I love reading young adult novels, they thrive on intrigue, daring protagonists and generally have clever twists and turns that wind around like a mountain road, all which keep readers guessing until the last page. YA mysteries combine the thrill of a whodunit with relatable teen experiences – first crushes, family drama, and the rush of unravelling deeply buried secrets. But when you sprinkle in money, secrets, family rivalry, elaborate puzzles and games, hidden clues and elaborate riddles just waiting to be solved, you get a rollercoaster of a read that sparks the imagination and heart-pounding suspense. Welcome to The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, a series that embodies this winning formula. This is a series that invites readers into a world where every corridor hides a secret, a hidden passage and every character may hold the next clue. It’s a puzzle-packed, exciting YA thriller.
Seventeen year old Avery Kylie Grambs has lived with her older half-sister for 2 years since her mother passed away. Working in a diner after school to help pay bills she has a simple survival plan: finish high school, earn a college scholarship and help support her family. But her world is flipped upside down and backwards when notorious billionaire, and that billionaire with a massive capital B, Tobias Hawthorne dies and without any kind of explanation names young Avery as the sole heir to his vast multi-billion fortune. However, there is a catch – to claim the inheritance, she must live in the sprawling Hawthorne House, a mansion teeming with secret passageways and cryptic messages, for 1 year alongside the four handsome grandsons who expected to inherit it all and the rest of the Hawthorn family.
Determined to find out why someone she doesn’t know has left her untold wealth she is thrown into a gauntlet of riddles and locked rooms, puzzles and secrets. Not only does she need to solve puzzles to get her answer, Avery must navigate shifting alliances and uncover Tobias’s true motives – all while try to prove she’s not an imposter or involved in an elaborate con. Each chapter reveals another layer of Tobias’s diabolical game, and as Avery follows the breadcrumb trail of puzzles, the stakes escalate from uneasy truce to outright danger.
With a rich cast of characters, that are brilliant, brooding and beautifully flawed it’s and exciting read into money, power, puzzles and family dynamics.
- Avery Grambs: A resourceful, determined teenager with a sharp mind and knack for puzzles, games & numbers. Her quick thinking and steady heart turn her from pawn to player in Tobias’s final machinations.
- Grayson Hawthorne: The serious heir apparent. His cold exterior masks a fierce family loyalty and a bruised pride at being blindsided by Avery’s arrival.
- Jameson Hawthorne: A charming rule-breaker with a conspiratorial grin. He sees Avery as the ultimate puzzle and delights in watching her unpick his grandfather’s clues.
- Xander and Nash Hawthorne: The thoughtful middle and eldest brothers, each grappling with their place in Tobias’s twisted legacy. Their shifting loyalties will keep you guessing whom to trust next.
She came from nothing.
They have everything.
Let the games begin.
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Inheritance Games
Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Inheritance Games, the first book in The Inheritance Games series (there are a trilogy of main novels alongside accompanying standalone novels and a spinoff series). It has an excellent storyline that is perfect for YA readers (adults will love it too), with its fast-paced action, hidden enigmas, and heartfelt character moments. A puzzling mystery thriller that is a fast, exciting and addictive read.
The story has a very good plot that looks at wealth, privilege and family legacies. It is packed with secrets and trust issues, hidden rooms, cryptic notes and alliances that shift as quickly as the clues. And then there is the sub-plot of family and belonging – beneath the riddles and puzzles lies a story of loss, loyalty and the lengths people go to protect their own.
The interplay between Avery and the Hawthorne brothers just crackles with tension and suspense, teasing both romantic sparks and power struggles. The secondary characters – from scheming lawyers to mysterious house staff, add layers of suspicion and intrigue.
Each character has their own agenda and secrets. One moment you’re smiling at Avery’s sarcastic side; the next, you’re racing through passages as hidden doors slam shut behind her. But there is the larger than life character that we can’t forget about, Hawthorne House, a sprawling mansion with secret passageways, hidden compartments, covert underground tunnels, puzzles and clues built into the walls and furniture.
I loved the fast and exciting pace of The Inheritance Games. A story based around family, large wealth and a riveting puzzle structure that allows readers to play detective. Some of the puzzles are a bit obscure and require a leap of faith to get there and some plot twists take the believability of the story to the limits, but all in a good and thrilling way.
The Inheritance Games is a fast and fascinating read, a Cinderella story for the modern age, and when you are finished you will want to immediately reach for the next book in the series. The Inheritance Games series consists of:
The Inheritance Games series:
- The Inheritance Games (2020)
- The Hawthorne Legacy (2021)
- The Final Gambit (2022)
- The Brothers Hawthorne (2024)
- Games Untold (2025)
- The Same Backward as Forward (2025)
The Grandest Games Series (The Inheritance Games series spin-off):
- The Grandest Game (2024)
- Glorious Rivals (2025)
The Inheritance Games is a thrilling and exciting YA novel that will keep YA readers hooked and guessing while being thoroughly entertained.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £20 (Hardback) / £8.99 (Paperback) / £4.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit jenniferlynnbarnes.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
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