The Alchemist of All Hallows Eve - A Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway

Review

THE ALCHEMIST OF ALL HALLOWS EVE by Gigi Pandian
The Tenth Accidental Alchemist Mystery 

After hundreds of years of wandering alchemist Zoe Faust is ready to settle down in Portland, Oregon. Engaged to former detective Max Liu, not only is she ready to be married, she's also ready to buy a house. It's not an easy task with the current housing market, plus the need for a separate space her her best friend, Dorian, who happens to be a living gargoyle. Zoe is amazed when she finds her dream house. It's absolutely perfect with an amazing garden and orchard as well as a separate living space with an outstanding gourmet kitchen for Dorian. Not only that, the owner is eager to sell, the property is in their budget, and no one else seems to be interested. Unfortunately, when Max arrives he tells her the reason why. Known as the Murder House it's said that the owner killed his girlfriend there. While Max refuses to live there, Zoe is determined to prove the owner innocent and get her dream house. When a psychic claiming to have information about the cold case is murdered near the property Zoe and Dorian know they must solve both crimes in order to get their happy ending.

I absolutely adore the Accidental Alchemist series and this tenth addition may be my most favorite! Halloween season infuses the mystery with both a cozy and spooky vibe, from Dorian cooking up treats for trick or treaters, autumnal decorations, and a seance in a murder house! It's fun to see how Dorian uses his special abilities to investigate. I appreciate Zoe's connection to Octavia and wish they had more time together. Max is more the skeptic with his doubts about Octavia, yet also more superstitious with his refusal to live in the murder house. Together, with a little help from some friends, they work together brilliantly.

One of my favorite aspects to the whole series is the food. Not only do we get to see Dorian whip up gourmet meals and simple snacks, but in THE ALCHEMIST OF ALL HALLOWS EVE we also get clues in a cookbook. And there are recipes to try yourself at the end of the book.

Finding the perfect home is scary enough, but add a psychic, a medium, and a murder house, with or without bodies in the walls, and you have an amazing Halloween themed mystery with seasonal tips and treats included! While a murder mystery, when it comes down to it THE ALCHEMIST OF ALL HALLOWS EVE is a book about love and what people, and gargoyles, are willing to do for it. 

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THE ALCHEMIST OF ALL HALLOWS EVE

by Gigi Pandian

September 7 - October 2, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

AN ACCIDENTAL ALCHEMIST MYSTERY

 

An eternally young alchemist. A gargoyle who fancies himself Poirot. A Murder House for sale the week before Halloween.

Zoe Faust has run from her past for centuries. She didn't plan on settling down. She didn't plan on falling for a mortal man. She certainly didn't plan on the gargoyle.

Now Zoe, her fiancé, and her French chef gargoyle best friend Dorian have found an enchanting home with a hidden cottage for Dorian. It’s perfect for their little family. Except for one thing. Forty years ago, the night before Halloween, a woman was murdered in their dream house. Or was she?

When an enigmatic stranger arrives and insists that a mythological Irish witch holds the secret to the unsolved crime, Halloween turns deadly once more. Refusing to let Zoe lose the home she's waited centuries for, Dorian the gargoyle sets out to crack the case.

Can an alchemist, a gargoyle, and a teashop-owning detective solve two Halloween murders before an innocent man takes the fall and their perfect home slips away?

The Alchemist of All Hallows Eve is the whimsical tenth book in USA Today bestselling author Gigi Pandian's Anthony Award-winning Accidental Alchemist mystery series. If you love cozy fantasy, Agatha Christie-style whodunits, and found family, you'll adore this charming Halloween mystery, complete with Irish fortune-telling recipes.

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Cozy Fantasy Mystery, Culinary Cozy
Published by: Gargoyle Girl Productions
Publication Date: September 8, 2026
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 978-1938213373
Series: The Accidental Alchemist Mystery Series, Book 10 | Each is a Stand Alone
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

Chapter 1

I dashed through the wrought iron gate that stood open, the misty rain leaving nearly invisible droplets on my silver raincoat as I made my way to the house. Ivy tendrils wound their way around the curved black iron of the gate and fence, hiding the wires of electric candles that illuminated the yard with a warm glow.

By the time I took my first step on the stone path, I already knew. The house was perfect.

A perfect family home. I blinked back tears. What an astonishing idea, after so many decades living on the road. On my own. On the run. Never staying in one place for long. Never imagining I could have something more. The last two years in a fixer-upper were two of the best years in my life, still on my own but tentatively testing the idea of putting down roots. All the joys and trials of these last two years had led to this moment. Finding a home for me and Max. For the start of a new life together.

A twenty-foot Malus domestica tree towered above me, bringing me to a halt when I should have been rushing inside to see if I’d made it in time. The apple tree’s green and yellow leaves shielded smooth branches brimming with red-gold apples ripe enough to pick. I ran my fingertips across the smooth bark and crouched to touch the spot where the trunk met soil. Gnarled roots peeking out of the earth told me the tree’s advanced age, but it was thriving. The person who tended to this tree truly cared for it. As I would.

A bright yellow door, only three inches high, rested at the base of the tree. It was a fairy door, inviting anyone who took the time to notice it to imagine a portal to the fairy realm. I wondered if the whimsical doorway was there year-round or only because it was the week before Halloween. Behind the tree, crimson delphinium flowers were blooming. Red was a rare color for the flower, and it was late in the year for the spire-like stems to bloom. They, too, had been well tended.

