Reviews

Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian

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kelcaro1's review against another edition

3.0

Absolutely crushed.
I really loved the first half of this book It has a lot of Nancy Drew vibes and I was looking forward to watching her deconstruct the illusions that were happening during and after the murder. Unfortunately, that did not really happen... very little of this book was dedicated to actually finding the clues necessary to discovering who the murderer was and as a result the reveal seemed out of no where and rushed and was overall unfulfilling. I do want to continue the series because I did like the characters, setting, and premise of a magician detective enough, but I am sorry to say that this book ended up being slightly disappointing.

I do look forward to making those cookies though.

rebeccasreadingrambles's review against another edition

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5.0

Wow. What a seriously unique story. To say I loved the Secret Staircase Construction Company is an understatement... I LIVED for the details of all the different projects and ideas and need a secret staircase of my own. Add to that the impressive Tempest the magicians and all the amazing illusions, PLUS a family curse PLUS a locked room mystery?! This was everything I wanted and so much more. I was hooked on every sentence, every character and ever scene. Reading about Tempest trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs, surrounded by the BEST quirky family and renewing friendships was just *chefskiss*. The mystery was a stunner with so many amazing twists that had me more engaged that I've been in a while. Thank you for writing this fabulous book.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and it was AMAZING! 10/10 recommend going that route!

thenovelbook's review against another edition

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3.0

A strong debut in a new series from Gigi Pandian! Fans of classic locked room mysteries will find tons to enjoy here.
Tempest Raj arrives back at her family home with her career as a stage magician in ruins. With no clear plans for her future, one morning she half-heartedly goes to visit the latest site where her Dad's company is contracted to renovate. Secret Staircase Construction is a family business that's made a name for itself crafting whimsical, riddle-laden rooms, gardens, passages, and more. But within moments of arriving at the site, Tempest witnesses a seemingly impossible situation that will test all her knowledge of misdirection and illusion.
Once the action started, it was difficult to put this book down. The mystery was intriguing, eerie, and puzzling, with dashes of Gothic atmosphere and lots of callbacks to mystery writers of the past. There are also a number of really cool locations all tied in with Tempest's family's love of hidden places, and a slowly unraveling set of back stories that make Tempest a compelling character.
Fans of Pandian's Jaya Jones series will enjoy the recurrence of Sanjay, who looks set to become an important part of this series. And there's a strong setup for future mysteries in the unresolved stories surrounding Tempest's mom and aunt.
Looking forward to future additions to the series.

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

catmos's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

buddahbeam's review against another edition

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mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition

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4.0

I will share my review soon.Tempest Raj returns home after someone sabotaged her last performance in Las Vegas. Tempest has yet to prove who committed the act but until she can, her career is toast. Her father asks her to join the family business, Secret Staircase Construction. The business has not been the same since her mother disappeared during an act five years prior. Tempest is hesitant to accept, but she gets drawn in when a hidden space is discovered in the latest project. Someone hid the body of Tempest’s former stage double in a wall of the house. Tempest cannot help but wonder if someone meant to kill her. It also has Tempest wondering if it is her turn to fall victim to the Raj family curse. The only way to get answers is for Tempest to channel her favorite sleuth and investigate the crime. Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian is the debut of A Secret Staircase Mysteries. This is a multicultural cozy mystery. We get to meet Tempest Raj, an illusionist along with her grandparents, father, and best friend (plus a cast of secondary characters). Tempest has an interesting and colorful family. I enjoyed learning about Tempest and meeting the Raj clan. Her mother disappeared five years prior during an act. I have to wonder what happened to her. I hope we find out in the future (could it be part of the family curse). There are hidden rooms, secret staircases, illusions, magic, and plenty of mouthwatering food in this cozy mystery. There is even a secret library. I love that Tempest’s bedroom is hidden in her home. There are plenty of secret spaces in the Raj families unique dwelling (or should I say dwellings). Tempest and her best friend, Ivy grew up reading mysteries. The author mentions some of my childhood favorites. The whodunit has some clever parts. I was curious how a killer could get a dead body in a hidden space that has seemingly not been opened in decades. Tempest did a good job at investigating the crime. The killer, though, was easily identified. The reveal was a little bit confusing. I had to reread the ending to capture all the different bits. There is quite a bit of repetition in the story. I wish it had been eliminated and the book would have been a better length. There are times when I felt the story is aimed at a younger audience (Tempest is in her mid-20s). This was a lighthearted, fun cozy mystery that has many great elements. It will be interesting to see what designs Tempest comes up with for Secret Staircase Construction. Under Lock & Skeleton Key is magical tale with secret staircases, a dead doppelganger, a centuries old curse, a missing mother, a curious key, mouthwatering morsels, hypnotizing illusions, and a surprising missive.