The Westing Game

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Ellen Raskin
Star Rating
★★★
Reviewer's Rating
Apr 28, 2021

The Westing Game is a fictional story about a group of individuals who all live in Sunset Towers. They are shocked to learn that all of them are heirs to the late Sam Westing, and they compete in a game he devised for his 200-million-dollar estate. The game has vague rules and is twisting and complex, with the final aim of finding his alleged murderer, who is said to be living among them. This creates paranoia and confusion, with different characters having varying goals and problems. Distrust runs rampant throughout the apartment complex, and unusual friendships are formed by those pre-chosen to be partners in the game by Sam Westing. The story has many turns and has a surprise ending in which both the eccentric millionaire and a certain character ultimately triumph.

I liked this book because of its new and unusual plot. I thought the cover, which shows a mansion built out of money and multicolored fireworks, perfectly represents the contents. I also liked the side stories of the different characters, such as Angela, who on the outside is a perfect and obedient daughter, while on the inside, is secretly rebellious. However, I did think that the plot could be a little unrealistic or weird at times. Overall, I enjoyed this book, and would give it 3 stars. I would recommend it to anyone who likes chess, or just wants an entertaining story.

Written by
Gemma K.

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