Winterton Deception

It rained the day we went to see Brandon Winterton's grave. 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 taut, 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.

A kidnapping, a clue hunt, lots of family tension, and a literary find for the ages weave together in the thrilling second book of the Winterton Deception. Perfect for fans of “Knives Out”, “The Inheritance Games”, and “The Westing Game.” After the incredible events of the last official Winterton Bee, Hope and Gordon Smith have discovered that having an extended family isn't so bad... and maybe their famous relatives' lives aren't so charmed. But Hope is still hiding a secret, and it's a big one. When Elizabeth Springer goes missing just before the Winterton's big Thanksgiving celebration, their first reunion since the spelling bee, Hope knows it's time to come clean. Her secret may be the only thing that can save Ms. Springer. But none of the Winterton clan want to hear it. Worse, they accuse Hope of making up the whole thing as an attention-grab. Poised to give up on her new-found family, Hope gets a cryptic coded letter with instructions on how to find James Winterton, her long-estranged grandfather. Whatsmore, the letter hints that the Wintertons had more secrets than just a hidden treasure. Now Hope and Gordon face the impossible task of convincing their family to follow a shifty clue to find the man they want to see least, in order to save the woman who's been lying to them for years. With even more family intrigue and peppered with delicious literary what-ifs, the middle grade “The Winterton Deception” series delivers another twisty, electric puzzle mystery young sleuths will eagerly devour.