Funny thing is I was talking to my husband about this book last night while I started it and i randomly said, "wouldn't it be funny if the plot twist was blah blah blah blah. " and lo and behold I was freaking right! Haha 😄

Enjoyable and fast read however, I had issues with the pacing and some major plot holes and inconsistencies early on.

Family drama. Way too many characters and I'm still not sure why that first game was even a thing 😅

Ridiculously rich people, creepy setting, and plenty of murder? Yes please! I know it’s cliche but I really didn’t want to put this book down. I suspected (correctly) the villain quite early in the book but that didn’t take away much from the story. Highly enjoyable read.

3.5 stars rounded up

This one starts with a mild "there's something wrong with this family" vibe and ends with a twisted WTH. Entertaining and easy to read with an adequate pace, but with many eyerolls as the characters' actions are not very believable. Still an enjoyable suspenseful story worth reading, just don't expect to be blown away. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a galley of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

I have truly enjoyed every Catherine Steadman book I have read! Each of her books has taken me on a crazy ride, sometimes they may be unrealistic or a little far fetched, but that's what makes it fun! This book follows Harry who is engaged to Edward! When Harry goes to meet the in laws for the first time she slowly realizes that this wealthy family follows their own rules and its definitely not what she was expecting- or maybe not what she wants to become part of. this family after all. I really enjoyed reading along and figuring out what's truly going on with this family as Harry is also figuring it out, the suspense and the way this story was built around the family games was just so fun, I truly could not put this one down!

A eccentric family game played on Christmas Eve, where there is only one winner. Sounds simple but it's the heart of a complex family with some unsettling secrets. The main character Harriet is marrying into this new wealthy, complicated family and will now play the game as well.
To say much more would give away spoilers but this is a book that will keep you guessing up until the end.
If you like suspense and a bit of gothic mystery this book is a fun read.

I love to read thrillers. So, when I got the invite to review The Family Game from the publisher, I jumped on it. I was not disappointed.

The Family Game is a fast-paced book in New York City and an undisclosed estate in upstate New York. The book’s plotline centers around Harriet/Harry and her upcoming marriage to a billionaire heir, Edward. Edward has been trying to cut the strings to his family for years, but his forthcoming marriage to Harry has them back in his life. Harry, on the other hand, is thrilled. An orphan, she longs for a close family and loves that Edward’s family has taken such an interest in her. But things turn sinister when Edward’s father, the charismatic Robert, gives Harry an unedited book that he had been writing. The contents of that book shock and scare Harry, and she realizes that maybe Edward was right about his family. After a frightening Krampusnacht, Harry is very reluctant to attend a Christmas Eve celebration in upstate New York. But, following what she has heard, she needs to participate because Robert will reveal everything after the annual Christmas Eve scavenger hunt. One that Harry was told she MUST participate in. What is Robert going to show her? How is it connected to what she heard on the tape? And most importantly, will Harry survive the night?

The main and secondary characters were wonderfully written. They each added an extra depth to the plotline that helped with the storyline. Even the secondary characters, like Edward’s mother or Harry’s literary agent, had a depth that I enjoyed.

Harry—I enjoyed her character. After being orphaned at a young age, Harry only wanted a family. And she was thrilled to get one with Edward. But, as with all thrillers, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I mean, you can’t have happiness in these types of stories for very long. So, when the other shoe did drop (and it dropped about halfway through the book), I wasn’t surprised. But, what did surprise me, was Harry’s reaction to it. She decided to play the game outlined by Robert but played it her way. I also thought her reactions to certain revelations were muted. But, as she stated throughout the book, she had PTSD. So maybe that’s why??
Edward—I wasn’t his biggest fan during the book. He was hiding so many secrets. He did other small things (like not mentioning how frightening Krampusnacht was) that seemed odd. Take, for instance, Bobby’s death. Not only did he gloss it over, but he told Harry something different.
Robert—Again, like Edward, I didn’t like or trust him. The way he went about telling Harry certain things was odd. Like recording a book on a Dictaphone. And an old one to boot. But, once I read the book, I got why he set everything up the way he did.
The Family Game fits perfectly into the thriller/psychological thriller genre. The author did a perfect job of keeping me on my feet reading this book.

The storyline with Harry, Edward, his family, and their games were well written. The author introduced me to Krampusnacht. While I knew about Krampus, I didn’t understand what Krampusnacht was. And I thought the Holbeck’s version was disturbing. I was genuinely scared during those scenes.

