A consistently interesting Christmas thriller to add to Steadman's growing list of amazing books! A quick read that will make a great gift this holiday season for a friend or yourself.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

Wow, wow, wow. I loved this one! I love a good family drama/thriller and this more than delivered on that promise. It took just a little bit to get into as I was adjusting to longer chapter lengths than I was used to but still, I was hooked from the beginning.

As an esteemed family finally begins to accept the prospective partner of their eldest son, it soon becomes obvious just why this son has been trying his best to sever all ties that he can with them. The family drags the protagonist, best selling author Harriet, into their twisted world, or is just a game after all?

I could not put this one down! 4.5/5 stars from me. I cannot wait to read any and all other works by this author as I adored her style of writing and story telling.

And as always thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I honestly don’t know what to say except wow! The last half of this book had me on the edge of my seat. I’ve read Christmas romance and cozy Christmas mysteries, but I don’t think I’ve ever read a Christmas thriller before. The warm comforting visions of Christmas combined with the anxiety and stress of a thriller was a fun contrast that helped me plow through this book; staying up late, getting up early just to read a few more chapters. This might be my favorite Steadman novel to date!

I had such a great time reading The Family Game! Though it was a bit slow to start, once the story got going I read the last 2/3 in one sitting. Others have compared this to the movie Ready or Not (which I also loved!) and I’d have to agree. If you love books with plenty of rich people drama definitely check out The Family Game.

Harriet is a British author whose first book has blown everybody away. Dealing with a relocation across the pond and a proposal from her handsome and wealthy American boyfriend, Harriet is struggling with the deadline for her second book. A dinner with her future in-laws sets her back on track. But at the end of the night her fiancé’s father hands her a tape containing his own book - but everything is not as it seems. This family, whose wealth dates back to the gilded age, likes to play games and sometimes they have a body count.

This book was full of twists and turns that keeps you guessing. The author sprinkles clues from the past in throughout, but not in a way that takes away from the current timeline. I can’t wait to check out more from this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy!

Harry is marrying into old money. Her fiancé’s family is intimidating but she’s ready to get to know them. When the patriarch gives her an audio tape with a confession, the games begin.

I loved the games aspect of this book. The anticipation was there the entire time and kept the pages turning. There was a lot of guessing involved. I liked the cat and mouse feeling. The ending and big reveal was not my favorite. I was expecting it to unravel more twisty but I still enjoyed the story.

“A game is only a game if you do not fully understand it. We play as we live.”

The Family Game comes out 10/18.

I love games. Pair that with a wealthy family and a mystery, oh my. Great story and twist. Almost as good ashes debut

Welcome to the best Catherine Steadman book since Something in the Water!

The Family Game follows Harriet, a mystery and thriller author, who becomes engaged to her super handsome and super rich fiancé. When it comes time to meet his family, she senses something is weird is going on… and then the cat and mouse game begins. But, Harriet has secrets, and there’s too much at stake not to play along.

Now, I have to say, the moment the book took a turn, I had actual chills all over my body. I was HOOKED. In fact, I listened to the audiobook at 1x speed only so I could fully immerse myself into this book… because things get crazy—really crazy! Since I don’t want to give away any spoilers, you’ll have to find out on your own.

What I appreciated while reading is that the author drops hints only when needed, and unlike many authors, she doesn’t shove the “main character with secrets” trope down our throats every other chapter. The reader is allowed to speculate and learn things on their own. That creeping pace is what really allowed my thoughts to wander, and probably why some moments truly scared and surprised me.

The ending was slightly predictable, but I was still along for the ride.

While it did not impact my rating at all, I just wanted to mention that Catherine Steadman has an awful American accent. Oof. Sorry, but it had to be said. I still LOVE her books and narration, though! And I really look forward to future books.