As curious as I was about the person who attended to this landscape, I didn’t have time to speculate. I stood and hurried on.

Old-fashioned lanterns lit the stone steps leading to the covered porch. Two massive copper owls flanked the front door, one guarding a carved pumpkin, the other an autumn vegetable I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen: a mangelwurzel. I’ve celebrated many types of Halloween traditions over the years, so I recognized the root vegetable that had been popular for Halloween carvings over a century ago in Britain and Ireland. These decorations weren’t plastic toys from a modern manufacturer, but talismans that harkened back to celebrations of the autumn harvest—and the idea that October 31 was a night when the veil between worlds of the living and the dead was thin.

I smiled at the mangelwurzel’s grotesque grinning face, wondering how a modern-day homeowner in Portland, Oregon had stumbled across the tradition of carving creepy faces into the lumpy root related to a beet.

But I didn’t have time to linger outside and wonder.

I was lucky that nobody had put in an offer on the house while I was away last week, since the housing market was so tight these days. Today, I’d hoped to arrive right when the open house began, but it was such a busy afternoon at Max’s new shop that he couldn’t get away. We decided I should go on ahead. Still, it was already twenty minutes past the hour when the showing began.

And yet, the squeaky door of my old 1942 pickup truck was the loudest sound I’d heard since arriving. Instead of a rush of other eager homebuyers, the inviting yard was deserted. No kids were exploring the whimsical décor. No voices could be heard coming from inside the house, but perhaps the walls were thick?

The old home was beautiful and the listing price far lower than expected. Why was I the only potential buyer here?

The front door stood open, and as I stepped inside a tall woman in a cream-colored pantsuit greeted me.

“Zoe?”

I nodded and took her outstretched hand.

“Simone Friday,” she said, ushering me into the cozy foyer of the house. “Congratulations again on your engagement. This is a wonderful home to begin a new life together.”

I touched my malachite engagement ring. The green stone was the most perfect embodiment of Max’s and my love for each other. Malachite, the stone of transformation.

“What a stunning ring.” The real estate agent pulled her gaze from my ring finger and craned her thin neck to look around me. “Is Max still in the car?”

She had no idea how unique the ring truly was. Not that I could ever tell her.

“Max is running a little late,” I explained, hoping that wouldn’t make us look irresponsible if the owner was making a decision between multiple interested buyers. This housing market was brutal, and homes around here were being snatched up as soon as they hit the market. The agent Max had found us hadn’t suggested this house. I’d found it while browsing.

I’d reached out to the seller’s agent ahead of time to make sure the low list price wasn’t a mistake. She told me the owner needed to sell on an expedited timeline, prioritizing a buyer who could close quickly. He’d had a bad fall and was currently recovering in the hospital, hoping to move into a retirement community as soon as possible since he could no longer handle living alone in this big, multi-story house.

Looking out the front window, I smiled as I spotted even more autumn decorations I hadn’t noticed on my way in. Sheltered on the covered porch, an owl made from a pinecone and acorns sat next to a trio of gourds with silly painted faces. With this type of creativity, wherever the owner ended up, I had a feeling he’d be just fine.

“You’re an outdoorsy person,” Simone said. “I can tell. You’re in for a treat. I’ve been doing this for decades and believe me, this place is quite a find.”

I continued through the house, enjoying the solid wood paneling and cozy nooks that included a built-in window seat in the main bedroom. The back garden included a small kitchen garden, bountiful flowers, and even more fruit trees. Three types of apples, plus two each of cherry, plum, pear, and fig trees, making a full dozen. The Spartan apple tree’s ripe apples hung unpicked, but I was more worried by its thin branches, which were drooping from more than the weight of the fruit. When I was a young woman helping with farmland that included a nearby orchard with apple and pear trees, I would have immediately known what was wrong. Was I losing my edge? What did the tree need?

“Zoe?” The agent’s voice shook me out of the memory.

I’m Zoe Faust, born in 1676, in Salem Village in what’s now Massachusetts, a hundred years before the Declaration of Independence was signed. My natural aptitude with plants led to my being accused of being a witch, and later being taken under the wing of famed alchemist Nicolas Flamel. Under his tutelage, I learned the principles of alchemy, which led to my accidentally discovering the Elixir of Life. When I said I’d celebrated many types of Halloween traditions, I wasn’t kidding.

“Ready to look at the guest house?” Simone asked.

She led me through the backyard to a small cottage almost entirely hidden by trees.

“Designed for someone who loves to cook, as you can tell!” she said as we stepped inside. “Take your time out here. I’ll be in the front section of the main house to greet others.”

She wasn’t kidding about the layout. Two-thirds of the little home’s open floorplan was taken up by a massive kitchen. The style was a bit dated, but for the one who would be using the space, it was functionality that mattered. Max and I needed a home of our own, but we couldn’t abandon our friend Dorian. It would be impossible for him to live on his own. And as a chef, he would love this space.

I stepped back outside into the miniature orchard. Everything about this place was perfect. Too perfect, the nervous part of my brain chimed in. The part of my brain that had kept me safe for centuries. That had kept me moving, avoiding being detected as an alchemist. But this house… I knew this was where I was meant to be. Where we were meant to be.

