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The Heirs
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3 days and 08:51:42
50 copies available
U.S. only
From the award-winning New York Times and Indie bestselling author of Ace of Spades comes a mystery about five teen geniuses, their billionaire father, and the aftermath of his murder—perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying, Holly Jackson, and How to Get Away with Murder!
Five prodigies, one dead father, a mansion full of suspects…
Octavius the Maestro.
Fola the Brain.
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita the Artist.
Romeo the Failure.
These are the five heirs of the illustrious billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and viciously trained with their father’s infamous “Button Method” to prove his hypothesis for creating prodigies—child geniuses—the Button siblings have had no choice but to be brilliant according to their father's impossibly high standards.
Until he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball.
Now, all who attended the ball are required to stay in the Button Manor while the police investigate. But the officers have their work cut out for them—each of the Button siblings has something to hide, but The Heirs aren't the only ones with secrets. After all, Leontes Button was especially good at making enemies. . .
Five prodigies, one dead father, a mansion full of suspects…
Octavius the Maestro.
Fola the Brain.
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita the Artist.
Romeo the Failure.
These are the five heirs of the illustrious billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and viciously trained with their father’s infamous “Button Method” to prove his hypothesis for creating prodigies—child geniuses—the Button siblings have had no choice but to be brilliant according to their father's impossibly high standards.
Until he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball.
Now, all who attended the ball are required to stay in the Button Manor while the police investigate. But the officers have their work cut out for them—each of the Button siblings has something to hide, but The Heirs aren't the only ones with secrets. After all, Leontes Button was especially good at making enemies. . .
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 2, 2026
17 people are currently reading
11359 people want to read
About the author
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
21 books5,794 followersFaridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is the instant New York Times, International bestselling, & Award-winning author of ACE OF SPADES and WHERE SLEEPING GIRLS LIE. In 2024 she was a world book day author with her title THE DOOMSDAY DATE and she also has a Marvel Spider-Verse story coming out this year where she writes a new Spider-Verse character known as Spider-UK/Zarina Zahari. Faridah is an avid tea drinker, a collector of strange mugs, and a graduate from a university in Scotland where she received a BA in English Literature. She also has an MA in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London. When she isn’t spinning dark tales, Faridah can be found examining the deeper meanings in Disney channel original movies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 26, 2025
I can honestly say I’ve been eagerly anticipating this one ever since I devoured Where the Sleeping Girls Lie and Ace of Spades. Both were brilliant, daring, and refreshingly layered, so when I heard that Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé was releasing another YA mystery — this time about five prodigious siblings and their billionaire father’s shocking murder — I jumped right in without hesitation.
From the very first pages, The Heirs of Button Manor had me intrigued. The blood-freezing opening scene sets the stage for a story that feels like a cross between Umbrella Academy (if the superpowers were replaced with pure genius) and The Inheritance Games, with a touch of Knives Out’s dark family intrigue. Each of the five adopted siblings is a prodigy in their own right: Octavius the musical maestro, Fola the mathematical brain, Bilal the Olympic athlete, Perdita the artistic dreamer, and Romeo, the so-called “failure” who can’t seem to measure up.
Together, they are the carefully crafted experiments of their father, Leontes Button — a larger-than-life billionaire obsessed with his own “Button Method” for manufacturing brilliance. But when Leontes is found dead during his grand annual Prodigy Ball, the glamorous event quickly turns into a claustrophobic crime scene. Everyone in the mansion becomes a suspect, and every prodigy — no matter how perfect — has something to hide.
While the premise promises a classic locked-room mystery, what unfolds is also a deeply emotional, slow-burning family drama filled with tension, secrets, and betrayal. The first half focuses on the siblings’ inner worlds: Octavius’ heartbreak over his ex-boyfriend Anwar, Perdita’s forbidden love with Torin Philips (a modern Romeo & Juliet twist), Bilal’s loss of purpose after a career-ending injury, and Fola’s mysterious connection to Evie — the gardener’s daughter returning from Italy. Meanwhile, Romeo, the “failure,” struggles under the crushing weight of expectation, making him one of the most relatable characters for anyone who’s ever felt like the odd one out.
There were moments when the pacing slowed — especially early on, when the emotional introspection outweighs the mystery — but I never felt bored. Instead, I found myself drawn into the Button siblings’ unhappiness and dysfunction. It’s not just about solving a murder; it’s about understanding how genius and trauma can coexist under the same roof, and how love and resentment can intertwine in families built on impossible expectations.
Then comes the second half — and that’s where the real fireworks begin. Secrets unravel, alliances shift, and the revelations hit hard. The story tightens beautifully, delivering a series of satisfying twists that remind readers why Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is one of the boldest voices in YA mystery today.
Personally, my heart belonged to Romeo and Octavius. Maybe I just have a soft spot for outsiders and musical prodigies, but their arcs felt the most emotionally resonant and beautifully flawed. The author does a wonderful job portraying them not as caricatures of genius, but as wounded, yearning humans trying to reclaim their sense of self beyond their father’s shadow.
While The Heirs of Button Manor didn’t reach the emotional perfection of Where the Sleeping Girls Lie for me (which I still consider one of the best YA mysteries of recent years), it’s undeniably a rich, ambitious, and thought-provoking story. The character depth and family dynamics are gripping, and the tension never truly lets go.
This is a book about brilliance, ambition, and the cost of being exceptional — and it asks the chilling question: Who are we, when our worth isn’t measured by our achievements?
I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to a solid 4 for its ambition, complexity, and unforgettable cast of prodigies.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Feiwel & Friends for the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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From the very first pages, The Heirs of Button Manor had me intrigued. The blood-freezing opening scene sets the stage for a story that feels like a cross between Umbrella Academy (if the superpowers were replaced with pure genius) and The Inheritance Games, with a touch of Knives Out’s dark family intrigue. Each of the five adopted siblings is a prodigy in their own right: Octavius the musical maestro, Fola the mathematical brain, Bilal the Olympic athlete, Perdita the artistic dreamer, and Romeo, the so-called “failure” who can’t seem to measure up.
Together, they are the carefully crafted experiments of their father, Leontes Button — a larger-than-life billionaire obsessed with his own “Button Method” for manufacturing brilliance. But when Leontes is found dead during his grand annual Prodigy Ball, the glamorous event quickly turns into a claustrophobic crime scene. Everyone in the mansion becomes a suspect, and every prodigy — no matter how perfect — has something to hide.
While the premise promises a classic locked-room mystery, what unfolds is also a deeply emotional, slow-burning family drama filled with tension, secrets, and betrayal. The first half focuses on the siblings’ inner worlds: Octavius’ heartbreak over his ex-boyfriend Anwar, Perdita’s forbidden love with Torin Philips (a modern Romeo & Juliet twist), Bilal’s loss of purpose after a career-ending injury, and Fola’s mysterious connection to Evie — the gardener’s daughter returning from Italy. Meanwhile, Romeo, the “failure,” struggles under the crushing weight of expectation, making him one of the most relatable characters for anyone who’s ever felt like the odd one out.
There were moments when the pacing slowed — especially early on, when the emotional introspection outweighs the mystery — but I never felt bored. Instead, I found myself drawn into the Button siblings’ unhappiness and dysfunction. It’s not just about solving a murder; it’s about understanding how genius and trauma can coexist under the same roof, and how love and resentment can intertwine in families built on impossible expectations.
Then comes the second half — and that’s where the real fireworks begin. Secrets unravel, alliances shift, and the revelations hit hard. The story tightens beautifully, delivering a series of satisfying twists that remind readers why Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is one of the boldest voices in YA mystery today.
Personally, my heart belonged to Romeo and Octavius. Maybe I just have a soft spot for outsiders and musical prodigies, but their arcs felt the most emotionally resonant and beautifully flawed. The author does a wonderful job portraying them not as caricatures of genius, but as wounded, yearning humans trying to reclaim their sense of self beyond their father’s shadow.
While The Heirs of Button Manor didn’t reach the emotional perfection of Where the Sleeping Girls Lie for me (which I still consider one of the best YA mysteries of recent years), it’s undeniably a rich, ambitious, and thought-provoking story. The character depth and family dynamics are gripping, and the tension never truly lets go.
