Rediscovered before I instituted my no-rereading policy, Raskin’s 1978 YA novel combines mystery, adventure and character drama.
Barney Northrup has manipulated a group of strangers into buying apartments in Sunset Towers, an apartment building that overlooks Westing Manor, home of the reclusive paper products millionaire Sam Westing. An eclectic bunch, the new owners include: the Wexlers, podiatrist Jake, his pretentious, upwardly mobile wife Grace Windsor, and their two daughters (the obedient and bland engaged Angela and wilful, ignored Turtle); Angela’s fiancée, medical intern D. Denton Deere; the Theodorakis’s, Greek restaurateur, his wife, and their two sons (disabled Chris and protector Theo); inconsistently crutches-dependant Sydelle Pulaski, “secretary to the president” (of Schultz’s sausages); semi-retired dress-maker Flora Baumbach; the Hoos, Chinese restaurateur James Shin, his non-English-speaking second wife Sun Lin, and his son Doug from a first marriage; aloof soup kitchen volunteer Berthe Erica Crow; and Judge J.J. Ford.
Spurred on by the boys, Turtle breaks in to Westing Manor on a dare, and discovers the body of Sam Westing in his bedroom. The next day the Wexlers, Dr. Deere, the Hoos, the Theodorakis boys, Crow, Judge Ford, Mrs Baumbach, and Ms Pulaski, along with intellectually-challenged delivery man Otis Amber and Sunset Towers doorman Alexander (Sandy) McSouthers, are called by lawyer Ed Plum to hear Westing’s will.
In eight pairs, sixteen people must solve the mystery of who killed Sam Westing, and inherit a fortune. Each person has some connection to Westing, each person has a secret, and each pair has four to six clues – a word each of fragments of paper (eg HIS N ON TO THEE FOR; SKIES AM SHINING BROTHER or SEA MOUNTAIN AM O). Only the reader has access to all the clues – can they work out the mystery before the participants?
This is an enjoyable and diverting novel for young readers. Though somewhat dated (internet access would have significantly changed the information available to participants), the novel has in general aged well. That the author is able, in a relatively short novel, to introduce, maintain and keep separate such a large cast is indicative of Raskin’s ability. – Alex
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