The House with no Keys by Lindsay Currie

✦ BLURB ✦

When a strange invitation shows up in Sarah's backpack, the Delta's learn that their favorite funhouse, The Delta Game, is about to get some serious competition. The "Mystery Mansion" is opening just miles away and the ominous and cryptic owner has invited Sarah, West, and Hannah to come test it on opening day. It claims to be the biggest and best escape house ever, and based on the photos of gleaming rooms filled with high-tech puzzles, it just might be.

What's more, the kids have been offered a ten-thousand-dollar prize if they escape the house. For some reason, West and Hannah seem very interested in the cash prize, but the three friends are torn because they really don't want to be a walking advertisement for a competitor to The Delta Game. After all, that funhouse changed their lives, Sarah's life especially.

But maybe the only way to keep the funhouse, and their friend William Taters in business, is to accept the invite to this new Mystery Mansion, escape it in record time, and show just how lame and easy it is by comparison. The trio arrive at the mansion on opening day, armed with their "fortune favors the bold" attitude. But they quickly learn that nothing is as it seems . . . and unfortunately this time, not everyone plays fair.

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A thrilling escape-room mystery where friendship, puzzles, and high-stakes fun collide.

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PRE-READING THOUGHTS

I was excited for another Delta Game adventure: inventive escape rooms, clever puzzles, and a focus on friendship dynamics. I wanted suspenseful fun with just enough stakes to make the puzzles matter.

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POST-READING

As I thought…
The puzzles are ingenious — I would still be stuck in the lobby! The friendships are grounded and real, showing how triumphs can bring joy and a twinge of loss all at once. Sarah’s growth, in particular, is satisfying and relatable.

It surprised me by…
Adding real tension beyond just “escape the room.” The Mystery Mansion has darker undertones and the players aren’t all playing fair, which ramps up suspense and adds depth to what could have been just a light puzzle story.

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🎵 MUSIC PAIRING

• 🎵 Featured Song: “Time” – Hans Zimmer (from Inception) — ticking clock, tension, and focus vibes.

• 🎶 Vibe Album: Puzzle Music — instrumental, clever, playful energy to match the escape-room feel.

• 🎧 Artist Recommendation: Ólafur Arnalds — atmospheric, inventive, and suspenseful.

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🌈 VIBE CHECK

• Colour Palette: Deep emerald green, brass, soft candlelight

• Soundtrack: Clinking locks, ticking clocks, faint whispers

• Season: Anytime you want a cozy indoor challenge

• Mood: Tense, playful, clever

• Scent: Old books, waxed wood, a hint of mystery

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🃏 TAROT PULL

Page of Wands (Light Seer’s Tarot) — Sarah is the eternal curious, adventurous spirit. The Page of Wands embodies her energy: eager to explore, bold in the face of challenges, and ready to learn and grow. It mirrors her approach to the Mystery Mansion: fearless, inventive, and full of possibility.

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FOR FANS OF

• Book: The Mysterious Benedict Society – for clever kids, intricate puzzles, and strong friendships.

• TV/Movie: Escape Room (2019) — but lighter, funnier, and with more heart.

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THE HOUSE WITH NO KEYS publishes on the 7th October, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.