The Winterton Deception 2: Fault Lines

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 the only one who knows that deceased matriarch Jane Winterton is still very much alive. And it’s a big secret to bear.

But when “Elizabeth Springer” goes missing just before Jane’s about to come clean, Hope knows she needs to tell the truth—a truth the rest of the Winterton clan doesn’t want to hear.

And then Hope gets a cryptic coded letter with instructions on how to find James Winterton—her long-estranged grandfather—and hints that Jane had more secrets than just faking her death. Now Hope and Gordon face the impossible task of convincing their new-found family not only that Jane is alive, but that they need 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.

Reunited with their grandfather, Hope and Gordon discover a trail of mysteries their grandmother unearthed in her quest to acquire new artifacts for her collection. Now, with her stubborn family in tow, bad guys around every bend, and puzzles that make Jane’s look like pre-school activities, Hope is desperate to solve the case and bring her grandmother home. After all, she only just found her . . . she can’t lose her again.

With even more family intrigue and peppered with delicious literary what-ifs, the second installment in the middle grade The Winterton Deception series delivers another twisty, electric puzzle mystery young sleuths will eagerly devour.