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Quick answer: If you loved The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, try The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson.
Avery Grambs is a teenager living in her car when a billionaire she has never met leaves her his fortune. The catch is that she has to live in his mansion with his four grandsons, all of whom were cut out of the will, and solve his puzzles to understand why. Jennifer Lynn Barnes’s novel is a mystery, a puzzle book and a slow-burn romance rolled into one, and it became a huge hit. The picks below share its clever riddles, wealthy families, hidden clues and twisty plots. Most are YA, with some middle grade classics.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love The Inheritance Games
Readers love The Inheritance Games because it is such a fun puzzle. Jennifer Lynn Barnes fills Hawthorne House with secret passages and hidden rooms, and lets the reader try to solve the riddles before Avery does. Avery is smart and stubborn, and the four Hawthorne brothers, especially Grayson and Jameson, create a love triangle that keeps readers arguing. The books are fast, with short chapters and cliffhangers, and each ends with a twist that makes the next one a must-read.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about The Inheritance Games: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hawthorne Legacy | Jennifer Lynn Barnes | YA mystery | Continuing the series |
| The Final Gambit | Jennifer Lynn Barnes | YA mystery | Third in the series |
| Truly Devious | Maureen Johnson | YA mystery | Boarding school cold cases |
| The Westing Game | Ellen Raskin | Middle grade mystery | The classic puzzle |
| One of Us Is Lying | Karen M. McManus | YA mystery | School secrets and suspects |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | Middle grade mystery | Younger puzzle lovers |
| A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder | Holly Jackson | YA mystery | A teen detective |
| Chasing Vermeer | Blue Balliett | Middle grade mystery | Art and codes |
| Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library | Chris Grabenstein | Middle grade mystery | Library puzzles |
| The Naturals | Jennifer Lynn Barnes | YA thriller | More Jennifer Lynn Barnes |
| Heist Society | Ally Carter | YA mystery | Heists and teens |
| A Study in Charlotte | Brittany Cavallaro | YA mystery | Sherlock Holmes descendants |
| Ready Player One | Ernest Cline | Science fiction | Treasure hunts |
| The Cousins | Karen M. McManus | YA mystery | Family secrets |
| The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman | Cozy mystery | Fun, clever whodunits |
1. The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Avery faces a new set of puzzles, enemies and a love triangle in the second book.
2. The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Avery faces her most dangerous puzzle yet as the Hawthorne secrets close in. It’s twisty and romantic.
3. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
A true-crime-loving teen goes to a school where a famous murder took place.
4. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Sixteen heirs compete to solve the mystery of a millionaire’s death. It won the Newbery Medal.
5. One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Five students enter detention and only four leave alive.
6. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted kids are recruited for a secret mission to infiltrate a strange school.
7. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Pip investigates a murder as her school project.
8. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Two kids use clues and pentominoes to solve an art theft in Chicago. It’s clever and fun.
9. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
Twelve kids are locked in a high-tech library and must solve puzzles to escape.
10. The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
A teen with a gift for reading people joins an FBI program.
11. Heist Society by Ally Carter
A teen from a family of thieves must steal back paintings to save her father.
12. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
The great-great-grandchildren of Holmes and Watson solve a murder.
13. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
A teen hunts for a hidden prize in a virtual world. It’s packed with puzzles and nostalgia.
14. The Cousins by Karen M. McManus
Three cousins are invited to their grandmother’s island resort after being cut out for years.
15. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Four retirees solve cold cases for fun. It’s witty, warm and full of twists.
How to Pick Your Next Puzzle Mystery After The Inheritance Games
- Want to continue? The Hawthorne Legacy.
- Want riddles? The Westing Game and Chasing Vermeer.
- Want younger options? The Mysterious Benedict Society.
- Want boarding school mysteries? Truly Devious.
- Want teen detectives? A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
- Want a puzzle hunt? Ready Player One.
The Inheritance Games Series Order
The main series is The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy, The Final Gambit and The Brothers Hawthorne. The books are best read in order, and they deal with the murder of a billionaire, kidnapping and danger, though none of it is very graphic. If you love puzzle mysteries, you might also like The Westing Game and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, which are good middle-grade companions.
Related: what age The Inheritance Games is appropriate for and books like A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like The Inheritance Games?
The Hawthorne Legacy is the sequel, and Truly Devious and The Westing Game are the closest matches.
Is The Inheritance Games appropriate for 12-year-olds?
It has mild violence and romance, so it’s usually recommended for ages 12–13 and up.
Do I need to read the books in order?
Yes. The series builds across books.