Fault Lines

The Winterton Deception #2

by Janet Sumner Johnson

A kidnapping, a clue hunt, lots of family tension, and a literary find for the ages weave together in the thrilling second book of The Winterton Deception.

After the incredible events of the last official Winterton Bee, Hope and Gordon Smith have discovered that having an extended family isn’t so bad . . . and maybe their famous relatives’ lives aren’t so charmed. But Hope is still hiding a secret, and it’s a big one.

When Elizabeth Springer goes missing just before the Winterton’s big Thanksgiving celebration—their first reunion since the spelling bee—Hope knows it’s time to come clean. Her secret may be the only thing that can save Ms. Springer. But none of the Winterton clan want to hear it. Worse, they accuse Hope of making up the whole thing as an attention-grab.

Poised to give up on her new-found family, Hope gets a cryptic coded letter with instructions on how to find James Winterton—her long-estranged grandfather. What’s more, the letter hints that the Winterton’s secrets go well beyond a simple hidden treasure. Now Hope and Gordon face the impossible task of convincing their family to follow a shifty clue to find the man they want to see least, in order to save the woman who’s been lying to them for years.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Juvenile, Contemporary, Childrens

368 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

Janet Sumner Johnson lives in Utah with her husband and three kids. She bakes a mean cinnamon twist and eats way more cookies than are good for her, which explains her running habit. Though her full-time occupation as evil tyrant/benevolent dictator (aka mom) takes most of her time, she sneaks in writing at night when her inner funny bone is fully unleashed.

Reviews

[Beth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always nervous for the sequel when I loved the first book so much (read it twice!) but I’m pleased to report that book 2 was fantastic as well!

Fault Lines picks up two months after the end of Final Word, and had everything I loved about the first book: literary mystery, a clue hunt, solvable puzzles, real family messiness and real family forgiveness, peril and excitement, and a hint that there is still more of this story to be told.

These books are middle grade mysteries perfect for 8+ and I’m thrilled to wholeheartedly recommend them!

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second book of the series, things really ramp up for the Wintertons. There are more riddles and puzzles, secret identities and hidden passageways, but this time the stakes are higher. The matriarch of the family might have been kidnapped and someone is out for hidden treasure!

I thought this was a ton of fun and I had a great time following Hope and her family as they grew closer and followed the clues to a surprise. I hope there will be a third book!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Winterton family is back! Fault Lines picks up where the previous book left off, and it does it seamlessly. We get a new family gathering, new secrets, and a whole new mystery to solve. Fault Lines has everything that was great about Final Word - complex family dynamics, fun puzzles, and a whole lot of intrigue - and ramps it up with a faster pace and life and death stakes. A great read. Kids who enjoyed Book 1 will love Book 2.

[Nyla K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so amazing! At first I didn’t think it would be as good as The Final Word but in my opinion I think Fault Lines was better. There was so many big twists and turns and kept me want to read more and more even though I needed to go to bed. I really loved this book and I recommend The Winterton Deception series if you love a good mystery.

[Wendy MacKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the first book, Fault Lines takes its readers on a Treasure hunt filled with intriguing clues and wonderful red herrings. The characters are vivid and you can’t help but cheer for hope and her family. Bravo!

[Diana Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fault Lines was every bit as thrilling of a mystery as The Winterton Deception. Readers will enjoy trying to figure out the riddles and the secrets along with Hope and her new family members. Highly recommended for fans of Book 1. Here's hoping Johnson has the whole gang back for a Book 3!

[Jamie Steinberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adventure begins for Hope and Gordon Smith, and it is back at the scene of the previous crime – the Winterton Chalet! With The Winterton Deception: Fault Lines author Janet Sumner Johnson reunites the family for Thanksgiving only to disrupt the festivities with a secret, a family rift, a clue hunt and plenty of danger.

Hope has a secret and when Elizabeth Springer goes missing right before the Winterton holiday meet up it seems Hope must confess what she’s been keeping undercover. Not thrilled by her admission, the family doesn’t believe her and are angry at her for what they feel is a lie. Ready to go back to their simple life, the situation changes when Hope receives a letter from Ms. Springer that contains coded instructions as to how to locate James Winterton, their estranged grandfather. It also holds a message that insinuates there may be a hidden Jane Austen item to find. Can Hope and Gordon reunite the family – again – to follow the clues that could lead them to find two important long held mysteries?

