Published: 2022
Series: The Inheritance Games
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Contemporary, Fantasy, Adventure
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 9-12
Number of Stars: 4-Stars
Goodreads Link: The Final Gambit
Triggers: Adult/minor relationship (past, mentioned), death, kidnapping, murder, sexual assault (past, mentioned), violence
Review By: Anonymous
Publisher’s Summary:
“Avery’s fortune, life, and loves are on the line in the game that everyone will be talking about.
To inherit billions, all Avery Kylie Grambs must do is survive a few more weeks living in Hawthorne House. The paparazzi are dogging her every step. Financial pressures are building. Danger is a fact of life. And the only thing getting Avery through it all is the Hawthorne brothers. Her life is intertwined with theirs. She knows their secrets, and they know her.
But as the clock ticks down to the moment when Avery will become the richest teenager on the planet, trouble arrives in the form of a visitor who needs her help—and whose presence in Hawthorne House could change everything. It soon becomes clear that there is one last puzzle to solve, and Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are drawn into a dangerous game against an unknown and powerful player. Secrets upon secrets. Riddles upon riddles. In this game, there are hearts and lives at stake—and there is nothing more Hawthorne than winning.”
Review:
This bestselling trilogy ends with more puzzles and mysteries to solve. I thought that this trilogy’s strongest novel was The Hawthorne Legacy, but this was a good finale to an incredibly well-written and thought-out series for teen readers. Readers will again enjoy puzzling out the clues and predicting who is responsible for the conflict in this final installment. Secrets are revealed that ultimately will decide the fate of all inhabiting Hawthorne House. This was still one of the more unique YA mystery trilogies published in the past few years. The conclusion to The Inheritance Games will not disappoint fans.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- English Language Arts (ELA): This novel is perfect for studying intricate plot structures, complex character webs, and the mystery genre’s conventions. Students can analyze how foreshadowing, riddles, and structural motifs are woven through a multi-book arc.
- Social Studies / Economics: Excellent for modern studies regarding wealth disparity, the power of media/paparazzi, and the social and financial pressures faced by contemporary youth who are thrust into overnight wealth.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Highlights key themes of trust, systemic trauma, resilience, and navigating complex familial relationships under extreme stress.
Diversity & Representation Note:
The book represents a diverse cast of characters with varying socioeconomic backgrounds, showcasing Avery’s transition from working-class struggles to extreme wealth, alongside complex family dynamics that challenge traditional definitions of family and loyalty.
Readalikes:
- One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
- Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
- The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
