The Escape Game by Gina Holder is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first paragraph: They weren’t going to win. Not today. Demi clutched the cold metal decoder ring dangling from the chain around her neck and leaped from her seat. “It may be a decrepit old house to you—but it’s my home. You can’t just purloin it from me.”
But first the photo and verse. Today is Good Friday, and it has always been a somber day for me. I often think about on this day in particular, what Jesus went through for me. But Sunday is coming!
Earlier this week, I took photos of dogwoods that were blooming in my neighborhood, and this one was the best. I love it when dogwoods bloom at Easter! The verse is probably the first Bible verse I ever learned, and probably yours, too. I hope each of you have a blessed Easter!
Now for The Escape Game by Gina Holder. Here’s the cover and back copy:
Twenty years ago, the world’s leading enigmatologist disappeared, leaving behind a cipher no one could solve… not without his journal.
Puzzle shop owner Demi Kayne has spent twenty years hoping her father would return home. When she discovers his hidden journal tucked inside the walls of her family home, she finally uncovers the clue she’s been waiting for—but it leads somewhere far more dangerous than she imagined.
Liam Shepherd, a missionary and escape-room enthusiast, is searching for answers of his own. His sister has vanished without a trace, and the trail of clues leads him straight to Demi—and the secrets hidden in her father’s journal.
Their search brings them to the eerie Ives Mansion, where its brilliant and reclusive owner has designed a deadly challenge. Once inside, Demi and Liam realize they’re no longer guests.
They’re players.
Trapped inside a twisted real-life mystery game based on a stolen puzzle design, they must solve a series of lethal riddles before time runs out. Each puzzle brings them closer to the truth about Demi’s missing father and Liam’s sister—but also closer to a killer who has spent years perfecting a game no one survives.
With the clock ticking and lives hanging in the balance, Demi and Liam must confront their fears, their pasts, and the faith that may be their only hope of escape.
In this gripping Christian suspense novel, every clue matters—and every mistake could be fatal.
Can Demi and Liam solve the final puzzle before the game ends…or will the escape room become their tomb?
My Take:
Oh, my! I marveled at Gina Holder’s uncanny ability to create all of the puzzles and the solutions in The Escape Game. And the characters! Wow. Demi Kayne was brilliant. She graduated Harvard at age 15 with an MBA! Even so, her social skills were lacking. And during the story, she learns there will always be people who are smarter, richer, whatever, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Liam is one of those men who seem to be too good to be true until you learn what he’s hiding. When life throws them together, they both learn the lesson God intended for them to learn. You’ll have to read the book to learn what that is, but their journey to find their loved ones in Ives Mansion is full of twists and turns, locked doors, and sliding walls that will keep you flipping the pages. It’s a book I’ll read again.
The Escape Game by Gina Holder is available to preorder on Amazon. It’ll release on May 5.
Okay Readers, what are you reading this week? Leave the first line in the comments or just say “Hi” and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a booklight. I love mine–I don’t have to keep any other light on, so when I finally get to “The End” I don’t have to get up and turn the light off. The March winner is…Caryl Kane!
Here’s your song for Good Friday. I hope you enjoy…and remember: Then Came Sunday!
Discover more from Patricia Bradley
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Comments 43
For Drawing: have a good Easter
Author
You, too, Crystal!
Libby Sheffield had never stopped to wonder what she would take specific note of if she ever stumbled over a dead body. The Reckoning of Gossamer Pond by Jamie Jo Wright. Have a good Easter.
Author
I loved that book, Sharon! Happy Easter!
I love “The Old Rugged Cross.” (Now it’s stuck in my head, LOL!) Wonderful picture. That’s actually the second verse I ever memorized. The first was Gen 1:1 because that verse shows up even in secular writing; it’s everywhere.
Great review. The Escape Game sounds intriguing. I am reading The Salt of the Universe by Amy Leach. It’s an autobiography written in irreverent micro-memoirs by a woman who left a particular denomination without leaving God. The first line: I don’t know how it works on other planets, but on Earth the necessary is always turning into the superfluous.
Author
Great first line, Priscilla! I never thought about Gen 1:1 being so universally known. And I have “The Old Rugged Cross” playing in my head, too.
Love the dogwoods!
“In hindsight, taking a small group of students from the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies to a county fair to acess their progress regarding the rudimentary rules of civility wasn’t quite the brilliant opportunity Miss Annalise Merriweather had expected it to be— not when two of the five young ladies had slipped away from the group, undoubtedly intent on delving into a bit of mischief.”
Whew! A sentence that IS a paragraph. In Pursuit of Civility by Jen Turano.
And Miss Merriweather is having a very difficult time in the pursuing!
If it’s Jen Turano, it’s got to be hilarious!
I am on Gina’s review team so I will be reading that book soon.
Author
Absolutely about Jen Turano, Paula! I took I don’t know how many photos of dogwood branches in my neighborhood until I got that one. 🙂
Wonderful Easter photo to go with the Gospel in a nutshell. He is risen…!
Congratulations Caryl!
I’ve got to get “The Escape Game” on preorder. That sounds too good to miss out on. And, thank you fellow followers of Pat’s blog for all the good reader tips.