The storyline with Harry, Robert, and what was revealed on the Dictaphone was frightening. I loved that I thought the same thing as Harry up to the end of the book. That twist surprised me, as what that person did once the author revealed their secret. Talk about taking me by surprise!!!

There are trigger warnings in The Family Game. They are murder, talk of suicide, talk of drug use, talk of forcing drug use (is that such a thing?), terrorization by a mythical creature, and a graphic scene of a car accident and what happens afterward. If any of these triggers you, I recommend not reading this book.

The end of The Family Game was a complete surprise. I was surprised to find out the scavenger hunt turned out the way it did. I also was surprised to find out what was revealed to be revealed. Saying that it took me by surprise was an understatement. But it also made sense. The scavenger hunt clue foreshadowed what was to come. It was a perfect but sad ending for this book. I also cannot wait to read the author’s next book.

I would recommend The Family Game to anyone over 21. There is violence and mild language. Also, see the trigger warnings I put above.

I want to thank Catherine Steadman, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read and review this book. Any opinions stated in this review are mine.

This book was amazing, and I loved everything about it. I wasn’t expecting this to be the perfect holiday read, but I was totally wrong. The Holbeck family welcomes in Harriet who has to overcome some dark obstacles and, in the end, figures out she was worried about the wrong person all along. I highly recommend this one be added to your tbr because it will have on the edge of your seat. I lived in Italy back in 2013 and remember hearing all about Krampusnacht during the holidays… This book brings Krampus to life; literally! I was totally invested with the recordings from Robert. They were so important to the entire storyline, but they seemed so small in the grand scheme of the whole book, I loved that they weren’t overbearing and still keep you so intrigued throughout! I highly recommend this book; I could tell it was going to be good based on the reviews I had read about it! I also saw that @thelithomebody said it was unreal on audiobook, so check that out if you’re able!

“We’re going to survive this, you and I. They say you can’t choose your family but they’re wrong. You can. It just takes way more effort than most people are willing to put in.”

“Every family is crazy, though, right? In their own way. Money just highlights what’s already there.”

This was a multifaceted thriller that really pulled me in from the very first chapter! I was a little disinterested in these family “games” that were played, though, and that hindered my ability to get fully engrossed in the story. But I loved the mystery aspect and that kept me going!

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Publishing, Ballantine Books, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thrillers are not in my usual repertoire but occasionally there is one that will catch my eye. That is exactly what happened with The Family Game by Catherine Steadman. Harriet (Harry) recently became engaged to businessman Edward Holbeck. He is a member of the high society and his family comes form old money. Prior to their engagement, she had never been introduced to his family and now post engagement she finds herself being thrown into the mix. This is a pretty eccentric family with traditions that are very unique to them. n the surface all seem t be welcoming Harry with open arms but not everything is exactly what it seems.

This book is a rollercoaster with a super gravitation pull. The Holbeck family really are in a world f their own. Edward had previously kept his family at a distance trying to make his own way in the world but, as the eldest son, he still had some responsibilities to the family name. Harry provides a new bridge between old and new for all the Holbeck's. She is very attracted to their image of power and control as that is something that has been lacking in her life. She lost her parents tragically at a young age and in some ways has been alone ever since.

Secrets play a huge role in the plotline. All of the characters are withholding some sort of information that complicates everything. Some of these secrets are simple but most of them are life changing. For some they may even turn out to be deadly. This thriller is so well written and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. For most of the book things are put together is look one way when in actuality it may all be the complete opposite of that. Again everyone is not exactly who they seem or what they seem to project.

One of the most unique parts of the Holbeck family is their holiday traditions. Now these aren't just get a tree and decorate it while drinking hot chocolate and singing carols types of traditions. These traditions are dark and a bit twisted and were created with the intention of finding the strongest ones of the group. It was definitely a winner takes all type of scenario and Harry is caught right in the middle. As a reader I was so invested in these games waiting to see what the outcome would be.

As far as thrillers goes The Family Game has all the components that I enjoy: psychological drama, mystery, and a good pacing for the storyline. I felt like this was done very well and put me in the right mindset. The different characters also pulled me in with their actions. Catherine Steadman's writing really did have me on the edge of my seat the entire time with this crazy family and their wild antics. This is a very dark family but they are are also so fascinating I could see why Harry was do desperate to be a part of them!

LOVED THIS WILD RIDE OF A BOOK. Families, secrets and lies OH MY! Get ready for a rollercoaster of a read!

