It’s no secret that I’m not usually a fan of books in a contemporary setting, my one caveat to that however, is a thriller and I’m loving that YA is now firmly on board with this genre too! I’d have to describe this book as the most elaborate game of Clue meeting Cruel Intentions in the ultimate long game of a mystery thriller.

Whilst I saw the twist coming from very near the start I honestly didn’t care because what came in between was absolutely amazing. No filler, just short pacey chapters and a story that was constantly driving forward from one clue to another, I never wanted to put it down, but there is life too but I have to admit I cared very little for much of that outside of reading this. Avery it a great character, right from the start I was endeared to her, brutally smart but just that little bit over onto the wrong side of the tracks to be able to put it to the use she could have. Her reaction to the situation she found herself in was one of believable bewilderment throughout and I loved how it was all about the mystery for her and the money was always second. The brothers were interesting and each had their own personality to bring to the table, there is a lot of manipulation and secret keeping but not just with Avery, they all had their own agenda and skill set to help the pieces fit together.

The world is totally addictive, the puzzles are fiendish in the way they play out and the side characters are nothing short of vicious. Hawthorne House is almost a character in itself with as many hidden secrets as the main man himself and given how much time Avery finds herself within it’s walls that’s a very good thing! The girls are mean, the brothers are cute in a rich bad boy kind of way, the family’s crazy angry but it all comes together perfectly, none of the characters are over the top or hammy which could have happened given the back ground. In short it’s a total must read!

The second book can’t come quick enough and this is definitely one game that I want to play again!

5*

The Inheritance Games </em>by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a young adult thriller novel that centres on the mysterious enigma that is Tobias Hawethorne's decision to leave his entire estate to Avery Grambs, a random young woman in her senior year of highschool who has no ties to Tobias himself.

Or does she?

The Inheritance Games is a novel that surprised me. It brought fun, action and copious amounts of riddles that I did not expect. Our main protagonist and narrator, Avery, was a great character. I loved how intelligent Avery was and the way in which she reacted to the change in her situation as well as becoming the centre of public scrutiny. Avery was very much a strong lead character and I enjoyed reading her thoughts and her thought process - she is very much a genius, in my opinion! I found that I really wanted Avery to succeed, I wanted her to be in a better position to fulfil her dreams. She is very much the 'glass slipper' of the story, a tool needed to push the narrative forward.

The story centres on a game. When Avery is summoned to the grand Hawthorne estate for the reading of Tobias Hawthorne's will, an extremely wealthy philanthropist, she is shockingly told that she, not Tobias' children or his grandchildren. It was riveting and entertaining to read the shock and the overall reactions of the family when the will was read. I was on the edge of my seat! Then the game is on.

I didn't particularly like any of the other side characters. I found the Hawthorne boys to be sort of caricatures of stereotypes with little to no personality. I do wish that the side characters had slightly more dimension to them, to really have created more depth to the story as well as formulate some sort of connection with the reader. Though the twists and turns were interesting to an extent, I did get bored and there was a moment in which I was contemplating putting the book down. I believe it was because I wanted to the story to move forward, to get to the point. I also thought that the reason for the first part of Tobias' 'game', the one that takes up the entire novel, was theoretically adorable but still doesn't really answer many of my questions. Avery is just a pawn. It kind of puts her character in a useless position, which I didn't quite enjoy because I loved reading her character so much. She deserved so much more than what her character was typecasted as in the end.

I also did not understand the sort-of love triangle that was forming throughout the book between Avery, Jameson and Grayson. Especially since there was history of Grayson and Jameson dating the same girl, Emily. Again, it didn't suit Avery's character at all. The was also no chemistry between Avery and these two men. At least if there was to be the beginnings of a love triangle, make it believeable. Give tension and chemistry, some pining at least! I honestly think that Avery having been some sort of family would have made more sense instead of her name being a punny phrase as well as her connection with Harry, the man she plays chess with in the park.

