Which Ellen Raskin mystery novel won the 1979 Newbery Medal?

The mystery novel by Ellen Raskin that won the 1979 Newbery Medal was The Westing Game.

Published by E. P. Dutton in 1978, the novel begins when sixteen strangers are brought together at Sunset Towers after the death—or apparent death—of wealthy industrialist Samuel W. Westing. His heirs must form teams, solve cryptic clues, and compete in a strange inheritance game. The story blends classic mystery elements with puzzles, deception, shifting identities, and a large ensemble cast.

The Newbery Medal recognizes the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, so the 1979 award honored the book rather than its later adaptations. Raskin wrote four children's novels; Figgs & Phantoms, one of the listed alternatives, was instead a 1975 Newbery Honor Book. The Westing Game was later adapted into the 1997 television film Get a Clue, also released under the book's title.