Common Sense Media Review
By Lucinda Dyer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teens solve reality show murder in page-turning thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
It's been six months since the finale of season four of THE ESCAPE GAME. Six months since the body of contestant Alicia Angelos was found in a coffin with the words "We Get What We Deserve" written on the inside of the lid. As season five begins, it's revealed that one of the 20 new teen contestants will be Alicia's sister, Sierra, the prime suspect in her unsolved murder. Sierra's team of four (which she has named Team Helsing) includes escape room designer Beck, math whiz and influencer Carter, and Adi, who has been selected for the show as much for his good looks as for his skills as a cryptographer. As they progress through the game, the unlikely teammates tentatively begin to bond, despite Beck's worry that Sierra is a psychopath who might start stabbing people. Things take a mysterious turn when Carter gets a message from someone calling themselves the Real Game Master, who says the police never listened to their evidence, so now it's up to Sierra and her team to solve Alicia's murder. But as they begin to investigate, they find their lives are in danger from the still unknown killer. In addition, one team member is given an opportunity to cheat and win, and Beck and Adi are revealed to have family connections to the game. Both Alicia's killer and the identity of the Real Game Master are finally revealed, but that might not be the end of the story.
Is It Any Good?
This fast-paced thriller filled with codes, cryptic letters, and puzzles puts a compelling cast of diverse problem-solving teens front and center. Some readers may initially be put off by the the number of pages in The Escape Game devoted to the skills that teams need to find their way out of an escape room ("A one-letter Caesar cipher gets us ... P-B-F-M ... That's not it. Two letters ... Q-C ... obviously not"). But they're certain to find themselves pulled into the lives of Team Helsing. There's Sierra, who wears thick black eyeliner and lipstick so she can become the "girl who didn't care," but learns to finally make herself vulnerable. Carter, who despite her success as an influencer, is struggling to see herself as her teammates do: brilliant and awesome. There's self-confident Beck, who grew up homeschooled on a ranch in Montana and loves pinball and alpacas. And Adi, who won't let himself be used by his narcissistic mother or the show's producer. This fresh, exciting take on a murder mystery set inside a high-stakes game will appeal to a wide range of teen readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how four very different teens come together in The Escape Game to make a great team. Have you ever been on a team or worked on a project where everyone had to quickly learn to work together? Were you successful?
Carter has created an avatar that's nothing like her real-life self. Is it important that an influencer you follow be genuine and honest about who they are?
Would you like to be a contestant on a reality show? What skills would you bring to the competition that could make you a winner?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Friendship
- Character Strengths : Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : April 7, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : April 29, 2026
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