Overall, The Inheritance Games was entertaining and fast-paced. I enjoyed the 'game' itself and the way the riddles and clues intersected. That was riveting and fun to read. Avery is definitely a stand out character whom I believe deserved more purpose. Hopefully in the sequel, I'm guessing there is a sequel considering the way this novel ended, we see Avery grow more into herself and the power she now wields. Well, if she still is able to weild it considering what was revealed at the end.

3.5 stars.

“…Hawthorne loves a good puzzle as much as he loves a good whiskey. And he loves his whiskey.”

Avery Grimes is your typical teenager. She studies hard and works hard, all with the aim of giving herself and her half sister a better life. So what if she has to sometimes sleep in her car because her sister’s boyfriend is being a jerk again? Avery knows that one day things will be better.

Avery’s “one day” happens sooner than expected. A well tailored, handsome young man comes to Avery’s school, informing her that he comes on behest of his family and she is wanted in Texas for the reading of a will. Avery doesn’t know any one in Texas, least of all any one who would be naming her in a will…

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the first book in the series with the same title. Much like the acclaimed movie Knives Out (great movie, btw), it centers on a ridiculously rich family and the patriarch’s Last Will and Testament.

The Inheritance Games is a tense, puzzle filled, nail biter of a story. Everyone seems to have a hidden agenda of some kind. With nearly every person holding on to one secret or another, Avery (and the reader) have a hard time knowing who to trust. Even Mr. Hawthorne himself though he’s dead. The puzzles he’s left behind seem to point at something but no one is sure of what.

I deeply enjoyed reading The Inheritance Games. Because of how it is written, the reader goes along with Avery as she tries to unravel the clues and puzzles left behind. We learn the answers as she figures them out – and she is very good at figuring puzzles out.

I wasn’t too fond of the love triangle Barnes introduced between Avery and two of the Hawthorne grandsons. Such a thing seems common in many YA books, so much so as to have become a kind of trope. However since it was such a small part of the overall plot and didn’t really figure in to the story, it was also easy to overlook and ignore.

On the whole I quite enjoyed this book. Not everything was tied up neatly at the end, leaving it open for the next book in the series. It is something I am eagerly looking forward to and will likely review it here given the chance.

Title: The Inheritance Games
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 384
Rating: ★★★★☆

A Thrill Ride from the Start

The Inheritance Games puts you in the action right from the start. You don't have a chance to catch your breath because after a few pages something puts you right in the middle of the drama.

And the ride doesn't slow down. There is intrigue and deception, red herrings and puzzles thrown at us left and right, there is hardly a chance to slow down.

Barnes jams a fun puzzle solving story into 384 pages, and it fits perfectly. Any less or any more, and the story would seem forced in either direction.

The characters push the plot forward and we never know who we can truly trust, and who is against the protagonist.

Well-Written Characters

The characters development in this book are some of the best I have seen in such a short piece. Too often, characters are either too developed where they become unbelievable, or they are underdeveloped where they are as interesting as a soda cracker.

We get introduced to just over a dozen different characters that are prominent in this story, and the only one we can trust completely is the protagonist.

The characters are often simply written, but that simplicity is explored to its fullest extent.

I wouldn't say any of the characters are deeply explored, but each of them has an idea or personality that they embody, and Barnes develops them perfectly.

There are a handful of characters we should be able to trust in the story, but Barnes' writing makes it so that we can't trust anyone else in the story. This only adds to the tension that the story already had.

A Simple but Effective Mystery

I don't often read mystery books, but when they are written well, they can be a lot of fun and thrilling.

Barnes' gives us an escape room type mystery that takes place on the land of an impossibly large mansion.

With almost anything as a possibility in the mansion, The Inheritance Games follows the protagonist and a group of four brothers as they try to get in the mind of their now deceased grandfather.

A mystery doesn't have to be world ending, or life saving. A mystery can be as simple as finding the answer to the final puzzle your grandfather gave to you.

Barnes takes that simple idea, and expands it into a simple but fun mystery. Her character's story doesn't save any lives, but to her, it's everything. Her world is torn apart, and that means we are invested in what happens to her.

Final Thoughts

The Inheritance Games is fun and fast-paced read. You'll be hooked by it from the start, and it will take you for a thrill ride right up until the end.

