"A Gargoyle’s Guide to Murder" By Gigi Pandian: Review/Giveaway

Review by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an audiobook copy of the book and a link to purchase it. 

Alchemy caused Zoe Faust to maintain her youth for over 350 years, but she still has so much she wants to learn. That is why she has come to the British Library in London, hoping to recover the book that was taken from her back in her town of Portland, Oregon. The Non Degenera Alchema was a book of “reverse alchemy,” a corrupted form of alchemy that was stolen and Zoe needs to believe is kept protected and out of dangerous hands. The librarian there tells Zoe that the book was removed for being literally poisonous, tainted with arsenic green that could cause sickness and even death. 

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Image Source Gargoyle Girl Productions

Zoe is eventually led to the bookstore of Barnabas Thistlewaite III, a much kinder version than the professor father whom she first meets. Zoe believes the book itself is deteriorating and dying, but she is soon distracted by the unexpected arrival of her gargoyle (technically a grotesque, but who wants to be called that) Dorian Robert-Houdin, who packed himself in a box when in his statue form. After witnessing what he believes to be a murder, that Zoe interprets as a prank due to the body going missing, Dorian puts his literal “little gray cells” to use as he begins his detective investigation into the mysterious acts happening in London around an equally perplexing book. Pub trivia crawls, discreet gargoyle smuggling, and a string of rare book thefts make this a very fun mystery of classic British mystery tropes with an added fantasy twist.

This ninth in the series continues to develop the lore of alchemy and Zoe’s own progression as a non-practicing alchemist. Dorian takes the forefront with his own chapters and narration of his investigation, providing definitions along with his unique skills observing and going undercover to snoop. The additional arrival of Zoe’s fiancé, Max Liu, a former police detective turned Alchemy of Tea store owner, adds both romance and investigative backup. Indeed, Max is far more enthusiastic about looking into Dorian’s suspicions than Zoe, who would prefer to focus on finding the book and not on Dorian’s admittedly overabundant imagination. The myth of a sleeping gargoyle intrigues both the visiting Portlanders and Oxford students, especially since Dorian is now the only “living” gargoyle left in existence. 

Fans of the series will appreciate Zoe’s exploration of the new mythology in the enviable London setting, but they will also look forward to seeing her return to the town of Portland and the friends she made there after a long lifetime of hiding her existence. These novels continue to evolve and add in new elements that keep the series fresh and draw in new readers to those looking for a unique heroine and an even more fascinating assistant detective. Dorian would definitely argue over who is the Watson and who is the Sherlock in their relationship, but regardless they make a very fun and engaging detective duo. This is another winning mystery by one of my favorite authors.

To enter to win anaudiobook copy of A Gargoyle’s Guide to Murder, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line "Gargoyle’s Guide,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 3, 2026. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter.. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors!  

You can click here to purchase this book.

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

 Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.