192 pages · Released Sep 3, 1993 · Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers
Content report card
The Name of the Game Was Murder parent’s guide: what’s inside
Medium confidence
Language
None · 0/5
Sexual content
None · 0/5
LGBTQ+ themes
Unsure
Substance use
None · 0/5
What it offers
A note for parents
This classic mystery novel by Joan Lowery Nixon features a murder game that becomes real, making it a suspenseful whodunit for middle and young teen readers. The violence is indirect and not graphically depicted, and the tone is more cerebral puzzle than horror. The story emphasizes logical thinking, courage, and honesty while characters work to solve the mystery and prevent harm.
When she visits her great-uncle, a successful and self-centered author, at his fortress-like home on Catalina Island, fifteen-year-old Samantha becomes involved in his manipulative game that leads to murder.When she visits her great-uncle, a successful and self-centered author, at his fortress-like home on Catalina Island, fifteen-year-old Samantha becomes involved in his manipulative game that leads to murder.