I rooted through my bag for my phone. It took Max four rings to answer.

“Zoe, is everything—”

“It’s perfect. So perfect. How soon can you get here?”

“I had no idea how wild weekend crowds could be. I don’t know if I can—”

“You’re at the register?” I imagined him ringing up the customers lined up at his cozy shop, The Alchemy of Tea, with a smile on his handsome face as he told people about how best to brew his custom tea blends or use the various styles of teapots he stocked.

“I stepped outside to take your call.”

“Mary can handle the register on her own. She did it beautifully while you were away. Truly. You need to see this place today. What if someone else puts in an offer that’s accepted? As soon as you see it in person, you’ll understand why it’s so special.”

“Do you know,” he chuckled, “it’s impossible to say no to you, Zoe Faust.”

Max arrived ten minutes later and found me in the backyard’s mini orchard, where I was trying to figure out what was afflicting the ailing apple tree.

I threw my arms around him. “I thought you were going to call me when you arrived. Did you see the house?”

Max didn’t answer immediately. More than that, his shoulders were stiff. And he wasn’t hugging me back. As I pulled away, expecting terrible news, only then did I see the look of worry on his face.

My own smile drained away. “Someone else got the house?”

“I doubt it.” He looked past me towards the house.

“What’s going on?” I followed his gaze. What was I missing?

“This is Rufus Hitchcock’s house.”

“You know the owner? It’s not on the listing—”

He groaned. “It wouldn’t be. But I know the house. You really don’t know the name?”

“Why would I?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t look more closely at the listing, or I would have spotted it. I’ve just been so busy—”

“Max. If you don’t tell me what’s going on right now, my head is going to explode like an overheated cucurbit. What could possibly be wrong with our dream house that we can’t fix?” Whatever it was, I hoped it wouldn’t need too much money. This is embarrassing for an alchemist to admit, but I’m wretched at making gold.

“It’s not fixable.” Max looked forlornly at the perfect house. “I wish it was… but—”

“Max.”

He turned back to me and shook his head. “Rufus Hitchcock is a murderer, Zoe. He killed his girlfriend in this house forty years ago, and strange things have been happening here ever since. That’s why nobody else wants this house.”

***

Excerpt from The Alchemist of All Hallows Eve by Gigi Pandian. Copyright 2026 by Gigi Pandian. Reproduced with permission from Gigi Pandian. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Gigi Pandian is a USA Today bestselling mystery author, locked-room mystery enthusiast, and fan of exploring ruined castles in the rain. She’s been awarded Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Derringer awards, and been a finalist for the Edgar. She writes the Accidental Alchemist mysteries (humorous cozy fantasy mysteries), the Secret Staircase mysteries (locked-room mysteries called “wildly entertaining” by the New York Times), and the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries (lighthearted adventures steeped in history). Gigi lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and a gargoyle who watches over the backyard garden. For bookish fun plus a free story and free mini cookbook, sign up for her email newsletter at www.gigipandian.com.

Catch Up With Gigi Pandian:

www.GigiPandian.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @gigipandian
BookBub - @GigiPandian
Instagram - @gigipandian
Facebook - @GigiPandian

 

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A Gargoyle's Guide to Murder - A Review

 Review

A GARGOYLE'S GUIDE TO MURDER by Gigi Pandian
The Ninth Accidental Alchemist Mystery 

 

What should be a quick stop to check on a book before embarking on a European vacation turns out to be anything but. When Zoe Faust finds Non Degenera Alchemia missing from the British Library she's only mildly concerned. The book's ties to Notre Dame have been severed so it should no longer pose a danger. Still, when the brusque librarian declares it a poisoned book, Zoe tracks it down to Oxford. There she finds the book decaying, but it's not just a book being ravaged by time. Something else is afoot, as Dorian would say. In fact, after both Dorian, the living gargoyle, and Max Liu, her fiancé, arrive they find a man murdered, facedown in that very tome. Combined with the murder Dorian saw, although there was no evidence of a crime, stolen books, and a spooky night at a country manor house party, everything leads back to that book of backward alchemy. Will Zoe, Max, and Dorian be able to get to the heart of the matter before someone else dies?

 

Having a gargoyle best friend tagging along on a romantic trip for a newly engaged couple is not exactly what Zoe envisioned, but it certainly worked out for the best. I absolutely love Dorian and he is at his finest in this ninth Accidental Alchemist Mystery. I enjoy the alternate chapters showing the current book he's writing; in this case A Gargoyle's Guide to Murder. Dorian gives readers facts and tips about impossible crimes, gargoyles, and much more, including his thoughts to the current mystery. Dorian is witty, clever, and a darn fine cook. I wish he could make me a meal, or at least some snacks. 

 

Apart from Dorian, I really appreciate how Zoe and Max work together. I also loved Barney and enjoyed disliking Barnabas. It was a complex mystery made more complicated by backward alchemy. I found Non Degenera Alchemia absolutely fascinating. Not just the book itself and what it was becoming, but what it was doing as it died.

 

Intricate plotting, charming characters, and an incredible sense of place make A GARGOYLE'S GUIDE TO MURDER a delightful mystery that's both thrilling, funny, and ultimately heartwarming.

 

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading A Gargoyle's Guide to Murder by Gigi Pandian. This is the ninth book in the Accidental Alchemist Mystery series and will be released next week.

