At the reading (led by Ed Plum) the will reveals that Westing was murdered… and that one of the heirs is the culprit. The heirs are all divided into teams (eight pairs of two) and given clues to solve the murder, along with $10,000.

Who are the first pair in the Westing Game?

The first pair worth noting is Flora and Turtle. Turtle, who has been hungry for maternal love, now has a person who trusts her opinion and respects her. Turtle seems to be the most creative, thinking outside the box about what the clues could mean.

What are the five clues in the Westing Game?

Angela and Sydelle look through their five clues: “GOOD, HOOD, FROM, SPACIOUS, GRACE.” They also have the clues that they overheard from the other night at the Westing Mansion: “KING, QUEEN” from Otis Amber, “PURPLE WAVES” overheard from Grace, “ON” or “NO” overheard from Doug and Theo, and “GRAINS” from Chris.

What happens to Otis and Crow in the Westing Game?

Westing initially hired Otis to keep tabs on Crow and make sure she never used the Westing name—but over the course of their friendship, Otis and Crow have become close, and Otis has developed real affection for her. Toward the end of the novel, the two marry in a ceremony at James Hoo ’s restaurant.

How is the mystery solved in the Westing Game?

In order to win the inheritance, they must solve the mystery of his death. The will splits the residents into pairs, each of which receives four cryptic words as clues. As the Westing heirs rush to solve the mystery, they begin to work together. The heirs learn about each other’s lives and form unlikely friendships.

Who are the pairings in the Westing Game?

In the next room, Plum reads out the game’s pairings: Madame Hoo and Jake, Turtle and Flora, Chris and Denton, Sandy and Ford, Grace and Mr. Hoo, Crow and Otis, Theo and Doug, and Sydelle and Angela. Each pair, Plum says, will receive a $10,000 check—if anyone drops out, their partner must also forfeit the money.

What happens in Chapter 8 of the Westing Game?

Theo is concerned that if they don’t solve the clues in time, the murderer will kill again—but Doug seems unconvinced that there is even a murderer amongst them. Theo suggests they find a way to get all the heirs to pool their clues, but Doug says there’s no way the greedy heirs will give up the goods.

What does Sam Westing say in the Westing Game?

He claims that chess is not allowed in the building. After Sam Westing dies, at the beginning of the book, it emerges that most of the tenants are named as heirs in Westing’s will. The will is structured like a puzzle, with the 16 heirs challenged to find the solution. In the will it states that one of his heirs has killed him.