THE ESCAPE GAME by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

5 stars

A super fun, thrilling young adult thriller where teens need to solve an intricate, challenging series of escape rooms on a TV show to figure out an unsolved murder that took place the prior season on the show.

Sierra, the sister of the murdered girl and the suspected murderer by the public, has returned to the show to figure out what actually happened. With a deeply goth look and a scowl, she’s been cast as the season’s villain by the Machiavellian show’s producer, Ranielle Russell. Sierra’s following a clue left my her sister hidden in one of the casts’ bungalows.

Her big-hearted teammates bring their own past demons as well as puzzle solving prowess. Adi is sent to the show by his formerly famous actress Mom who he deeply resents, though he has amazing skills in cryptography. Adi also wants to connect with his Dad, a famous puzzle maker who he has never met and is not even sure knows about him. Carter, a math whiz, has a huge social following on a social media domain all about the show, but has hidden her insecurities and loneliness under her cartoon character persona she uses online. Beck has long dreamed of becoming a puzzle game master on his own, but must overcome a poor and nomadic upbringing being homeschooled by his parents and lacking friends.

Add into the mix Ranielle, who will do anything to make the show a success, a cute Australian host for the show Fitzy, Ranielle’s famous puzzle room creating husband Louis, and Vera the scowling and always in a bad mood social media director for the show.

This fun who-dun-it plays like a more sophisticated Scooby Doo episode, and the endless twists and turns keep you hooked to discover the murderer’s true identity.

Thanks to Random House, Penguin Teens and G.P. Putnam Sons for an advanced reader’s copy. 

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.