Thank you Penguin Random House for this ARC! First time reading a Catherine Stradman book and happy to say I was not disappointed. This book kept me on my toes the entire way even up until the end. Starts off with a little holiday romance and then ends with a deadly burn. Has the right amount of suspense with each chapter that kept me wanting more.

The most perfect atmospheric holiday thriller book to end the year with in the most unexpected way.

ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎: 🎲 The Family Game by Catherine Steadman - 3/5 ✰ - I haven’t read a thriller a hot minute so I decided it was finally time to pick up The Family Game. This one was just okay to me. I didn’t love the main character and thought it was a little predictable. The plot had some interesting concepts that I enjoyed but overall think it was a 3 out of 5 stars.

𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨: Harry (Harriet) is recently engaged to the son of a very wealthy family. Something doesn’t seem quite right with the family. But she’s also keeping a secret of her own…

This was definitely a slow burn, but it left me wanting to keep picking it back up to find out the answers. Full of twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end. Even if you think you’re figuring it out, you may be wrong.

We meet best selling author, Harriet “Harry” Reed as she’s getting engaged to the love of her life, Edward Holbeck. She has yet to meet his incredibly wealthy and powerful family until now. As they meet she is drawn into their games and secrets of the family are revealed. Harry has a secret of her own that nobody knows and she intends to keep it that way.

At times I found myself uncomfortable with the situations, but I still just NEEDED to know what was happening. I very much enjoyed this book. There were a few moments when I felt confused as to why they were part of the story, but it didn’t take away from anything. Overall, great thriller mystery that will keep you interested.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the opportunity to read this early digital copy in exchange for my thoughts.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group -- Ballantine Books for accepting my request to read and review The Family Game.

Author: Catherine Steadman
Published: 10/18/22
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) -- Mystery & Thrillers -- Women's Fiction

I'm not at all pleased, and actually feel duped.

My definition of a good book is one that I can gift, recommend, or acknowledge my thoughts unapologetically. There is classless profanity throughout the book. This appears to be a standard of which I let my thoughts always be known to the publisher as well as in reviews, I find insulting.

Prior to the 87% mark, at best, with the gutter talk this was approaching a four star solid read and a publisher admonishment for the inexcusable use of mother, Jesus, and God. Why? It leads to a former president's everyday speaking language. If you think it, you use it: French is an actual language not to be classed down with excuse me F bombs, C words, etc. What's next? Talking synopses with Mardi Gras chants "show me your ..."

Steadman wrote a ridiculous scene using her self described C word. The scene without the trash was ill-fitting. Which ironically was the first point in the book where logic failed. It didn't make sense.

Two stars is a gift.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Family Game.

Super rich family with some major issues + bonkers holiday traditions + murder? Perfect for this time of year! I really enjoyed this novel and trying to solve the mystery surrounding the Holbrecks with Harry. Steadman does a very nice job of pulling you in, keeping you guessing and creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. I look forward to reading more of her novels!

I thought going into this one that it might be a little too close to that movie Hide and Seek from a few years ago (newly married woman finds out about the violent and creepy version of Hide and Seek her new in-laws play), but this one is less grisly (hm, well, slightly at least) and more genuine mystery as Harriet learns not just the games her fiance's family plays, but also their well hidden secrets (while revealing her own). The beginning of this one was a teensy bit slow, but once they get to the family's Krampusnacht party, I was hooked and the story moved very quickly from there. Catherine Steadman's work as an actor comes through in her writing, because this plays out in a really visual way- she's great at describing events vividly, and that works perfectly in this one.

The Family Game begins with how it ends - Harry barely making it out alive with blood all over her. From there the plot goes back a month or so in order to get to know Harry and Ed, and Ed’s wealthy and renowned family.
The novel is full of mysteries and moments of suspense where I couldn’t put the book down. I found myself attempting to connect the dots but was still learning new information about the characters that swayed my viewpoints.
Catherine Steadman’s work is one of a kind, and is set pretty high on my shelf for thriller/mystery novels!

This was such a wild ride from the first page to the last, and though it's a relatively common twist, I do have to say that I truly didn't see it coming. I think that's the talent and the sheer power of voice of Catherine Steadman shining through. I genuinely enjoyed the main character and her narrative, and following along as she connected the dots and played along with the "family games." She was strong, but in a realistic way, and she fought for herself and her future family in a way that made me feel like I was fighting alongside her!

This was such a quick read, I read it over the course of one 2.5 hour flight from Denver to Columbus! Such a good read, and I'm glad It's getting to recognition it deserves!

The family game was definitely a fun fast paced thriller. Everyone has a secret and winning the game keeps your secret safe. But whose secret is the worst. I’ve read books by Catherine Steadman and this by far was her best yet.

This book is the cure for any reading slump. If you enjoyed watching Ready or Not or Knives Out, then you need to pick up this book immediately. We follow our main character Harriet, who goes by Harry. She's recently engaged and planning a wonderful life with her fiance, a member of a very wealthy and odd family. She hasn't met them at the beginning of the book, but that changes quickly. What happens after that is a rollercoaster of quirky family events and danger. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is full of twists and turns, dark humor, and so many buried secrets. Fantastic book!

If you want creepy, old rich family secrets, murder, mystery, suspense and thrills…then I’m here to tell you, you have struck absolute GOLD!!

