a secretary, an inventor, a doctor, a judge.  And, oh yes, one was a bookie, one was a buglar, one was a bomber, and one was a mistake. (ch 1, p. 5)

2. The tenants are summoned to the Westing House and paired up for the Westing Game, where the will is read and they are given $10,000 each as seed money.

3. Turtle sneaks into the Westing House and thinks she sees the body.

4. Several items go missing and several bombs go off.  This suspicious behavior is a result of some unstable residents (Mrs. Hoo and Angela), and not the person who murdered Sam Westing.

5. The tenants begin to suspect each other, and this keeps them from working together or sharing their clues.  One of them, J.J. Ford, even hires a private investigator.

6. Most of the pairs begin to realize that they actually are a good fit for each other, and each fills the others need, even though they seemed like odd couples at first.

7. Angela reveals that she set off the bombs when she is injured and hospitalized.  She felt trapped in her “good daughter” role and did not want to marry Denton Deere.  Turtle confesses to protect her.

I, Turtle Wexler, confess to those four bombs.  I’m sorry, it was a dumb thing to do and I won’t do it again.  But!  I am not the burglar and I never murdered anybody, ever. (ch 22, p. 132)

8. A trial is held inside Sunset Towers to determine who the bomber is.

9. Turtle announces that she has won the game because she realized that no one killed Sam Westing.  He is Sandy MacSouthers, Barney Northup, and Julian R. Eastman.

10. Angela marries Denton Deere, and Turtle is rich since she inherited from Westing.  For the most part everyone lives happily ever after.

1. Otis Amber delivers the letters to the future tenants of Sunset Towers.
2. The tenants move in.
3. Turtle Wexler is dared to go into the Westing house. She discovers a dead body.
4. The majority of the tenants in Sunset Towers are named as heirs in Sam Westing's will. They are called together for a reading of the will.
5. The will announces that Westing was murdered, and the heirs are each given clues to solve the murder.
6. A bomb goes off, but nobody is hurt.
7. The judge hires an investigator.
8. A second bomb goes off while the heirs are eating in the Chinese restaurant. Sydelle is hurt. She is taken to the hospital.
9. Another bomb goes off and Angela is injured.
10. Angela is the bomber, but Turtle confesses to being the bomber; however, the judge figures out the truth.
11. Sandy dies.
12. Turtle figures out that Sandy McSouthers, Samuel Westing, Barney Northrup, and Mr. Eastman are the same person, and she wins because she found the "FOURTH."

The Westing Game is the story of both a murder mystery and treasure hunt.

The first most important event is the letters that are sent to the future tenants of Sunset Towers.  They are delivered by “delivery boy” Otis Amber.

The "delivery boy" was sixty-two years old, and there was no such person as Barney Northrup. (p. 1)

The second key event is that the tenants move in.  “Barney Northrup” did a good job selling the place, and the hand-picked tenants include a burglar, a bookie, a bomber, and a mistake. 

Third, all the tenants wonder about the mysterious Westing House on the hill.  There are many stories about it.  Turtle makes her way into the house, where she sees the body of Sam Westing and a note on the nightstand.

Fourth, the tenants are given an invitation to the Westing House, where they are read the will of Samuel Westing.  The will says that they are all heirs, and are paired into teams to determine who killed Samuel Westing.  They each get $10,000 and the winner gets everything.  They are given cryptic clues.

Fifth, the first bombing occurs in the coffee shop downstairs.  There will be more bombings.  Several items have also been stolen.

Sixth, Angela is engaged to Denton Deere, but does not want to marry yet or contradict her overbearing mother.  At her shower, another bomb goes off.  It puts Angela in the hospital.

Seventh, Turtle confesses to the bombings.  A trial is held.

Eight, Sandy McSouthers, the elderly doorman, dies.

Ninth, the heirs return to the Westing House.  Crow is accused, because it is determined that she is Sam Westing’s wife. 

Ten, Turtle arrives at Mr. Eastman’s house and announces that Sandy McSouthers, Samuel Westing, Barney Northrup, and Mr. Eastman are the same person. 

Again turtle was gripped by panic.  He seemed so different, so important.  She shouldn't have kicked him (the Barney Northrup him). (p. 173)

She wins.  Westing is not dead.

An important event in The Westing Game is the bombing.

Other than the other mystery of who killed Sam Westing, there is the mystery of who the bomber is.  There are several instances of bombs going off, and it is not clear who the bomber is or the motive.

“There was hissing, then bang, bang, sparks flying all over the kitchen, red sparks, purple sparks.” (p. 69)

They are not sure if it is even a bomb at first.  The mystery of who the bomber is seems to be connected to the murder mystery.  The police are curious.  Eventually, there are three more bombs.  Angela is the bomber, but Turtle confesses to save her.