The Escape Game

OMG, I can't believe I got an ARC to one of my most anticipated reads of 2026!

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss is YA murder mystery novel set in an escape-room themed game show. It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead. Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set. Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes. But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice. When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of who killed Alicia Angelos?

Like most readers now adays, I instantly recognize the name Marissa Meyer and instantly think of her loveable fairy tale retelling novels. So, when I saw that she was coming out with a brand new book that isn't that, but instead a murder mystery. I knew I needed to read it immediately. In this book. Meyer and Moss have created a clever set of characters who take part in a new season of a TV show based on a Escape Room that ended deadlier than expected. What I loved most about this book is the sheer fact that it doesn't coddle it's reader, in that it throws out a bunch of math jargon and complicated puzzle pieces to the mystery at large. All while presenting a diverse set of characters that unique and loveable all at the same time.

One thing I found to be slightly confusing was the overall ending. As I found out much later after I read the book, there is a planned sequel. Which explains a lot of my confusion from it's conclusion, but I still feel like not everything was ironed out as much as I would have liked.

Regardless, The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss is a fantastic read for anyone wants a change of pace in terms of storytelling, but wants that familiar writing style that we all know and recognize from Meyer. Now if you'll excuse me, I suddenly need to go build a bunch of puzzles.

The Escape Game has many elements to love. It is part murder mystery, perfect for fans of Truly Devious (Maureen Johnson), and part escape room game, perfect for fans of The Grandest Game (Jennifer Lynn Barnes). The premise is that a reality television show is in its fifth season, and this year’s cast includes Beck, Carter, Adi, and Sierra. However, they all have ulterior motives for joining, especially Sierra, who is a returning contestant determined to solve her sister’s murder from Season 4.

With so many characters, backstories, and the establishment of the game show environment, it takes patience from the reader to develop a connection with the characters. Once everything is in place, the plot moves fast, the surprise connections and secrets they are keeping are unexpected, and the whodunit keeps you on your toes as the likely suspect keeps changing. The ending is an epic showdown with an ironic twist that they must play a game to save their lives.

I like the attention to detail in this story. Beck’s character is trans, providing good representation. Adi’s background shows the ugly side of growing up in Hollywood. Carter’s online persona versus real-life self is a real struggle that is relatable. The reality TV highlights how staged and contrived the drama is to make good suspense, which is great to show YA readers who may not realize that aspect yet.

The ending is satisfying, and we do know who murdered Alicia Angelos, but the authors’ time and attention in making this team of well-developed characters with interesting backstories won’t go to waste, because there is another book planned.