Wednesday, May 6, 2026
The Real-Life Inspiration Behind The Escape Game
The Real-Life Inspiration Behind The Escape Game
Have you ever heard of the Winchester Mystery House?
Tucked away in San Jose, California, it’s a place that feels
more like a nightmare than a home. Doors that open to nowhere. Staircases that
twist and turn in impossible ways. Hallways that seem to stretch on forever.
Rooms built… and then abandoned.
It’s strange. Unsettling. And completely real.
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| Photo provided by the Winchester Mystery House and used with permission. |
The house belonged to Sarah Winchester, widow of William
Winchester—the man behind the Winchester rifle. After losing her husband and
child, she was left with unimaginable grief. Desperate for answers, she turned
to a spiritual medium.
What she was told would change everything.
According to legend, she was warned that she was being
haunted by the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. The only way to
survive? Build. Never stop building. Because if construction ever ceased… her
life would end too.
So she built.
For decades, construction continued—day and night—until her
death in 1922. The result? A sprawling, labyrinthine mansion designed not for
comfort, but for confusion. Crooked staircases. Hidden doors. Rooms within
rooms. It’s said she even moved bedrooms frequently, hoping to stay one step
ahead of whatever might be following her.
Whether you believe the legend or not… it’s hard not to feel
something when you look at that house.
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| Photo provided by the Winchester Mystery House and used with permission. |
And that’s where The Escape Game began.
I was fascinated by the idea of a place that doesn’t quite
make sense. A house that looks normal from the outside—but inside? It’s
something else entirely.
I’ve always been fascinated by things that don’t quite make
sense—places or objects that feel like they’re hiding something just out of
reach. One of those is the Voynich manuscript, a real historical text written
in a language no one has ever been able to decipher. Page after page of
beautiful, intricate symbols… and yet, no clear meaning.
It’s mysterious. Intriguing. And just a little unsettling.
Because confusion has a way of pulling us in while also
keeping us lost.
So I asked myself: what if I took that feeling—the
disorientation of something you can’t quite understand—and built a story around
it?
What if the danger wasn’t supernatural—but human?
That question led to the creation of the Ives Mansion—a
gothic monstrosity perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior in northern
Minnesota. Like the Winchester house, it’s filled with secrets. Twists. Hidden
intentions. And the unsettling sense that you’re never quite where you think
you are.
While the Winchester Mystery House sparked the idea, the
design of Ives Mansion was heavily inspired by the J.J. Hill House in St. Paul,
Minnesota. If you’ve ever seen it—or taken a virtual tour—you know how rich it
is in detail. Ornate woodwork. Intricate fireplaces. Unexpected architectural
choices.
You can explore it here: https://www.mnhs.org/hillhouse/activities/virtual-tour
Those details made their way into the story—elements like
the snake-backed fireplace, the dragon sconces, and other features that give
the mansion its personality… and its secrets.
But at its core, The Escape Game isn’t just about a
house.
It’s about fear.
The villain of the story, Lizette Ives, is trapped by fear
just as surely as Sarah Winchester must have been all those years ago. Fear can
twist reality. It can trap us. It can make us build walls that were never meant
to exist.
But Scripture reminds us of something powerful:
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…” — 1
Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)
And also:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power
and of love and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7
Fear may be real. The things we face in this world can be
overwhelming, confusing, even terrifying.
But we are not meant to live trapped inside it.
The Bible never promises that life won’t feel confusing or
frightening at times. But it does remind us that confusion and fear are not
where we’re meant to live.
We’re called to something steadier. Something clearer.
Something grounded in truth.
And maybe… just maybe… the scariest places aren’t the ones
filled with ghosts.
They’re the ones where fear and confusion take hold—and
refuse to let go.
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.
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.
Can Demi and Liam solve the final puzzle before the game ends…or will the escape room become their tomb?
Giveaway: Comment below to win a paperback copy of The Escape Game by Gina Holder
Click here to learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Game-Deadly-Survival-Masters-ebook/dp/B0GTX8621Q/
Gina Holder is a Christian award-winning author of romantic suspense and cozy mysteries filled with faith, intrigue, danger, romance, and epic twists you'll never see coming.
