Description
The Inheritance Games is the first novel in a young adult mystery series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. The story follows Avery Kylie Grambs, a teenager from a humble background whose life is upended when she unexpectedly inherits the vast fortune of the eccentric billionaire Tobias Hawthorne—a man she has never met.
To claim her inheritance, Avery must move into the sprawling, riddle-filled Hawthorne House, where she finds herself living alongside the family that Hawthorne disinherited. This includes his four brilliant and magnetic grandsons, who grew up expecting to inherit billions.
Plot summary
- The Will: The story begins with Avery Grambs living a quiet life, focused on getting a scholarship and graduating high school. Her plans are shattered when she is summoned to the reading of billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s will and discovers he has left her his entire fortune. The will comes with a major condition: Avery must live in Hawthorne House for one year.
- Hawthorne House: Avery moves into the elaborate, secret passage-filled mansion, which is a reflection of Tobias’s love for puzzles and games. The house is also full of the dispossessed Hawthorne family, who resent Avery’s sudden appearance and suspect she is a con artist.
- The grandsons: Avery must navigate the complex and dangerous dynamics with the four grandsons:
- Grayson Hawthorne, the serious and calculating heir apparent, believes Avery is a fraud.
- Jameson Hawthorne, the reckless and roguish brother, sees Avery as his grandfather’s final, intriguing puzzle to be solved.
- Nash Hawthorne, the eldest and most laid-back brother, seems to want nothing to do with the game.
- Xander Hawthorne, the youngest, is a quirky genius who initially keeps his distance.
- The game: Tobias Hawthorne’s will and the house are filled with clues, codes, and riddles that hint at a deeper reason for Avery’s inheritance. With danger lurking around every corner, Avery must play along to survive and uncover the truth behind why she was chosen.
Main characters
- Avery Kylie Grambs: An intelligent and resourceful high schooler who becomes the surprise heiress to the Hawthorne fortune. She is the narrator of the series.
- Tobias Hawthorne: The deceased billionaire and philanthropist who sets the series’ complex and life-changing game in motion.
- Grayson Hawthorne: The sophisticated, often cold, second-oldest grandson who is a central romantic interest.
- Jameson Hawthorne: The risk-taking and charismatic third grandson who is drawn to Avery by his love of puzzles.
- Nash Hawthorne: The oldest grandson, a quiet and observant individual who often acts as a grounding force.
- Xander Hawthorne: The youngest grandson, a kindhearted and brilliant inventor.
Series information
The Inheritance Games is the first book in a series, which includes:
- The Inheritance Games (2020)
- The Hawthorne Legacy (2021)
- The Final Gambit (2022)
- The Brothers Hawthorne (2023), a spin-off focused on the Hawthorne brothers.
- The Grandest Game (2024), a sequel series.
- Glorious Rivals (2025), a sequel series.
TV series adaptation
In 2020, Amazon announced a TV series adaptation of The Inheritance Games, produced by Sony Pictures TV. As of September 2025, the show is still in development.
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