“Under Lock and Skeleton Key” by Gigi Pandian

Magician-turned-sleuth Tempest Raj is our new favorite cozy mystery heroine

Gigi Pandian's Under Lock and Skeleton Key first came to our attention when it was hailed as one of the most anticipated mystery novels of 2022.

A co-founder of the group Crime Writers of Color, the mixed-race, Indian American Pandian has made a name for herself for her settings and character building and Bookpage noted that her most recent book "flawlessly balances magic, misdirection and murder." It also -- much to our excitement -- explores the legacies of colonialism and mixed identity in an approachable and fresh way.