Review: The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Overview:
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Wow! I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as a did. It’s got all the dressings of a great mystery, including distinctive characters, a fast-paced plot, and lots of suspense. My only small complaint is that one of the plot twists is a little too obvious.
Content Warning:
The Inheritance Games contains alcohol use, domestic violence, familial death and friend death, gun violence, chronic illness, and classism.
Book Description:
The Inheritance Games is a YA mystery novel. Avery is struggling to get by after the death of her mother when her life changes forever. A billionaire she has no connection to leaves her the majority of his fortune, stipulating that she must move into his estate with his dispossessed family for one year in order to receive it. His grandsons are convinced the whole affair is one final riddle or test left by the old man, and, if she ever hopes to discover why she was chosen, she must play along. But this game may just have deadly consequences.
On the Book’s Aesthetic and Genre:
I added The Inheritance Games to my TBR because I read somewhere that its aesthetic was similar to Knives Out, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m happy to say that this description is very much true. This book is brimming with quirky characters, a gripping whodunnit mystery, and dark academia vibes. Beyond these surface-level aesthetics, The Inheritance Games also follows in the footsteps of Rian Johnson’s cinematic masterpiece through its exploration of familial conflict, classism, and trauma. It’s not only a mystery, but a story full of empathy, loss, and connection.
On the Character Development:
As I mentioned before, the characters are quirky, and at times strong stereotypes of the mystery genre. There’s the flighty mother, the angry uncle-in-law, the rebellious son, the jokester, the bad boy, etc., etc. They’re everything I crave in a mystery, and they’re also a little more than that. Sure, they’re stereotypes, but they’re wonderfully developed ones. Barnes doesn’t let them exist just because that’s the way mystery novel characters are, but she backs up each of their life stories, personalities, and actions with both subtle and not so subtle tidbits throughout the text. It added to the realism of the contemporary setting and allowed for the exploration of deeper themes.
On the Building of Suspense:
In all honesty, there is a very big plot twist that I saw coming from a mile away… or at least from the start of the second chapter. It’s not the only plot twist in the book, nor is it the main focus of the story, but it is huge and it is obvious if you are paying attention. Otherwise, the main mysteries of the plot remained so until the very end and kept me reading onwards.
On the Pacing of the Book:
The chapters in this book are short and incredibly digestible, each ending in a cliffhanger or new piece of information. There is never a lull in the story, and the fast-paced development of the plot makes it hard to put down. It’s nearly impossible to not finish in one sitting.
On Who Might Enjoy The Inheritance Games:
I recommend you read this book if you:
enjoy movies and T.V. shows such as Knives Out, Murder on the Orient Express, and Pretty Little Liars.
are seeking an easy and engaging read
want to break into the contemporary and/or mystery genres, but don’t know where to start
PLEASE NOTE: Image sources for the photo edit on this post can be found here.