Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian -> Starting November 9th, 2022

[Alaina]

Known for her wonderfully addictive characters, multiple award-winning author Gigi Pandian introduces her newest heroine in this heartfelt series debut. Under Lock & Skeleton Key layers stunning architecture with mouthwatering food in an ode to classic locked-room mysteries that will leave readers enchanted.

An impossible crime. A family legacy. The intrigue of hidden rooms and secret staircases.

After a disastrous accident derails Tempest Raj’s career, and life, she heads back to her childhood home in California to comfort herself with her grandfather’s Indian home-cooked meals. Though she resists, every day brings her closer to the inevitable: working for her father’s company. Secret Staircase Construction specializes in bringing the magic of childhood to all by transforming clients’ homes with sliding bookcases, intricate locks, backyard treehouses, and hidden reading nooks.

When Tempest visits her dad’s latest renovation project, her former stage double is discovered dead inside a wall that’s supposedly been sealed for more than a century. Fearing she was the intended victim, it’s up to Tempest to solve this seemingly impossible crime. But as she delves further into the mystery, Tempest can’t help but wonder if the Raj family curse that’s plagued her family for generations—something she used to swear didn’t exist—has finally come for her.

[Trisha]

15 chapters

a bit slow going, I'm not feeling super sucked in
(view spoiler)[ I do wonder how the body got in the wall
and who would stalk and kill 5 generations of the oldest born?

and the doppleganger - Cassidy - sounds very troubled. she did a lot to look just like her and evne taking the boyfriend? yikes

I like Ivy. I hope they become better friends
I wonder why Gideon is looking for her. . . (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Oh no! Another one? I'm so sorry! I hope I like it a little better! I'm getting better so I'm reading again.

[Vicki]

Trisha, if you can believe it I actually gave this one 2 stars too.

(view spoiler)[ Honestly, my curiosity was piqued when I read about the body in the wall (reminded me of The Cask of Amontillado - an Edgar Allan Poe Short Story so I was kind of excited, but I lost interest pretty quickly. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha]

oh man!! Both of us giving it a 2!!

Yeah, I'm not even 100% sure why this one didn't work for me. I just found it boring. . .

[Kira]

Chapter 1 - 12 : (view spoiler)[This book has some pretty new elements for me personally as far as mystery books go and the MC being of Indian descent is a huge bonus. I get so excited whenever I read Hindi words in popular books and a bit of pride as well. Coming to the book itself, I can surely say this has intrigued me so far mostly because magician topic in itself is very interesting. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13 - 28 : (view spoiler)[I am no closer to figuring out how Cassidy's body ended up inside the wall and by that I mean I haven't got a clue and am desperate to find out. Tempest frustrates me a little at times but I just got to remember that this is a perfect example to show no one is perfect, not even in books. And the way she realises her mistakes is admirable ofc (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 29 - 46 : (view spoiler)[What even did Tempest figure out!!? I feel so dumb right now for not being able to catch up on the happenings of the book. I am literally going "Whatt???" with every chapter and am just happy that we'll have the answers any moment now. Is Gideon really the killer? But why? (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[WOW this blew my mind. The mystery kept me hooked right until the end and the how of the crime was just brilliant. I felt a little underwhelmed by the "why" though and that was the only element of the book I feel could have been written better. (hide spoiler)]