Thank you to @RandomHouse and @PRHAudio for my advanced e-galley and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Harriet Reed has everything going for her. She is the author of a bestselling novel and is working on her second book, & is engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir of an extremely powerful family. Edward has been trying for years to cut ties with his controlling family, but news of the couple's marital bliss brings them out, full force. Harriet agrees to help facilitate a reunion between Edward and his family, not knowing what she is getting herself into. When Edward’s father, Robert, hands Harriet a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen. But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t just a novel. It’s a confession. A confession to a grisly crime. A murder. And, suddenly, the game is in motion. Feeling isolated and confused, Harriet must work out if this is part of a plan to test her loyalty. Or something far darker. What is it that Robert sees in her? Why give her the power to destroy everything? This might be a game to the Holbeck family—but losing might still prove deadly.

This book was excellent. I couldn't put it down. This was psychological suspense at it's best. The family was so twisted, and the games they played were just insane. I loved the twist at the end, that was a nice little shocker. Harriet is definitely someone you want to root for. She has intelligence and can keep her wits about her when faced with adversity. If you are a fan of thrillers then this needs to be at the top of your TBR pile. You are going to love it!

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Harriett has met the perfect man: Edward Holbeck. However, his family is less than perfect, and now that they're engaged she has to meet them. Anyone would be nervous to meet their in-laws for the first time; they would hope to be accepted into the family. But most people's in-laws are not the Holbecks. One of the richest families in the US, their name is synonymous with the Rockefellers and the Vanderbilts. Not only are they wealthy, but as Harriett quickly learns, they have a lot of secrets and they like to play games.

When Harriett meets Edward's father for the first time, he gives her a cassette tape. When she listens to it, she is shocked by its contents. If the information on it is true, she may be in danger. But is it indeed a threat, or is it just another family game?

I thought this book was good, but it certainly had flaws. The most prominent flaw in my opinion was its pacing. The first 40% of this novel was pretty slow and uneventful, and I really had to motivate myself to stick with it. Beyond the 40% mark, the pace picked up and the main mystery element was finally presented, so I became more invested. By the end, however, the plot began to fly by so quickly that it was almost confusing. The final reveals were not enough to redeem my opinion of the ending--I didn't find the main twist to be all that shocking and some of the explanations provided were hard to believe.

On the other hand, there were aspects I did really like. I found Harriett's investigation of the information on the tape to be interesting. I also liked the concept of the games that were played. I enjoyed learning the lore surrounding Krampusnacht and thought the sinister twist to the Christmas Eve treasure hunt was unique.

Overall, I thought THE FAMILY GAME had an intriguing concept, and it was a pretty fun read once the pacing picked up. However, I unfortunately don't think it will leave much of a lasting impression on me. All in all, it was a solid 3 star read for me.

This piece was a thoroughly entertaining read. It was pleasant and a little slow at times, but an overall wonderful book to take in. Although the twist could be determined earlier on, the author did a phenomenal job at unveiling it all and putting the groundwork in for the conclusion. I wasn’t much of a fan of the protagonist, but couldn’t help but root for her as time went on. A fantastic, and entertaining read overall!

This book was quite a ride. Harriet (Harry) is a novelist engaged to Edward who is from a very rich family. He is estranged from them and their new engagement gives the family a door to get him back into the fold. The couple is invited over for a family party for Krampus. During this party, the mystery of this family starts to unfold and reveal that they have many buried secrets.

The suspense was so great and made me want to keep reading to know what would happen next. There was an unsettling atmosphere and it majorly contributed to the mysterious story. It was so well written and I could definitely see this becoming a movie. It reminded me of Ready or Not at times with how calm and nonchalant the family was initially during this Krampus party. I liked the aspect of the game that Harriet unknowingly was put into. I liked how I could tell the family knew more than they were revealing and they were all involved in the game. What a creepy good ride!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing- Ballantine Books for access to this digital ARC.

I wanted to like this so much more than I did. It was such a great concept, but the characters fell flat for me and I wasn’t invested in anything that happened.

This was Steadman's best work from my point of view. The characters were fascinating, the plot moves quickly, and the story is different than her other work. I enjoyed this book thoroughly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Family Game by Catherine Steadman. This is a twisty, dark novel about a wealthy family with lots of problems, and Harry (Harriet) , an author whose first book sales are doing very well, and who falls in love with Edward Holbeck, the oldest living son of the influential Holbeck family. Edward has been estranged from his family because of past events, but now they want to bring him back into the fold with fiancée Harry. The family has very strange games that they play during the holidays. Harry’s first visit to meet the family is for Krampusnacht, a strange Halloween-type celebration. During this visit Edward’s father gives Harry a tape recording and tells her not to share what is on the tape with anyone else, including Edward. Harry is shocked by the contents of the tape and starts to do research to find out if the info and seeming confession on the tape are true. As she does her research, she begins to worry about her safety. This is a twisted, psychological thriller that compels you to keep reading, even though you may dread to find out what happens next.

