Sixteen heirs, an elaborate game, and an eccentric millionaire. Ellen Raskin weaves a pulsating mystery in The Westing Game that will leave readers in suspense until the very end. Full of twists and turns, the book will have its readers on the edge of their seats, and the surprise ending will be one that they won’t soon forget.
In the beginning of the book, intriguing invitations are sent out to sixteen seemingly random people, urging them not to pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire an apartment in the newly built Sunset Towers. They all accept, but as soon as they move in, the mystery begins — one that could leave them all very rich, but only if they play the “game.” The instructions are read, and the Westing game begins.
Raskin uses colorful imagery to make the story come alive. The reader can almost feel the chill of this scene: “A cold, raw wind whipped dead leaves about the ankles of the four people grouped in the Sunset Towers driveway, but none of them shivered. Not yet.” She includes plenty of descriptive details that allow the reader to know what some of the characters are thinking and in turn, how they plan to solve the mystery. But, because not all is revealed to them, the reader can’t anticipate what will happen next, and in this way, is able to experience the mystery as it unfolds. Raskin balances the dark subject of murder and the suspense of the game with a playful sense of irony like, “The sun sets in the west (just about everyone knows that), but the Sunset Towers faced east. Strange!” |
When I first started reading the Westing Game, I had no context as to what it was about, but was delightfully surprised as to what I found. Throughout reading the story, I never found a dull
moment or a boring part. While this book is generally an easier read, it still was an entertaining story that captured my imagination until the end.
Overall, the Westing Game is a perpetually entertaining and satisfying book. It is easy to see why it earned the Newberry medal and has been a classic favorite. For me, this book is a four out of five stars. It provided everything I would want out of a murder mystery, but I wish it was more of a deep read. This book didn’t have any remarkably complex characters and the theme wasn’t something that touched on any philosophical notes. If you're looking for a book with exciting twists and turns or something that’s fun and easy to read but keeps your attention, then the Westing Game is most definitely the book for you. Ellen Raskin crafts a creative mystery that’s sure to entertain from cover to cover.
moment or a boring part. While this book is generally an easier read, it still was an entertaining story that captured my imagination until the end.
Overall, the Westing Game is a perpetually entertaining and satisfying book. It is easy to see why it earned the Newberry medal and has been a classic favorite. For me, this book is a four out of five stars. It provided everything I would want out of a murder mystery, but I wish it was more of a deep read. This book didn’t have any remarkably complex characters and the theme wasn’t something that touched on any philosophical notes. If you're looking for a book with exciting twists and turns or something that’s fun and easy to read but keeps your attention, then the Westing Game is most definitely the book for you. Ellen Raskin crafts a creative mystery that’s sure to entertain from cover to cover.