What should be a quick stop to check on a book before embarking on a European vacation turns out to be anything but. When Zoe Faust finds Non Degenera Alchemia missing from the British Library she's only mildly concerned. The book's ties to Notre Dame have been severed so it should no longer pose a danger. Still, when the brusque librarian declares it a poisoned book, Zoe tracks it down to Oxford. There she finds the book decaying, but it's not just a book being ravaged by time. Something else is afoot, as Dorian would say. In fact, after both Dorian, the living gargoyle, and Max Liu, her fiancé, arrive they find a man murdered, facedown in that very tome. Combined with the murder Dorian saw, although there was no evidence of a crime, stolen books, and a spooky night at a country manor house party, everything leads back to that book of backward alchemy. Will Zoe, Max, and Dorian be able to get to the heart of the matter before someone else dies?

The Library Game - A Review

 Review

THE LIBRARY GAME by Gigi Pandian
The Fourth Secret Staircase Mystery 

 

Former stage magician Tempest Raj has gone through many challenges and changes recently, but she's content now, working with her dad in his Secret Stairway Construction business. One of their current projects is transforming Gray House into a library. Before they complete the project, it will become a stop on Hidden Creek's summer stroll where visitors will participate in an interactive murder mystery event. But when the disappearance of one of the actors turns into murder, it's more than one impossible crime that has Tempest and her friends perplexed. Someone is toying with them, but who is playing games? Will Tempest be able to solve the mystery and prove that the impossible is truly possible? 

 

An invisible intruder, sabotage, and a missing actor will have you scratching your head as you try to solve the mystery of THE LIBRARY GAME. Is Lucas dead? Is Harold alive? Just who is pulling the strings? Just when you think you have the answer, you realize there are more questions. It's like trying to fight the Hydra!

 

I really like how Tempest, Ivy, Gideon, and Sanjay work together. True friends, they complement each other and also call one another out. I also appreciate how they use their combined talents and brain power to solve the mystery. My favorite character remains Ash, Tempest's grandfather. Aside from being a font of information and a truly kind person, I wish I lived near him so that I could enjoy some of his food, knowing he would send me cookies if I was having a bad day!

 

Confounding mysteries converge in THE LIBRARY GAME creating a puzzle reminiscent of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. Grab something good to eat and flex your mental muscles to see if you can solve this tricky mystery!

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Library Game by Gigi Pandian. This book is the fourth in the Secret Staircase Mystery series and was released yesterday.

Former stage magician Tempest Raj has gone through many challenges and changes recently, but she's content now, working with her dad in his Secret Stairway Construction business. One of their current projects is transforming Gray House into a library. Before they complete the project, it will become a stop on Hidden Creek's summer stroll where visitors will participate in an interactive murder mystery event. But when the disappearance of one of the actors turns into murder, it's more than one impossible crime that has Tempest and her friends perplexed. Someone is toying with them, but who is playing games? Will Tempest be able to solve the mystery and prove that the impossible is truly possible?

The Alchemist of Brushstrokes & Brimstone - A Review

 Review

THE ALCHEMIST OF BRUSHSTROKES & BRIMSTONE by Gigi Pandian
The Eighth Accidental Alchemist Mystery

 

Zoe Faust’s most treasured possession is a portrait of her with her brother painted by Perenelle Flamel. Both Zoe and Perenelle are put on guard when inquiries about the painting begin. Why the interest after so many years? Zoe is devastated when her painting is stolen, but another theft and a subsequent murder make things even more concerning. Is someone targeting Zoe? Or Perenelle? Is it about alchemy or corporate espionage? Zoe and her friends will join forces to not only retrieve the painting, but allow a gifted artist from the past take her true place in history, while keeping their ultimate secret safe.

 

The melding of science and art is at the heart of the eighth Accidental Alchemist Mystery. I loved the kernels of art history dropped, especially the facts about the creation of paints, along with its dangers. The topic is as fascinating as alchemy, indeed it is a type of alchemy unto itself, whether or not you're using brimstone! 

 

Adding subtle humor Dorian remains my favorite character. I admire his creative process and love how his chapters begin with selections from his Culinary Alchemist's Toolbox, a book, if finished, I would absolutely buy! I also love how Dorian gets Nicholas Flamel involved in his escapades.

 

The mystery also deals with loss on several levels. Losing a loved one is never easy and to help with grief some cling to something tangible to remember them. Thus it is with Zoe and why the theft of her painting is so horrific for her. What lengths will you go to and how much will you risk to keep the memories of lost loved ones alive?

 

In addition to death, there's also loss of recognition. It's a sad truth that women have continually been erased from history, so I'm always pleased when I see this truth being acknowledged and attempts being made to share their stories. Phillipe Hayden may be fictional, but there are many female artists of that time who never received their fair do's, perhaps readers will be encouraged to learn more about these, and other women, who history tries to erase.  

 

The climactic scene had my jaw dropping to the floor with a horrific loss of another kind.

A compelling mystery THE ALCHEMIST OF BRUSHSTROKES & BRIMSTONE is a journey through grief, art, and lost women's history.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Alchemist of Brushstrokes and Brimstone by Gigi Pandian. This is the eighth book in the Accidental Alchemist Mystery series and was released last month.

