The delivery boy was sixty-two years old, and there was no such person as Barney Northrup”.–Ellen Raskin

This book won the Newbery way back in 1979, yet it still continues to be a favorite among young readers. 16 people are invited to rent apartments in the new luxury Sunset Towers apartment complex. The complex is adjacent to the multi-millionaire, Samuel Westing’s mansion. Several months later, Samuel Westing is found dead in his bed and these 16 strangers are all invited to the reading of Westing’s will. The will states that Westing has been murdered by one of the 16 people but there are all still eligible to become the heir to Westing’s fortune and company. The will also stipulates they must work in pairs to solve the murder, thus the beginning of “the game.” This is a whodunnit that appeals to both kids and adults with lots of twists and turns. Nothing and no one are as they seem. Test your sleuthing abilities and see if you can solve the riddle of Samuel Westing’s murder.

Content Advisory: Murder, suicide, violence, racism

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