Johnson clearly loves a mystery, and she does a great job at using coded messages to lead Hope (and the reader) on a fascinating adventure of discovery. The Wintertons may have had an attitude adjustment when Hope, Gordon and Mary found their way into the family, but when secret after secret rocks their world it’s easy for them to fall back into their guarded behaviors. Filled with very serious danger around every corner, readers will quickly turn page after page to figure out what the messages secretly hold and whether or not Hope and Gordon can reunite their newfound family.

For those that fell for the Wintertons in their first family adventure, The Winterton Deception: Fault Lines amps up the mystery and intrigue that seems to follow them. If you’re a fan of a good clue hunt and intrigued by newfound family dynamics, then grab a copy of this book.

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for review.

I’m happy to say that this sequel lived up to its predecessor in an excellent way! Fault Lines is book 2 in the Winterton Deception contemporary mystery series and I think the series is middle grade gold! I haven’t seen it much on social media but everyone I know that has picked it up has loved it! Including my 9 year old and others in my in-person life I’ve recommended it to.

Fault Lines picks up shortly after book 1 and brings more puzzles, complicated family dynamics, nods to Jane Austen, and kids learning to work together and communicate with their family. I love that this book doesn’t make it seem like everything was perfect after the reconciliations of book 1 and shows how it is a continual but important process of creating the family relationships you want to have. And I am always a sucker for puzzle solving in stories so I loved being right there with the clever characters as they chased clues and tried to uncover truth. This series is perfect for fans of The Westing Game or for those looking for a story like The Inheritance Games for a younger audience.

Trigger/content warnings: some peril and light violence

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

The Winterton family is back for a Thanksgiving celebration, and this time Grace and her mom and brother will be welcomed with open arms. Grace even has a plan that she can't wait to spring on everyone....but things quickly take a turn. They are suddenly hunting down clues, escaping danger, and trying to learn the meaning of forgiveness and true family.

I enjoyed coming back to the Winterton estate with this large family. But I was lost amidst all of the characters. It has been enough time since I've read the first book that I needed a little re-cap of the family members and their relationships in order to keep them straight.

There was plenty of excitement, some literary intrigue, and awesome family dynamics. I think the kids who enjoyed the first one will be pleased with this one as well.

eARC provided by Eiderweiss

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in this series so much. I was excited to read this continued story. Hope and the Winterton family are back with a new mystery and set of clues that leads to quite the adventure. This book picks up right where FINAL WORD ends.

The stakes are higher this time as a kidnapping shakes the family. Secrets are brought to the surface, identities revealed, and feelings are hurt. There’s a slew of puzzles to solve and who can they trust? Hope is still a favorite. She finds herself on the outs as there are truths that people don’t want to face. Her courage and strength are her best qualities. I love her support system in Mom and Gordon. And many other characters surprised me this time around.

I am really hoping for another book in the series!

Eevin Hartsough does a great job with the audio narration. She also narrated the first book so I was glad to hear her again. I enjoy her mix of voices and tones. Hartsough has an excellent range from kids to adults to an older Jane. Very well done. Her narration fit the characters so well. I knew who was speaking.

I received an Edelweiss approval from the publisher. And I also listened to the audio from Libby.

[Lauricia Matuska · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun middle-grade mystery! Blending a kidnapping with a clue hunt, this story is just the right combination of adventure quest and real-life consequences. The author does a great job of balancing the fun of a quest, the tension of danger, and the responsibility of trying to solo a task that is way too big for you. Readers who enjoyed The Inheritance Games will adore this story.

A note about how I rate books: 5 Stars - It was life-touching amazing; 4 Stars - I liked it so much I will recommend it to others without being asked; 3 Stars - It was a good read that I will recommend to members of the target audience; 2 - It was okay; 1 - It was not for me, but that doesn't mean it's not for others.

[Elise°❀⋆.ೃ࿔**.ೃ࿔⋆❀° · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but the first one was better. The story starts with Hope and Gordon returning to the Winteron Chalet for a Thanksgiving reunion. Hope and her grandmother, Jane, who she just realised was her grandma, had plans. They decided to tell the rest of the family that Janee hadn't died. I thought that was silly, waiting to tell them and not just telling them. Why do that? But, the book had some good factors. I liked the new mystery, and the ending was great. My favorite part was when James and Hope went out together acting as grandpa and granddaughter. It was sweet. Overall, I liked this book, but the first one was preferable.