Zoe Faust’s most treasured possession is a portrait of her with her brother painted by Perenelle Flamel. Both Zoe and Perenelle are put on guard when inquiries about the painting begin. Why the interest after so many years? Zoe is devastated when her painting is stolen, but another theft and a subsequent murder make things even more concerning. Is someone targeting Zoe? Or Perenelle? Is it about alchemy or corporate espionage? Zoe and her friends will join forces to not only retrieve the painting, but allow a gifted artist from the past take her true place in history, while keeping their ultimate secret safe.

A Midnight Puzzle - A Review

 Review

A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE by Gigi Pandian
The Third Secret Staircase Mystery

 

Tempest Raj survived the loss of her career as a stage magician and has discovered that she's happy with her new life, creating architectural magic with her dad and his Secret Staircase Construction Company. But all they've worked for could come crashing down when a client decides not only to sue the company, but utterly destroy them. When that same client is found dead, impaled by a booby trapped door, suspicion falls, not only on Tempest, but the ghost of her mother! Tempest will have to solve more than one impossible crime lest her whole world go up in smoke.

 

There's nothing I hate more than a bully and Julian Rhodes was that and more. Earning his money by making up lies in order to crush people and winning, not because he was right, but because he had more money. The whole idea had my stomach in knots! I certainly wasn't sad to see him murdered, but I was sad to see that his death didn't make things easier for Tempest and her family.

I love the intellectual gymnastics A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE provides. Readers try to solve the impossible crimes along with Tempest while also trying to puzzle out her mother's disappearance and her aunt's murder. It was fascinating to see things come together, with unexpected connections and more than one surprise. 

 

As the Secret Staircase Mystery series continues, its characters make more of an impact, leaving a stronger impression. The more I get to know Tempest and her family, the more I like them. Of course, Grandpa Ash is my favorite...I only wish I could taste his amazing food. (Recipes are included, but I'd rather have him cook and share with me!) I also love the oh so smart rabbit, Abra.

 

With numerous conundrums A MIDNIGHT PUZZLE gives readers' minds a definite workout while providing love and sustenance from family and friends.

The Alchemist of Monsters & Mayhem - A Review

 Review

THE ALCHEMIST OF MONSTERS & MAYHEM by Gigi Pandian
The Seventh Accidental Alchemist Mystery 

After a lot of life changing moments and hard work, Zoe Faust's boyfriend, Max, is ready to open his tea shop. But before the grand opening the shop is vandalized and teas Max made from plants he and his grandmother planted are stolen. Add to the shock, his father has arrived in town and admits it was he who destroyed the shop. In order to figure out what's going on, Zoe and Max visit members of a local tea club only to discover mysterious plants and a murder. Could those plants really be monsters come to life? And why would Andrew Liu destroy his son's dream? Zoe and Dorian will have to use their little grey cells to come to the truth.

Dorian is the best! I love how this little gargoyle wants so much to make a good impression when he finally gets to meet Max in person, and how when that meeting is dashed he does his best to help solve the mystery. I get a kick out the manner in which he gets Nicholas Flamel to help him, as well as his own attempt at a Gothic novel. I was most intrigued by the possibility of plant monsters. The atmosphere and ambiance certainly made it a distinct possibility, even a probability in my mind.

The curious relationships, between Dante and Carla and members of the Posh and Punk Rock Tea Club, Andrew Liu and his family, for example, infuse the mystery with a multitude of emotions. We are witness to both good and bad relationships and see what lengths people will go to for love.

A mysterious highly atmospheric setting, family secrets, and a nod to Gothic literature make THE ALCHEMIST OF MONSTERS & MAYHEM a captivating and truly unique read. I absolutely loved it and can't wait for more books in the series.

The Raven Thief - A Review

 Review

THE RAVEN THIEF by Gigi Pandian
The Second Secret Staircase Mystery

Finished with her philandering has-been of a husband Lavinia has not only divorced him, she’s hired Tempest Raj and the Secret Staircase Construction Company to convert his office into a magical space of her own. To celebrate the renovation Lavinia decides to throw a party having convinced Sanjay, the Hindu Houdini, to hold a fake séance to banish Corbin Colt once and for all. Tempest gives a small group a tour of the new space before the séance begins, then, with everyone joining hands, the scene is set. Just as the call comes to rid Corbin from the space evermore his body comes crashing down onto the table. Murdered. But how? When her grandfather becomes the prime suspect Tempest knows she has no choice but to solve the impossible crime.

Locked room mysteries are a thinking person's genre and with four impossibilities the murder of Corbin Colt is a complex cerebral puzzle to solve. The plot of the second Secret Staircase Mystery is ingenious, especially in how it ties in Tempest's own family mystery to the current murder. I enjoyed seeing Tempest unravel the disparate clues and find the truth-that the crime was not impossible, merely extraordinarily complex.

One of my favorite things about the Secret Staircase Mysteries is the constructions they devise. From the unique home of Tempest and her family to Lavinia's new space, they are dreams made into concrete reality. Another gripping aspect to the series is the characters. The secrets, the drama, the relationships, and the food so willingly shared. Like almost everyone, I adore Grandpa Ash and only wish I could avail myself of his temping fare-I'll have a vada donut...and a cardamom scone with blackberry jam...and...