This is a book about brilliance, ambition, and the cost of being exceptional — and it asks the chilling question: Who are we, when our worth isn’t measured by our achievements?
I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to a solid 4 for its ambition, complexity, and unforgettable cast of prodigies.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Feiwel & Friends for the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium.com
November 24, 2025
Take the umbrella academy sprinkle a little bit of the inheritance games and you have the recipe for this great book.
This book is about five adopted kids, that were a project of a billionaire to "make" prodigies. As you can probably imagine, that didn't go well. Fast forward several years, their father is found dead in a ball and they are suspects of his murder.
The heirs is a mystery impossible to put down. These characters sunk their claws in me almost immediately, I care about all of them deeply.
I love a murder mystery where I can try to guess the culprit, and the heirs gave me exactly that. It kept me in my toes until the very ending, and I absolutely adored the direction the author took with that resolution.
There's a little romance, a lot of childhood trauma and complex characters. I loved it.
Thank you Netgalley and Feiwel and Friends for the ARC!
This book is about five adopted kids, that were a project of a billionaire to "make" prodigies. As you can probably imagine, that didn't go well. Fast forward several years, their father is found dead in a ball and they are suspects of his murder.
The heirs is a mystery impossible to put down. These characters sunk their claws in me almost immediately, I care about all of them deeply.
I love a murder mystery where I can try to guess the culprit, and the heirs gave me exactly that. It kept me in my toes until the very ending, and I absolutely adored the direction the author took with that resolution.
There's a little romance, a lot of childhood trauma and complex characters. I loved it.
Thank you Netgalley and Feiwel and Friends for the ARC!
November 1, 2025
i love this kind of book that mixes murder mystery with family drama and it’s even better when there’s an inheritance involved. this one totally exceeded my expectations! i got hooked right from the first few chapters (which almost never happens) and i loved the sibling dynamics so much. the only thing i didn’t love was the ending but not that it was bad, just a bit anticlimactic. overall though, it was such a fun and fast read!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
5 stars
wow. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did! it was soooo good! I loved (almost) all the characters and it was just so interesting! it's kind of like inheritance games mixed with the secret history (the characters just imagine them less crazy). the writing was really good and some of the metaphors were like beautiful. I really enjoyed the ending. there wasn't really to plot twists per se (except for a few) but more so reveals of things that it has been leading up to.
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
salvatore- lana del rey
0:09 ━●────────── 2:47
ㅤ ㅤ◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷ ㅤㅤ
-------˖⁺. ༶ ❤︎ ⋆˙⊹ 𐦍 ˖⁺. ༶ ❤︎ ⋆˙⊹-------
characters:
octavius 'the maestro' button: I loved tavi. he was my favorite sibling. was he insane? yes. but he was also broken.
fola 'the brain' button: I have mixed feelings about her. I liked her but at the same time I didn't.
bilal 'the olympian' button: he was my 2nd favorite sibling. I loved billy so much.
perdita 'the artist' button: she was just meh for me. didn't love her, didn't hate her
romeo 'the failure' button: he was so cute. he's such a sweetie.
evie gray: I liked her.
anwar shah: I liked him so much too.
henry xu: love him
mr button: no we don't like him.
wow. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did! it was soooo good! I loved (almost) all the characters and it was just so interesting! it's kind of like inheritance games mixed with the secret history (the characters just imagine them less crazy). the writing was really good and some of the metaphors were like beautiful. I really enjoyed the ending. there wasn't really to plot twists per se (except for a few) but more so reveals of things that it has been leading up to.
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
salvatore- lana del rey
0:09 ━●────────── 2:47
ㅤ ㅤ◁ㅤ ❚❚ ㅤ▷ ㅤㅤ
-------˖⁺. ༶ ❤︎ ⋆˙⊹ 𐦍 ˖⁺. ༶ ❤︎ ⋆˙⊹-------
characters:
octavius 'the maestro' button: I loved tavi. he was my favorite sibling. was he insane? yes. but he was also broken.
fola 'the brain' button: I have mixed feelings about her. I liked her but at the same time I didn't.
bilal 'the olympian' button: he was my 2nd favorite sibling. I loved billy so much.
perdita 'the artist' button: she was just meh for me. didn't love her, didn't hate her
romeo 'the failure' button: he was so cute. he's such a sweetie.
evie gray: I liked her.
anwar shah: I liked him so much too.
henry xu: love him
mr button: no we don't like him.
Want to read
August 21, 2025For fans of The Inheritance Games written by the author of Ace of Spades?????? 26’ looks promising!
December 20, 2025
I think that this may be Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's weakest book.
This was still well written and fast paced with lots interesting characters and great queer rep, but overall it felt like trying to do too much in too little pages so everything felt a bit shallow.
There are five main POVs: one for each of the children that billionaire Mr Button adopted to raise to become geniuses. The story follows the Button heirs when they are seventeen as they are all brought back together for their father's annual gala which he is then murdered at. The Button heirs are then held at their father's manor whilst the police investigate and all of their trauma and secrets come to the surface.
Five POVs was just too many - and that's without counting the one off extra POVs from Henry and Evie and all the POVs time jumping backwards. The constant POV switching means that you never fully explore each character so each of their arcs and backstories don't feel fleshed out enough. I think that this really would have benefitted from having only one main POV as so much about each character just felt underdeveloped by the end. Octavius and Romeo were my favourite POVs (the "Maestro" and the "Failure") as Octavius was such a drama queen and his relationship with Fola was so sweet and then it was hard to not feel for Romeo who just could not catch a break. All of the Button heirs were likeable and interesting but I really wish that we'd got more about each of their back stories and individual struggles (like at what point Romeo became the failure, more about Bilal's accident, and more about both sisters' romances - it felt like we were just told these things and not shown them because there wasn't the page space).
One a smaller level there were a few things which I found odd/distracting like the many nicknames for each person, how (despite the fact that all five Button heirs are the same age) they call each other older/younger sibling, and that there aren't many character physical descriptions - other than the brothers' heights and the sisters' outfits I had no idea what most of the protagonists looked like for the first 100 pages which bugged me SO much!
Overall this felt like it was trying to do too many POVs and too many subplots in too little pages so nothing was done in depth enough. This resulted in an underwhelming ending as it felt a bit anticlimactic and almost unearned. However it was interesting and the characters (although not fleshed out as much they could have been) were fun so if you want a book with the vibes of Umbrella Academy meets Inheritance Games then you may enjoy this.
Thank you to Usborne YA for a proof copy of this book
This was still well written and fast paced with lots interesting characters and great queer rep, but overall it felt like trying to do too much in too little pages so everything felt a bit shallow.
There are five main POVs: one for each of the children that billionaire Mr Button adopted to raise to become geniuses. The story follows the Button heirs when they are seventeen as they are all brought back together for their father's annual gala which he is then murdered at. The Button heirs are then held at their father's manor whilst the police investigate and all of their trauma and secrets come to the surface.
Five POVs was just too many - and that's without counting the one off extra POVs from Henry and Evie and all the POVs time jumping backwards. The constant POV switching means that you never fully explore each character so each of their arcs and backstories don't feel fleshed out enough. I think that this really would have benefitted from having only one main POV as so much about each character just felt underdeveloped by the end. Octavius and Romeo were my favourite POVs (the "Maestro" and the "Failure") as Octavius was such a drama queen and his relationship with Fola was so sweet and then it was hard to not feel for Romeo who just could not catch a break. All of the Button heirs were likeable and interesting but I really wish that we'd got more about each of their back stories and individual struggles (like at what point Romeo became the failure, more about Bilal's accident, and more about both sisters' romances - it felt like we were just told these things and not shown them because there wasn't the page space).
One a smaller level there were a few things which I found odd/distracting like the many nicknames for each person, how (despite the fact that all five Button heirs are the same age) they call each other older/younger sibling, and that there aren't many character physical descriptions - other than the brothers' heights and the sisters' outfits I had no idea what most of the protagonists looked like for the first 100 pages which bugged me SO much!
