This is a book that must be shared. As the story begins, we meet the players, characters in their own games, games where the losers pay the ultimate price. Then the games begin and you'll not put this book down until the last sentence on the last page. Don't try to guess the next steps, imagination is not enough to make that guess. Catherine Steadman is a skilled writer who knows how to lock her readers into a story.

"The Family Game" by Catherine Steadman is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the dark secrets of a wealthy and powerful family. Published on October 18, 2022, this novel follows Harriet Reed, a writer who becomes entangled in the sinister world of her fiancé's family, the Holbecks.

Steadman masterfully crafts a suspenseful narrative that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. The story begins with Harriet meeting her future in-laws at a Thanksgiving dinner, where she receives a mysterious cassette tape from her father-in-law, Robert Holbeck. This tape sets off a chain of events that forces Harriet to participate in the family's twisted games, each more dangerous than the last.

The author excels at creating a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that mirrors Harriet's growing paranoia. The isolated setting of the Holbeck family's multi-story castle in upstate New York adds to the eerie ambiance, making readers feel as trapped as the protagonist.

Character development is a strong point in "The Family Game." Harriet is a relatable and complex protagonist, whose determination to uncover the truth drives the narrative forward. The Holbeck family members are equally well-drawn, each with their own secrets and motivations that slowly unravel throughout the story.

Steadman's writing style is engaging and fast-paced, with short chapters that propel the narrative forward. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, challenging readers' assumptions and keeping them guessing until the end. The author's background as an actress shines through in her ability to create vivid, cinematic scenes that bring the story to life.

While some readers may find certain plot elements over-the-top, the novel's entertainment value lies in its ability to push boundaries and keep readers engaged. The exploration of themes such as family loyalty, power dynamics, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets adds depth to the thrilling narrative.

"The Family Game" is a testament to Steadman's growth as an author since her debut novel. It's a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy dark family secrets and high-stakes games. With its gripping plot and well-crafted characters, this novel cements Steadman's place as a rising star in the thriller genre.

Catherine Steadman’s The Family Game is a gripping psychological thriller that weaves together suspense, intrigue, and a touch of dark family drama. The story follows Harriet Reed, a rising novelist, who becomes entangled with her fiancé Edward Holbeck's powerful family after they announce their engagement. What seems like an ordinary, affluent family quickly becomes a web of secrets when Harriet receives a tape from Edward's father, Robert. What she believes is a novel soon turns out to be a chilling confession to a murder, throwing Harriet into a dangerous game where she must navigate loyalty, power, and deadly consequences.

Steadman expertly builds tension, with each twist deepening the mystery surrounding the Holbeck family’s intentions and Harriet’s role in their hidden world. The fast-paced narrative and sharp prose keep readers on edge, questioning whether Harriet can trust her own judgment or if she’s being manipulated into a dangerous game with life-and-death stakes. The exploration of power, family dynamics, and the cost of secrets makes The Family Game a compulsive read, perfect for fans of psychological thrillers with dark, intricate plots.

Catherine Steadman’s The Family Game is a psychological thriller that blends high-society drama with a sinister, suspenseful plot. The novel follows Harriet "Harry" Reed, a British writer engaged to the heir of a wealthy and powerful American family. As she is drawn deeper into their world, she realizes that their traditions and secrets are more dangerous than she ever imagined. The novel is fast-paced, with a mounting sense of tension that keeps readers on edge. From the moment Harry meets her fiancé’s enigmatic father, the plot unfolds with a mix of eerie revelations, shocking twists, and escalating stakes. The story moves quickly, especially in the second half, making it difficult to put down. The Family Game explores themes of power, wealth, and control, as well as the dark side of privilege. Family loyalty and betrayal are central to the story, as Harry struggles to navigate the dangerous dynamics of the Holbeck family. The novel also examines moral dilemmas and the psychological toll of uncovering unsettling truths. Told in the first person from Harry’s perspective, the narrative is immersive and filled with an underlying sense of dread. Steadman’s writing is sharp and cinematic, making the reader feel as though they are experiencing Harry’s growing paranoia firsthand. The prose is engaging, with well-crafted dialogue and a strong atmospheric quality that enhances the novel’s suspense. Fans of psychological thrillers with a blend of family drama and dark secrets will find The Family Game compelling. It’s a great pick for readers who enjoy books by Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware, or Lucy Foley. With its mix of wealth, deception, and a protagonist caught in a web of high-stakes danger, this novel is a gripping and thrilling read.

Very enjoyable! Well-written and a great premise - it's a cup of HBO's "Succession," a dash of horror, and thorough sprinkle of drama!

At first, I got vampire family vibes...and that movie "Ready or Not." But I was wrong!

There was definitely some overly dramatic moments: If I had quarter for every time a cryptic blanket statement like "they'll never guess/learn/know what I did" appeared, I'd probably have a few dollars. It was a little overkill - at one point I was like IF YOU DON'T TELL ME RIGHT NOW, I DO NOT CARE TO BE TEASED ABOUT IT. Like when someone says "we need to talk" and then never talks to you so you just think about it.

I did guess a fair bit of the story, but still enjoyed it all. I also had some theories that were DEFINITELY off but could've happened, so it was nice to still be surprised. I was annoyed at how slowly our main character moved sometimes, but I understand the need to stretch the action/reveals...

My biggest thing was the ending: I wanted it to be a little more of a reveal that was just meatier. The "why" of it all seemed too simple. Also totally unrelated but how much she was into her fiance's dad got a little weird - funny it didn't even end up relevant!