Filled with surprises THE RAVEN THIEF gives readers a cerebral workout while engaging their imaginations. The mysterious family history, dare I say curse, will keep you enthralled and eager to see what will be revealed next.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Raven Thief by Gigi Pandian. This book is the second in the Secret Staircase Mystery series and was released yesterday. 

Finished with her philandering has-been of a husband Lavinia has not only divorced him, she’s hired Tempest Raj and the Secret Staircase Construction Company to convert his office into a magical space of her own. To celebrate the renovation Lavinia decides to throw a party having convinced Sanjay, the Hindu Houdini, to hold a fake séance to banish Corbin once and for all. Tempest gives a small group a tour of the new space before the séance begins. With everyone joining hands, the scene is set. Just as the call comes to rid Corbin from the space evermore his body comes crashing down onto the table. Murdered. But how? When her grandfather becomes the prime suspect Tempest knows she has no choice but to solve the impossible crime.

The Alchemist of Riddle & Ruin - A Review

 Review

THE ALCHEMIST OF RIDDLE & RUIN by Gigi Pandian
The Sixth Accidental Alchemist Mystery

A specter from the past descends on Portland, but is it really a ghost? Could it be an alchemist? Shocked when a figure enters Blue Sky Teas Heather is sure it is the ghost of her high school friend who was murdered and the killer never caught. While Zoe tries to support Heather and look for the truth, Dorian the gargoyle is doing the same with his young friends, Veronica and Brixton, Heather’s son. Is someone back for vengeance? Will the truth of what happened all those years finally come to light?  

An unsolved mystery from the past haunts the present day characters in the sixth Accidental Alchemist Mystery. I love learning more about Heather and enjoyed the complex riddles and poetry that was the heart of this mystery. With so many possible motives and suspects, I loved how Zoe and Dorian each peeled back the layers to uncover the truth, each in their own way. I also love how Veronica bristled at being the steady one-and I saw her actions coming even if her friends and family didn't!

With word play, floral clues, and fantastic characters THE ALCHEMIST OF RIDDLE & RUIN is an outstanding entry to this ingenious series.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Alchemist of Riddle and Ruin by Gigi Pandian. This book is the sixth in the Accidental Alchemist Mystery series.

A specter from the past descends on Portland, but is it really a ghost? Could it be an alchemist? Shocked when a figure enters Blue Sky Teas Heather is sure it is the ghost of her high school friend who was murdered and the killer never caught. While Zoe tries to support Heather and look for the truth, Dorian the gargoyle is doing the same with his young friends, Veronica and Brixton, Heather’s son. Is someone back for vengeance? Will the truth of what happened all those years finally come to light?

Under Lock & Skeleton Key - A Review

 Review

UNDER LOCK & SKELETON KEY by Gigi Pandian
The First Secret Staircase Mystery

Tempest Raj was a top rate magician, a successful woman in a male dominated profession. Unfortunately, "was" being the key word. A disastrous fall from grace led Tempest out of Las Vegas and back to her family home in California. Visiting her father's construction crew on a job, they discover something hidden in the old wall. It's not newspaper or the usual debris, but a body. Although it appears the walls haven't been touched in over a hundred years, the body is someone Tempest just saw, her body double, the woman who sabotaged her. But was Cassidy truly the intended victim or was Tempest meant to die? Tempest starts to see and hear things that aren't there. It must be an illusion. Or could it be the Raj curse? "The eldest child dies by magic." Tempest is determined to uncover the truth.

I'm absolutely enchanted with Tempest's family home. What an incredible place I'd love to visit and explore. The idea behind it was also great and I would love to hire her father's construction crew to create some magic in my own home. I want a secret room! I also love the family bonds that are shown here, and truly the love, especially between Tempest and her grandfather, makes the book extra special. I certainly wouldn't say no to some meals cooked by Ash! I love Abracadabra and, of course, as a huge fan of the Jaya Jones mystery series I was thrilled to see Sanjay, the Hindi Houdini.

UNDER LOCK & SKELETON KEY has all the elements of a fantastic read. I should have loved it, instead I only liked it. I'm still not completely sure why, but I think it boils down to the following. The story line is not always linear as important backstory is slowly revealed. That aspect, as well as a large cast of characters and an incredibly complex mystery made it difficult to get truly absorbed into the story. There was just too much going on. That being said, I really did like it. Now that the groundwork is laid, future books are sure to be less cumbersome.

A wildly successful magician, who suddenly isn't, a construction company that specializes in hidden rooms, and luscious descriptions of mouthwatering food serve to make UNDER LOCK & SKELETON KEY a truly unique mystery.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian. This book is the first in the Secret Staircase Mystery series and was released last week.

Tempest Raj was a top rate magician, a successful woman in a male dominated profession. Unfortunately, "was" being the key word. A disastrous fall from grace led Tempest out of Las Vegas and back to her family home in California. Visiting her father's construction crew on a job, they discover something hidden in the old wall. It's not newspaper or the usual debris, but a body. Although it appears the walls haven't been touched in over a hundred years, the body is someone Tempest just saw, her body double, the woman who sabotaged her. But was Cassidy truly the intended victim or was Tempest meant to die? Tempest starts to see and hear things that aren't there. It must be an illusion, or could it be the Raj curse? "The eldest child dies by magic." Tempest is determined to uncover the truth.