Thank you to the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Family Game is a gripping thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I feel like not knowing much about this book is the way to go in.
Harriet is engaged to Edward but has not met his family before. But the family doesn't accept just anyone. It's a cat and mouse game going into this family. Also you have to be their kind of crazy and have a dark sense of humor to understand them.
The ending twist was like a slap in the face to me because I honestly didn't see it coming. I was like what in the world is going on here. But all good and I definitely recommend.

For the first time Harriet's life is finally going well and in ways she did not expect. She is a best selling author, she has an amazing husband, and she is truly happy. Her husband Edward is truly the love of her life and someone she can full heart trust. But there is the matter of his family. Edward is rich beyond belief, think Rockefeller rich, but is estranged from his family. In simple terms he doesn't associate with his family because they are a lot to handle and he has put distance especially from his father. Harriet on the other hand has no family due to them dying in a car accident. Harriet or Harry as called in the book is not used to having a major interference of family in her life. When Harry and Edward got married they both agreed she was be introduced and pulled into the family very slowly since it can be extremely overwhelming. But with the holidays coming up she is about to be full throttle into the family. One evening at a family gathering Harriet is pulled aside by Edwards father and give a tape to listen to and says her response will dictate her position in the family. As she starts to listen to them she realizes that this a horrific confession and she is being asked something to do something unimaginable that could involve blackmail. Harriet has to decide what to do and how much she is willing to risk. This could mean a risk to her husbands and her relationship and the relationship of the family. The game is beginning.

This was a good book and I enjoyed it. I did feel like it was kind of like the other mystery thrill books and the characters were to me one dimensional. I was interested but it wasn't like I was going to sit down and stay reading for long periods of time. There were certain aspects of this book that seemed out of reality and far fetched. This made it hard to get a open mind about it. Another thing about it was that at the end I was not 100% sure of some of the familys motivations. There was un answered questions and it left me wondering. But all in all I do believe this book was good. The suspense of the what is next was enough to keep me captured. I would recommend this book!

Thank you St. Martin's Press ​and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
The first half was slow but then the storyline picked up and I couldn't put it down. Really enjoyed the setting (especially the large mansion/property at the end). I will say the last few chapters were more gore-y than I'd prefer for a thriller. That said, I enjoyed the twists at the end.

Overall this was a twisty and disturbing story. I enjoyed it but it wasn't my favorite thriller. The pacing felt like there was a lot of build up to an inevitable ending but when it got there it felt very rushed to tie things up. Fun and for certain people I'd definitely recommend if I know they like this genre.

I recommend this book to people who also liked the underrated movie Ready or Not. This was a fun quick read.

The ending twist and the cat-mouse game were fascinating! This is gripping, heart throbbing, smart thriller absolutely keeps you in your toes and at the edge of your seat! I loved it! I highly recommend it!

This book was very different from other thriller books I have read. It was definitely not at all what I expected and the twist at the end was not expected at all.

What a twisted story! The Holbeck family has so many secrets and likes to play psycho family games. Harriet, a writer with her own secret, falls for Edward, the new older son who seems like the perfect man. He’s relived himself from his family and wants to start a life with Harriet. They both slowly get pulled back into his family and then let the games begin! What a fun story and 4 stars!

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for an eARC of The Family Game by Catherine Steadman.

WOW! Why did I wait so long to pick this up? What a wish to be granted by the publisher and Netgalley. This book was so much more than I anticipated and I have added Steadman’s entire backlist to my TBR.

Harriet Reed is a novelist from England on the brink of stardom and newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir of his extremely powerful and wealthy family. Harriet quickly becomes drawn into their world. They seem welcoming enough, right? But Edward’s father hands Harriet a tape of a book he’s been working on, and everything changes. Is this a novel, or is this a confession?

Just then, the family game truly begins.
THE RULES
1. Listen carefully
2. Do your research
3. Trust no one
4. Run for your life

There are so many layers to this story, and everything is more than it appears. I felt like I was peeling the onion back with each chapter of this book. The chilling atmosphere that Steadman builds throughout the plot is very impressive. I can’t wait to read anything and everything this author comes up with next!

Unfortunately The Family Game was a miss for me. I found the introductory chapters to be agonizingly slow and generic. The writing did not grab me, nor did the mystery. I skipped to the final chapter about halfway through when the plot did not pick up and found that the ultimate twist and resolution were predictable from what I gathered early on in the story. I found Ms. Steadman to be a competent writer but the mystery was not fast paced or thrilling, in my opinion. I was looking forward to the novel as the description reminded me of two outstanding films with similar plot devices - You're Next and Ready or Not.