She’s had an infatuation with books for as long as she can remember. She loves
sharing uplifting messages from God’s Word and introducing readers to new and
new-to-them authors on her blog. When she’s not writing, Gina enjoys playing
the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape
room” puzzles. She loves growing in her craft as an author. She published her
debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.
Monday, May 4, 2026
WHAT'S HOT in Inspirational Mystery and Suspense
Marji Laine here and I'm thrilled to introduce yet another book from one of our amazing Suspense Sisters!
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| Photo from the Winchester Mystery House is used by permission |
About the book, Gina says, "Something neat about this book is that the setting was based on two real-life historical homes: The Winchester Mystery House in California and the James J. Hill House in Saint Paul, MN."
Puzzle shop owner Demi Kayne has spent twenty years hoping her father would return home. When she discovers his hidden journal tucked inside the walls of her family home, 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 based on a stolen puzzle design, 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 closer to a killer who has spent years perfecting a game no one survives.
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.
THIS WEEK ON THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
Wednesday, we’ll hear from Suspense Sister Gina Holder. She’ll share the inspiration behind her newest book, THE ESCAPE GAME. Be sure to leave a comment. You could win a copy of this intriguing book.
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?
BUY IT HERE
Friday, author Melissa Koslin shares an article that points out the “Top 7 Fight Scene Mistakes… And Some Self-Defense Advice.” You’ll find out some very interesting information that you can use to compare fight scenes to your favorite books or movies.
Also, check out Melissa’s latest novel, DESCENDED.
Thousands of miles from home, Isa sees a man who looks intensely familiar. After she thwarts an attempt on her life, she escapes down the mountain with the familiar man, Xander, and he explains about four ancient bloodlines, each with its own unique set of skills: Cicero, Solomon, Sun Tzu, and Lilith. He belongs to a secret society devoted to observing and recording, but never interfering. Until now.
As Isa fights to survive, she grows close to Xander. She learns of her abilities passed down through blood and struggles to uncover the truths of her past. She decides she has to put a stop to the killing of the bloodlines and protect Xander from any further harm…even if it kills her. But will the truth of the killer's motivations and identity be too much to handle?
BUY IT HERE
Also, check out Melissa’s latest novel, DESCENDED.
As Isa fights to survive, she grows close to Xander. She learns of her abilities passed down through blood and struggles to uncover the truths of her past. She decides she has to put a stop to the killing of the bloodlines and protect Xander from any further harm…even if it kills her. But will the truth of the killer's motivations and identity be too much to handle?
BUY IT HERE
Don’t forget to enter our monthly contest!
THE SUSPENSE SISTERS
WE LOVE BOOKS
Friday, May 1, 2026
WHAT IS YOUR CHARACTER IS WRONG
One of the hardest things to do as a suspense writer isn’t creating a clever twist or a chilling villain. It’s allowing your main character to fail.
Not just stumble. Not just hesitate. Fail
As writers, we spend so much time building competent, capable protagonists – especially in suspense. Detectives, profilers, investigators – these are people who are supposed to notice what others miss. Readers trust them. We trust them. So, when they make a mistake, when they follow the wrong lead, trust the wrong person, or come to the wrong conclusion, it can feel uncomfortable. Even risky.
But here’s the truth: those mistakes are often where the story comes alive. A character who gets everything right may be impressive, but a character who gets something wrong becomes human. And more than that, it raises the stakes.
In suspense, being wrong isn’t just embarrassing. It can be dangerous. It can cost time. It can cost trust. And sometimes, it can cost lives. That kind of weight changes everything in the story. It deepens the emotional impact of the novel. It forces your characters to question themselves. And it gives readers something powerful to connect with, because we all know what it feels like to realize we were wrong about something that mattered.
When a character recognizes their mistake and chooses to face it – to correct it, learn from it, and keep going despite the cost – that’s when readers become engaged with your story. That’s when it stops being just about solving a mystery and becomes about something deeper.
So, the next time you’re tempted to let your character be the smartest person in the room, consider this:
What if they’re not?
What if they’re wrong?
You might just find that’s where your story truly begins.
Leave a comment, along with your contact information, and you could win a copy of either SHATTERED SANCTUARY or DARK DESIGN.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
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