Sponsored
Under Lock & Skeleton Key - (Secret Staircase Mysteries) by Gigi Pandian (Paperback)
$7.40 sale price when purchased online
$9.99 list price
Target Online store #3991
About this item
Highlights
- "Wildly entertaining.
- About the Author: GIGI PANDIAN is the USA Today bestselling and multiple award-winning author of the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries, the Accidental Alchemist mysteries, and several locked room mystery short stories.
- 368 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Mystery & Detective
- Series Name: Secret Staircase Mysteries
Description
About the Book
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.Book Synopsis
"Wildly entertaining." --The New York Times Book Review
A Lefty Nominee for Best Mystery NovelKnown 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.
Review Quotes
Praise for Under Lock & Skeleton Key
PopSugar--33 Must Read Mysteries and Thrillers of 2022CrimeReads--The Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of 2022
Goodreads--Readers' Most Anticipated Mysteries of 2022
Bookish--20 Spring Releases to Have On Your Radar
BookRiot--13 Deadly Cozy Mysteries for the First Half of 2022
BookPage--2022 Preview: Most Anticipated Mystery and Suspense "This thrilling murder mystery is full of twists, turns, magician stunt doubles, and secret staircases." --Brit & Co "Mind-blowing architecture and failed magic tricks set the stage for Gigi Pandian's latest addictive read... This thrilling mystery novel is full of twists and turns. You never know what piece of the mystery will unfold behind each hidden wall." --SheKnows "Devotees of the classic locked-room mystery will appreciate Gigi Pandian's Under Lock & Skeleton Key, which tweaks the template with architectural puzzles, family curses, and a family business called Secret Staircase Construction." --Goodreads "Gigi Pandian is the reigning QUEEN of locked room mysteries . . . For those who've been waiting for the perfect fictional family to take the place of Lisa Lutz's The Spellmans, look no further." --CrimeReads "[A] fantastic locked-room mystery featuring secrets, sleights of hand, and, of course, a murder." --Mystery Scene Magazine "Pandian's writing bursts with heart and hope." --BookPage (starred review) "Pandian is in top form in this thoroughly enjoyable series launch. . . Lovers of traditional mysteries with quirky characters will be well rewarded." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Excellent... This 'Secret Staircase' series starter is a fresh and magical locked-room mystery filled with fascinating and likable characters, incredible settings, and Tempest's grandfather's homecooked Indian meals." --Library Journal "Nonstop enchantment." --Kirkus Reviews "With dazzling sleight of hand, Gigi Pandian launches an enchanting new series . . . a must-read." --Deanna Raybourn "Gigi Pandian is the modern master of the locked room mystery." --S.A. Cosby "A stand out mystery. The fast-reading, suspenseful tale delights, with dashes of international spice and a powerful new heroine." --Sujata Massey "An absolute sparkling gem of a book! With masterful misdirection and literary sleight of hand, Pandian has penned a delectable tale that kept me guessing." --Jenn McKinlay "Pandian is this generation's queen of the locked-room mystery! A whimsical confection." --Naomi Hirahara "An extremely likable new protagonist, a cunning plot, and a cast of quirky, fascinating characters. . . full of twists and witty insights you never see coming." --Aaron Elkins "A perfect blend of adventure and mystery." --Paige Shelton "A love letter to golden age mysteries . . . will keep readers guessing whodunit until the very end." --Ellie Alexander
About the Author
GIGI PANDIAN is the USA Today bestselling and multiple award-winning author of the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries, the Accidental Alchemist mysteries, and several locked room mystery short stories. Her works have won her the Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Derringer awards, and her debut novel was awarded the Malice Domestic Grant. A breast cancer survivor and accidental almost-vegan who adores cooking, Pandian lives with her husband in Northern California. Under Lock & Skeleton Key is the first in a new series that draws upon the author's own family history.
Dimensions (Overall): 8.2 Inches (H) x 5.3 Inches (W) x 1.1 Inches (D)
Weight: .65 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 368
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Mystery & Detective
Series Title: Secret Staircase Mysteries
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Format: Paperback
Author: Gigi Pandian
Language: English
Street Date: February 21, 2023
TCIN: 86443150
UPC: 9781250805003
Item Number (DPCI): 247-36-2136
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
If the item details above aren’t accurate or complete, we want to know about it.
Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.1 inches length x 5.3 inches width x 8.2 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.65 pounds
We regret that this item cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.
This item cannot be shipped to the following locations: American Samoa (see also separate entry under AS), Guam (see also separate entry under GU), Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico (see also separate entry under PR), United States Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, U.S., APO/FPO
Return details
This item can be returned to any Target store or Target.com.
This item must be returned within 90 days of the date it was purchased in store, shipped, delivered by a Shipt shopper, or made ready for pickup.
See the return policy for complete information.
Related Categories
4.0 out of 5 stars with 1 reviews
100% would recommend
1 recommendations
The Body in the Sealed Off Room
4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
- 3 years ago
After her career as a magician in Las Vegas ended in a near fatal accident, Tempest Raj has returned home to her family. That includes time with her father’s construction business, which creates hidden rooms, secret staircases, etc., for his clients. Tempest is on hand at his newest job site when they discover a room that appears to have been sealed for decades. However, when they open it, a body falls out, and Tempest recognizes the victim. So, how did the victim get there? And who killed her? This series is going to focus on locked-room mysteries, and it starts out with a good one. I enjoyed the dual puzzles of who did it and how the body got into the locked room. The beginning of the book was a little rough. While we don’t get a complete data dump with back story, there is a lot of material here, and the constant teasing of it was almost as bad. Still, as the book progressed, it got better, and the parts that aren’t completely resolved here will make great fodder for future books. Tempest is a great main character, and I quickly grew to love her family and friends, including a character imported from another of this author’s series. The magic and hidden room aspect gave this book a bit of a middle grade mystery vibe, which I completely loved. I will definitely be back to find out what happens to Tempest next.