Intended Audience: Teens
Genre: Contemporary mystery
Notes for Parents: Some mature
scenes.
The Back Cover
Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future:
survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her luck changes in an
instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves her virtually his
entire fortune. The only catch? Avery must move into his sprawling mansion,
full of secret passages, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne
House is also occupied by the family that was just disinherited. This includes
the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic boys who grew up with every
expectation that, one day, they would inherit billions.
Heir apparent Grayson is convinced that Avery is a
con woman, and he’s determined to take her down. But his brother Jameson views
her as their grandfather’s last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be
solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every
turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.
What you should know:
This is the first book in a trilogy. Book #2 is
called The Hawthorne Legacy (2021) and Book #3 is The Final Gambit (2022).
The Review
It’s a good thing Avery loves riddles because there
are plenty to sift through as she searches for the reason why a billionaire left
her nearly his entire fortune. Unfortunately, there are a host of characters
who are trying to get in the way of her claiming the inheritance and
discovering the truth. Avery is a well-constructed protagonist who is confident
and clever. The supporting characters, including the Hawthorne family, come in
a variety of depths that will likely improve as the trilogy unfolds. Short
chapters make it a quick and easy read.
Recommendation ☺☺☺☺ (4/5)
There
was plenty of mystery, some danger, a little romance, and an entertaining
adventure. If you don’t mind a love triangle (and a cliffhanger ending), it’s a
great read.
Barnes, Jennifer Lynn. The Inheritance Games. New York: Little Brown and Company, 2020.
