I loved this unstoppable tale of mystery.I felt I was Avery the main protagonist-sometimes having the world at my feet but then for it to come crashing down more than once.I felt the characters to be people I have met in real
Life and felt the emotion of the characters.Twist and turns aplenty even to the last chapter where I was thrown a loop!
I loved the characters ,the plot -nothing was simple and I still
Feel exhilaration from the text.
A fun, pleasurable read that had me hooked from Chapter 1 to the epilogue!
I need more to read now .......you’ll be left second guessing and wondering who can you really trust even to the last page!!!Enjoy!

The Inheritance Games is a fun, addictive, twisty thriller that fans of One of Us is Lying, Pretty Little Liars and/or Riverdale will love. The plot is gripping with solid writing. The characters are fun to get to know. And the mystery will have you on the edge of your seat! There are plenty of riddles, puzzles, and mystery to go around. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy a solid YA mystery.

The Inheritance Games follows Avery who unexpectedly inherits a billionaire’s entire fortune, the catch is she must live in his house alongside his family, the family who expected to inherit the money.

I did not like Avery at first, she had the ‘I’m not like other people’ personality, however that was just at the start and I actually liked her during the rest of the book. She was thrown into this new environment and she stood up for herself really well and was self-aware that people were using her and she did not let this stop her from getting things done. The Hawthorne brothers all had different personalities and it was a bit cliché on how obviously different they were, their actions/behaviour did make it hard for me to like some of them and I also them a bit boring and just 4 different versions of the same character – the troubled/mysterious bad boy. I did like the rest of the side characters; they all had their roles and it added to the mystery feel of the book.

The plot was alright, it moved fast and the book is a quick read but the main focus was on the mystery that Avery and the brothers were trying to solve. I liked the writing style of the book especially how the mystery and suspense was build up for the various reveals in the book however I found the riddles/puzzle parts of the book a bit disappointing, I guess I expected them to be more extravagant and not as simple/obvious as they were.

I liked how throughout the book, we do not know how Avery fits into everything and I liked how the book ended with the reveal and how it adds to the mystery around Avery. The reveal right at the ending was easy to guess but I liked how the epilogue added a bit more to the reveal.

3/5

Not that I realised it at the time but The Inheritance Games is actually a Young Adult mystery book - which is kind of embarrassing I'm not sure I really understood it all. However, in my defence the main reveal was glaringly obvious from the off and actually I think certain things were left unresolved for book two as apparently it's the first in a planned series. It also didn't matter because for me this was all about the game rather than result - and I loved the game.

I also loved getting to know all the characters and like everyone in the book couldn't help being drawn to the Hawthorn boys. Their characterisation was impressive, each with their own unique voice and way of moving, dressing and speaking, which come across clearly but subtly in the narrative. First, there's Nash, who's seemingly uninterested in Avery, not tortured enough for him to rescue.

Then, there's ambitious, arrogant Grayson who distrusts Avery intensely and sensation-seeker Jameson who could be using using Avery just to win. And, finally geeky young Alexander (Xander) who is actually the smartest of them all. Avery herself was strong, smart and independent - and I was fascinated by them all. Personally I would've liked more of Nan though as she seemed like the canniest of them all.

Overall, a really fun read with characters you want to get to know, puzzles you want to solve, and a billionaires mansion setting that you wish you could live. I was hooked from the very beginning.

I wanted to love this - I imagined it would be a fun, quick read similar to One of Us Is Lying. Instead, I found flat as pancake characters (the brothers are basically interchangeable) a tedious "love" triangle and not much action. One star is for the last couple of chapters, otherwise it would be a firm one star rating. I definitely won't be tracking down the next installment.

Avery Grambs life has taken a downward turn since her mother died. However, one day she is summoned to a will reading of mega rich Tobias Hawthorne where to her shock she discovers he has left his billions to her, blindsiding the family vultures, the only string attached is that she has to live at Hawthorne House for a year. Not only is this a puzzle of huge magnitude she learns from his Tobias four grandsons (Nash, Grayson, Jameson and Alexander) that he loved riddles and puzzles which are present all over the house but she finds herself in the centre of one huge one.

This is a really good YA mystery thriller a Cinderella, rags to extreme riches game. Who to trust? Who are the equivalent of the legendary wicked Stepmother and Ugly Sisters? Is there a Prince amongst the grandsons? I so enjoy trying to unlock the riddles which is like a mansion scale version of a Rubik's Cube. All over the house there are puzzles to solve, secrets to unlock, hidden passages and doorways so it boggles the imagination and it’s almost like a character itself!! I like the characters especially Avery who is clever and she certainly needs to be as she has so much against her and she certainly earns her scones that Alexander feeds her! The brothers are as enigmatic as their grandfathers riddles and how far can she trust them? Although Tobias is not present in bodily form his presence looms and oversees Avery as she tries to unlock mysteries, he’s on every corner, in every brick and within every inch of the huge estate. I love the text and phone banter between Avery and best friend Max which is whip-smart and funny.

