Early Reader Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

Source: From Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss 

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  April 7, 2026 

 

Format: Ebook

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

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?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer and rising star Tamara Moss comes a twisty thrill-ride, filled with sabotage, betrayal, and puzzles to die for.

Review: 

This was such a rollercoaster of a book...in the best way! It’s packed with twists and turns from start to finish, and I was hooked the entire time and thinking about reading it when I wasn't. 

The story centers around a game show where contestants compete in teams to solve elaborate escape rooms. But things take a dark turn when you learn that during last season’s finale, a contestant was murdered (Alicia). Now, a new group is brought in to compete… and they’re unexpectedly teamed up with Sierra Angelos, the girl everyone believes got away with killing her sister, the contestant from last season. She is adamant that it was not her and she is here now to prove it!

The book is told through multiple POVs as the teammates work through each round while also trying to uncover the truth behind Alicia’s death. I really loved the multi-POV structure, it added depth to the story and made it fun to see everyone’s different perspectives, motivations, and suspicions. I love having all the drama and tea and thoughts from the characters.

One of my favorite parts was the team dynamic. The friendships that develop, along with the struggles they face together, felt genuine and added an emotional layer to all the tension. And the escape rooms themselves...were so much fun. The puzzles and riddles were engaging, and I loved trying to solve them alongside the characters, even though I wasn't great at it. 

Overall, this was a such an engaging, fast-paced read with a great mix of mystery, teamwork, and suspense.  Really enjoyed!