Pictured edition: The Hawthorne Inheritance by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Penguin Books 2021. ISBN 9780241476185. Cover art by Katt Phatt. Cover design by Karina Granda. Image used on this blog under the “Fair dealing for criticism or review” provision of the Commonwealth Copyright Act, 1968. Surrounding design made by me using Canva.
In the first book of the series, Avery mysteriously inherits a fortune from puzzle-loving squillionaire Tobias Hawthorne. In this sequel, she is trying to solve the next puzzle: where is Tobias’s son, who has been missing presumed dead for decades, and what is his relevance to the mystery of Avery’s inheritance? Meanwhile, there are Tobias’s damaged and attractive grandsons to deal with as well as her own deadbeat dad and assorted murderous Hawthornes & hangers-on, and Max, Avery’s inventively faux-sweary friend.
This novel picks up where the last one left off, with clues, puzzles, secret passages and sizzling kisses. However, the novelty of the scenario has worn off, and it doesn’t have the benefit of the focused Hawthorne house setting of #1. The cast list is also growing considerably. It got off to a slow start, but was still quite entertaining. Not as good as the first one though, sadly.
Title: The Hawthorne Legacy
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Cover: Cover art by Katt Phatt. Cover design by Karina Granda.
First published: Penguin Books, 2021
Length: 368 pages
ISBN: 9780241476185
Genre: YA suspense, mystery, thriller
Representation: BIPOC supporting character, LGBTQIA+ supporting characters
Suitability: 13+
Fyi: adoption, backstory references to mother’s death, estranged/uncaring fathers, arson, fire related injuries, minor references to miscarriages, kidnapping, attempted murder
Themes: wealth, privilege, identity, family, found family, relationships
Literary features/tropes: puzzles, clues, red herrings
NSW syllabus: wide reading text for interested students
If you like this, try: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE LIBRARY... 
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