The ending of the book sets up a good sequel, and the reactions from people online point to a lot of excitement around the sequel when it comes out.

Thank you, Dave, at The Write Reads for organizing and inviting me to be part of this blog tour. Thank you, Penguin Random House, and Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw the email about this blog tour, I responded almost immediately because I thought that the premise of this book sounded fantastic. I'm so grateful that I did this because The Inheritance Games exceeded my expectations, and it is by far one of the best books I've read this year so far.

I'm going to keep my description of the book to a minimum because I don't want to spoil anything. The Inheritance Games follows Avery Grambs, a teenage girl who is summoned to the office of her high school one day to find out that she's been named in the will of an eccentric billionaire who she has never heard of. This meeting causes Avery to get thrown into a world she didn't know existed, full of new-found enemies, puzzles, and a potentially deadly game. This book is full of the kind of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat and make you want to keep reading to find out what happens next.

Unsurprisingly, my favourite thing about this book was the characters. I loved everything about Avery, and I especially admired how quickly she was able to adapt to the game she was thrown into. Even though I am too old for the Hawthorne boys, I am absolutely in love with them. I liked that they each had their quirks, motivations, and personality, and I loved reading about them.

The other thing that I liked about this book was all of the puzzles and games. I won't say too much about them, because I don't want to spoil anything, but they made this book a lot of fun to read. I loved reading about Avery and the other characters playing the game following the clues, and I had a lot of fun trying to figure out the puzzles and clues myself.

Overall, I really loved this book. The twists and turns, and puzzles, kept me on the edge of my seat, and I wanted to know what happened next. One thing that I want to mention, though, is that one of the supporting characters is a victim of Domestic Violence, and it is a storyline that is mentioned throughout the book.

I have read and enjoyed countless YA books, and The Inheritance Games was no exception. It’s touted as a rags-to-riches, Cinderella type story, and there is most certainly a fairytale feel to this. I like fairytales. They’re a gateway drug in to fantasy as a child, I think. Or at least they were for me.

Avery Grambs wants more from her life than living hand to mouth, as she seems to be doing with her sister. Her mother has died, she has no contact with her father. She decides that the best way to change her life is to get a good education at a very good college, with the help of a scholarship. Indeed, she does seem to be very clever.

And then a young man comes to her school, and tells her that she has inherited some of the fortune of Tobias Hawthorne - a man she has never met and knows nothing about. In order to keep her inheritance and deprive the rest of the Hawthornes from getting their hands on the money, Avery has to live for a year in the Hawthorne mansion. Sounds easy, but it’s not. It’s a sprawling, maze-like place, with secret corridors and countless rooms. And the Hawthorne grandsons, on the whole, don’t seem to be hugely keen on her living with them, and neither does their mother.

No-one, including Avery, can understand why she should inherit the Hawthorne fortune. Tobias Hawthorne has one last Rick up his sleeve - a treasure hunt of sorts, that he set before his death for his grandsons and Avery. Just the thing to bring them together - or is it?

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Yes, it’s a bit far-fetched, but who hasn’t wanted to become the equivalent of a billionaire? To never need to worry about money? To have the house version of the Tardis?! This last bit, actually, would totally do it for me - as long as I could cleaners!

I think this will be the first in a trilogy, and I have a sneaking suspicion that I’ll be reading the next one. YA isn’t just for the kids, you know!

Many thanks to the Pigeonhole for making sure I read another one of my NetGalley books, and the publisher for an ebook copy.

The Inheritance Games is layer upon layer of puzzles and secrets disguised as a YA mystery. It’s incredibly tightly plotted, twisty and a throughly good read.

It’s no secret that I am a huge mystery aficionado, often getting myself lost in an excellent thriller. Initially I was drawn in by the comparisons to Knives Out and I must say that those hints are true, with this story giving off similar vibes whilst also being wholly original and unforgettable.The Inheritance Games stands out from the pack as one the best plotted mysteries I’ve read. Everything is carefully laid out; breadcrumbs on the trail that we’re sure to follow in the sequel. It lays the groundwork for an even bigger tale, while also delving into grief, privilege and how far people will go in order to preserve their heritage.

