she mostly just uses her magician's brain to puzzle things out rather than conducting the detective work herself. I say mostly because there was a bit of breaking and entering... Overall the solution was clever and believable and kept me interested to find out how things were done.
There is an overarching mystery in this series, that of the disappearance of Tempest's mother. I'm ready for that to be solved because I feel like things are being too dragged out with that plot thread. I don't think it's necessary to keep belaboring that mystery, just solve it and the series can keep going with the whole secret staircase/magic/hidden room themes and still be fun and intriguing.
I listened to this as an audiobook and although there is a huge cast of characters, narrator Soneela Nankani does an amazing job keeping things moving and distinguishing between the various voices. These books are delightful as audiobooks.
I look forward to the next book in the series for more reveals!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
In this book, Tempest's friend Sanjay is tasked with conducting a fake séance to banish the "ghost" of Lavinia's cheating ex-husband, mystery author Corbin Colt. She just wants his aura cleared from her home The ceremony takes place in the new "lair" that Tempest and her family just completed for Lavinia, full of secret passageways and hiding places. However, when the lights go out and come back on during the séance, Corbin's dead body has landed right in the middle of the room. How did he get in the locked room and killed? Suspicion is thrown on Tempest's grandfather Ash, and so she puts on her detective hat once again to try to find the real culprit.
This series is very enjoyable and this book has all of the elements of a classic locked room mystery. I like Tempest as a character and even though I usually don't care for armchair detectives, she mostly just uses her magician's brain to puzzle things out rather than conducting the detective work herself. I say mostly because there was a bit of breaking and entering... Overall the solution was clever and believable and kept me interested to find out how things were done.
There is an overarching mystery in this series, that of the disappearance of Tempest's mother. I'm ready for that to be solved because I feel like things are being too dragged out with that plot thread. I don't think it's necessary to keep belaboring that mystery, just solve it and the series can keep going with the whole secret staircase/magic/hidden room themes and still be fun and intriguing.
I listened to this as an audiobook and although there is a huge cast of characters, narrator Soneela Nankani does an amazing job keeping things moving and distinguishing between the various voices. These books are delightful as audiobooks.
I look forward to the next book in the series for more reveals!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
October 29, 2023
This is the second in the Secret Staircase Mystery series. The first, Under Lock & Skeleton Key review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tempest Raj returns, a little more settled in to her position helping her dad in his business at the Secret Staircase Construction company.
And…
They have just finished the job for their client Lavinia Kingsley who wants to perform a séance of her new room with sliding bookcases, trick tables and hidden reading nooks that is now her new book club room.
You see…
It use to be her husband’s writing room. (He was a famous author.)
But now…
This séance will get rid of her soon-to-be ex-husband Corbin Colt, who although not dead, will be cleansed from her life through this circle.
But…
What happens when his dead body actually appears?
And then…
Tempest’s grandfather Ash is accused of his murder?
How will Tempest prove her grandfather didn’t do it?
And…
Where are Corbin Colt’s notes (since he was a writer working on a final manuscript about Tempest’s Aunt’s murder and her mother’s disappearance)?
In typical Agatha Christie fashion, with many mis-directions along the way, many suspects emerge.
Will Tempest finally get it right, or will her grandfather be wrongfully convicted?
A storyline that seems to continue, is the secret history and past of the Raj family itself. In some ways, it detours from the case, at hand, until the last third of the book when it gets back on track to working on solving the murder.
Still…
There is much whimsy to the hidden rooms and secret staircases within the houses.
Which means…
I am still interested in this series and hoping that at some point they will resolve the family case, so we can move on from it.
Tempest Raj returns, a little more settled in to her position helping her dad in his business at the Secret Staircase Construction company.
And…
They have just finished the job for their client Lavinia Kingsley who wants to perform a séance of her new room with sliding bookcases, trick tables and hidden reading nooks that is now her new book club room.
You see…
It use to be her husband’s writing room. (He was a famous author.)