Overall this felt like it was trying to do too many POVs and too many subplots in too little pages so nothing was done in depth enough. This resulted in an underwhelming ending as it felt a bit anticlimactic and almost unearned. However it was interesting and the characters (although not fleshed out as much they could have been) were fun so if you want a book with the vibes of Umbrella Academy meets Inheritance Games then you may enjoy this.
Thank you to Usborne YA for a proof copy of this book
December 1, 2025
sensational.
faridah NEVER misses
faridah NEVER misses
October 6, 2025
Thank you so much to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for this e-arc in return for my honest review.
This book is a strong 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for posting.
Let me also add that Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé writes books specifically for the teenager in me who loved to get lost in a tangled mystery. I fully enjoy her work, and it satisfies a space in me very few others can even speak to.
The Heirs, in my opinion, was another triumph for her, and it read as a YA mix of The Glass Onion and The Umbrella Academy. It is a cleverly worked whodunit, based in a billionaire family, built on one man’s desire to create geniuses rather than wholesome humans.
We meet the main characters, all from their own POVs, and quickly get a hold of their personalities and what makes them tick. The immersion into who they are is quickly done and reads effortlessly. The book starts just before the murder of the family’s patriarch and guides us hour by hour through the build-up to the crime. It continues in this manner, slipping us bits and pieces, even taking us back in time, all the while the tension builds and we unearth even more family secrets and questions to be answered.
Honestly, the hardest part of reading this book was simply not having the time to just finish it in one go. It draws you in with shortish chapters and vibrant, real-feeling situations and personalities. Even though most of us will never be that wealthy, too many of us know what it is like to have parental expectations weighted on our shoulders. And when those expectations flowed into the public arena with the accompanying scrutiny, you immediately felt the pressure placed on these young MCs.
Then there was the mystery to solve. There was some misleading foreshadowing, together with side characters who were injecting their own twists and turns. I thought I knew, but I was never really sure. Which made me want to read even more and faster! My curiosity drove me until the wee hours.
Ultimately, it came to a justified, satisfying ending that left my soul lighter and happier for having read the book. It was a perfect standalone story.
Butttttt I would not be mad if she wrote a follow-up with a new adventure about the siblings and their friends… I’m just saying! Lol!
Add this one to your TBR and try to sneak some time just to sit, read, and enjoy it.
It is Faridah doing what she does best; capturing our imaginations and hearts with realistic characters in chaotic situations. Excellent stuff!
This book is a strong 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for posting.
Let me also add that Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé writes books specifically for the teenager in me who loved to get lost in a tangled mystery. I fully enjoy her work, and it satisfies a space in me very few others can even speak to.
The Heirs, in my opinion, was another triumph for her, and it read as a YA mix of The Glass Onion and The Umbrella Academy. It is a cleverly worked whodunit, based in a billionaire family, built on one man’s desire to create geniuses rather than wholesome humans.
We meet the main characters, all from their own POVs, and quickly get a hold of their personalities and what makes them tick. The immersion into who they are is quickly done and reads effortlessly. The book starts just before the murder of the family’s patriarch and guides us hour by hour through the build-up to the crime. It continues in this manner, slipping us bits and pieces, even taking us back in time, all the while the tension builds and we unearth even more family secrets and questions to be answered.
Honestly, the hardest part of reading this book was simply not having the time to just finish it in one go. It draws you in with shortish chapters and vibrant, real-feeling situations and personalities. Even though most of us will never be that wealthy, too many of us know what it is like to have parental expectations weighted on our shoulders. And when those expectations flowed into the public arena with the accompanying scrutiny, you immediately felt the pressure placed on these young MCs.
Then there was the mystery to solve. There was some misleading foreshadowing, together with side characters who were injecting their own twists and turns. I thought I knew, but I was never really sure. Which made me want to read even more and faster! My curiosity drove me until the wee hours.
Ultimately, it came to a justified, satisfying ending that left my soul lighter and happier for having read the book. It was a perfect standalone story.
Butttttt I would not be mad if she wrote a follow-up with a new adventure about the siblings and their friends… I’m just saying! Lol!
Add this one to your TBR and try to sneak some time just to sit, read, and enjoy it.
It is Faridah doing what she does best; capturing our imaginations and hearts with realistic characters in chaotic situations. Excellent stuff!
October 9, 2025
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was just fine. It’s a cute, young murder mystery with lots of promise but kind of fizzles after 50%
Decent read though!
This book was just fine. It’s a cute, young murder mystery with lots of promise but kind of fizzles after 50%
Decent read though!
December 7, 2025
4.25 stars, rounded down
Overall I really loved this book! It’s one of my favorite reads of the year!
Was it a perfect read? No, it wasn’t. But I had so much fun reading this story. I kept trying to guess who the murderer was, and all the different revelations with the siblings were so fascinating to learn about!
I will say that I didn’t love the big reveal in regards to Mr. Button’s death. (That’s one of the reasons it wasn’t a 5-star read for me.) But I think the story made up for it with the overall ending.
The characters were my favorite part of this book, hands down. The siblings all had their distinct personalities, and it was so great to see how they all loved each other while still squabbling with each other. I don’t even know that I can pick a favorite sibling, as I loved them all so much! I also thought the side characters were really great and well fleshed out. (Henry Xu is a favorite for side characters!) And Mr. Button was the cold, calculating billionaire father that I was expecting, so he was a great antagonist.
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author, and this story made me want to go and read their backlog soon! I can’t wait for more people to read this novel once it comes out next year (in 2026)!
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
Overall I really loved this book! It’s one of my favorite reads of the year!
Was it a perfect read? No, it wasn’t. But I had so much fun reading this story. I kept trying to guess who the murderer was, and all the different revelations with the siblings were so fascinating to learn about!
I will say that I didn’t love the big reveal in regards to Mr. Button’s death. (That’s one of the reasons it wasn’t a 5-star read for me.) But I think the story made up for it with the overall ending.
The characters were my favorite part of this book, hands down. The siblings all had their distinct personalities, and it was so great to see how they all loved each other while still squabbling with each other. I don’t even know that I can pick a favorite sibling, as I loved them all so much! I also thought the side characters were really great and well fleshed out. (Henry Xu is a favorite for side characters!) And Mr. Button was the cold, calculating billionaire father that I was expecting, so he was a great antagonist.
This is the first book that I’ve read by this author, and this story made me want to go and read their backlog soon! I can’t wait for more people to read this novel once it comes out next year (in 2026)!
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
November 20, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Button family is nuts. The patriarch, a rich eccentric Elon/Gates/Frankenstein decides to prove that it’s nurture over nature that produces genius. He adopts five kids from all over the world and beats genius into them by making them practice 28 hours a day on whatever monopoly piece they picked when they were 2 years old. There is not enough flashbacks of this IMO. I needed just a little.
Fast forward and they are all about to turn 18 and they are all as totally messed up as you would expect (actually they are less messed up than I think would realistically happen). We get a nice locked room mystery that is pretty good for a teen or novice mystery reader. There are some nice nods to classic detective fiction.
My problem is that it could have been better. The fact that Mr. Button was a game designer obsessed with games and chess was never fully utilized. Honestly it would probably be best without that at all since it makes it too similar to other books.
Ultimately this is a fine story that’s just missed out on being great though I did enjoy the ride.
The Button family is nuts. The patriarch, a rich eccentric Elon/Gates/Frankenstein decides to prove that it’s nurture over nature that produces genius. He adopts five kids from all over the world and beats genius into them by making them practice 28 hours a day on whatever monopoly piece they picked when they were 2 years old. There is not enough flashbacks of this IMO. I needed just a little.
Fast forward and they are all about to turn 18 and they are all as totally messed up as you would expect (actually they are less messed up than I think would realistically happen). We get a nice locked room mystery that is pretty good for a teen or novice mystery reader. There are some nice nods to classic detective fiction.
My problem is that it could have been better. The fact that Mr. Button was a game designer obsessed with games and chess was never fully utilized. Honestly it would probably be best without that at all since it makes it too similar to other books.
Ultimately this is a fine story that’s just missed out on being great though I did enjoy the ride.