The writing style just flows so well, allowing you to completely get lost in the various games and nefarious schemes. There’s multiple complex relationships, each with their own fraught dynamics and intrigue behind them. Little is given to you easily, forcing you to become heavily invested in the story and put your brain to work trying to crack the puzzles. At the end of the day, people are the most complex puzzles available and it’s fascinating to examine the different psyche of the characters. They’re often defined by their past and the role that they’re expected to play, leaving lots of room for character growth and development.

Also, your expectations will be expertly manipulated and subverted. You can’t always trust what you read as there is often a double meaning or riddle hiding in plain sight. Reading The Inheritance Games is akin to trying to find your way out of a maze. There’s just riddles upon riddles thrown at you, as well as the central mystery threads. Plenty is left open, with an explosive ending that left me demanding the sequel.

The Inheritance Games is a meticulously plotted mystery that will keep you constantly on your toes.

Let's be honest; who among us has not dreamed of becoming an overnight teenage billionaire at the whim of a mysterious benefactor, forced to (the horror) spend a year living in the lap of luxury on his enormous estate with his four clever, handsome grandsons, and left a mysterious chain of clues and riddles to unravel? Of course, someone might be trying to kill you, and there's already been at least one mysterious death that no one seems to want to talk to you about, but everyone is so terribly rich and attractive and you *do* love puzzles...

That's a the premise of The Inheritance Games, and I found it hugely enjoyable. Pure escapist fun, with a well-rounded cast of characters, some nicely constructed interweaving mysteries and the beginning of a love triangle that, thankfully, steers clear of ever becoming too heavy-handed. If you're looking to forget the stresses of 2020 for a few hours, it's the perfect antidote.

I read this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser for letting me take part in this tour, and thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have started to be obsessed by YA mystery, and when I saw the blurb for this book, I knew I needed to read it as soon as possible. I'm not a fan of family secrets stories, plots with money and rich people and teenagers, but I absolutely adored everything mixed together with all the riddles, the mysteries, the secrets and everything else.

In this book, we meet Avery, an average, intelligent teenager who suddenly ends up inheriting Tobias Hawthorne's almost entire estate and assets. She goes from leading an ordinary life and struggling through the basic things, to being one of the richest teenagers in the U.S., however, she doesn't turn into a greedy person, she remains herself and I loved this aspect of the book. Tobias Hawthorne has given Avery everything, instead of giving it to his daughters or grandsons, and along with the four Hawthorne brothers, Avery is going to try to work out "why me?".

This book was so well executed, I loved the writing style, I laughed out loud multiple times because of how witty this book and its characters were. I love a good murder mystery and usually don't like this kind of mysteries, but it just completely drew me in, I was hooked in no time and I literally binged it over one weekend, it was that good.

The characters were fun, intelligent, but also so infuriating, I hated them and loved them and I just want more of them. I loved Avery, right from the start, she was an amazing character and I loved reading all about her and how she solved the riddles. I liked reading about her relationship with the brothers and there is still so much to learn about each Hawthorne brother.

Overall, this was an amazing YA mystery, it hooked me instantly and I just flew through it. I had a little issue with the ending as I would have liked it to be a bit more drawn out and precise, but obviously it's a cliff-hanger, I definitely want to read more and right now. I gave this book 4 stars, I enjoyed it so much, it was really one of those books you just don't want to put down because it's so good and so much is happening. I'm waffling, so I'm going to stop here, but you need to go read this book right now, I highly recommend and I can't wait for book 2 next year!

I loved this book! It really reminder me of Knives Out, which is one of my favourite films, so I knew this would be good. I loved the little twists and all the riddles and puzzles, and the ending was great!

Completely riveting and The Inheritance Games keeps the reader on their toes through out. Who does one trust, who is the villain, who are the good people? So many questions, not too many answers.

A clever book that kept me gripped! I love a mystery with little puzzles and clues throughout. My own guesses to what was going on wasn’t even close!