But now…
This séance will get rid of her soon-to-be ex-husband Corbin Colt, who although not dead, will be cleansed from her life through this circle.
But…
What happens when his dead body actually appears?
And then…
Tempest’s grandfather Ash is accused of his murder?
How will Tempest prove her grandfather didn’t do it?
And…
Where are Corbin Colt’s notes (since he was a writer working on a final manuscript about Tempest’s Aunt’s murder and her mother’s disappearance)?
In typical Agatha Christie fashion, with many mis-directions along the way, many suspects emerge.
Will Tempest finally get it right, or will her grandfather be wrongfully convicted?
A storyline that seems to continue, is the secret history and past of the Raj family itself. In some ways, it detours from the case, at hand, until the last third of the book when it gets back on track to working on solving the murder.
Still…
There is much whimsy to the hidden rooms and secret staircases within the houses.
Which means…
I am still interested in this series and hoping that at some point they will resolve the family case, so we can move on from it.
August 18, 2022
Tempest used to have a big magic act in Vegas, but after a debacle, now works with her dad at Secret Staircase Construction. Her friend Sanjay, another magician, is dismayed when a local woman, Lavinia, asks him to come to her place (newly renovated by SSC) to hold a seance banishing the bad vibes of her ex. He agrees, but everyone is shocked when there is a murder and Tempest's grandfather is the #1 suspect. Ignoring all advice, Tempest decides to investigate to try and clear her grandfather. It's a modern twist on a classic locked room mystery. (This book and the previous one keep mentioning a mysterious disappearance, so I kind of wish they would finally get to it.) Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
June 16, 2023
When Tempest Raj is asked to assist her friend, magician Sanjay, to perform a fake seance to rid Lavinia Kingsley’s house of any last vestiges of her soon-to-be ex- husband, Corbin Colt, how can she say no? But when things go horribly wrong and the soon-to-be ex is now the late soon-to-be ex, and, worse, Tempest’s grandfather is the main suspect, Tempest is determined to uncover the real culprit but, to do it, she must unravel the ‘four impossible ways’ Colt died.
The Raven Thief is the second book in the Secret Staircase mysteries by Gigi Pandian but the first I’ve read. I did feel that I would have understood many of the relationships between the characters better if had read the first book I also found that it strained my willing suspension of disbelief in many places.
However, despite, these quibbles, I did find the story very entertaining. I especially liked the quirky characters, many of them magicians, and the author’s use of legerdemain to keep the reader distracted despite the ted herrings scattered throughout the tale. Overall, a very enjoyable read although I recommend reading the previous book first.
3.5
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and the publishers im exchange for an honest review
The Raven Thief is the second book in the Secret Staircase mysteries by Gigi Pandian but the first I’ve read. I did feel that I would have understood many of the relationships between the characters better if had read the first book I also found that it strained my willing suspension of disbelief in many places.
However, despite, these quibbles, I did find the story very entertaining. I especially liked the quirky characters, many of them magicians, and the author’s use of legerdemain to keep the reader distracted despite the ted herrings scattered throughout the tale. Overall, a very enjoyable read although I recommend reading the previous book first.
3.5
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and the publishers im exchange for an honest review
May 26, 2024
3.75 stars
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March 23, 2023I’ve always been a huge fan of locked-room mysteries, the type of mystery where the crime looks truly impossible. The Raven Thief is my own spin on this classic mystery genre I love. The puzzle plot is the key to the story—but family, friendship, and food are the heart.
I had such fun challenging myself to write not just one, but FOUR, impossibilities into The Raven Thief! Sometimes I wanted to pull out my hair, but I was so satisfied with the result. If you pick up the book, I hope you'll have fun spending time with Tempest and her circle of friends and family, and also enjoy the fun of the mystery-themed architectural backdrop and nods to famous mysteries from the Golden Age of detective fiction in both the West and Japan.
