Reviews

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

kristenraeham's review

5.0

Puzzles & riddles & codes + YA + twisty plot!

Avery is left a billionaire's fortune. But she has no idea who he is. In order to receive the inheritance, she must move to the Hawthorne House which is full of secret passages, puzzles & riddles & codes, and unfornutately his four grandsons who are less than thrilled.

Read if you love...

✨YA

✨mystery

✨puzzles & riddles & codes

✨small amounts of romance

I had planned on doing a review for each book but after finishing the first one, I knew that there wouldn't be much I could say in a review that wouldn't be a spoiler, so I'm grouping the original trilogy together as one review!

If you loved the Truly Devious trilogy or the A Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy, this one is for you!

I flew through all three books because I had to know what was going to happen. Hawthorne House is wild & fun & full of secret passages, a bowling alley, multiple libraries, and all sorts of wild things. The puzzles & riddles were so fun to try to figure out. And the Hawthorne boys are the best characters - full of mystery, intrigue, the inability to figure out if you should love them or hate them, and more!

📍Texas

‼️Content: death; domestic / emotional / physical abuse; toxic relationships; death of a parent; child death; injury detail; gun violence; and more (check StoryGraph)

elizawitchy's review

emotional inspiring mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

readitoryeetit's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

quietsaint_148's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

jenn_leo's review

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

elizakaspar1988's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars rounded down

- Focuses more on the various romantic relationships between the young adults. Seemed like they made unnecessary drama for Avery and Jameson at times.

- Series has never been realistic but this just seemed childish. Like they're "playing games" and people are actually at risk of dying.

laurenlgray's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

fosterfish's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

helmee's review

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

anna_garssen's review against another edition

4.0

Dit is deel drie van de trilogie en de minste van de drie, maar ook leuk om te lezen! Dit boek kwam een wat langzamer op gang dan de andere twee. Toen het eenmaal op gang was gekomen, was het weer spannend, interessant en was ik de hele tijd benieuwd hoe het verder zou gaan. Richting het eind werd het een beetje te ingewikkeld, alsof de schrijfster de flow een beetje kwijt was en het net te geforceerd teveel elementen bij elkaar bracht. Dat vond ik een beetje jammer. Maar verder wat het super. Ik moest regelmatig hardop lachen ook.

Mijn zoon van 13 zei tegen me: "Ik weet niet of je het eind wil lezen, want je blijft achter met allemaal vragen". Dus ik was erg benieuwd naar dat einde! Ik snap wat hij bedoelt, maar ik vond het niet erg. Op zich zijn de grote lijnen afgesloten en gaat het hoofdpersoon de wijde wereld in waar ze allerlei dingen zal meemaken die niet in het boek staan. Ik vind dat juist leuk eigenlijk. Het gevoel dat ze nu enthousiast verder kan.