This was a lot of fun. I don’t read a ton of middle grade and, admittedly, I found Hope annoying for the first couple of chapters. But once the events of the plot kicked off, I found it intriguing. There’s a spelling bee, a mystery, lots of little clues surrounding literature and words, and family drama/coming of age. It works well across the story. I realized that we’re all probably a bit unbearable at 12, too, and Hope grew on me.

I think there may be more in the series. I’m not sure if I’ll read more but it’ll depend on the plot. This was a lot like The Westing Game, and 30 years later, that remains a favorite.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC.

This book follows a twins Hope and Gordon as they navigate a high stakes spelling bee and secret scavenger hunt. Great for readers who liked The Inheritance Games but are looking for something a bit more accessible to younger audiences. The twist at the end is a bit silly, but the target audience may not mind.

I discovered a couple years ago how much I love middle grade mystery and The Winterton Deception did not disappoint. Who knew that a spelling bee could be so intense! Johnson introduces us to a set of twins who from the beginning of the story are investigating a possible connection to another family. Hope and Gordon are both brilliant young teens, but can they even compete on the level of the tremendously successful Wintertons?
I love the themes of family, friendship, honesty, and forgiveness. I love the mystery throughout the story. The questions kept me reading just one more chapter to figure out if I was right about what would happen next, and I was pleased with the ending that brought some twists that I was not expecting. We know from the title that we won’t have to wonder if there will be a second book, which makes me so excited.

A plot rich in characters and twists. The story is engaging, the characters are interesting, and the setting is original. You never get bored as the mysteries pile up and the tension gradually rises. There are also very touching moments, and you constantly find yourself trying to uncover who is behind this or that scheme... I'm curious to know what the second volume has in store for us! Loved it ! #family #friendship #challenges #forgiveness

Hope and Gordon have always grown up with just their mom. They recently discovered their father was Brandon Winterton, one of the children of a wealthy family. When they are invited to participate in the Winterton Spelling Bee, they see it as a chance to help their mom out financially. Once there though, they realize that there is a clue hunt for a hidden manuscript. Hope is weary of all the Wintertons and doesn't know who to trust.

Overall, I enjoyed this one! I liked the clues and the hunt that the kids went on. I do think it was maybe a bit long for the age demographic it's going for. There were some parts I think could have been cut down, especially the actual Spelling Bee parts (at least the earlier rounds). Besides that, a fun mystery!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An absolutely brilliant mystery full of dark secrets, complicated clues, and the promise of fortune - and, ultimately, family.

The characters are strong - each with their own needs as motivations. The treasure hunt is well crafted and twisty enough to keep you guessing. And the heart of the story is beautifully conveyed.

Janet Sumner Johnson delivers in this story of intrigue, mistrust, and family ties. There's something to enjoy here for every reader. A must for your bookshelf or library.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, the blurb touted it as something for fans of Knives Out, The Inheritance Game, and The Westing Game, all of which I love. The main character Hope Smith “can’t stand rich people” and she and her twin brother find out that their late father was a member of their town’s wealthiest family. Hope, Gordon and their mom join the Winterton Spelling Bee in order to pay off their housing bill and are forced into close quarters with the Winterton family. As you can imagine, this does not sit well with Hope.
This book is set up to be a really interesting mystery but it starts off very slowly. We spend the first few chapters learning just how much Hope hates rich people. Because of her distrust she is mean to those around her, especially her mother and brother. What saves Hope as a character, is that she truly loves her family and Johnson does a good job of showing how she struggles with trusting those around her and forming friendships. Hope starts out as prickly and closed off and ends up becoming a more open and likable character.
Once the treasure hunt/riddle section of the book begins the plot picks up pace and the story becomes a lot more interesting. The mystery was pretty good but the ending was a bit too similar to the Westing Game. Overall, I liked this book but it was not as original or as fast-paced as I would have liked.

I remember reading The Westing Game as a kid and despite being disappointed by the ending, thinking it had been a fun ride. My general understanding is that most readers had a similar reaction, and now we have an entire generation of authors attempting to improve on the concept.

There have been a few semi successful efforts, but most just feel like direct ripoffs of the original or failed attempts to correct the original problem. This book offers a slightly better solution in the end, but getting there is largely painful.

Atmospherically the book isn’t on par with Westing or some of the better imitations, but it’s satisfactory. And the riddles are a mixed bag, some very clever and some not so much. But the greater plot is a bit of a miss, and the characters leave a lot to be desired.

Hope is so obnoxious that I almost couldn’t continue reading the story. She’s like a caricature of anti-capitalist sentiment and angsty teen rolled up into one, and the result is cringey and feels like a disservice to the emotional turmoil often endured by kids this age. Most kids are more complicated than this and they’re certainly far smarter than this, and the characterization makes the author seem out of touch with the primary audience. The rest of the characters are okay enough, though all are on the archetypal, one dimensional side.

This isn’t a terrible book by any stretch, but there are so many others of the same nature that are better that I can’t see the value in continuing the series.