I had such fun challenging myself to write not just one, but FOUR, impossibilities into The Raven Thief! Sometimes I wanted to pull out my hair, but I was so satisfied with the result. If you pick up the book, I hope you'll have fun spending time with Tempest and her circle of friends and family, and also enjoy the fun of the mystery-themed architectural backdrop and nods to famous mysteries from the Golden Age of detective fiction in both the West and Japan.
September 17, 2023
It pains me to once again see flat execution of such a fantastic premise. The mysteries are so good in this series, but the investigation doesn’t hold my interest.
Something needs to happen between Tempest and the guys. It can’t be a love triangle if there is no chemistry. These characters need some unresolved sexual tension. Instead, we find out that Tempest had a date with Gideon, but they’re “too busy” to do anything else. Sanjay is a buddy/sidekick. There was an opportunity for something to happen, some real feelings to be shared, but it fizzled.
Moriarty is confusing. Is he Preston from the first book? Someone else? No explanation is given and if he is someone other than Preston, his part in book 1 was forgettable…
Which brings me to another point. There aren’t many solid reminders of the first book. This doesn’t stand alone. It actually needs to be read immediately after the first, as it relies on you knowing the full story.
I’m frustrated. I don’t think I’ll be reading the next book.
Something needs to happen between Tempest and the guys. It can’t be a love triangle if there is no chemistry. These characters need some unresolved sexual tension. Instead, we find out that Tempest had a date with Gideon, but they’re “too busy” to do anything else. Sanjay is a buddy/sidekick. There was an opportunity for something to happen, some real feelings to be shared, but it fizzled.
Moriarty is confusing. Is he Preston from the first book? Someone else? No explanation is given and if he is someone other than Preston, his part in book 1 was forgettable…
Which brings me to another point. There aren’t many solid reminders of the first book. This doesn’t stand alone. It actually needs to be read immediately after the first, as it relies on you knowing the full story.
I’m frustrated. I don’t think I’ll be reading the next book.
November 3, 2022
Gigi Pandian is the contemporary queen of locked room mysteries. The author does not disappoint in this 2nd book of the Secret Staircase Mystery series. Tempest Raj, her friends, and her family are delightfully quirky. Readers who enjoy maximal details and a touch of whimsy to their mystery setting will enjoy this series.
March 5, 2024
This series continues to amaze me. The mix of family secrets, secrets rooms and complex magical seeming mysteries have been completely hooked. Add to that the fantastic character of Tempest and her wonderful family and friends and it is so easy to love these books. This book had me all twisted around and my thoughts going in circles because I truly did not know who to believe. I love how these books are almost like a magic trick that relies on misdirection and lots of redherrings. I am becoming more and more attached to these characters and cannot wait to see what other amazing rooms and secret hideaways they continue to create.
Note: I listened to the audiobook and loved it!
Note: I listened to the audiobook and loved it!
September 3, 2022
Tempest and Grandpa Ash finished their latest project and are invited to a seance at the home. The goal is for the new owner to rid herself of all traces of her ex husband as she moves forward with her new life. When the uninvited husband’s body shows up, it’s a real mystery.
With all the attendees holding hands around the table, how could one of them have done it? It seems impossible, but Tempest is going to use all of her abilities to figure out who killed a man during a seance in order to save Grandpa Ash from being blamed for a murder he didn’t commit.
This was a great read, and it kept my mind running to figure out not only who did it, but how they did it. It’s a take on the classical locked room mysteries…without the lock! A really great mystery that you do not want to miss!
With all the attendees holding hands around the table, how could one of them have done it? It seems impossible, but Tempest is going to use all of her abilities to figure out who killed a man during a seance in order to save Grandpa Ash from being blamed for a murder he didn’t commit.
This was a great read, and it kept my mind running to figure out not only who did it, but how they did it. It’s a take on the classical locked room mysteries…without the lock! A really great mystery that you do not want to miss!
June 27, 2023
A family friend's and client's hated, cheating ex (and failed novelist) turns up very dead during a Sanjay-led séance at a client's, Lavinia Kingley,'s home. None of the séance attendees could have committed the crime, but the only person the police are considering is Ash, Tempest's grandfather, who verified the ex was dead, getting blood on himself.
