Brainstorm 347: Inheritance Puzzle/Competition Mysteries

I've noticed an uptick of late in the number of stories that involve someone either being called to the reading of a will that results in a scavenger hunt to find the real inheritance, or after someone dies or while living announces they are looking for an heir, a competition is launched that involves riddles and puzzles to solve. The first one of these in existence that I could think of was The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin that came out in 1978 and won the 1979 Newbery Medal. It's been pretty popular and in print ever since, so clearly this isn't a new thing, nor is it something that really goes out of style. It has gotten a resurgence since The Inheritance Games came out though, so we're going to highlight Raskin's book and some of the others today that are carrying on the sub-genre. These types of books are good reads for those who like a mental challenge as they read as many of them give the reader enough information to see if they can beat the main character in puzzling out the solutions. Get your thinking caps on, find a cozy reading spot, and see if you have what it takes to be an heir in any of these book worlds. Click the image or scan the QR code for my full summary and review of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings.