Thursday, June 25, 2026

THE ESCAPE GAME by Gina Holder, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

A Deadly Game of Survival (The Game Masters Book 2)

REBECCA'S REVIEW
"Music can calm the spirit or awaken monsters. You choose."

Had it come down to this? Had a twenty year long search for a father who had simply disappeared paired small town resident Demi Kayne and virtual stranger Liam Shepherd together inside a house of horrors? It was unthinkable, and yet it was exactly where they found themselves, enclosed within the walls of the rumored to be haunted Ives Mansion.

Liam had arrived in Silver Falls, Minnesota searching for his twin sister Alexis, his life as a world traveler, spreading the Gospel as a missionary, had separated them for a short period of time and the few clues Alexis had left behind led him to this location. Striking up a friendly acquaintanceship with a local puzzle shop owner and two of her friends, Liam and Demi ended up on knocking on one of the many doors they would have to breach in order to survive.

While this book was filled with exhilarating suspense scenes( it makes one think that the author herself may be a puzzle genius), it was also a generous wealth of faith lessons, bravely sharing the salvation story while the characters themselves literally hung on for dear life. Moving forward from fears, both temporal and eternal, does eventually bring these two characters down the finish line . . . but, barely.

"It's never the wrong time to talk about Jesus . . . "
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

SEE PAULA'S REVIEW 

BackCover Blurb:
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, 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, 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 deeper into a carefully crafted game where the stakes are far higher than they're ready to face.

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?

Perfect for fans of Lynette Eason, Dani Pettrey, and Irene Hannon who enjoy puzzle-driven Christian suspense filled with danger, secrets, and faith under fire.

SCRIVENINGS PRESS, May, 2026
Available in digital ebook and paperback (soon)

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