Tempest is urged by everyone NOT to investigate, but when she hears that Ash and the dead man have a history, and that's why the police are considering him as a prime suspect, it's impossible to obey her family's and friend's' wishes.
Tempest is also contacted by the stranger she's dubbed "Moriarty" in book one; he seems interested in her interest in finding out what happened to her mother some years earlier.
Making several wrong turns, Tempest eventually figures out that the case is actually one of misdirection and secrets, and figures out who the killer is.
The story is light, despite the murder, and lingering mystery about Tempest's mother's death, and the mess of her life that Tempest is still wrestling with. The pacing is fast, and the dialogue often funny. And all that incredibly tasty food that Grandpa Ash makes -- yum!
Tempest is urged by everyone NOT to investigate, but when she hears that Ash and the dead man have a history, and that's why the police are considering him as a prime suspect, it's impossible to obey her family's and friend's' wishes.
Tempest is also contacted by the stranger she's dubbed "Moriarty" in book one; he seems interested in her interest in finding out what happened to her mother some years earlier.
Making several wrong turns, Tempest eventually figures out that the case is actually one of misdirection and secrets, and figures out who the killer is.
The story is light, despite the murder, and lingering mystery about Tempest's mother's death, and the mess of her life that Tempest is still wrestling with. The pacing is fast, and the dialogue often funny. And all that incredibly tasty food that Grandpa Ash makes -- yum!
September 2, 2022
I enjoyed the descriptions of the quirky architecture and all the nods to great Golden Age mystery authors. The mystery was a puzzling one, with not just one, but four impossibilities teasing the mental capacities of our sleuth, Tempest Raj.
I also enjoyed the occasional popping in of Tempest's biggest fan/nemesis and the hinting at her family mystery which still needs to be solved. Those two things effectively build tension and expectation to keep the series going.
I felt the story as a whole, though, went on a bit long and could have been tightened up somewhat. Also, I couldn't quite suspend my disbelief for the way the police were behaving -- deciding to reopen a cold case because someone wrote up a fanciful, fictional account of it? Little things like that took me out of the story somewhat. But if you like locked room mysteries and would enjoy a contemporary twist, pick this up. It's a fun diversion.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital review copy!
I also enjoyed the occasional popping in of Tempest's biggest fan/nemesis and the hinting at her family mystery which still needs to be solved. Those two things effectively build tension and expectation to keep the series going.
I felt the story as a whole, though, went on a bit long and could have been tightened up somewhat. Also, I couldn't quite suspend my disbelief for the way the police were behaving -- deciding to reopen a cold case because someone wrote up a fanciful, fictional account of it? Little things like that took me out of the story somewhat. But if you like locked room mysteries and would enjoy a contemporary twist, pick this up. It's a fun diversion.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital review copy!
March 20, 2023
I’m a sucker for a locked room mystery (even if the room has potential secret passageways into it) and this one was so different. I love Gigi Pandian’s creativity and her use of magicians/magic in her stories. I usually love her characters but there’s something about Tempest that feels off. She’s written as intelligent and being able to reason out issues but there are a few conversations where she seems dim; things have to be spelled out for her and it drew me out of the story because it was so frustrating. Otherwise, the story was well written and I liked the clues sprinkled throughout about what happened to Tempest’s mom. Looking forward to the next.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and @macmillan.audio for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and @macmillan.audio for an honest review.
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March 26, 2023
I have not read book one in the series and did not feel like I was at a disadvantage so I would say this works as a standalone.
I immediately took to Tempest and her refusal to sit down and shut up when her grandfather was accused of murder. That stubborn attitude made for a fun, twisty cozy mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I didn't feel like the conclusion was over done and the ending felt like a natural conclusion.
Overall great job and I look forward to reading book one.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for sending me an ARC.