[Amanda Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second installment in the Winterton Deception series was just as gripping as the first. The clues given throughout the book kept me guessing and like other readers, I got some right and others wrong, which only caused me to want to reread to figure out what I missed. The narrator continues to do a great job distinguishing voices in the book, allowing the reader to navigate the large cast of characters. This plot does include a little more danger and advanced themes which may be a little frightening for younger readers, but nothing unrealistic. I am hoping this is not the final book in the series!

[Marni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed something light and fun after Christmas, and this totally fit.

It was fun jumping in with the Wintertons again. At one point I thought, I need a family tree... Who do all these people belong to? I was ready to start googling when I flipped through the book instead. Right in front! With so many characters, it's good having that to review relationships.

I really enjoyed this mystery. Immediate reveals, but plenty of others to ride through the book as well.

Just like the last one, great themes about working through family struggles and building good family relationships.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope tries to tell her new extended family her big secret, but no one believes her, in fact they think she's just trying to get attention. But when Hope receives a letter, with a cryptic message about how to find James, she doesn't go back to the family for help, instead she tries to follow the clues herself - and it's much more dangerous than she expected.

More twists and turns than The Final Word. This family keeps so many secrets, it's strange that were so mad at Hope for keeping some important ones. Worth buying if you have Book 1. The characters default white.

[Jesica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good middle grade read and this one was just plain fun! It’s the fantastic sequel to Final Word and if you haven’t read the first book you definitely need to before jumping into this one. It’s a literary mystery full of clues, puzzles, ciphers, hidden identities, family secrets plus some twists & turns. This book is just delightful with all the Jane Austen references. After the incredible events of the last official Winterton Bee, Hope and Gordon Smith have discovered that having an extended family isn't so bad until more secrets are revealed & when someone goes missing things get messy. I love a complicated family with all the family dynamics & drama. It’s a fun mystery that kept me turning the pages. I can only hope there will be more book to come in this series!

[Amanda Caillier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Winterton Deception 2: Fault Lines is a fun, twisty mystery packed with puzzles, family drama, and a touch of literary charm. When Elizabeth Springer disappears just before Thanksgiving, Hope dives into another clue-filled adventure. I love the engaging story, relatable characters, and clever nods to Jane Austen. If you enjoy books like The Westing Game or The Inheritance Games, these books are a great!

[Karen Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible sequel to the first book. Both Winterton stories are intense mysteries filled with clues to solve and danger around every corner. The stakes are even higher in Fault Lines as family relationships are strained to new levels and more lives are put at risk than ever before. I love the fast pace and incredible writing that kept me reading.

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a ride! If you read Final Word and liked it, you will equally enjoy this story. It picks up right where the 1st one ended and just sails on from there.

So much mystery, family drama, mistrust, adventure galore, and deception- along with clues, puzzle solving, family love, trust, forgiveness, and working together.

The writing is phenomenal, the characters feel like friends or family, and even with the intensity of the story- there is plenty of humor.

I think this has the best first paragraph in a story ever:
Jane Winterton had put such a tremendous amount of work into her death that it seemed a pity to undo it all now. Still, being dead was highly overrated, and it hadn’t brought her the forgiveness she’d hoped for. Her children still hated her.”

“I couldn’t sleep. I guess I thought everything would feel differently when we got here now that we’re family. Instead, it feels like we’re a sticky note tacked onto an ancient book.”

[Chris Sifnotis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great sequel. Can’t wait to find out what happens to the family next!

[Tracy Daley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun clue hunt with plenty of action! The characters are smart and fun! Great book 2 in this series!

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Narrator is wonderful. The continuation of the Winterton's family secrets with a lot of Jane Austen secrets too.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun mystery, figuring out clues series.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun twists and turns. Great sequel.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I read this in one sitting. Both this one and the first, The Final Word, are some of the most beautiful, fun, clean, redemptive middle grade books I have ever read. What a treat.

[Kelli Panique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and turns and family drama.