To me, this book is foremost about family. It explored intricacies of family relationships, from 13-year-old Hope’s point of view, and how money complicates it even further.

Hope’s small family isn’t well-off and needs money. She knows she’s related to the rich Wintertons, but her morals won’t allow her to request/accept financial help from this deceitful family. Unlike her twin, she wants nothing to do with them. However, if she wins prize money in their annually facilitated spelling bee competition, she knows she’ll deserve it due to the hard work she put in studying the words. As the spelling bee progresses, all members are secretly invited to solve a mystery on the Winterton mansion grounds. Through this, Hope learns that there’s more to why each of the Wintertons became who they are today, but I love that she never wavers from what she believes to be right.

The book depicts a world with imperfect parents which I believe to be a realistic depiction of what children become aware of at this age. Hope’s mother often choosing to hang out with her friend rather than her family is a good example. However, I loved that when Hope sees threats that she later can’t prove, her mother never doubts her for a second. It’s more than can be said about the Winterton parents. By the end, we learn that Hope’s morals regarding love and money mirror her mother’s. Fear not: there’s a happy ending for our protagonists.

The clues and riddles set out in the mystery were fun to follow along. Fans of Jane Austen will be rewarded. My husband enjoyed trying to figure out the Calvin & Hobbes reference.
This review is based on an e-ARC from NetGalley.

I can not wait to get this story into the hands of my students. This story was so engaging and weird. My kids love anything strange and this mystery is going to get them good.

Thank you @holidayhousebks @peachtreepublishing @pixelandinkbks for the #gifted copy of this book!

📣Calling all Inheritance Games lovers! I am always searching for more books with games in them and YAY for this one because it was perfect. If you enjoyed the Inheritance Games consider this one!

This is a middle grade mystery chalked full of clues, competition and a sweet moral of the story and the end! I loved this book! The message was absolutely perfect!

Hope and Gordon, twin brother and sister, enter a spelling bee competition to try and save their family. The problem is, they don’t have a lot of money and the money from the winnings would be life changing for them, should they win. The bigger problem…Hope can’t stand rich people and the host is none other than the Winterton family who is most certainly wealthy and who Hope feels she cannot trust! Her goal is to win and to win quick! With each passing round Hope realizes that Jane Winterton, the deceased grandmother is still pulling strings from behind the grave. As Hope makes her way through the clues and spelling bee rounds she realizes there is more to this competition than she originally thought.

I loved this sweet story and really feel this will appeal to a large audience! This book was fun, had mysterious clues that kept me guessing and the family drama kept me on my toes. Anytime there are games and clues to be solved I am there for it! I think the puzzles were well done and there was enough conflict that kept me interested the entire time. I absolutely loved the ending and moral of the story and cannot wait to see where Janet Sumner Johnson takes this story next!

I absolutely loved 'Final Word' and would eagerly dive into more from this series without a second thought! This gripping tale had me hooked from the very beginning with its unique premise and complex characters.

Hope Smith's strong-willed personality and her aversion to the wealthy Winterton family added a layer of authenticity to the story. The way she and her twin brother, Gordon, were thrust into the world of the Wintertons through a charity spelling bee was both unexpected and intriguing. As the plot unfolded, I found myself drawn deeper into the mystery and the high-stakes competition.

What truly sets 'Final Word' apart is the ingenious clue hunt set up by the deceased matriarch, Jane Winterton. It added an element of suspense and excitement that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The tension among the family members, both the Smiths and the Wintertons, was palpable, and I couldn't help but root for Hope and Gordon to succeed in this high-stakes challenge.

As secrets from the past bubbled to the surface, the narrative became even more enthralling. The story skillfully delved into the complex dynamics of family relationships, the allure of hidden fortunes, and the lengths people will go to protect their legacies.

'Final Word' is a testament to the author's clever storytelling and their fearlessness in tackling the challenges and secrets often concealed behind closed doors. If you're a fan of suspenseful mysteries with well-developed characters and a dash of family drama, this series starter is an absolute must-read. I eagerly await the next installment in the series to see where Hope and Gordon's adventures will take them next!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

It is a five star ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ from me, firstly the cover made me want to read this book, it gave me Winterhouse vibes and it did not disappoint. We have secrets, mysterious mansions, a spelling competition, clues, treasure hunts and more. I was intrigued from the very first page, I will be buying a physical copy of this one to add to my middle grade collection. I cannot wait for the second book in this series.

Twins, Hope and Gordon, enter a spelling contest as a means to save their family from financial ruin. Once they arrive, however, they find that there are far more than words to puzzle out, as a series of clues is left for them, revealing a hidden fortune and dark secrets about the wealthy relations they’ve never known.

This was such a fun middle grade novel! The clues they were attempting to puzzle out were littered throughout the entire novel, meaning there was always something ponder and a new revelation to make. Asides from this, the number of other individuals competing in the spelling bee meant there was a plethora of characters to meet and understand.

Hope and Gordon differed greatly in their regard for their competition and this became just as much a heart-warming tale of acceptance as it did a fun and adventurous one.