Rich people sure like their games, and they like em to be deadly and scary..that is what Harry is finding out. Engaged to Edward and expecting their first child, Harry is introduced to the Holbeck family and is not to thrilled after the first couple of interactions. This family is a powerful one. They can move mountains with a simple phone call. Edwards father Robert slips Harry a cassette tape and that’s when the crazy story of murder begins. What is true and what isn’t?

This story was soo good and had I not had school work to be completed I would have finished this ages ago. It’s one of those stories that will keep you up at night. A whodunnit filled with so much depth. I thoroughly enjoyed! Very well written and researched, I highly recommend this read! Five stars all the way!!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Quick read that kept me guessing. The story quickly unfolds as an event that Harry has. The story then is told in a timeline that leads up to the event. It was hard to put the book down as I wanted to see what would happen next. Definitely recommend !

Oh how I wanted to love this one. I tried to pick it up several times but couldn't really get into it. My last attempt had me reading 50% of the book and realizing that I didn't want to finish it.

This book like many others pointed out reminded me the film Ready or Not. However overall this book wasn’t for me. Way too many odd surprises and plot points.

This one was not for me but i have seen plenty who love it! Was excited to see it as a BOTM pick as well.

I'm gonna keep this review fairly short because all anyone needs to know is that The Family Game by Catherine Steadman is a super fun, fast thriller. I have read all the book this author has written and they vary between 3 and 4 stars. This one is easily a 4 star read. I couldn't put it down. Mind you, there were times I was screaming at the main character's questionable judgements, but not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the story. This book screams "Lifetime Movie" which we can all enjoy for what it is. Catherine Steadman is a must read author for me and this book was no exception to her catalogue of hits.

This was my second Catherine Steadman book, and I will say it was my favorite so far. Let me just say, this is a WILD read but fun and really good!! Once the book fully gets going, you really don’t want to put it down because you have to know how it ends. If you enjoyed ‘Ready or Not’ this is definitely the book for you. I was truly wanting the best outcome for Harry (Harriet).
Thank you to NetGalley for the option to read it before it was released!

Oh my how to review with out giving things away. This was a fun wild ride but I can see why it has so many mixed reviews. This was a total BSC type of book that you have to completely suspend your beliefs and reality and just go with it. Felt like a cross of Knives Out and Ready or Not.

Harry a novelist is engaged to Edward who is part of a high society family that he is estranged from. His father contacts Harry and from that meeting she begins to get pulled into the family along with their family get togethers and traditions. This would make a great fun winter read in front of the fire when you need a break from heavy reading and want a crazy type thriller.

5/5
I had been in a bit of a reading slump and couldn't find something I could connect with until THE FAMILY GAME by Catherine Steadman came along.

The story follows Harriet Reed on the bring of literary stardom, newly engaged to Edward Holbeck a man that comes from a long line of generational wealth and a family with its own sordid history. As Harriet dives into the family a bit further she learns that the family is full of secrets that she learns from a tape recorder her future father-in-law gives her upon meeting her for the first time. Harriet however, is no angel, she has a secret of her own that is threatened to be exposed if she doesn't engage in playing the family fame that Christmas. a game where winner gets to keep their prize (secret) and expose the air the rest of the families dirty laundry.

On Christmas eve they embark on their game looking for clues in the mansion grounds where things take a turn and Harriet realizes just how far some people will go to win the prize.. Harriet however is a survivor and will do whatever it takes to protect herself and the future of her family.

Told in first person POV this book was fast paced, fresh and engaging. I really enjoyed the short chapters that made this seem like a quick read and the smaller paragraphs that kept the page dynamic (yes I'm a book nerd that enjoys the way the layout to a page looks lol) If you liked GOOD RICH PEOPLE, you'll also very much enjoy this. It's also set around Thanksgiving, Krumpus and Christmas it also felt very right now which was an added bonus.
OUT NOW!
Thank you Penguim Randomhouse for the galley/hardcover book

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman is a psychological thriller about an extremely wealthy, powerful family, The Holbecks, who have family secrets hidden. When Harriet, Harry, gets engaged to Edward, the eldest son and heir to the Holbeck fortune, she enters the fabulous and secretive world of the elite rich. When her fiancés powerful father gives her a tape of a book he has written, which discusses a crime that was committed, Harry is unsure whether this is true. Is the family trying to see if they can trust her? Or is this a sick game?

4 1/2 stars!

I very much enjoyed the premise of this book. I was immediately drawn to the family and curious about the secrets that they have kept hidden. I am always intrigued by families that are super rich and that dives into the secret world of the elite. I liked that you never knew who you should believe. I also really liked all the “games” that the family played in this book. They seemed innocuous but were much more sinister underneath. It was extremely fun to read and follow the clues. It gave me “Ready or Not” the movie vibes. I could not wait to find out the ending of this book. I needed to know what all the secrets the family was hiding were. No one in this family was innocent.

I also liked the holiday aspect of the book. Both Thanksgiving and Christmas are in this book and the Krampus part of Christmas was very interesting (and quite terrifying) to read about. It’s weird to say but this would be a good thriller to read around the holiday season, especially since, in my reading, it’s hard to find a thriller that takes place during the holiday season.

Another one of the aspects of this book that I enjoyed even though it is small was chapter titles. Books I read normally don’t have chapter titles and it was a nice touch when reading this book. I also loved that this book has short chapters. It makes for easy stopping points and a quick, fast-paced read.

There were a few small things that didn’t totally add up in this story, but I still enjoyed every second of it. I also kind of started to figure out one of the twists as the story was going along although there were parts that still surprised me. It was a wild ride that I enjoyed being a part of. I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.