“A low growl from her K-9, Bear, woke Canyon Creek police officer Autumn Riley from a sound sleep.” This is the first line from “Searching for the Truth” by Laura Scott. It is the first book in the Colorado K-9 Unit series. I’m a sucker for K-9 capers and I’m enjoying this book a lot.
Author
I love those K-9 capers, too, Tim! And you will absolutely love The Escape Game. I still marvel at the intricacies of the puzzles Gina Holder created for this book. It blew my mind.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.
I totally loved that book, VERY impressed. I’ll be following her.
Have a most blessed Easter.
Author
Delores, she impressed the socks off of me with her knowledge of puzzle rooms and the story is so good. Have a blessed Easter!
What a lovely photo! Like you dogwoods blooming at Easter are a great reminder of what Jesus did for us.
Oh my! The Escape Game sounds like quite a page-turner. . .a read in the daytime page-turner lol
“As Private Investigator Mackenzie Love entered Cowan’s Restaurant, eating stopped, and glares from the diners hit her like a barrage of arrows.” I’m reading The Case of the Innocent Husband by Deborah Sprinkle. 🙂
Author
That’s why I love dogwood blooms so much, Barbara. I think you would enjoy the Escape Game, too. And I loved Deborah Sprinkle’s book.
Happy Easter!
Author
Thanks, BN100!
I LOVE Dogwood blooms. The legend of the Dogwood tree and the symbolism of the design of the bloom is inspiring.
The song The Old Rugged Cross always brings tears to my eyes to think of what Jesus went through for me and how eternally grateful I am for his sacrifice.
This weekend I will be beginning an arc of Witness Safeguard Mission by Carol J. Post. The first line reads: “Nicole Woodard moved through the woods at a slow jog.”
Author
I almost posted the legend of the Dogwood, Carolyn! The opening to Witness Safeguard Mission is intriguing…you just know something’s about to happpen. 🙂
Gina’s Book sounds amazing have a Happy Easter and Thank you for the chance to win this book!
Author
You’re welcome, Sarah!
Thank you so much, Pat! I am humbled by your words! God is so good! Have a Happy Resurrection Sunday! He Lives!
Author
I love The Escape Game, Gina! I can’t believe the puzzles and how you came up with them.
I do love dogwoods. Lovely photo. The Escape Room sounds great. I put it on my Amazon list. I will be reading Carol’s book soon too. I read a little of it and wow!
Happy Easter to all!
Her sister was in a coma.
Harbor Pointe by Irene Hannon
Author
So glad you added The Escaped Game on your Amazon wish list!
First line of “To Save a King” by Rachel Hauck; “Prince John believed in fairy tales.”
Thanks for sharing the video of Alan Jackson singing that wonderful song. It always drowns out everything around me to focus on our Savior.
This book reminds me of the stories I loved (and tried to write) when I was a child. I definitely need to add Gina’s books to my TBR stack.
Have a wonderful Easter!
Author
I love “The Old Rugged Cross” Jenny. To Save a King was great–I was at a writing retreat when Rachel talked about writing it. 🙂 And I think you’ll enjoy Gina’s book!
https://www.dtodayarchive.org/images/file/Crucifixion_Medical.pdf
The above article I read every Good Friday to remind me of the suffering and physical and emotional pain Jesus went through for me. Worth reading.
Author
I’ve read one similar Gail and it really does bring his suffering home–as much as we can humanly imagine.
The first telegram I ever read shattered my world. All We Thought We Knew – Michelle Shocklee
Have a blessed Resurrection weekend!
Author
That’s a book I have on my TBR list, Caryl. Wishing you a blessed Easter, too!
Thanks for the picture, verse, and song. Some of our neighbors have pink dogwoods. One in particular stand out because it just seems to have a more brilliant pink than the others. Toward the center of the flowers, they are white, which really sets off the pink.
Gina’s book sounds exceptionally suspenseful.
I am reading Witness Safeguard Mission by Carol J. Post, which releases on April 28. It’s also a K-9 story. Seems Tim and I are on the same page, just different books, this week.
Nicole Woodard moved through the woods at a slow jog. The June day was muggy, but a gentle breeze made it quite comfortable.
Author
Those pink dogwoods are so pretty! I’m glad you enjoye the photo and song, Edward! You’re the second one to read Witness Safeguard Mission today. I’ll have to check it out! Happy Easter weekend!
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful Easter!
Author
Thanks, Diana! Happy Easter!
Love the song! I’m not currently reading a book!
Author
Know that feeling, Shelia!
“Gunfire erupted from outside, sending Frederick Percy, Earl of Astley, leaping from his chair.” From The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham.
Author
Wow, great opening line, Kelly!
Love the picture of the dogwoods! A reminder of the cross where our Savior died for all! I love The Old Rugged Cross. Alan did a great job on that!
Her breath bursting in her lungs, Cassie Parker readied to take a step, her bare foot hovering over the wooden floorboard. Please don’t creak. This is from Whiteout by Lynette Eason and Dani Petrey.
Have a blessed Easter Sunday, Patricia.
Author
Great opening line, Kimberly! Wishing you blessed Easter, too!
The subway car hissed to a stop, and Callum found himself jostled to and fro by those hurrying to exit while others hurried to board from Where We Belong by Kim Vogel Sawyer.