The NetGalley description of "The Winterton Deception 1: Final Word" promises it to be a middle grade mystery for fans of the YA "Inheritance Games", and Janet Sumner Johnson more than delivers on that assurance. Twins, Hope and Gordon Smith live with their mom in the Merry Motel. Money is tight, which is ironic, because the siblings have recently discovered that the father that died before they were born, was a member of the Winterton family: eccentric millionaires, and the creators of a world famous dictionary. The Smith family gets the opportunity to change their fortune when they are selected to be contestants in the Winterton Family Spelling Bee. The grand prize is 500,000 dollars but the complicated rules require the family to stay at the Winterton mansion during the competition. There the children discover a world of secrets in letters that reveal long buried family conflicts, and a scavenger hunt promising even more riches. But the real treasure is finding out about their father and the love he had for their mom. And their discovery might help to repair the fractures among the rest of the Wintertons. I enjoyed the twists and turns of this story, and I look forward to more adventures with the unconventional Wintertons.

(3.5 stars, rounded up)

What I Liked:

-Plots revolving around puzzles and mystery are always fun.

-I like the positive emphasis on family, trust, and forgiveness.

-The spelling bee element was fun. I feel like they're not used super often in novels.


What I Struggled With:

-The final twist in the epilogue. It felt a little realistic that no one else realized what Hope did--especially the adults.

-Hope and Gordon's mom's actions felt off while they were at the Winterton house. While they're semi-explained, it still made her character feel off.


Other:

-While The Winterton Deception: Final Word could easily be a standalone, it is the first in a series. I'm curious about what kind of plots Johnson will come up with for future books.


Final Thoughts:

A fun, puzzley middlegrade novel.


Cautions: Hope and Gordon's parents weren't married; brief, non-graphic moderate violence

What worked:
The author makes great efforts to express how much Hope detests the Winterton family. The opening pages reveal that Hope and her brother Gordon have learned that their father was from the wealthy Wintertons but he left them and their mother without any financial support. They currently live in a motel room and they’re also behind in paying their rent. Consequently, Hope focuses her anger on the entire Winterton clan and she’s unwilling to compromise and give any of them a chance to change her mind. The author constantly describes her unwavering animosity and any positive behaviors exhibited by any of the Wintertons are met with her suspicions. Another intriguing twist to the plot is that Hope and Gordon’s mom doesn’t know her kids are aware of their connection to the Wintertons and the Wintertons seem to have no idea of the connection either.
There are many books written where someone’s died and left a mystery behind for the survivors. This book adds an innovative angle by using a life-changing spelling bee as the backdrop. There’s actually more focus on the spelling bee and Winterton family drama than the mystery in the first third of the book. The deceased grandmother leaves all of the family members starting clues to locate a valuable manuscript hidden somewhere in the mansion. Additional cryptic messages must be found but some of them may be misleading red herrings. Words often have multiple meanings in the clues so readers will enjoy trying to solve the puzzles too. Gordon and Hope consider teaming up with another family but they have drastically different thoughts about the possibility. Guess who thinks it’s a bad idea?
The Winterton family dysfunction is a highlight of the plot. While Hope and Gordon’s father was a Winkerton, no one in the family knows about their mother. A classmate of Hope named Jennifer is a Winkerton but Hope won’t let herself become friends due to the family name. Jennifer’s father is a snobby pain in the butt who doesn’t get along with anyone. One family was accused of cheating during the spelling bee five years earlier and ill feelings haven’t totally gone away. Hope is surprised to discover a couple of the families are having money issues due to differing circumstances which shows people often have troubles no one else can see. Other secrets are marinating behind the scenes and they’re eventually revealed in the story’s resolution.
What didn’t work as well:
There are a lot of characters once the setting moves to the Winterton estate. Parents and kids are required to participate in the spelling bee so it can be challenging to remember names and family relationships with breaks between reading sessions. The issue lessens as the plot moves on.
The final verdict:
The spelling bee may not excite some readers but the mystery and intrigue surrounding the Winkertons make this an engaging story. The presence of Hope’s family helps to initiate the critical transformation in character dynamics and brings everything to a mostly happy conclusion. Overall, the book is very entertaining and I recommend you give it a shot.

A middle-school mystery wrapped around a spelling bee. I enjoyed the plot and concept of this book. It had a similar feel to Westing Game and the 39 Clues series. However, the clues and mystery did not have the same on the edge of your seat feel, in my opinion. The characters at times felt a little flat and not engaged with the spelling bee and some of the scenes. Still a very enjoyable read and I look forward to finding out more about the characters in the sequel. I would definitely recommend this book to middle-schooler and even high-schoolers who want a clean less intense version of books like Inheritance Games and Knives Out.

I really enjoyed this middle grade novel. This one had twists and turns and great puzzle to figure out. Can’t wait to read the second book in the series!

A fun introduction into the world of twisty for the middle-schooler. I will definably be sharing this one with my grandchildren to introduce them to my favorite genre. The puzzle aspect was fun and engaging. Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me to review the book.