The Alchemist of Fire & Fortune - A Review

 Review

THE ALCHEMIST OF FIRE & FORTUNE by Gigi Pandian
The Fifth Accidental Alchemist Mystery 

Tensions are running high in Zoe Faust's household. Nicolas Flamel is having difficulty recovering from his ordeal and his wife Perenelle is making disparaging remarks about Dorian. Dorian, meanwhile, is jealous of the Flamels, believing they are usurping his place and friendship with Zoe. Max has become distant...and not just in the miles separating him from Zoe as he attends his grandfather's funeral in China. If those feelings weren't combustible enough, blackmail, a treasure hunt, and misperceptions set the fifth Accidental Alchemist Mystery ablaze.  

Some people wonder if murder is necessary in a mystery. The fifth Accidental Alchemist Mystery proves that it is not. Indeed that would be a resounding "No!". A mystery is a mystery-and here we have a few, the robbery, the blackmail, the treasure hunt, and Max's mysterious behavior. Each are compelling with plenty of action and excitement, just no dead bodies.

I love Dorian. He's wonderful and I absolutely felt for him and understood his feelings of being left out and perhaps replaced. I've been there. With that in mind I was not very happy with Madame Flamel. I believe more than one outraged gasp emerged from my mouth. Zoe and Dorian seem to be on two separate paths at on the onset, but the paths they follow soon become entangled as their mysteries converge.

Cleverly plotted with twists, turns, and wonderful characters THE ALCHEMIST OF FIRE & FORTUNE is a mystery of misperception that you won't want to miss.

Currently Reading...

I'm currently reading The Alchemist of Fire and Fortune by Gigi Pandian. This book is the fifth book in the Accidental Alchemist Mystery series and was released in October. 

Tensions are running high in Zoe Faust's household. Nicolas Flamel is having difficulty recovering from his ordeal and his wife Perenelle is making disparaging remarks about Dorian. Dorian, meanwhile, is jealous of the Flamels, believing they are usurping his place and friendship with Zoe. Max has become distant...and not just in the miles separating him from Zoe as he attends his grandfather's funeral in China. If those feelings weren't combustible enough, blackmail, a treasure hunt, and misperceptions set the fifth Accidental Alchemist Mystery ablaze.

The Lost Gargoyle of Paris - A Review

Review

THE LOST GARGOYLE OF PARIS by Gigi Pandian

An Accidental Alchemist Novella

The discovery of an illustration by Victor Hugo after the fire in Notre Dame brings Zoe Faust and Dorian to Paris. With this monumental discovery the alchemist and her gargoyle friend want to make certain that backwards alchemists haven't resurfaced. When Zoe discovers the illustration has been stolen she wonders if Dorian could have taken it, and if he did steal it, where is he? If he's innocent, who actually stole the piece of history?

Last year's tragic fire at Notre Dame left people heart-broken throughout the world. A symbol, not only of religion, but art, architecture, and Paris itself engulfed in flames, a national treasure being lost. In reality, while parts were lost, a good portion of the cathedral was able to be saved. In fiction, a treasure was found. I was curious how Zoe, and especially Dorian, would deal with the destruction and I was so happy to see them confront it in this new Accidental Alchemist novella.

One of the things Gigi Pandian does best is weave historical fact into a mystery novel and she does it here with aplomb. Her rich narrative, combining fact with a believable fiction, is my favorite part of THE LOST GARGOYLE OF PARIS. In addition, this novella showcases her talent at the locked room mystery. There's plenty of humor to be found here too. I still chuckle when I picture Dorian is his disguise. And getting up into the small Parisian apartment to begin with.

THE LOST GARGOYLE OF PARIS is a gem. Fast paced, this brief novella still manages to cram in lots of content into a seemingly impossible crime while allowing its characters to shine.

Recipes Included.

2019 - A Look Back

I'm excited to enter 2020 as I reminisce about the year 2019. I enjoyed welcoming new authors to the blog and renewing acquaintances with others. I discovered many new series and continued savoring many others. While the number of books I loved is too daunting to list...and I cannot commit to naming my top ten as there are too many variables to consider, I thought I'd at least make note of some favorites.

I was delighted to start several new series in 2019. A Dream of Death by Connie Berry, A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman,  Peach Clobbered by Anna Gerard, And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder, The House on Hallowed Ground by Nancy Cole Silverman, and Death by Committee by Alexis Morgan were real standouts!

I also really enjoyed Southern Sass and Killer Cravings by Kate Young, Steeped in Murder by Kirsten Weiss, Designs on Murder by Gayle Leeson, Belinda Blake and the Snake in the Grass by Heather Day Gilbert, Murder's No Votive Confidence by Christin Brecher, and Mrs. Morris and the Ghost by Traci Wilton.

Of course I couldn't wait for new books in series I already loved and was thrilled to read 3 books in Carolyn Haines' Pluto's Snitch Mystery series. I had only recently discovered this fantastic Gothic paranormal mystery series and caught up. The most recent book is A Visitation of Angels, which was the only one actually published in 2019. I was also excited to read the second Rose Gallagher Mystery by Erin Lindsey, A Golden Grave, another historical mystery with a paranormal bent. Speaking of historical mysteries, The Pearl Dagger by L.A Chandlar, Deadly Deception by Kate Parker, and both of Peg Cochran's follow ups in her Murder, She Reported series, Murder, She Uncovered and Murder, She Encountered were top notch.

