My fifth grade language arts enrichment group read "The Westing Game" as one of our literature circle books. I love using this book as a character study since there are so many characters. Each of my students was assigned a character from the book to complete a character-study project about by creating a "trading card" for their person. The front side had to be a picture based on their visualization as they read (some characters don't have much physical description in the book so that frustrated some of them!) They also had to work to write their character's alibi for why their character couldn't have "done it." The backside of their trading cards is the necessary information about their character (physical description, quotes, connections, etc.) There is no reason that this character study guide cannot be used for any novel your students are reading when you want them to delve into the character at a deeper level.
Character list for "The Westing Game":
http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Westing_Game_Raskin/Westing_Game_Study_Guide02.html
While you are at it, have the kids look into the vocabulary that makes mysteries special:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson865/words.pdf
Download the file for your students (for free) on TPT:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Character-Study-1039323
Character list for "The Westing Game":
http://thebestnotes.com/booknotes/Westing_Game_Raskin/Westing_Game_Study_Guide02.html
While you are at it, have the kids look into the vocabulary that makes mysteries special:
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson865/words.pdf
Download the file for your students (for free) on TPT:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Character-Study-1039323