I immediately took to Tempest and her refusal to sit down and shut up when her grandfather was accused of murder. That stubborn attitude made for a fun, twisty cozy mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I didn't feel like the conclusion was over done and the ending felt like a natural conclusion.
Overall great job and I look forward to reading book one.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for sending me an ARC.
December 27, 2022
The first book in this series fell a little flat for me but I was hoping that a second book would help with the lack of character development that I struggled with because the premise of the The Secret Staircase Construction Company was solid. Unfortunately, after book two I'm still struggling with the same challenges. I don't know the characters any better and I don't find myself connecting with them any more than I did in the first book.
Unfortunately, this might be the last attempt at this series for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Unfortunately, this might be the last attempt at this series for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
December 25, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the copy of The Raven Thief. I read Under Lock and Key and really liked Tempest and the infusion of illusions in the story. The cool setting was still fun, but not as fun as the first time. In this book I liked the same things, but the mystery wasn’t as compelling and I had trouble connecting to any of the other characters this time. It’s still a solid read, but I would have liked a few more surprises.
June 5, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for this galley in an exchange for an honest review.
After loving book one in the Secret Staircase Mystery series in 2022, I was so excited to get back in to following Tempest, Ash, and Darius in the second installment.
Here Pandian takes the readers into a locked room mystery straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. Tempest and crew are with a customer's house celebrating a finished project with a séance, when Lavina's ex-husband lands on the table - dead.
With a new detective in town, Ash is quickly arrested upon suspicion but Tempest will do anything to make sure her grandfather is innocent. With her grandmother in Scotland and her dad not answering his phone, it's up to Tempest and her friends to figure out who did it.
I think this was a good take on the locked room mystery, it kept me guessing who did it until it was revealed. However, something really took me out of the story and it took me much longer to read it than it should have.
Just as in book one, there is still mention of the disappearance of Tempest's mother, Emma. Now suddenly her grandmother may still be investigating it and a draft of a new novel basically points to the Tempest's dad being behind the disappearance. I found this plot line popped up at the worst times in book two and took me out of the plot. It felt like it was just thrown in instead of woven and it didn't work well.
I'm interested to see where the story with Emma goes from here, but I hope it's woven in better in future installments.
After loving book one in the Secret Staircase Mystery series in 2022, I was so excited to get back in to following Tempest, Ash, and Darius in the second installment.
Here Pandian takes the readers into a locked room mystery straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. Tempest and crew are with a customer's house celebrating a finished project with a séance, when Lavina's ex-husband lands on the table - dead.
With a new detective in town, Ash is quickly arrested upon suspicion but Tempest will do anything to make sure her grandfather is innocent. With her grandmother in Scotland and her dad not answering his phone, it's up to Tempest and her friends to figure out who did it.
I think this was a good take on the locked room mystery, it kept me guessing who did it until it was revealed. However, something really took me out of the story and it took me much longer to read it than it should have.
Just as in book one, there is still mention of the disappearance of Tempest's mother, Emma. Now suddenly her grandmother may still be investigating it and a draft of a new novel basically points to the Tempest's dad being behind the disappearance. I found this plot line popped up at the worst times in book two and took me out of the plot. It felt like it was just thrown in instead of woven and it didn't work well.
I'm interested to see where the story with Emma goes from here, but I hope it's woven in better in future installments.
March 6, 2023
The Raven Thief is a great follow-up to last year’s Under Lock & Skeleton Key, which started the Secret Staircase Mystery series. The focus is on a family with a historic connection to magicians, of both Indian and Scottish heritage and whose family business is Secret Staircase Construction, which specializes in creating secret nooks, hidden bookcases, etc. The main character, Tempest Raj, is a magician/illusionist who nearly died in a magic “trick” gone terribly wrong. 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 her parents’ business, and 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”? This book’s mystery is: how did a famous author wind up dead in the middle of a fake seance, which had been requested by his ex-wife Lavinia? It’s another classic locked room mystery.
