The Westing Game: Chapters 1-7

by Ellen Raskin
Where there's a will, there's a motive to solve a murder. When eccentric millionaire Sam Westing dies, he leaves instructions for sixteen people to come to the reading of his will. With a fortune on the line, Westing's death becomes a puzzle they'll race to solve.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–7, Chapters 8–14, Chapters 15–22, Chapters 23–30
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. grapple
    work hard to come to terms with or deal with something
    Neighbor greeted neighbor with "Good morning" or "Good evening" or a friendly smile, and grappled with small problems behind closed doors.
  2. corpse
    the dead body of a human being
    They say his corpse is still up there in that big old house. They say his body is sprawled out on a fancy Oriental rug, and his flesh is rotting off those mean bones, and maggots are creeping in his eye sockets and crawling out his nose holes.
  3. asylum
    a hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced people
    Yep, that poor fella just sits in the state asylum saying, 'Purple waves, purple waves' over and over again, and his scared eyes keep staring at his hands.
  4. putrid
    in an advanced state of decomposition and having a foul odor
    And high above the putrid corpse a crystal chandelier is tinkling.
  5. meager
    deficient in amount or quality or extent
    From these meager beginnings he built the giant Westing Paper Products Corporation and founded the city of Westingtown to house his thousands of workers and their families.
  6. pyrotechnic
    of or relating to the craft of making fireworks
    The spectacular pyrotechnic display could be viewed thirty miles away.
  7. coroner
    an official who investigates death not due to natural causes
    Sikes resumed his Westingtown medical practice and the post of county coroner, but Westing disappeared from sight.
  8. executor
    a person appointed to carry out the terms of the will
    The executor of the Westing estate said the deceased requested that, in place of flowers, donations be sent to Blind Bowlers of America.
  9. appraise
    consider in a comprehensive way
    "I can't imagine what became of my silver cross," she said, fingering the gold-link necklace under her mink stole as she paused to appraise the big house.
  10. scrutiny
    a prolonged intense look
    "Then we are still waiting for one, no, two more," the lawyer said, fumbling with his papers, his hands shaking under the strict scrutiny of the judge.
  11. adjacent
    near or close to but not necessarily touching
    Although I never had the honor of meeting Samuel W. Westing, for some reason yet unexplained, I was appointed executor of this will found adjacent to the body of the deceased.
  12. eccentric
    conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
    Although the will you are about to hear may seem eccentric, I pledge my good name and reputation on its legality.
  13. testament
    a legal document disposing of property after a death
    I, SAMUEL W. WESTING, resident of Westing County in the fair state of Wisconsin in the great and glorious United States of America, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby declare this to be my last will and testament.
  14. appalled
    struck with dread, shock, or dismay
    "If it's any comfort to you, Mrs. Wexler," Judge Ford remarked with biting dignity, "I am just as appalled by our purported relationship."
  15. culprit
    someone or something responsible for harm or wrongdoing
    The culprit is far too cunning to be apprehended for this dastardly deed.
Created on Mon Dec 29 16:25:32 EST 2014 (updated Wed Aug 06 12:11:49 EDT 2025)

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