The Raven Thief

by Author Gigi Pandian

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Raven Thief is the second volume in the Secret Staircase cozy series which is full of illusions and stage magic by Gigi Pandian. Due out 21st March 2023 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

I love stage magic and illusions and I'm completely crazy about old houses with hidden rooms and architectural easter-eggs like bookcases which are secret doors and mantelpieces with hidden catches to open secret panels. This series is absolutely full of them. The plot turns around an ensemble cast of specialty builders, stonemasons, and woodworkers who design and install secret rooms and hidden staircases. This is a locked room cozy with hidden rooms aplenty, secret alcoves, puzzle rooms, and eccentric characters. 

Although it's a murder mystery, it felt as though it were written more for a younger (YA/NA) audience. There's a distinct locked room element with a murder victim falling from the ceiling onto the table during a (staged) seance. It has a definite Nancy Drew vibe with a little whiff of Scooby Doo.

Throw in lots and lots of stage magic, a family curse (the eldest child shall die by magic), hidden motives, and crazy architectural prestidigitation, and stir well. Although I'm a few decades beyond the presumed intended audience, I found it engaging and entertaining. I was impressed over the author's expertise describing architecture and scenery; technically that's very challenging and she does it very well. Some of the dialogue is a bit choppy and some of the scenery dressing and illusions are a bit over the top and "Scooby-Doo-ish" but it's all good fun. 

I also thought it was cool that that the protagonist's family is multi-ethnic and the requisite cozy recipes at the back of the book reflect that background and are a really eclectic mix of odd and whimsical (Jackfruit pizza topping? Color me cautiously intrigued). 

The unabridged audiobook format has a run time of 9 hours 34 minutes and is capably narrated by Soneela Nankani. She has a warm and nuanced voice and does a good job delineating a wide range of characters across a range of ages and both male and female. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Four stars. Looking forward to what's coming next.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.