In addition to a clever mystery with lots of twists and turns, I loved the 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; and her magician friend, Sanjay, among others.
Bonus: There are recipes at the end of the book.
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was narrated by Soneela Nankani, who did a great job with the various 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.
In addition to a clever mystery with lots of twists and turns, I loved the 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; and her magician friend, Sanjay, among others.
Bonus: There are recipes at the end of the book.
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was narrated by Soneela Nankani, who did a great job with the various 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.
March 22, 2023
This is the second book involving Tempest Raj. She is back home in California and working with her dad at secret staircase construction. Together, along with Tempests childhood friend, Ivy and a couple other team members, they make secret rooms, passages and all around really cool things. They have just finished a secret book club basement for Lavinia, the owner of a local restaurant, Veggie Magic.
They have pulled out all the stops for Lavinia, including a floating boat and a table with hidden compartments. Lavinia has just gone through a brutal divorce and is ready to banish her ex’s presence from her house. That is made difficult by him falling out of the ceiling, dead. Tempest’s grandfather become the main suspect, so Tempest immediately starts digging to prove his innocence.
I liked the first books, but this one really took it up a notch. More starts to unravel regarding Tempests mom and aunts disappearance. I’m really looking forward to more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
They have pulled out all the stops for Lavinia, including a floating boat and a table with hidden compartments. Lavinia has just gone through a brutal divorce and is ready to banish her ex’s presence from her house. That is made difficult by him falling out of the ceiling, dead. Tempest’s grandfather become the main suspect, so Tempest immediately starts digging to prove his innocence.
I liked the first books, but this one really took it up a notch. More starts to unravel regarding Tempests mom and aunts disappearance. I’m really looking forward to more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 23, 2023
This is the second book involving Tempest Raj. She is back home in California and working with her dad at secret staircase construction. Together, along with Tempests childhood friend, Ivy and a couple other team members, they make secret rooms, passages and all around really cool things. They have just finished a secret book club basement for Lavinia, the owner of a local restaurant, Veggie Magic.
They have pulled out all the stops for Lavinia, including a floating boat and a table with hidden compartments. Lavinia has just gone through a brutal divorce and is ready to banish her ex’s presence from her house. That is made difficult by him falling out of the ceiling, dead. Tempest’s grandfather become the main suspect, so Tempest immediately starts digging to prove his innocence.
I liked the first books, but this one really took it up a notch. More starts to unravel regarding Tempests mom and aunts disappearance. I’m really looking forward to more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
They have pulled out all the stops for Lavinia, including a floating boat and a table with hidden compartments. Lavinia has just gone through a brutal divorce and is ready to banish her ex’s presence from her house. That is made difficult by him falling out of the ceiling, dead. Tempest’s grandfather become the main suspect, so Tempest immediately starts digging to prove his innocence.
I liked the first books, but this one really took it up a notch. More starts to unravel regarding Tempests mom and aunts disappearance. I’m really looking forward to more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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December 19, 2022The first book in this series fell a little flat for me but I was hoping that a second book would help with the lack of character development that I struggled with because the premise of the The Secret Staircase Construction Company was solid. Unfortunately, after book two I'm still struggling with the same challenges. I don't know the characters any better and I don't find myself connecting with them any more than I did in the first book.
Unfortunately, this might be the last attempt at this series for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Unfortunately, this might be the last attempt at this series for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review this book ahead of publication. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
March 29, 2023
Tempest Raj, the disgraced magician who is now working for her father's contracting company, is determined to find the secrets behind the death of her aunt and the disappearance of her mother. Butt first things first--the mock seance that was held in the renovated basement of local restaurateur Lavinia to cleanse the place of traces of her soon-to-be ex-husband calls up the husband himself, stabbed to death. And Tempest's beloved grandfather is the main suspect, partly because he had blood on him, and partly because there was bad blood between the men. Clearly, Tempest has to clear him, which she can only do by solving the crime, with the help of her magician friend Sanjay, her possible new love interest Gideon, her once-best-friend Ivy, and the stalker she refers to as "Moriarity."
