Puzzle Pieces & Plot Twists: A review of The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Book Summary – Spoiler free

What if your name suddenly appeared in a billionaire’s will—but you had no idea who he was? The Inheritance Games draws you into a glittering, dangerous world of puzzles, riddles, and secrets, with a pulse of romance threading through the high-stakes drama. Jennifer Lynn Barnes masterfully crafts a story that feels like Knives Out met Gossip Girl, with a dash of Pretty Little Liars and a heart of its own. No spoilers here—just the promise of a ride you won’t want to get off.

Avery Grambs is just trying to survive high school and make it out with a scholarship. She never expected her entire world to flip upside down when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves her nearly his entire fortune…with one catch: she has to move into his sprawling, puzzle-box of a mansion—and live there with the very family he disinherited.

Set in modern-day Texas, The Inheritance Games takes place in Hawthorne House, a gothic-modern estate filled with hidden passageways, cryptic clues, and a family that plays games like it’s second nature.

At the heart of the chaos are the four Hawthorne grandsons—each brilliant, dangerous, and compelling in their own way. Especially Jameson and Grayson, who quickly become central to Avery’s journey. As she navigates treacherous riddles and simmering tensions, one thing becomes clear: nothing is accidental, and everyone is playing a part.

Analysis and Opinion

This book had me hooked from the very first page. Jennifer Lynn Barnes writes with the sharpness of a thriller and the romantic pull of a slow-burning love triangle. The pacing is electric—every chapter ends with a new reveal or cliffhanger, yet it never feels forced. It’s the kind of book you fly through and then immediately want to reread just to catch what you missed the first time.

What I loved most? The puzzle-box plot and the complicated, layered characters. Avery is smart, resourceful, and easy to root for. The Hawthorne brothers? Each is uniquely mysterious, with backstories and motivations that unfold like a riddle themselves. Jameson is the reckless romantic, always chasing the next thrill, while Grayson is cold, composed, and clearly guarding more than he lets on. The subtle tension between them and Avery is delicious—romantic but never overpowering the mystery.

If I had to nitpick, I’d say the first half leans heavily on setup, and occasionally I wished for more emotional depth in some secondary characters (like Nash). But honestly? That’s a small price to pay for a story this twisty and atmospheric.

Standout themes: identity, legacy, power dynamics, and what it means to truly belong. There’s also a whisper of slow-burn romance that left me breathless more than once. The chemistry is real… or is it?

One of the most satisfying—and frustrating in the best way—parts of The Inheritance Games is how every mystery answered seems to birth two more. Just when I thought I’d figured something out, Barnes pulled the rug out from under me. It’s like the author is playing chess with the reader, keeping us several moves behind at all times.

The ending? Chef’s kiss. I didn’t see it coming, and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the youngest Hawthorne grandson. He might not be the loudest or most broody, but oh, when things start falling into place, he quietly steals the show. And even then, Jennifer Lynn Barnes doesn’t hand you all the answers. The puzzle is never complete—on purpose. She leaves just enough out to make you crave the sequel like air.

And the love interests… let’s just say I’m conflicted in the best way. I genuinely don’t know who to root for, especially when all is revealed. Both Jameson and Grayson carry weight, secrets, and emotional depth that make them impossible to pin down—and that tension? It burns.

Sidenote: Escape Room Vibes

The puzzles in The Inheritance Games gave me total escape room vibes—the kind where you’re trapped in a series of intricately designed rooms and have to collaborate with friends (or strangers) to solve each piece of the puzzle before moving on. Everyone brings something different to the table—one person’s a Sudoku genius, another cracks codes, someone else spots patterns—and that’s exactly how it feels inside Hawthorne House.

For the gamers out there, think The Room series or Escape Academy. That same layered, immersive feel is here in full force—where solving one riddle just unlocks another, and you’re constantly questioning what’s real, what’s misdirection, and what the bigger picture actually is. The mansion practically feels like a game level, each space hiding clues or memories, waiting to be unlocked.

It wasn’t just about brute-force intelligence; it was about teamwork, instinct, and trusting the right people—which adds an extra layer of tension when you’re never quite sure who’s trustworthy. That “we’re in this together, but are we really?” energy just hit. It made the book feel immersive and hands-on in the best way.

Final Thoughts

Even as I write this review, I find myself mentally retracing every twist, every cryptic clue, wondering what I missed—and desperately wanting to dive into the next book, The Hawthorne Legacy. This story has stuck with me in a way few books do. It’s been a long time since a mystery so thoroughly pulled me in without feeling overly predictable. Just when I thought I had it figured out, Jennifer Lynn Barnes reminded me who’s really in charge.

I would absolutely recommend this book. Whether you’re a die-hard YA fan, a lover of riddles and slow-burn tension, or just looking for something that’ll keep you reading well past your bedtime—this is it.

If you love:

• High-stakes mysteries with a touch of glamor
• Found family dynamics and tangled relationships
• Clever riddles and scavenger hunt-style clues
• A love triangle that doesn’t feel cliché
• Books like One of Us is Lying, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, or Truly Devious

…then The Inheritance Games is absolutely for you. It’s perfect for readers aged 13+ who crave suspense with a swoony edge. I’d especially recommend it to fans of YA thrillers, puzzle lovers, and anyone who likes their stories with a side of secrets and slow-burn tension.