The Family Game was a suspenseful thriller that kept me up way too late at night. I really enjoyed this one from start to finish. Highly recommend adding this one to your reading list.

I will be reviewing a physical copy of this book on my social media platforms but thank you agin to Random House for the digital arc

An enjoyable thriller. I felt that some parts dragged a bit (Krampus) but for the most part it was a page turner that I would recommend.

While this book did hook me from the beginning, there were parts so obviously over the top that I wanted to shout at our protagonist. With that said, I still enjoyed this novel and would recommend.

I don't even think I can articulate why I enjoyed this so much. There was twistiness. There was Vanderbilt-level riches. There was a mysterious tape. It all flowed nicely and I was hooked right from the start!

Good, not great. Fast paced. Original story. A little different, kinda weird, but good. I was able to guess the twist but that is normal for me.

This was a fascinating thriller with an outstanding ending. I loved the cat mouse plot.
I was gifted a copy of this galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

It had been a while since I'd read a thriller that is actually thrilling. I had the best time from start to finish with this one. I love that it takes place during the holidays, because it makes for a very fun, holiday read. I enjoyed following this main character, and exploring this mystery through her eyes. I think the tapes added an interesting element to this story, and the twisted games this family plays made for an original and unique angle that I'd never read in a thriller before.

What in the world did I just read?! This one was certainly unique as sometimes thrillers follow similar plot lines. This one, though, might leave you shaken!

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
This novel is a 2022 Goodreads nominee for best mystery and thriller. It a page turning thriller, one is which you don’t know who is hiding what and who is telling the truth.
Harriet (Harry) Reed is an up-and-coming novelist. She is from London. She meets Edward Holbeck, who is from a New York family that reeks of old money and lies. Harry falls in love with Edward and now needs to be introduced to his family. Harriet herself is an orphan. She lost both of her parents in a horrific car accident when she was only ten years old.
The bulk of this story occurs within a one-month time period- Thanksgiving to Christmas. It is at the first meeting of the Holbeck family, that Harriet is introduced to his parents and siblings. It is at one of the initial meetings of the family that Harry meets Robert Holbeck, Edwards father. He summons Harry to his private study and hands her a cassette tape that he wants her to listen to in the privacy of her home. She must keep it a secret from her fiance Edward. Upon listening to it, Harry discovers a secret that she believes Robert is hiding. He in turn, reveals that he knows the secret that she herself has kept hidden for 30 years.
Harry finds herself in danger at the family gatherings. She needs to find out more details about the cassette tape, while at the same time, she needs to keep her secret from coming out which would destroy everything she has.
This book is like a deadly cat and mouse game. Who will be caught? Who will survive? Will all the secrets come out or will they remain hidden?
The ending of this book was a quick page turner for me. It is a heart pounding finale that will have you guessing as to what is happening. Highly recommend this book!
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book came out for publication on October 18, 2022.

The only reason I can think of that it took me so long to get into this book is that I was in a physical book mood rather than kindle. I loved this twisted family thriller, and I read 75% of it in two days because I couldn’t put it down. Lots of family secrets and games with a twist I did not see coming.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I selected this novel as my Dec #wwbuddyready.
Being the holidays and pregnant, I was pleasantly surprised to find this book is set during Christmas and the main character, Harry, is pregnant for the entire story! It was a fun surprise.

Despite these connections, I found the development of the story quite lacking. The mystery and "tracking down" of people seemed to happen quite easily for Harry despite the wealth and connections of the Holbeck family. This story had a fast paced and strong thriller plot line, so if that is what appeals to you in stories pick this one up. If you are looking for something with more meat to it, move along. This is at its core a thriller, and frightening gruesome Family Games is what you will find.
I did want to keep reading and see how the story ended. I could easily see this being made into a movie. Wasn't my fav book this year by any means though.

My thanks to Random House/Ballentine, Catherine Steadman and Netgalley.
This was some messed up story!
Honestly? Had I been in a movie theater, I'd of had butter dripping off my chin "from the popcorn" and the sweet taste of junior mints on my breath! (Because movie's are meant for Junior mints!)
I really just enjoyed the crap outta this book!
Favorite thing? Yeah. I was completely surprised at the end! Gotta love that!
Also? Who in the hell would want to marry into such a family? Not me!

What a fun book to read this time of year. Kept me actively engaged. Loved the Christmas background without being overly Christmas. I didn’t trust a single character up until the very end but also was rooting for a few. Stellar debut. This one is just pure fun. And I’m glad I’m not part of that family.

Thank you to Catherine Steadman and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback and review.

Harry is engaged to the man of her dreams Edward. All that she has to do is meet his family and she will have the happy ever after she has always wanted. Or will she even survive his family?

It took me awhile to get into this book. I kept picking it up and putting it down because Harry frustrated me from the beginning. It wasn't until she had played the first game that I really got into this book. After the game of Krampus I was hooked!! Don't get me wrong I was still very frustrated by Harry but I was determined to find out what happened. I did not see that ending coming! This was one I was happy I read this year because I love Catherine Steadman and she never disappoints me.

I was a fan of Catherine Steadman's other books and this one did not disappoint either! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read it early! If you love a novel that mixes family intrigue and mystery then this is certainly a book that you should pick up. I honestly think this was Steadman's best work yet and I am so excited to see what else she writes in the future.

Incoming full review on bookstagram!

This is a tough one to rate so I'm going with 3.5. Three stars because the characters are engaging but not likable. Four stars because the story is so twisty and suspenseful, which I love.

The majority of the plot takes place during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Harriet (Harry) is recently engaged to Edward and they find out she is expecting as well. Edward's family wants Ed and Harry to spend the Holidays with them as Ed has been estranged from them for quite some time. The rest of the book is a blur of twists, turns, and gut-wrenching decisions. Highly recommended for fans of suspenseful and twisted plots!

Thanks to Catherine Steadman, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Rising star author Harriet hasn’t had a family since her parents died in a tragic accident, so it doesn’t bother her that her ultra rich fiancé is estranged from his. But, upon their engagement, Edward and Harry decide to spend the holiday season with the Holbecks — including attending their weirdly intense holiday events. While juggling her book deadline and making a good impression on the fam, Harry is also gifted something that leads her to believe that the Holbeck’s family traditions are not all fun and games — they might include murder.

I’ve already posted about how this one was a home run for me, but let me say it again — I just loved it. It was such a great addition to my holiday reading (aka mostly romance reads) and I just loved how this one had Christmas and like tons of murder muahaha. Neither of this author’s previous books were big hits for me, but I am SO glad I didn’t let that stop me from picking this one up!

One of my favorite thrillers I’ve read this year! It was well-paced, had an interesting but not too complex plot and a satisfying ending. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Harriet Reed is a new bestselling author. She has recently become engaged to Edward Holbeck, who comes from an extremely wealthy family. She has never met his family as they have been somewhat estranged. Edward, as the eldest son, was slated to become the head of the family empire. He refused and began his own path with a startup. Harriet has no family and a serious secret in her past. After the engagement, Ed wants her to meet the family. Harriet is quite intimidated, but the family seems to be very welcoming. They are hoping she will be able to bring Ed back to a good relationship with his family. All is not as it seems on the surface. There are many twists and turns with the family dynamics. The author leads you down a path to a shocking ending. I was engrossed in this story and stayed up half the night to finish it. This is a must read!