Catherine Steadman is an amazing writer. I loved the plot, I recommend it to people by saying it's almost like a literary version of Ready or Not the movie. I think the characters here were flushed out well which made the mystery and suspense more realistic

This was a really good read!
I did switch to the audiobook pretty quickly, because I struggled with the ebook. The audiobook was fantastic!

The only critique I have is that the romantic relationship felt wrong to me. I guess that we come to understand that, but at the same time, I feel like when you have two people who are getting married, they know each other so much better than this.
Ed and Harry had so many secrets from each other, and that just isn't realistic for a couple who is newly dating/engaged.

Other than that, I found the plot to be wonderful! I didn't really know how it was going to end, and I always like that! I don't want to have it all figured out halfway through the book, so that was great!

I think this may be the only Catherine Steadman that I read, just because this is the only one that really grabbed me based on the synopsis.

SO GOOD though!

If you love reading about rich people misbehaving, this book is for you!

This is the story of Harry, a woman with a mysterious and tragic past is slated to marry Edward, the eldest son of a wealthy family. As the holiday season approaches, Harry is invited to join his family for festivities, and learns they have a very eccentric way of celebrating the holidays.

The Family Game was a blend of family drama and thriller, with an emphasis on the drama. It was very campy and over the top. The buildup in the first 1/3 was a little slow, but it was important to create important context.

I genuinely found myself fond of Harry, and was rooting for her the entire time. This was one of the most creative and weird thrillers I’ve ever read. It will require you to suspend your disbelief some, especially towards the end but it was a fun and atmospheric read. I particularly suggest consuming this via audiobook - there are multimedia elements and lots of fun sound effects.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Harriet (Harry) Reed was orphaned by a tragic accident when she was 11 and 20 years later is a newly minted British writer with a bestseller under her belt. By chance she meets the scion of a wealthy and powerful American family and a year later becomes engaged to him and moves to his home in New York.
Anxious about meeting his family, Harry finally attends Thanksgiving and finds them to not be as intimidating as she feared. And, to her great discomfort, she finds herself attracted to Edward’s father. Of course, nothing is at it seems but fortunately Harry is no fool.
In the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas Harry learns the family traditions of playing rather bizarre family games. Fraught with riddles and clues, the games are far more complex than one would expect. This year, they turn out to be fatal. Who will save Harry?

I’m catching up on some old readers copies. I have to say, this is my favorite Catherine Steadman book to date. Her books just keep getting better and better! The book has so many twists and turns. And, boy did the ending catch me off guard.

Thank you #NetGalley, #RandomHousePublishingGroup-Ballantine, #CatherineSteadman and #TheFamilyGame for the copy for my honest review.

Suspenseful family drama, slow to start but it sucked me in and then I couldn’t break away from it. This was my favorite Catherine Steadman book so far.

This was a fun twist on the usual thriller. It was fast paced and filled with family drama, but the plot itself was unique. It had me guessing up to the end and I did not guess correctly! The ending did feel a bit rushed compared to the rest of the book, but overall I enjoyed the story. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and Catherine Steadman for the opportunity to read/listen to this one!

I really enjoyed this mystery thriller. It felt like a twisted take on Succession and I was very intrigued by just how far the family games would go. I really identified with the main character. I wish there would have been a little more development between the main character and her fiance. It felt like I was told how in love they were, but not shown, so the ending of the book, while it made sense, felt a bit abrupt. But I would definitely recommend this book and I'd love to read more by this author!

I really enjoyed this one from Catherine Steadman! Harry is an author whose debut novel becomes an instant smash hit. She also just got engaged to Edward, who is seemingly the perfect man. Sweet, loving, very successful. Edward also comes from a rich family with some traditions…very INTERESTING traditions, to say the least. I felt the pacing was well-done and I kept turning those pages to find out what was going to happen which is always what you want in a thriller. I liked the questionable characters and trying to figure out if I could trust them or not (and going back and forth a dozen times!). Steadman has been a hit or miss for me and this one was definitely a hit.

I loved this book! As someone who reads a lot of thrillers, I’ve seen all the “tropes” countless time. This one was fresh and new and fun. It definitely scared me. Catherine steadman is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me.

What a unique premise for a book! This family was ruthless and I was cheering for the main character the whole time. The twist at the end took me by surprise. A solid thriller and perfect spooky season read.

Catherine Steadman has penned another fantastic book. Set during the holiday season, it deviates from the usual family gathering narrative. The story begins with a confession and culminates in a lethal game filled with unexpected twists and surprises from start to finish. It kept me guessing the entire time!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing me with an ARC of this novel for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun and well paced thriller that is perfect for this time of year. I throughly enjoyed our main character, Harry, and I was invested in finding out the same answers she was trying to uncover. One reason that this book works so well is that Harry has moved to America for her fiancee so the isolation of not knowing who to trust felt authentic. And the money and power that her soon to be family has is a force of its own. The twists and turns of this story coupled with the weird games made this book so hard to put down. I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next.

This book is like a Christmas version of the movie Ready or Not including the huge mansion. Except this family has lots of Christmas traditions and they are so outlandish which is what makes this book so fun. Steadman is an actor which really shows in this book since every scene and each character was so easy to picture. I would love for this to be adapted into a movie and I hope one day my wish comes true.

This book was insane! I listened to the audio of this and it is a great audiobook. I loved the twists and turns of it. There was a perfect blend of family drama and mystery. I just couldn't stop reading it. The ending was absolutely crazy and I didn't see it coming. I thought it was a great way to end things!

This is a fast paced thriller with a twist at the end. Definitely had me hooked right away, and the mystery unfolded into a very suspenseful tale. Highly recommended.