October 10, 2025
The Heirs dives into the chaos left behind after an unhinged billionaire’s death, unraveling the twisted lives of his brilliant, overachieving children. It sets up a sharp, intriguing mystery — part family drama, part whodunit — and definitely kept me guessing about who could be trusted.
But while the premise is strong and the tension simmers early on, the momentum fades midway. A few character arcs lose their spark, and the ending feels more anticlimactic than explosive. Still, it’s an entertaining read if you like dysfunctional family mysteries with a dark, psychological edge.
But while the premise is strong and the tension simmers early on, the momentum fades midway. A few character arcs lose their spark, and the ending feels more anticlimactic than explosive. Still, it’s an entertaining read if you like dysfunctional family mysteries with a dark, psychological edge.
December 11, 2025
3 1/2 ⭐️
Our tale starts off following accounts from multiple POVs to record the origin of Leontes Button’s experiment to turn his five children (Bilal, Fola, Octavius, Perdita, and Romeo) into prodigies using his own “Button Method”. From there, time goes back and forth revealing a mysterious death that occurred on the night of the 10th Annual Prodigy Ball held on the Button’s private yacht, where unfortunately everyone who was attending the private event by personal invitation is now a suspect for murder!
'The Heirs' blends elements of Mysterious Benedict Society as well as an Agatha Christie novel to give you a fresh YA thriller that is sure to leave you guessing until the very end.
I appreciated the themes of family, loyalty, nurture vs nature, heartbreak, vulnerability, perseverance, and sacrifice that were woven throughout the story. The Button children were well written and had lots of depth to their character. The drama whenever multiple Heirs were together was delightful and made me hungry for more interactions between them. I appreciated getting to have POV chapters from all the Heirs plus a few other notable characters at strategic points throughout.
I certainly failed to properly predict that ending! I was impressed with the way the author led me on a journey with the characters. There were some characters I started off wary of, then grew to feel for and sympathize with and then there were characters I thought at first were charming, then increasingly grew suspicious of. It took me all the way until the end, with the mystery finally solved, for me to lay my paranoia to rest.
There were a few grammatical errors throughout, none too glaring except for the word ‘Jambiya’ that at one point was missing the ‘j’.
I was confused for a bit early on when the murder was first announced, there’s a couple sentences roughly stating 'what happened before wasn’t too interesting, it’s what happened after that is'. But then the next chapter is in the past before the time of the murder but to me, that wasn’t real obvious based on the opening/title of that chapter and took me a while to find my footing.
Besides that, I did find a couple sections/chapters that felt clunky to me, where I felt the characters were telling me more information instead of showing me with actions/discoveries, etc. Also, I wished for there to be more puzzles/clues to encounter earlier on, as the plot and pacing felt out of sync and like it took a while to get going.
While for me personally this book did not reach 5 star status, overall “The Heirs” is a solid murder mystery with a generous helping of family dysfunction thrown into the mix!
*Please note, while there are depictions of teenage relationships (straight & gay) there is nothing explicit on page and nothing further than kissing is described. There are also multiple depictions of minors drinking alcohol in varying amounts (some excessive) as well as mentions of self-inflicted harm (occurred in the past off-page).
**I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Our tale starts off following accounts from multiple POVs to record the origin of Leontes Button’s experiment to turn his five children (Bilal, Fola, Octavius, Perdita, and Romeo) into prodigies using his own “Button Method”. From there, time goes back and forth revealing a mysterious death that occurred on the night of the 10th Annual Prodigy Ball held on the Button’s private yacht, where unfortunately everyone who was attending the private event by personal invitation is now a suspect for murder!
'The Heirs' blends elements of Mysterious Benedict Society as well as an Agatha Christie novel to give you a fresh YA thriller that is sure to leave you guessing until the very end.
I appreciated the themes of family, loyalty, nurture vs nature, heartbreak, vulnerability, perseverance, and sacrifice that were woven throughout the story. The Button children were well written and had lots of depth to their character. The drama whenever multiple Heirs were together was delightful and made me hungry for more interactions between them. I appreciated getting to have POV chapters from all the Heirs plus a few other notable characters at strategic points throughout.
I certainly failed to properly predict that ending! I was impressed with the way the author led me on a journey with the characters. There were some characters I started off wary of, then grew to feel for and sympathize with and then there were characters I thought at first were charming, then increasingly grew suspicious of. It took me all the way until the end, with the mystery finally solved, for me to lay my paranoia to rest.
There were a few grammatical errors throughout, none too glaring except for the word ‘Jambiya’ that at one point was missing the ‘j’.
I was confused for a bit early on when the murder was first announced, there’s a couple sentences roughly stating 'what happened before wasn’t too interesting, it’s what happened after that is'. But then the next chapter is in the past before the time of the murder but to me, that wasn’t real obvious based on the opening/title of that chapter and took me a while to find my footing.
Besides that, I did find a couple sections/chapters that felt clunky to me, where I felt the characters were telling me more information instead of showing me with actions/discoveries, etc. Also, I wished for there to be more puzzles/clues to encounter earlier on, as the plot and pacing felt out of sync and like it took a while to get going.
While for me personally this book did not reach 5 star status, overall “The Heirs” is a solid murder mystery with a generous helping of family dysfunction thrown into the mix!
*Please note, while there are depictions of teenage relationships (straight & gay) there is nothing explicit on page and nothing further than kissing is described. There are also multiple depictions of minors drinking alcohol in varying amounts (some excessive) as well as mentions of self-inflicted harm (occurred in the past off-page).
**I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 14, 2025
From the start of this book I was drawn in! It's giving umbrella academy just without super powers. It starts out with a young boy named Octavius that is cosplaying as a homeless person playing the piano in the setting of NYC when his chess playing, mathematician, older sister, Fola finds him and they go to the "Button Manor" named after their father himself Leonte Button. There they meet up with the rest of the siblings being Bilal the Fencer, Perdita the Artist, and Romeo the "Failer" as he has no talent. While reading, you will unravel Mr. Buttons experiments- the children, and what he does to make them prodigies. All the children are formed and taught through a harsh environment to become the best at there talents, and yet they all have nearly grown up and have little to nothing to do with each other and do not take kindly to Mr. Button, but always rely on Henry, Mr. Buttons secretary.
Octavius was my favorite to read about out of all the prodigies. He is a hilarious and spontaneous character and stands out from the crowd. His back story is dark which he shares with Bilal. It seems like it took forever to get to their back story but it did not disappoint. I did not expect Adams death to be like that at all and how Bilal took part in it and to unravel how Octavius took part?!?! This was very shocking.
Evie was my least favorite character until the end. Don't get me wrong, what Mr. Button did to cover up Adams death and shoving hush money to the Grays is horrible, but the children couldn't have known Mr. Button would have covered it up like he did nor did the children want any part in it. I was definitely getting in my feels when she tried calling out the prodigies for "murdering" their father and after seeing that it was all a freak accident, it made it all the worse. Towards the end of the book when Evie goes to Shanghai is when I felt respect and more understanding of her. She was grieving for her brother and wanted revenge that she could not get.
Henry Xu is BY FAR MY FAVORITE CHARACTER!!!!
He would do anything for those children and was the longest secretary to stay had already sad enough from the start, although I had my doubts after Mr. Button was mysteriously murdered.
Of course I thought Henry murdered Mr. Button. He was the closest too him, the children where to go to him for any and everything, even call him before anyone else in an emergency. Henry acted more as a Father than Mr. button did. He checked on Bilal and Octavius, even when they got short and irritated with Henry, he still cared for the children and understood them. He confessed for the children! Enough said! I wanted him to soooo badly go to Shanghai and live with his mother again ( I saw it coming) and it happened because the children came in clutch and executed a plan to save Henry Xu!!!!!!
Overall, this was such a good read. The events that took place was such a tragedy and yet had a somewhat happy ending. :,) just wish Henry and the children could still be with each other.
Octavius was my favorite to read about out of all the prodigies. He is a hilarious and spontaneous character and stands out from the crowd. His back story is dark which he shares with Bilal. It seems like it took forever to get to their back story but it did not disappoint. I did not expect Adams death to be like that at all and how Bilal took part in it and to unravel how Octavius took part?!?! This was very shocking.