The book is very clever, it contains hostility, manipulation, there’s danger and threat and tragedy that dogs the family and so has all the essential ingredients of a good mystery. This is a very enjoyable, fun and creative read. It does leave you on a cliffhanger and I’m definitely all in for Book 2! This book should appeal not only to a YA audience but also to older readers like myself.

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House, Children’s UK.

Extremely enjoyable, twisty thriller with a very intriguing premise; I was gripped from the first page! It's all totally ridiculous and far-fetched but when you are shmoozing with the super, super, super rich who needs reality? Great fun! And I can certainly see it as a hit on Netflix if it ever got made into a show.

I loved this! An excellent, captivating read. The comparison to Knives Out is accurate and I really enjoyed the characters and plot. Ican't wait for the sequel!

My only real quibble is I don't find it believable that a teenager would call his peer Ms. Grambs - it pulled me out of the story occasionally.

Riddles, puzzles, clues. A girl avery, inherits billions but there is a game to be played in order to receive the benefits. Will the family let their entitlement go easily or will they fight tooth and nail every step of the way. Read this and discover in a maze of wonderment, all that leads to a twisting, turning ending. You wont guess what will happen.....

Tobias Hawthorne, an eccentric billionaire has died, and for reasons best known to himself, has written a will to include unknown teenager Avery Gramb.
This is a hugely entertaining mystery story, and Avery is one of those characters who gets under your skin as you try to understand more about her and why she's been dropped in to the world of the Hawthorne's and their puzzles and games.
Each of the characters are well developed and the four grandsons add a little mischievous mix to the plot as the mystery deepens the further Avery investigates. I'm definitely looking forward to book 2.

The ARC of this book was kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheInheritanceGames #NetGalley.
From the premise alone I knew I'd love this book, mystery, death and money all wrapped up into one story. I have to say, it did not disappoint. I found myself on the edge of my seat, hooked onto every word and every clue that was revealed to us. Just when I thought I had figured something out, a wrench would be thrown into the plot and I'd be more intrigued than before. Although it was a little hard to distinguish the characters at the beginning, their names and personalities seemed to blur together a bit, towards the end they felt more developed and stood on their own. There's something mystical about Jennifer Lynn Barnes' writing and I can't wait to devour the next book from her.

I’m definitely not the target audience for this book (teens and young adults) but I really enjoyed this book. Billed as being something akin to Riverdale and Knives Out i was intrigued and it did not disappoint. Avery’s life changes dramatically when she receives a huge fortune in a will - to the horror of the deceased man’s family. Moving into his mansion where she must live for a year under the terms of the will she encounters a world of huge opulence, riddles and mystery, handsome men and hostile family members. This is an absolute romp and I have no doubt will be loved by its target audience and beyond. As others have written suspend reality and dive into a dream world where you have all the clothes, wealth, food and entertainment you ever wanted. The plot twists and turns as Avery tries to find out why she has received the bequest. This book will make a fabulous family movie! With thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House U.K. for a digital copy of this book.

What would you do if you were told that one of richest man in America has left all his money to you?

Avery Grambs is a teenager living in her car. Her mother died two years earlier, her father is AWOL, and her stepsister lives with her abusive boyfriend. All Avery wants is getting a scholarship to a college and study something that will allow her to travel around the world. One day, she is informed that she’s been included in the will of billionaire Tobias Hawthorne. He is the ninth richest man in America, but Avery has no idea who he is or why he would mention her in his will. At the reading, she is is shocked to find out that Tobias Hawthorne has left most of his enormous fortune to her and, to benefit from it, she must live at least one year to Hawthorne Castle along with his family – two daughters and four handsome and mysterious grandsons – who, of course, is none too happy to have been left out of the inheritance. Why did Tobias leave everything to Avery? And can she trust the four Hawthorne brothers?

I really enjoyed The Inheritance Games. Avery Grambs is an excellent protagonist. A teenager who had to grow up too fast too soon, she is highly intelligent, strong and bold. She spends most of her time in the company of the Hawthorne brothers who are intriguing and engaging, each has a different personality and each is hiding something.

The story is addictive and fast-paced and I read it in two days. There are riddle and puzzles to solve, secrets to unveil, and love triangles to untangle. Initially, I was confused by the ending because it left me with many unresolved questions, but then I found out that The Inheritance Games is the first book in a series and I was thrilled. I can’t wait to see what happens next and I am really looking forward to book number 2!

"A Cinderella story with deadly stakes and thrilling twists" that was me sold. And this book didn't disappoint! I couldn't put it down, and read it in 2 sittings (girls got to eat) highly recommend

This wasn't what I expected. I'm not sure what I expected other than the "games" to be different.
Throughout the book I felt something was missing to really grip me. It did get it by the end. Especially with that cliffhanger leaving me wanting more. I had thought I wouldn't carry on the series but I need answers.
I felt the "romance" wasn't needed. But that could change depending on book two.
The short chapters definitely made it a quicker read. However due to them ending somewhat abruptly then the next one starting somewhere else it can feel disjointed at times.
The mystery itself felt a little underwhelming but I also wonder if that's just due to the story clearly not being over. There are still some mysteries unsolved.