June 3, 2023
Gigi Pandian's Secret Staircase Mysteries are so much fun. They've got delicious food, literary references, hidden nooks and passageways, a bad-ass lady detective (and some sidekicks), magic and illusions, family curses, and so much more. The last 100 pages were a TRIP, but in the way that good mysteries are.
June 5, 2023
I won a copy of this book and was eager to read this series! I got a few chapters in and was oh I like this so I bought book one in paperback so had a matching collection. I wasn’t disappointed who doesn’t want a secret room!
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.
I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends!
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.
I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends!
December 23, 2022
I reiterate - I want my future house to be this cool. But minus all of the murder at my book club, definitely prefer that to remain strictly on the page. In the follow up to Under Lock & Skeleton Key, we follow Tempest Raj as she continues to research the mysterious murders that plague her family. This one is particularly corvid themed and centers around a mystery classics book club. I loved all of the references to authors like Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr, but also the frequent references to magic. I feel like this book did a particularly good job with its supernatural focus, as well as adding intrigue with the reintroduction of an old fiend from the previous book. Where this is going overall, I'm unsure... but you best bet I'll be along for the ride.
*Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
*Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
March 26, 2023
Gigi Pandian can do no wrong. I couldn't put this wonderful locked-room mystery down.
April 29, 2023
This is the second book the Secret Staircase Mystery series by Gigi Pandian. The first book was fine but it felt juvenile and the characters fell flat. This one is definitely better in the plot department but still struggles with creating full characters. I continue to stick with this series because it is so rare to find mainstream books that touch on my Tamil heritage. It just feels so nice to read words from my language or a nod or token to my specific culture that despite this being a middling series, I hang in there.
The story picks up after the first book with Tempest regrouping in her parents house. When her friend Sanjay does a fake seance, she attends to help him out but winds up discovering a dead body. With her grandfather accused of the crime, Tempest must work quickly to figure out who committed the crime while literally locked inside the room.
I love locked room mystery, and this really was a nice salute to the golden age ones. It resolves in a believable way but as with the first book, I just didn’t care all that much about anyone. I’m also tired of the overarching mystery of her missing mom dragging on with little movement. It’ll be nice to put that to bed soon and move on.
The story picks up after the first book with Tempest regrouping in her parents house. When her friend Sanjay does a fake seance, she attends to help him out but winds up discovering a dead body. With her grandfather accused of the crime, Tempest must work quickly to figure out who committed the crime while literally locked inside the room.
I love locked room mystery, and this really was a nice salute to the golden age ones. It resolves in a believable way but as with the first book, I just didn’t care all that much about anyone. I’m also tired of the overarching mystery of her missing mom dragging on with little movement. It’ll be nice to put that to bed soon and move on.
January 3, 2023
First book of 2023, 1 down and 199 to go! Ha
This is the second book of A Secret Staircase Mystery and I actually liked it better than the first book. It held my attention more.
Its a locked room mystery that had 4 impossibilities! This was great for me because I love a mystery where I can't obviously figure out whodunit from the beginning.
The premise of the story is that Lavinia (owner of the Veggie Magic Cafe) decides to hire Sanjay to perform a fake séance for ex-husband even though he's not dead. Someone is murdered during the séance and none of clues on the surface make any sense.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for copy of this ARC audiobook. These are my honest opinions.
This is the second book of A Secret Staircase Mystery and I actually liked it better than the first book. It held my attention more.
Its a locked room mystery that had 4 impossibilities! This was great for me because I love a mystery where I can't obviously figure out whodunit from the beginning.
The premise of the story is that Lavinia (owner of the Veggie Magic Cafe) decides to hire Sanjay to perform a fake séance for ex-husband even though he's not dead. Someone is murdered during the séance and none of clues on the surface make any sense.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for copy of this ARC audiobook. These are my honest opinions.
March 1, 2023
This was good! An extension of the first one but I liked it even more.