Evie was my least favorite character until the end. Don't get me wrong, what Mr. Button did to cover up Adams death and shoving hush money to the Grays is horrible, but the children couldn't have known Mr. Button would have covered it up like he did nor did the children want any part in it. I was definitely getting in my feels when she tried calling out the prodigies for "murdering" their father and after seeing that it was all a freak accident, it made it all the worse. Towards the end of the book when Evie goes to Shanghai is when I felt respect and more understanding of her. She was grieving for her brother and wanted revenge that she could not get.
Henry Xu is BY FAR MY FAVORITE CHARACTER!!!!
He would do anything for those children and was the longest secretary to stay had already sad enough from the start, although I had my doubts after Mr. Button was mysteriously murdered.
Of course I thought Henry murdered Mr. Button. He was the closest too him, the children where to go to him for any and everything, even call him before anyone else in an emergency. Henry acted more as a Father than Mr. button did. He checked on Bilal and Octavius, even when they got short and irritated with Henry, he still cared for the children and understood them. He confessed for the children! Enough said! I wanted him to soooo badly go to Shanghai and live with his mother again ( I saw it coming) and it happened because the children came in clutch and executed a plan to save Henry Xu!!!!!!
Overall, this was such a good read. The events that took place was such a tragedy and yet had a somewhat happy ending. :,) just wish Henry and the children could still be with each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé returns with another razor-sharp YA mystery, and “The Heirs” is every bit as layered, ambitious, and addictive as the author’s previous books were. This story delivers a gripping whodunit wrapped in a deeply emotional family drama.
The premise hooks you immediately: five adopted siblings, each a carefully molded prodigy designed to showcase their billionaire father Leontes Button’s controversial “Button Method,” reunite for the annual Prodigy Ball. Octavius the musical genius, Fola the mathematician, Bilal the athlete, Perdita the artist, and Romeo, who is the “failure” who never quite fit the mold, are all scarred by their father's obsessive quest to manufacture brilliance. When Leontes is found murdered, the mansion locks down into a claustrophobic crime scene, and every sibling and every guest becomes a suspect.
What sets “The Heirs” apart from typical locked-room mysteries is its emotional depth. The first half of the story spends meaningful time inside each sibling’s inner world: heartbreaks, forbidden romances, shattered futures, and the lingering trauma of being raised as experiments rather than children. The pacing was a bit slow in the early chapters, as the introspection occasionally overshadows the murder plot. But this deliberate simmer pays off because once the second half hits, the tension snaps into place. Secrets unravel, alliances twist, and the plot tightens into a series of sharp, satisfying reveals.
Àbíké-Íyímídé excels at crafting characters who feel painfully real despite their extraordinary circumstances. Romeo and Octavius, especially, stand out with one buckling under the weight of being “not enough,” the other quietly unraveling behind his polished façade. Even amid the wealth and grandeur of Button Manor, the central conflicts like parental expectations, sibling rivalry, the yearning to be seen for who you are rather than what you can achieve feel deeply relatable.
The mystery itself is clever and skillfully constructed. The story unfolds hour by hour leading up to the murder, interspersed with flashbacks that drip-feed clues and red herrings. By the time the final twist lands, it feels both justified and thematically resonant with a bold, satisfying ending.
But what lingers most after closing the book is not just the solution to the mystery; it’s the emotional journey of five prodigies trying to untangle who they are in the aftermath of a childhood dictated by someone else’s ambitions.
Overall, “The Heirs” is a sharp, heartfelt, addictive mystery that balances tension and character work with impressive finesse. Short, propulsive chapters make it easy to binge, while the complex sibling dynamics give the story a depth that elevates it beyond a simple whodunit.
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé returns with another razor-sharp YA mystery, and “The Heirs” is every bit as layered, ambitious, and addictive as the author’s previous books were. This story delivers a gripping whodunit wrapped in a deeply emotional family drama.
The premise hooks you immediately: five adopted siblings, each a carefully molded prodigy designed to showcase their billionaire father Leontes Button’s controversial “Button Method,” reunite for the annual Prodigy Ball. Octavius the musical genius, Fola the mathematician, Bilal the athlete, Perdita the artist, and Romeo, who is the “failure” who never quite fit the mold, are all scarred by their father's obsessive quest to manufacture brilliance. When Leontes is found murdered, the mansion locks down into a claustrophobic crime scene, and every sibling and every guest becomes a suspect.
What sets “The Heirs” apart from typical locked-room mysteries is its emotional depth. The first half of the story spends meaningful time inside each sibling’s inner world: heartbreaks, forbidden romances, shattered futures, and the lingering trauma of being raised as experiments rather than children. The pacing was a bit slow in the early chapters, as the introspection occasionally overshadows the murder plot. But this deliberate simmer pays off because once the second half hits, the tension snaps into place. Secrets unravel, alliances twist, and the plot tightens into a series of sharp, satisfying reveals.
Àbíké-Íyímídé excels at crafting characters who feel painfully real despite their extraordinary circumstances. Romeo and Octavius, especially, stand out with one buckling under the weight of being “not enough,” the other quietly unraveling behind his polished façade. Even amid the wealth and grandeur of Button Manor, the central conflicts like parental expectations, sibling rivalry, the yearning to be seen for who you are rather than what you can achieve feel deeply relatable.
The mystery itself is clever and skillfully constructed. The story unfolds hour by hour leading up to the murder, interspersed with flashbacks that drip-feed clues and red herrings. By the time the final twist lands, it feels both justified and thematically resonant with a bold, satisfying ending.
But what lingers most after closing the book is not just the solution to the mystery; it’s the emotional journey of five prodigies trying to untangle who they are in the aftermath of a childhood dictated by someone else’s ambitions.
Overall, “The Heirs” is a sharp, heartfelt, addictive mystery that balances tension and character work with impressive finesse. Short, propulsive chapters make it easy to binge, while the complex sibling dynamics give the story a depth that elevates it beyond a simple whodunit.
October 27, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Feiwel and Friends for the advanced copy. My thoughts and opinions stated here are my own.
~~~~~
The Heirs is the kind of young adult mystery that sinks its claws in, even if it takes a minute to get going. Think a mix of The Inheritance Games and Netflix's The Residence, swapping superpowers for pure, manufactured genius. The setup is fantastic: five adopted prodigies—Octavius, Fola, Bilal, Perdita, and Romeo—who were all viciously trained by their billionaire father, Leontes Button, to prove his "Button Method" for creating child geniuses.1 When dear old dad is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball, everyone in the mansion becomes a suspect, and it turns into a locked-room mystery full of family secrets and trauma.
The book excels at character depth and creating a tense, dysfunctional family dynamic. You really feel the weight of expectation on all the Button siblings, especially Romeo, the "failure" who just can't measure up. I cared about them all, and the book spends a good amount of time peeling back the layers of their inner lives—their heartbreak, forbidden romances, and loss of purpose.
Honestly, I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the first half. While I was intrigued by the premise and the sibling drama, the pacing felt pretty slow at times. The emotional introspection and heavy focus on the characters' unhappiness occasionally outweighed the murder mystery, which made it a little difficult to commit to the read. I felt myself picking it up and putting it down, and it took me longer than usual to make real progress.
Once you hit the second half, though, things really pick up, and it made the slow start completely worth it. It's like the author flips a switch; the story tightens, the alliances shift, and the twists start hitting hard. Suddenly, that slow-burn family drama feeds directly into the mystery, and the secrets start unraveling at a rapid-fire pace. I was completely hooked, kept on my toes, and couldn't put it down until I figured out who did it. The resolution was very satisfying, too—a bold choice that fits perfectly with the themes of the book.
If you enjoy a murder mystery where childhood trauma, complex characters, and impossible expectations are as central to the plot as solving the crime, then you'll love this. Just know that you might have to push through some slower emotional build-up early on. Trust me, the payoff in the second half is fantastic and delivers the gripping, twisty read promised by the premise.
Rating: 4/5 stars. Recommended for fans of character-driven YA mysteries with high-stakes family secrets.
