Genre: Cozy mystery
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: March 19th, 2024
Pages: 352, hardcover
Source: NetGalley
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 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.
Multiple award-winning author Gigi Pandian and her heroine Tempest Raj return in A Midnight Puzzle, where an old theater reveals a deadly booby trap, secrets, and one puzzle of a mystery.
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.