Harriet Reed committed murder when she was eleven years old. It was a revenge killing against the drunk driver who had just killed her parents. She has lived with the guilt and fear that someone would find out what she had done. Now she is a successful author working on her second book. She is engaged to Edward Holbeck, who she met in a scene straight out of a fairy tale. She was the damsel in distress and he was the hero who came to her rescue. Edward has been estranged from his family, but now that they are engaged, Harriet is looking forward to meeting them.

The family is welcoming, but it is the powerful patriarch Robert Holbeck who makes a connection with Harriet. There is nothing that he will not do to protect his family. When the two sit down together he gives her a tape to listen to when she is alone. Its’ content appears to be a confession to several murders. He has also vetted Harriet and knows her secrets. She can not go to the authorities with the tape because it also contains the details of her own crime. Her secret is safe for now, but he makes it clear that he will request a favor from her in the future in order to keep it safe.

Everyone in the Holbeck family is hiding secrets and they are not all as welcoming as they appear. The family is known for playing games when they gather. Harriet’s first experience is a game that evolved from a German tradition that leaves her disturbed. The Christmas gathering involves a scavenger hunt that pits family members against each other. It is a game that not everyone will survive. Fairy tales do not always have a happy ending and Catherine Steadman takes fear to a new level. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for providing this book for my review.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books & Catherine Steadman for the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this thriller! I had previously read, and loved Something in the Water, so I was very excited for this one and Catherine Steadman did not disappoint! My only "complaint" was it took me a few chapters to get into this one, but once I did I was completely hooked and couldn't put it down! Perfect thriller for this time of year and will definitely help you get out of a reading slump!

The Family Game is an edge of your seat psychological thriller. Catherine Steadman writes with such suspense that the reader can't help but continue to read long after they intended to stop, or put the book aside. I personally can not tell you how many times I said aloud to my (empty) reading room, "These people are crazy". I felt Harriet uncertainty and fear on every level and I am sure Steadman would not have wanted her reader's reactions to be any different than that.

Harriet, an author working on her second novel, becomes engaged to Edward Holbeck, eldest son of a very "old money" and powerful family. Very quickly Harriet discovers that even through the wealth and luxury the family has more layers and secrets than they are willing to share with the public. When the patriarch, Robert, gives Harriet a mysterious tape, little does she know the family "game" is set into motion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my copy of this novel.

I enjoyed this book so much. I have read all of Catherine Steadman’s novels and this is currently my favorite! Could not put it down.

The Family Game is a book I was excited to read from the moment I read the synopsis. It did not disappoint! It proved to be a fast-paced, well written thriller. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough in my Kindle to see how it would end. I loved the twists and turns and the excitement of the family games. It has creepy sinister rich family vibes perfect for the season. I highly recommend this read. It had a satisfying ending too.
Thanks for NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy!

When invited home for the holidays with her fiancé, Edward, Harry is beyond nervous. Edward has been estranged from his father, an immeasurably wealthy tycoon, for over a year now and has not filled Harry in on the details. So when over drinks at Thanksgiving Edward's father, Robert, slips Harry a tape with some shocking confessions on it, she does not know what to do. Does she tell the police and risk losing everything and having her secret past revealed in the process? Or does she marry into the family and keep Robert's tape a secret?

This was my first read by this author, but I will definitely be picking up more of her books. I found elements of the ending a bit predictable, but it didn't prevent me from wanting to keep reading and see how it unfolded. The one thing I could not wrap my head around was Harry not listening to the tape in one listen. Especially being a thriller writer who presumably spend hours researching crimes and human reaction, I would think she would want to get through it in one go to make her assessments. Other than that (and the slightly over the top ending) I really liked this book!

Thank you Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.