The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin - 10/10

Thrown together apparently by chance, the heirs of Samuel Westing race to be the first to uncover the guilty among their ranks, but everyone has a secret, and the clock is ticking towards the re-enactment of a horrible tragedy from the past.

This story cleverly weaves together many different stories and perspectives, keeping readers engaged and clue hunting right alongside the characters. There are many miniature mysteries embedded within the story which add variety and complexity, and nothing or no one are as simple as they first seem.

This is a great book to read again and again - and it has characters of all different ages (though arguably the "main" characters are high school aged). It is serious and reflective - covering several heavy topics (notably self-harm and suicide), and with an ending that makes me cry - but it also has a lively energy, moments of humor, and turns out to be generally uplifting rather than conniving.