An incredibly gripping book, mixing mystery, a little romance and a search for the answer to a riddle.
Avery is beyond astonished to find that she has been made heiress to a mansion and billions of pounds. By whom? She has never heard of Tobias, who has apparently named her in his will to inherit everything, rather than his four sons. All of whom are , to say the least, amazed and enraged in different ways.
Most of the previous reviewers have explained the plot, so I will only say that this is a very well thought out story, with an ending that makes one wonder how soon the sequel will be coming out.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book and to give a review.

The Inheritance Games is an enthralling and dramatic tale of endless puzzles, wicked twists and turns and insanely high stakes. If you are a sucker for fast paced thrillers and tricky codes and riddles, this is just the book for you!

Avery Grambs was living in her car when she somehow comes upon inheritance of billions, with no clue as to why the deceased Tobias Hawthorne chose or even who he was. As Avery scrambles to untangle Tobias’ last riddle to understand the meaning of it all, she must come face to face with the dark and twisted secrets of the ever-charming Hawthorne boys and those related to them.

The gripping plot together with Barnes’ skillful writing made The Inheritance Games absolutely unputdownable. With a delicious mystery that is revealed layer by layer, pulling the reader in gradually but surely with every clue and riddle, this novel is a absolute delight to read. The ENTERTAINMENT factor is on point, complete with hot guys, sexual tension and a love triangle. If anything, I could only ask for more of the twisty puzzles laid down by the complicated Tobias Hawthorne. (On that note, can I have the sequel ASAP???)

In spite of being a predominantly action-oriented book, the characterization is skillfully done. Avery is smart and focused and refreshingly normal in the Hawthorne mansion amidst the other somewhat dramatic characters. All the four Hawthorne boys have unique personalities. Even some of the side characters (who become critical to the plot later) are skillfully carved.

The only thing that did not sit quite well with me was the romance – it had all the steam but very little substance. It definitely dialed up the entertainment quotient by a notch, but it would have been interesting to have it more fleshed out.

The book ends on a wicked cliffhanger that makes me want to grab the sequel ASAP!

If you enjoyed Hunger Games then this is a book for you. The games are much gentler, more sophisticated and all round more taxing of the brain and I enjoyed every last word. The pages just rushed by with me wanting to reach the end and for it not to end. Ended it did but with a hook! You will need to read this book for yourself to discover what that hook is. I do not think that you will be disappointed.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for allowing me to read this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Inheritance Games is a suspense filled mystery surrounding a down in her luck teen who inherits a dead man’s fortune. The writing style is simple, though it does adapt to each character – with more intellectual or florid language used when characters such as Grayson or Xander are the object of the language.

The characterisation is impeccable and each character comes with their own voice, each distinct and unique which is incredibly executed by Barnes. Nash, for example, though a minor character of sorts, has an incredibly strong voice which can be identified with barely any words.

One character who seems to let down this novel is Max, who’s childlike substitutions for swearwords is unrealistic and grating for a character of her age. She seems to add little to the novel, save for a few sentences towards the end, and any subsequent tales will have to work hard to make her a likeable character.

Overall, the mystery of the story is well laid out with many red herrings and plot devices which allow the reader to continually guess at, not only why Avery had been left the inheritance, but also the mystery surrounding a character who died a year previously. The plot twists and final reveals are handled well and the novel is filled with suspense that enhances the reader’s experience.

The potential romance which stems within the novel seems forced at times and uncomfortable at others, though whether this is done to create distrust towards the brothers cannot be said.

The pacing is slightly skewed, with much of the plot coming in the last quarter of the novel, though this serves the mystery genre well. This novel is a wonderful example of mystery for the YA genre and the sequel will hopefully tie up any of the seemingly loose ends which come at the end of the novel.

Described as being like the film Knives Out, I could resist reading The Inheritance Games, Yes, at first it had quite the 'Knives Out' feel about it - an elderly man dies leaving his fortune to to his family, but to a young lady - but soon any comparisons were wiped from my mind and I was absorbed in the thrilling story.

Puzzles, family secrets, and 4 brothers whose grandfather overlooked them for a girl, a total stranger. Why? Used to the challenges set by their grandfather the boys try to tackle this last posthumous puzzle.

But it's Avery that the story is told through. A teenage girl whose mother died, meaning that her half sister had to take her in. Struggling to make rent, and still at school, Avery is thrust into a very different world - one where she is the heir to billions.

I couldn't put this book down. It's an enjoyable reading that kept me guessing on layer upon layer on mystery. I have to say I cannot wait for the second book I this series. I loved the eccentric characters of the brothers, as well as the down-to-earth Avery who wants to know (just as much as the boys) why this stranger named her heir in his will.

A wonderful read, particularly if you like a good puzzle. Bring on book 2!