Book Review: The Winterton Deception 1: Final Word by Janet Sumner Johnson

Publisher’s description

In this twisty middle grade mystery for fans of Knives Out, The Inheritance Game, and The Westing Game, thirteen-year-old twins Hope and Gordon enter a spelling bee in a last-ditch effort to save their family from financial ruin, only to find themselves in a cut-throat competition to uncover a fortune and dark secrets about the wealthy relations they’ve never known.

Hope Smith can’t stand rich people—the dictionary magnate family the Wintertons most of all. Not since she and her twin brother, Gordon, learned that their dad was one. So when Gordon enters the family into the Winterton’s charity spelling bee, Hope wants nothing to do with it. But with their mom losing her job and the family facing eviction from the motel where they live, they desperately need the money, and it looks like Hope doesn’t have much of a choice.

After winning the preliminary round, the Smiths are whisked to Winterton Chalet to compete in the official Winterton Bee against their long-lost relatives. Hope wants to get in and out, beat the snobbish family at their own game, and never see them again. But deceased matriarch Jane Winterton had other plans for this final family showdown. Before her death, she set up a clue hunt throughout the manor—an alternate way for Hope and Gordon to get the money that could change their lives.

Still, others are on the trail, too. With tensions at an all-time high, a fortune at stake, and long-simmering family secrets about to boil to the surface, anything could happen.

A tense, clever clue hunt unafraid to tackle the challenges and secrets often kept behind closed doors, Final Word is a gripping series starter sure to satisfy even the most voracious armchair detectives.

Amanda’s thoughts

Wow, did I enjoy this. Again, I am really into mysteries these days. And a mystery built around a spelling bee? AND everyone involved has to stay all together in the same house for the week? I’M IN!

The summary up there gives a very thorough overview of the plot. I loved how it built on itself. Kids learn who deceased dad is; enter his family’s spelling bee for their own reasons (win money and, for Gordon, get closer to the family they’ve never known); learn there’s a mystery full of clues at the mansion; everyone becomes a suspect/potential ally; AND THEN A BIG TWIST!

Honestly, a huge draw also for me was that this is built around a spelling bee! How cool is that? I still remember in 1997 my lifelong friend Seth called me and was like, “Are you watching ESPN?” And I, a total NOT sports person, was like, “Really?!” And he says, “The spelling bee is on. You’ve gotta see this girl Rebecca Sealfon.” So I watched, and loved her whole big brain process, and then realized that the television could show me the cool sport of SPELLING! Who knew? Anyway. I love a spelling bee. Cool premise for a story.

The very complex family dynamics of the Wintertons are revealed over the course of the week. Thank goodness Gordon and Hope are good at eavesdropping, solving clues, and thinking on their feet. Suddenly they’re learning the inner workings of this thus far unknown to them family. Also? Did I mention that the kids know their father was a Winterton but their mother has not yet revealed who he is, nor does anyone in the family seem to know who they are. It’s so full of layers and twists and really satisfying reveals. The pacing is great, too. The author keeps adding in drama and clues that never feel like they’re making the plot overstuffed but do propel readers to just keep chugging along. This was a hard one to set down. And then I did my classic move of forgetting this is not a standalone book but rather a first in a series. So things do wrap up to a real conclusion, but… then a bit more of the story unfolds, revealing a secret and setting up further stories.

An excellent mystery full of competition, clues, and LOTS of family drama. A great read.

Review copy (ARC) courtesy of the publisher

ISBN-13: 9781645951964
Publisher: Pixel + Ink
Publication date: 10/31/2023
Age Range: 8 – 12 Years

Filed under: Book Reviews