~~~~~
The Heirs is the kind of young adult mystery that sinks its claws in, even if it takes a minute to get going. Think a mix of The Inheritance Games and Netflix's The Residence, swapping superpowers for pure, manufactured genius. The setup is fantastic: five adopted prodigies—Octavius, Fola, Bilal, Perdita, and Romeo—who were all viciously trained by their billionaire father, Leontes Button, to prove his "Button Method" for creating child geniuses.1 When dear old dad is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball, everyone in the mansion becomes a suspect, and it turns into a locked-room mystery full of family secrets and trauma.
The book excels at character depth and creating a tense, dysfunctional family dynamic. You really feel the weight of expectation on all the Button siblings, especially Romeo, the "failure" who just can't measure up. I cared about them all, and the book spends a good amount of time peeling back the layers of their inner lives—their heartbreak, forbidden romances, and loss of purpose.
Honestly, I had a little bit of a hard time getting into the first half. While I was intrigued by the premise and the sibling drama, the pacing felt pretty slow at times. The emotional introspection and heavy focus on the characters' unhappiness occasionally outweighed the murder mystery, which made it a little difficult to commit to the read. I felt myself picking it up and putting it down, and it took me longer than usual to make real progress.
Once you hit the second half, though, things really pick up, and it made the slow start completely worth it. It's like the author flips a switch; the story tightens, the alliances shift, and the twists start hitting hard. Suddenly, that slow-burn family drama feeds directly into the mystery, and the secrets start unraveling at a rapid-fire pace. I was completely hooked, kept on my toes, and couldn't put it down until I figured out who did it. The resolution was very satisfying, too—a bold choice that fits perfectly with the themes of the book.
If you enjoy a murder mystery where childhood trauma, complex characters, and impossible expectations are as central to the plot as solving the crime, then you'll love this. Just know that you might have to push through some slower emotional build-up early on. Trust me, the payoff in the second half is fantastic and delivers the gripping, twisty read promised by the premise.
Rating: 4/5 stars. Recommended for fans of character-driven YA mysteries with high-stakes family secrets.
November 13, 2025
The Heirs is a wildly addictive YA mystery that blends the chaotic sibling dynamics of The Umbrella Academy with the high-stakes puzzles of The Inheritance Games. The result is a tense, character-driven whodunit that’s impossible to put down.
The story follows five adopted siblings—each once part of their billionaire father’s grand (and morally questionable) experiment to “create” prodigies. Predictably, that kind of pressure leaves scars, and years later the siblings are still coping with the trauma of a childhood engineered rather than nurtured. When their father is found dead at a lavish ball, all five become prime suspects, forced to confront not only the mystery of his death but the twisted legacy he left behind.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its cast. Told through multiple POVs, each sibling’s voice is clear, compelling, and layered. I felt myself caring about every one of them within just a few chapters. Their flaws, fears, and fierce loyalties make them feel human, even amid the extraordinary wealth and pressure surrounding them.
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé excels at crafting mysteries that feel both intricate and emotionally grounded, and The Heirs is no exception. The story unfolds hour by hour leading up to the murder, while flashbacks slip in clues and secrets that kept me guessing the whole time. Just when I thought I had a suspect pinned down, another twist or misleading clue sent me in a new direction. It’s the kind of mystery that makes you want to cancel plans just so you can keep reading.
There’s a touch of romance, plenty of family tension, and a strong exploration of the lasting impact of parental expectations—especially when those expectations are amplified on a very public stage. Many readers won’t relate to the wealth, but almost everyone can relate to the pressure of being molded into someone else’s idea of “success.”
The short, punchy chapters make the book incredibly bingeable, and the final reveal is satisfying, justified, and leaves you with that warm, “worth it” feeling when you close the last page. It works beautifully as a standalone, though I wouldn’t complain if we got a sequel following the siblings into their next chaotic adventure.
Overall, The Heirs is another triumph from Àbíké-Íyímídé—vibrant, twisty, heartfelt, and full of unforgettable characters. If you love clever mysteries with emotional depth and found-family dynamics, definitely add this one to your TBR.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows five adopted siblings—each once part of their billionaire father’s grand (and morally questionable) experiment to “create” prodigies. Predictably, that kind of pressure leaves scars, and years later the siblings are still coping with the trauma of a childhood engineered rather than nurtured. When their father is found dead at a lavish ball, all five become prime suspects, forced to confront not only the mystery of his death but the twisted legacy he left behind.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its cast. Told through multiple POVs, each sibling’s voice is clear, compelling, and layered. I felt myself caring about every one of them within just a few chapters. Their flaws, fears, and fierce loyalties make them feel human, even amid the extraordinary wealth and pressure surrounding them.
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé excels at crafting mysteries that feel both intricate and emotionally grounded, and The Heirs is no exception. The story unfolds hour by hour leading up to the murder, while flashbacks slip in clues and secrets that kept me guessing the whole time. Just when I thought I had a suspect pinned down, another twist or misleading clue sent me in a new direction. It’s the kind of mystery that makes you want to cancel plans just so you can keep reading.
There’s a touch of romance, plenty of family tension, and a strong exploration of the lasting impact of parental expectations—especially when those expectations are amplified on a very public stage. Many readers won’t relate to the wealth, but almost everyone can relate to the pressure of being molded into someone else’s idea of “success.”
The short, punchy chapters make the book incredibly bingeable, and the final reveal is satisfying, justified, and leaves you with that warm, “worth it” feeling when you close the last page. It works beautifully as a standalone, though I wouldn’t complain if we got a sequel following the siblings into their next chaotic adventure.
Overall, The Heirs is another triumph from Àbíké-Íyímídé—vibrant, twisty, heartfelt, and full of unforgettable characters. If you love clever mysteries with emotional depth and found-family dynamics, definitely add this one to your TBR.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2025
Five prodigies, a dead father, and a mansion full of suspects....
Octavius, the Maestro
Fola, the Brain
Bilal, the Olympian
Perdita, the Artist
Romeo, the Failure
The five adopted heirs of the illustrious billionare Leontes Button, and viciously trained and raised with his so called "Button method" to produce prodigies and child geniuses...set to ridiculously high standards ... forced to be brilliant from a young age...
Each year the five gather at their father's so-called Prodigy Ball to recognize child geniuses such as them...until their father is murdered at the seventh Prodigy Ball...
And now all who attended the ball are suspects. Forced to stay within the mansion as the police investigate...and the police truly have their work cut out for them...
Each of the siblings has secrets that they wish to hide.
And Leontes Button?
Well... he was excellent at making enemies.
This is my first work by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and I have to say, I am quite surprised at how much I loved it. While there are a few noticeable errors, mistakes with names... and a rather noticeable slowdown between the first and the second half of the book, this was still quite the enjoyable read, and the perfect blend of "whodunit?" and intense family drama.... full of intrigue, twists and turns... and plenty of options for who exactly offed Mr. Button...
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
Octavius, the Maestro
Fola, the Brain
Bilal, the Olympian
Perdita, the Artist
Romeo, the Failure
The five adopted heirs of the illustrious billionare Leontes Button, and viciously trained and raised with his so called "Button method" to produce prodigies and child geniuses...set to ridiculously high standards ... forced to be brilliant from a young age...
Each year the five gather at their father's so-called Prodigy Ball to recognize child geniuses such as them...until their father is murdered at the seventh Prodigy Ball...
And now all who attended the ball are suspects. Forced to stay within the mansion as the police investigate...and the police truly have their work cut out for them...
Each of the siblings has secrets that they wish to hide.
And Leontes Button?
Well... he was excellent at making enemies.
This is my first work by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and I have to say, I am quite surprised at how much I loved it. While there are a few noticeable errors, mistakes with names... and a rather noticeable slowdown between the first and the second half of the book, this was still quite the enjoyable read, and the perfect blend of "whodunit?" and intense family drama.... full of intrigue, twists and turns... and plenty of options for who exactly offed Mr. Button...
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and the rest of my reviews can be found at: https://littlereapling.wixsite.com/fa....
December 7, 2025
I love this book so much!