July 8, 2023
The Raven Thief
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Mystery
Author: Gigi Pandian
GR: 3.88
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: One murder. Four impossibilities. A fake séance hides a very real crime. Secret Staircase Construction just finished their first project with Tempest Raj. Their client is now ready to celebrate her new life without her cheating ex-husband, famous mystery author Corbin Colt. First up, a party, and Tempest and Grandpa Ash are invited to the exclusive mock séance to remove any trace of Corbin from the property—for good. It's all lighthearted fun until Corbin's dead body crashes the party. The only possible suspects are the eight people around the séance table—a circle of clasped hands that wasn't broken. Suspicion quickly falls on Grandpa Ash, the only one with actual blood on him. To prove her beloved grandfather’s innocence, Tempest must figure out what really happened—and how—or Ash will be cooking his delectable Indian and Scottish creations nevermore.
My Thoughts: This is the second book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series. This could be read as a standalone, however, you will get more of a character background, character relationships, and the history by reading the first book, Under Lock & Skeleton Key. This follows the classic locked room mystery.
The narrator does a fantastic job at voice variation with the different characters, really brings the characters to life, and enriches the storyline. The characters were developed well, were quirky, mysterious, magical, and creative. The author’s writing style was complex, was paced well, lighthearted, suspenseful, and intriguing.
While some of the storyline requires you to suspend belief, this is a work of fiction with a paranormal element. Overall, this was a good read and I would recommend, especially the audiobook. The mystery from the first book carries over into this book, I did not care for that aspect, I wish they would solve that mystery and move on, it is too drawn out. As for this storyline, it really is a modern twist on the classic whodunit story.
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#whatimreading #booklover #bookworm #bookpic #bookstagram #fiction #booksoninstagram #reviewer #bookfriends #bookrecs #goodreads #bookishgirl #2023bookgoals #bookpost #Book-Reviews #netgalley #cozymystery #suspense #magic #theraventhief #gigipandian #macmillianaudio
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Mystery
Author: Gigi Pandian
GR: 3.88
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: One murder. Four impossibilities. A fake séance hides a very real crime. Secret Staircase Construction just finished their first project with Tempest Raj. Their client is now ready to celebrate her new life without her cheating ex-husband, famous mystery author Corbin Colt. First up, a party, and Tempest and Grandpa Ash are invited to the exclusive mock séance to remove any trace of Corbin from the property—for good. It's all lighthearted fun until Corbin's dead body crashes the party. The only possible suspects are the eight people around the séance table—a circle of clasped hands that wasn't broken. Suspicion quickly falls on Grandpa Ash, the only one with actual blood on him. To prove her beloved grandfather’s innocence, Tempest must figure out what really happened—and how—or Ash will be cooking his delectable Indian and Scottish creations nevermore.
My Thoughts: This is the second book in the Secret Staircase Mystery series. This could be read as a standalone, however, you will get more of a character background, character relationships, and the history by reading the first book, Under Lock & Skeleton Key. This follows the classic locked room mystery.
The narrator does a fantastic job at voice variation with the different characters, really brings the characters to life, and enriches the storyline. The characters were developed well, were quirky, mysterious, magical, and creative. The author’s writing style was complex, was paced well, lighthearted, suspenseful, and intriguing.
While some of the storyline requires you to suspend belief, this is a work of fiction with a paranormal element. Overall, this was a good read and I would recommend, especially the audiobook. The mystery from the first book carries over into this book, I did not care for that aspect, I wish they would solve that mystery and move on, it is too drawn out. As for this storyline, it really is a modern twist on the classic whodunit story.
🏷
.
.
#whatimreading #booklover #bookworm #bookpic #bookstagram #fiction #booksoninstagram #reviewer #bookfriends #bookrecs #goodreads #bookishgirl #2023bookgoals #bookpost #Book-Reviews #netgalley #cozymystery #suspense #magic #theraventhief #gigipandian #macmillianaudio
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