The Name of the Game Was Murder

Reader reviewed by K. Hager

Out of all of Joan Lowry Nixon's mysteries, this is my favorite. The story begins with Samantha going to visit an older relative who happens to be a writer. he has come up with this game that of course anyone who's ever read a mystery will tell you, somebody's going to die from playing! But no matter, they start the game and bingo--somebody's murdered.

Although this plot's been seen before, what I really liked was the descriptions Nixon gave to the old house. It reminded me of the mansion in Clue. The book has all the elements that make for a great mystery: big, cool old house, eccentric rich guy half off his rocker, game that ends with somebody dying, and a young girl to solve the mystery and save the day.

Reader reviewed by Leslie J. de la Rosa

Thrilling Suspense! This book had me on the edge of my seat. Samantha goes to visit her aunt and uncle at their mansion in an island close to Avalon. Her Uncle Augustus Trevor is a famous novelist; Sam wants to be a writer. Now while on her visit to the mansion she discovers that Augustus is a mean-tempered person. Augustus had invited guests to play in a “game”. He had written a manuscript that reveals the darkest secrets of his guests. The guests will be given clues to solve and find the manuscript, only then can they have their story removed. Samantha finds herself helping everyone with his or her clues. This book and all the books I’ve read by Joan Lowery Nixon are great.