I loved this and really look forward to a sequel (I hope there’s a sequel).

just.... read.... the .... book....
i am not to be trusted with a review in my current emotional state cause it will involve a choice of words that your delicate ears won't be capable of handling otherwise they might bleed.

so just trust me and read the DAMN book.

When I first started reading, I couldn't help but compare this book to the movie Knives Out, which I greatly enjoyed, because they have some similarities: the wealthy grandfather who passes away, a will reading, a great cast of suspicious characters who are all family.

But from there it diverges into it's own, well-constructed world that is the Hawthorne family (and they definitely live in their own world of wealth and mind games). The pacing of this book is excellent. Short chapters and just enough revelations paired with new mysteries make this book an absolute page-turner.

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller
Format: E-book Advanced Reader Copy
Published: 3rd September 2020
Pages: 772 (This was the number of pages from my earc on netgalley)
Rating: 3 Stars

*I received a copy of this via netgalley from the publisher. However, this in no way influenced in my opinion. Thank you to Penguin Random House Children’s UK for providing me with a copy.*

Content Warning: Domestic Violence and attempted shooting.

This review contains spoilers!

In this YA Mystery/Thriller we follow Avery Grambs, who at the start of this novel is living in her car after leaving her sister’s home as she has taken her abusive boyfriend back. Then one day she is summoned to the headteacher's office where she is told she has to attend a will reading. It is at this will reading that Avery discovers that Tobias Hawthorne, a billionaire who Avery doesn’t ever recall meeting has left her a fortune and his properties. This leaves the Hawthorne family angry as she is the largest beneficiary of the will. Avery learns that the condition of her inheritance is that she must live in Hawthorne House, however that is easier said than done with the Hawthorne’s desperate to figure out why they were excluded and wanting Avery gone.

As soon as I heard the premise of this I knew I had to request it on netgalley as I’ve been loving mystery/thrillers lately. While I did enjoy this I had a few issues. So this was an interesting and gripping novel filled with puzzles and intrigue. I couldn’t wait to find out the truth about why Avery was chosen to receive the inheritance and I wasn’t disappointed. I feel like it was a very Tobias Hawthorne thing to do so the reason made sense. Tobias never appears in the book he is only mentioned by his family, but he is such a fascinating character who was obsessed with puzzles. Avery is another interesting character, I love the way she stood up to the Hawthorne’s and she was very intelligent. An aspect I loved about this novel was how intricately plotted it was- by the end of the novel all of the different stories became tangled into one which was satisfying. It was interesting to see the comparison between Avery and Libby’s sibling relationship and the Hawthorne boy’s relationship. Libby and Avery are more caring towards each other and try to do what’s best for one another, whereas the Hawthorne boys have a rather toxic relationship. One issue I had with this was that the chapters were really short then ended abruptly, so it made the book feel disjointed. Another issue I had was I wish there were more thriller elements to this novel, throughout the novel it is said that the Hawthorne family are a danger to Avery but nothing ever comes of it. I just wish there was more suspense, there was one scene that was suspenseful that took place in the woods, and Avery is shot at but thankfully she was not seriously harmed except for a piece of bark going into her shoulder. This scene in particular was well-written and had me on the edge of my seat hoping that Avery was alright. Another issue I had with this novel was the romance, I just wasn’t a fan of it, especially the love triangle, don’t get me wrong I love a good love triangle if it’s done right but honestly I don’t like any of the boys with Avery.

Overall this was a decent YA Mystery/Thriller novel with some intriguing characters and a gripping plot that made this hard to put down. This book does have an open ending so I will most likely pick up the sequel.

This is my first book by the author and the synopsis really caught my attention. I have to say, it did not disappoint!

I loved Avery’s character and the games/puzzles created in order for the family to inherit Tobias’ valuables! The whole ideia really caught my attention and I was so intrigued and the author delivered what I expected and more!

Avery was strong, witty/feisty and I loved reading about her. The puzzles were really interesting and I loved spending parts of the read trying to figure them out with the characters. There is mystery, manipulation, hostility and a sense of mistrust and danger! What more could I ask for?