It had everything I was looking for—a compelling mystery. An intriguing cast of characters. Rich kids doing “bad” things. It was such a delicious story to eat up!
I personally really connected to the Button siblings all being burnt out child prodigies (specifically the talented and gifted aspect of that). I thought it was written in both a believable and relatable way.
Speaking of the siblings, I loved them all so much! They all had such distinct personalities that all meshed well (and clashed against) each other in the best ways! And seeing how they interacted after the death of their father (and before, really) was such a highlight! The whole cast of characters was great, to be honest.
Obviously Mr. Button himself was an abusive man—mentally more than anything. Those poor kids were put through the ringer growing up. And so it was interesting to see not only the results of all their hard work, but the suffering they go through to try and be perfect and make their father proud via the “Button Method”.
The mystery was super compelling, and I liked how the timeline was jumbled up in an understandable way, so that nothing was given away about who the murderer was until towards the end. It kept me guessing, which was really fun!
This author has become one of my new favorites, and I can’t wait to see what they put out next!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan for allowing me to read the e-ARC!
It had everything I was looking for—a compelling mystery. An intriguing cast of characters. Rich kids doing “bad” things. It was such a delicious story to eat up!
I personally really connected to the Button siblings all being burnt out child prodigies (specifically the talented and gifted aspect of that). I thought it was written in both a believable and relatable way.
Speaking of the siblings, I loved them all so much! They all had such distinct personalities that all meshed well (and clashed against) each other in the best ways! And seeing how they interacted after the death of their father (and before, really) was such a highlight! The whole cast of characters was great, to be honest.
Obviously Mr. Button himself was an abusive man—mentally more than anything. Those poor kids were put through the ringer growing up. And so it was interesting to see not only the results of all their hard work, but the suffering they go through to try and be perfect and make their father proud via the “Button Method”.
The mystery was super compelling, and I liked how the timeline was jumbled up in an understandable way, so that nothing was given away about who the murderer was until towards the end. It kept me guessing, which was really fun!
This author has become one of my new favorites, and I can’t wait to see what they put out next!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan for allowing me to read the e-ARC!
October 7, 2025
I have read and enjoyed all of Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's books, so I was very excited to read this ARC of The Heirs. The story centers around five teens who are the children of billionaire Leontes Button. He adopted the children as babies and experimented on them with the "Button Method" to prove that nurture was stronger than nature. Each of the five children became a prodigy in some area. The reader is able to see how that method turned out for each baby as they are now teens, living their own lives. The story comes to a point when Mr. Buttons is murdered on the night of his annual prodigy ball, and everyone is a suspect. The story has some side characters that were not fully flushed out, and some of the main characters had more plot development than others, but that did not prevent a solid mystery. Also some may read the book description as a good one for people who like Inheritance Games, but there are far less "games" in this book than unravelling plot points to figure out who murdered Mr. Buttons. Overall, however, still a solid YA mystery. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC.
October 13, 2025
The Heirs-I received this as an ARC
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel! These orphaned children are taking him by an eccentric billionaire who wants to perfect his method at producing prodigies in an experiment of nurture over nature. His “children” are forced into grueling study sessions to turn them into these prodigies. Four of the five are “successful” experiments, and your heart breaks for each and every one of the five children in the absence of their childhood. Every year they are required to go to a ball to exhibit themselves. Then at the ball to show off their father’s “fine work” he is murdered. He is found the next morning, leaving everyone to wonder who did it and how did it happen.
The Heirs is reminiscent of a version of the Umbrella Academy if they were all geniuses instead of having supernatural powers, mixed with clue. I enjoyed getting to know the siblings and did not anticipate the ending (which is unusual for me.) Tavi is probably my favorite. The brokenness of these overworked yet “privileged” heirs is heartbreaking. Seeing them come into their own though was truly wonderful. I will definitely be reading more by this author!
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel! These orphaned children are taking him by an eccentric billionaire who wants to perfect his method at producing prodigies in an experiment of nurture over nature. His “children” are forced into grueling study sessions to turn them into these prodigies. Four of the five are “successful” experiments, and your heart breaks for each and every one of the five children in the absence of their childhood. Every year they are required to go to a ball to exhibit themselves. Then at the ball to show off their father’s “fine work” he is murdered. He is found the next morning, leaving everyone to wonder who did it and how did it happen.
The Heirs is reminiscent of a version of the Umbrella Academy if they were all geniuses instead of having supernatural powers, mixed with clue. I enjoyed getting to know the siblings and did not anticipate the ending (which is unusual for me.) Tavi is probably my favorite. The brokenness of these overworked yet “privileged” heirs is heartbreaking. Seeing them come into their own though was truly wonderful. I will definitely be reading more by this author!
November 7, 2025
This book got me so excited! An inheritance murder mystery meets The Umbrella Academy? I couldn't wait! And maybe that was the problem for me. I built this one up far too much in my mind. I could not get into this book and returning to read it felt like homework. The adopted children had strange names (and multiple nicknames) and even though they were specifically labeled as very different prodigies it all boiled down to the same kind of messed up character. All rich and successful yet super depressed with poor self-esteem and secret romantic relationships. I couldn't keep track of them and didn't really care to try. The murder takes place too late in the story. The ending wasn't terrible, but it took too long to get there with far too many flashbacks and time skips and too many tacked on endings once we got there. I never truly got a sense of urgency or dread. I wanted to love this book but in the end I was just happy to finish it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this book for an honest review.
content: brief descriptions of violence and death, lots of language
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending me this book for an honest review.
content: brief descriptions of violence and death, lots of language
November 9, 2025
4.5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 Heirs, 1 murder, who is guilty? Perfects for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus!
We follow 5 adopted, billionaire siblings each trained with their father's "Button Method" to become perfect prodigies.
Romeo, the failure (or is he really?)
Octavius, the Maestro
Fola, the brain
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita, the artist
Until Leontes Button is murdered. Who is the killer?
WHAT I LOVED:
First of all, WOW. I was not expecting the ending -- the plot twist! When I thought I'd solved it, Faridah proved me otherwise.
Second, the writing! Splendid. Lots and lots of plot twists and mysteries! Definitely will read it again and see what I missed because AHH. It is so good!
I loved the ending as well! (Can't say much because spoilers!) It was so sad and yet heartbreaking.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
The only problem however is that it was so unnecessary to write so many gay characters. It felt like that was forced into the book a lot, without playing a huge role in the book...
Overall, 4.5 out of 5 stars! Highly recommend it!
*thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for the ARC!*
5 Heirs, 1 murder, who is guilty? Perfects for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus!
We follow 5 adopted, billionaire siblings each trained with their father's "Button Method" to become perfect prodigies.
Romeo, the failure (or is he really?)
Octavius, the Maestro
Fola, the brain
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita, the artist
Until Leontes Button is murdered. Who is the killer?
WHAT I LOVED:
First of all, WOW. I was not expecting the ending -- the plot twist! When I thought I'd solved it, Faridah proved me otherwise.
Second, the writing! Splendid. Lots and lots of plot twists and mysteries! Definitely will read it again and see what I missed because AHH. It is so good!
I loved the ending as well! (Can't say much because spoilers!) It was so sad and yet heartbreaking.
WHAT I DISLIKED:
The only problem however is that it was so unnecessary to write so many gay characters. It felt like that was forced into the book a lot, without playing a huge role in the book...
Overall, 4.5 out of 5 stars! Highly recommend it!
*thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for the ARC!*
December 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me an early copy of The Heirs for an honest review!
From the very beginning, the Heirs felt, to me, like a mashup of The Umbrella Academy (an old man adopting kids from around the world to mold them into his image) and an Agatha Christie novel (an intricately woven whodunit). I really loved this cast of characters. The prodigies and Romeo (poor guy, he’s my favorite) were fantastic, and their personalities really shined through in their POVs. The book nails diversity too, with a mix of sexual orientations, races, and talents that makes each character feel unique.
The ending was really phenomenal. Honestly, I loved seeing all the threads be woven together and gaining the clarity that you love to read at the end of a really great mystery. My only small complaints are that the ending made some of the earlier events a little confusing, and at first, all the nicknames and multiple POVs made it tricky to keep track of who was who.