Gigi Pandian's latest Jaya Jones mystery, The Glass Thief, made me giddy at the ending and Vivien Chien gave two new Noodle Shop mysteries leaving me constantly craving Chinese food. Two Barnabas Tew novels had me laughing at the bumbling Victorian detectives as they dealt with Mayan and Hindu gods. Sarah Fox gave another standout with her fifth Pancake House Mystery, Crepe Expectations and Lena Gregory's fourth Bay Island Psychic Mystery, Spirited Away, had me on the edge of my seat.

I look forward to jumping into the new releases of 2020 as well as books I may have missed!

The Glass Thief - A Guest Post & Review

I'm always pleased to welcome Gigi Pandian back to Cozy Up With Kathy. Gigi writes the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery series. THE GLASS THIEF is the sixth book in the series and was released last week.

Let's talk fiction versus reality. I love to write fun, lighthearted adventure mysteries. But they also have deeper substance. Each of my Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries involve cross-cultural connections and are based in real history. I always include an Author's Note in each of my books that explains what's real and what's fiction -- but here's a spoiler: 99% of the history I mention is real. I create fictional treasures -- but based on what we know about the world, each of them could have been real. 

But you know what? Real history is messy. I'm sharing a few photos from my research trip to Cambodia that illustrates that point. 

Visiting the iconic temples of Angkor Wat was as amazing as I imagined it would be. But... at the same time, if you zoom back, you can see that I was there with hundreds of other tourists. Not really a meditative spot to greet the sun as we stood in front of the ancient temple. 

 

 

And below the majestic stone faces that adorn so many Cambodian temples, bas-relief carvings tell the stories of the laborers who painstakingly carried heavy sandstone chunks of stones and sanded them together to make them fit into gigantic monuments.

Lastly, the adventure of exploring ancient history can have a messy side. I ventured beyond the standard tourist temples, and had a guide show me around a temple currently around excavation. No smooth pathways like at Angkor Wat, so at the end of the day, I tripped. That's my broken ankle. 

 

 

But in spite of those contrasting experiences, I love exploring history and other cultures through travel. And I hope you have fun with Jaya's latest adventure. 

 

 

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Review

THE GLASS THIEF by Gigi Pandian

The Sixth Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery

The term is winding down and Jaya Jones should be concentrating on finishing the semester and trying to get tenure. But something gets in her way. Two somethings really. While two of her students create part of the distraction, a research project surrounding a letter indicating treasure in San Francisco, the main reason has to do with her favorite author. Rick Coronado hasn't written a novel in seven years, but he has the start of one and wants Jaya's opinion if he should continue. What Jaya finds is the story of a murderous ghost in Paris and a looted treasure from Cambodia. She also learns that the fiction is actually fact. Leaving San Francisco and her students behind Jaya is off to France to discover the truth behind the haunted mansion, a truth that will eventually lead her to the temples of Cambodia. In the end it's more than treasure she needs to find, it's a matter of life and death and the possible ruin of the man she loves.

More than a mystery, THE GLASS THIEF bridges the gap between the modern and ancient world while showing the importance of history. Each Jaya Jones novel enriches me by not only allowing me travel via my armchair, introducing me to other cultures, but providing great historical knowledge, teaching me things I never knew and urging me to do more research on my own. Gigi Pandian, like Jaya Jones, promotes a love of history and a desire to go out and learn even more.

In a novel that seamlessly blends history, world travel, romance, and humor we find that it's the characters who are providing the drive to action here. Love, greed and revenge all play a part as Jaya faces a turning point in her relationship with Lane.

There are a few mysteries within this sixth Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery and the pivotal one happens to be a locked room mystery. Pandian is no stranger to this type of mystery, having utilized the form in several short stories. This particular story is enriched by all the details outside the locked room. Indeed, the locked room portion, though the crucial part of the mystery, happened in the past and so the story is not limited to a small setting and cast of characters, a wise move in a full length novel. There's also an added dash of the paranormal making the novel even more atmospheric. I mean, who can resist a haunted mansion in Paris at Christmastime? Indeed it's the combination of fact and fiction that keeps everyone on their toes.

THE GLASS THIEF is a character driven mystery filled with intrigue and a hauntingly good puzzle. Various characters come to understand each other, for better or worse, and we're left with a satisfying end and the promise of even more great adventures to come. I absolutely love Jaya and was grinning like a fool at the end of the book.  

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THE GLASS THIEF

A locked-room mystery at a Paris mansion. A supposed ghost haunting a French family who looted treasures from Cambodia. A reclusive thriller author writing a novel in honor of historian Jaya Jones—is it a work of fiction or a devious way to lure Jaya into solving the impossible crimes in Paris?


Library Journal’s starred review says: “Charming and eclectic characters populate this Indiana Jones-esque adventure, which comes highly recommended for fans of locked-room mysteries in the manner of Agatha Christie and Elizabeth Peters.”


Buy the book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Apple | Indiebound | Murder By The Book | Book Passage


Gigi Pandian is an USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning cozy mystery author, breast cancer survivor, and accidental almost-vegan. She writes the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries (adventure cozies) and the Accidental Alchemist mysteries (paranormal cozies including recipes).


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