This book was a mix of a fairy tale with a bit of Sherlock Holmes riddles and mysteries. I kept wondering if Prince Charming would show up and who would be the Evil Witch whilst trying to solve the clever puzzles and mysteries.

I didn’t get a proper closure with this novel so I’m eagerly waiting for the sequel to finally get it!

I would highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more books by the amazing Jennifer Lynn Barnes! Although it classes as a Young Adult Mystery I think it is also suitable and really enjoyable for adults!

I would like to thank Netgalley, Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Penguin Random House Children’s UK for and advanced digital copy of The Inheritance Games in exchange for an honest review.

The Inheritance Game is a book that sucks you in and just doesn't let you go until you get to the last page. I was expecting a mystery and some puzzles, but there were just so many twists and turns I didn't see coming. Every time I thought I had something figured out, the author threw in a twist that had me doubting everything I had just thought of. I won't go into too much detail, because I honestly think this is just a ride you need to experience firsthand.

Imagine waking up one day and going on with your normal business. School, work, etc. only to be summoned to somewhere and hear that you've inherited more money than you could ever know what to do with. And to make things even more odd, you have no clue who the person is you've inherited the money from. I know I would be one hot mess! Our main character Avery took it a lot better than I would. Of course, she has her moments, but she stands her own. I really liked Avery. Even though she had all of this thrown at her, she knows what it's like not to have money. So having tons that wasn't hers wasn't necessarily a reason to start going on a shopping spree.

Then there were the Hawthorne brothers. I so wanted to like a few of them, but didn't trust them at all either. I've finished the book and I still don't know what to think. A few could be book boyfriend material, but they're so mysterious. Along with the other side characters in this story. All of the characters keep you on your toes. Avery has to live with these people and let's just say things get interesting. I loved the interactions between everyone we meet.

And don't get me started about the house. From what I understand this place is bigger than you can even imagine. Even though I have to say that the libraries (yes, more than one) in this house are every book lovers' dream! I wouldn't care about the money. Just give me the libraries, haha. The house becomes even more special with all of the puzzles and how this house was involved. Jennifer Lynn Barnes really planned out everything so perfectly. The puzzles Avery and the Hawthorne boys have to solve are nothing you expect, but so good!

All I can say is read The Inheritance Games. It's so good and the ending just blew me away! I'll be first in line for the sequel when it releases. I need more of this family and Avery. I can't wait to say how everything plays out and all of the other twists and turns the author will throw at us. I honestly see something like this as a movie or TV show! Jennifer Lynn Barnes really did it again!

THIS BOOK WAS MY FAVORITE READ OF THE YEAR.
The story arc is beautiful written and the story just keeps getting better. You are hit with one mystery after other. Also the ending was just way to good.
The character are really well written. Specifically Avery, it very difficult to write characters who are solving mystery so loved the characters and how one was different and unique from other.
Full review coming on the blog.
Thank you netgalley and publishers providing with the e-arc in exchange of an honest review.

3.5⭐

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Pigeonhole.

I didn’t realise it was YA (Young Adult) fiction before I started. The characters generally seemed quite adult like, although some of the behaviours were perhaps more childlike. The imagination of the author to create Hawthorne “House” is incredible!

Avery receives contact from a solicitor and has to live with the 4 Hawthorne brothers for a year as per the terms of the will. But why? And what is Avery’s connection to Tobias Hawthorne, if any?

If you, or a young adult, love solving puzzles, riddles and codes then you will love this book!

My favourite quote: “I’d gone to school with the same kids all my life. I was wallpaper. No one was looking.”

There is going to be a sequel to this!

Both Kindle and paperback versions are available now.

This book is amazing, I couldn’t put it down and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. It’s difficult to say anything other than the blurb because to say practically anything would give things away, but you will not be able to guess what is going to happen next as you are reading, and if anyone said to me that they solved the puzzle before it was revealed I wouldn’t believe them! I understand that it’s been optioned to be made into a series, and this is one that I will be looking out for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Children's UK for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.