Overall, though, this was a super enjoyable read with a crazy, interesting finale. Definitely a book that keeps you guessing and analyzing the characters the whole way through!
From the very beginning, the Heirs felt, to me, like a mashup of The Umbrella Academy (an old man adopting kids from around the world to mold them into his image) and an Agatha Christie novel (an intricately woven whodunit). I really loved this cast of characters. The prodigies and Romeo (poor guy, he’s my favorite) were fantastic, and their personalities really shined through in their POVs. The book nails diversity too, with a mix of sexual orientations, races, and talents that makes each character feel unique.
The ending was really phenomenal. Honestly, I loved seeing all the threads be woven together and gaining the clarity that you love to read at the end of a really great mystery. My only small complaints are that the ending made some of the earlier events a little confusing, and at first, all the nicknames and multiple POVs made it tricky to keep track of who was who.
Overall, though, this was a super enjoyable read with a crazy, interesting finale. Definitely a book that keeps you guessing and analyzing the characters the whole way through!
October 5, 2025
This was a solid four star read.
A classic murder mystery with a ton of twists and turns.
The father of our MC's passes away, tragically and unexpected. Foul play is expected to be involved.
All the children have secrets to keep, and reasons to be suspected.
This was a super good fall read for me, my only critique is that all the characters are introduced super quick, with barely any time to process who is who. I think I started to really enjoy the whole book a lot more when I got a better grasp on the characters and their personalities.
The ending had me screaming at my sister every five minutes as each new reveal happened (bless my sister for dealing with me😂😭)
Overall, a solid 4/5, only reason it's not a 5/5 is because the pacing was a little slow and wordy at times, but overall it didn't hindrance anything too much, and the plot was still really good besides the fact!
A classic murder mystery with a ton of twists and turns.
The father of our MC's passes away, tragically and unexpected. Foul play is expected to be involved.
All the children have secrets to keep, and reasons to be suspected.
This was a super good fall read for me, my only critique is that all the characters are introduced super quick, with barely any time to process who is who. I think I started to really enjoy the whole book a lot more when I got a better grasp on the characters and their personalities.
The ending had me screaming at my sister every five minutes as each new reveal happened (bless my sister for dealing with me😂😭)
Overall, a solid 4/5, only reason it's not a 5/5 is because the pacing was a little slow and wordy at times, but overall it didn't hindrance anything too much, and the plot was still really good besides the fact!
October 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, bestselling author of The Ace of Spades, brings us the murder-mystery The Heirs.
Billionaire Leontes Button devises a method to produce child geniuses and applies his program, "Button Method", to his five young children to demonstrate that it works. Sixteen years later the infamous family gathers for their annual Prodigy Ball, during which the Patriarch is murdered.
I enjoyed this murder-mystery and found it to be cleverly written.
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group
June 02, 2026
Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#TheHeirs #netgalley
#macmillanchildrenspublishinggroup
#Murder #Mystery #whodunnit
#secrets
#lgbtqia
#Brightbookreviews
#Goodreads #Fable
Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, bestselling author of The Ace of Spades, brings us the murder-mystery The Heirs.
Billionaire Leontes Button devises a method to produce child geniuses and applies his program, "Button Method", to his five young children to demonstrate that it works. Sixteen years later the infamous family gathers for their annual Prodigy Ball, during which the Patriarch is murdered.
I enjoyed this murder-mystery and found it to be cleverly written.
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group
June 02, 2026
Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#TheHeirs #netgalley
#macmillanchildrenspublishinggroup
#Murder #Mystery #whodunnit
#secrets
#lgbtqia
#Brightbookreviews
#Goodreads #Fable
October 9, 2025
A whodunit with a splash of The Inheritance Games thrown in for fun.
Leontes Button was certain that he could raise prodigies. That nurture was much more important than nature. What he forgot though, was that everyone needs to feel accepted and loved in order to be happy. And everyone desires to be happy, not just successful.
Now, Leontes is dead. Many had motive. But who actually did it?
This was a fun and engaging read and it had a lot of possible outcomes. The book isn't scheduled to be published until June of next year so hopefully they will button up (pun intended) some of the lose ends in the book (ie: typos, mistakes in names, etc). I haven't read anything from this author before, but I will definitely add her to my read list for the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review?
Leontes Button was certain that he could raise prodigies. That nurture was much more important than nature. What he forgot though, was that everyone needs to feel accepted and loved in order to be happy. And everyone desires to be happy, not just successful.
Now, Leontes is dead. Many had motive. But who actually did it?
This was a fun and engaging read and it had a lot of possible outcomes. The book isn't scheduled to be published until June of next year so hopefully they will button up (pun intended) some of the lose ends in the book (ie: typos, mistakes in names, etc). I haven't read anything from this author before, but I will definitely add her to my read list for the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review?
October 24, 2025
I give this book 4.5 stars.
The writing was excellent, the story was interesting throughout the whole novel and the characters were well written and their arcs closed the story well.
As I was reading, the plot was so exciting and I was taking notes all the time. Throughout the whole book the mystery was very interesting and I loved how it concluded.
However, one major caveat I had with it was the pacing of some of the character arcs throughout the book. Some were not explained enough and others had too much build up for what ended up being semi-lackluster.
Overall, I loved this book and would recommend it especially if you like mysteries.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Feiwel & Friends for the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The writing was excellent, the story was interesting throughout the whole novel and the characters were well written and their arcs closed the story well.
As I was reading, the plot was so exciting and I was taking notes all the time. Throughout the whole book the mystery was very interesting and I loved how it concluded.
However, one major caveat I had with it was the pacing of some of the character arcs throughout the book. Some were not explained enough and others had too much build up for what ended up being semi-lackluster.
Overall, I loved this book and would recommend it especially if you like mysteries.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group / Feiwel & Friends for the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
December 21, 2025
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC! Release date June 2nd, 2026*
This book is a YA whodunnit involving a family of rich, adopted children turned prodigies. The story focuses on a few main characters, providing lengthy commentary and backstory on their personal lives. Everyone’s motives are laid out, leading you to parse out who is the most likely suspect.
The premise of this book caught my eye. I enjoyed the settings and the way layers of the characters’ personalities were pulled back as the book progressed. At times I found their personal lives a less interesting distraction from the mystery, and wanted them to hurry along their side conversations and reminiscing.
Although ultimately I was not the target audience, I do believe this book would be a great fit for someone looking for a character-driven Teen/Young Adult mystery.
This book is a YA whodunnit involving a family of rich, adopted children turned prodigies. The story focuses on a few main characters, providing lengthy commentary and backstory on their personal lives. Everyone’s motives are laid out, leading you to parse out who is the most likely suspect.
The premise of this book caught my eye. I enjoyed the settings and the way layers of the characters’ personalities were pulled back as the book progressed. At times I found their personal lives a less interesting distraction from the mystery, and wanted them to hurry along their side conversations and reminiscing.
Although ultimately I was not the target audience, I do believe this book would be a great fit for someone looking for a character-driven Teen/Young Adult mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Heirs follows five adopted prodigies—Octavius, Fola, Bilal, Perdita, and Romeo—raised by billionaire Leontes Button, who subjected them to the harsh and infamous Button Method, a system designed to manufacture genius. Each sibling has been shaped—and damaged by his impossible expectations.
When Leontes Button is suddenly murdered, the siblings become the prime suspects. Trapped in their father’s mansion as the investigation unfolds, they must confront the trauma of their upbringing, the secrets they’ve kept from one another, and the possibility that one of them may truly be responsible.
As long‑buried truths rise to the surface, the heirs are forced to decide whether they will protect each other or let the family implode under the weight of their father’s legacy.
When Leontes Button is suddenly murdered, the siblings become the prime suspects. Trapped in their father’s mansion as the investigation unfolds, they must confront the trauma of their upbringing, the secrets they’ve kept from one another, and the possibility that one of them may truly be responsible.
As long‑buried truths rise to the surface, the heirs are forced to decide whether they will protect each other or let the family implode under the weight of their father’s legacy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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