This book was so good! I was hooked from the very beginning. I've been excited to read this since I first saw it was being released. I was not disappointed. Harry was just beginning her career as an up and coming author of thrillers. She was also about to marry the man of her dreams, but she hadn't met his family. Why was he trying to keep her from them? Were they as powerful and dangerous as she was told they were? Harry will just have to find out what they are hiding, but will they figure out what she is hiding?

An author discovers deadly family secrets when she meets her fiancé’s incredibly wealthy and powerful, family for the first time.

Harriette’s life seems perfect. Her debut novel was a bestseller and she’s in love with the man of her dreams. But Harriette has a dark secret that must never come to light. Edward, her fiancé, is estranged from his powerful old-money family. The news of their engagement motivates Edward’s family to bring him back into the fold. And that’s when Harriette gets pulled into a deadly game.

This is one of those books where, when I finished it, I thought “that was pretty good. I liked it.” And then after awhile I started to really think about it. And guess what? Nah. Didn’t really like it that much. Most of the book is just a set up for the last 40ish pages. And upon reflection, the “solution” to take care of the dark, deadly family secret that the rich, powerful father comes up with pretty ridiculous. Sorry I’m being so vague. I don’t want to give away any spoilers.

I have really enjoyed the author’s previous books, but this one just didn’t do it for me.

I am definitely a fan of the Catherine Steadman thrillers I have read, and I really need to check out more of her backlist. This book had me on the edge of my seat trying to guess who you could trust and who was evil. There were a few minor things I didn't love about the book, but nothing that took away from my enjoyment of the read. The characters and plot were well developed, and even though I had figured out the big twist before the end, I definitely did not mind. I loved the peek into the lifestyle of the very wealthy, and I enjoyed the different locations in which the book was set.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Catherine Steadman for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Family Game coming out October 18, 2022. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I uploaded my review to Goodreads. I will upload the review to Amazon when the book is released. I also usually do a review on TikTok.

Harriet Reed is an up and coming novelist who is about to achieve stardom. She’s engaged to Edward Holbeck who is the oldest son and heir of a very powerful, wealthy family.

As Harriet is drawn into their rich lifestyle, the family seems perfectly amenable. Then Edward’s father, Robert gives Harriet a tape of a book he’s been working on. She’s excited to listen to it, but once she hears it, she realizes it’s a confession to a murder. Suddenly the family game is in motion.

Harriet decides to keep this tape from Edward, working out the mystery alone. Why would Robert give her the power to destroy their family?

Thrillers are sometimes a hit or miss with me, but I absolutely loved this book! I love books with deadly games involved. The holidays are also a fun time and sometimes bring out the worst in families with their drama. I loved Krampusnacht and the fact that it was on my birthday, haha. The twists were so fun and I loved the ending! Harriet was such a good character. I loved that she was smart and literary. She was an author and did her research. She did what she had to do to protect her family. 
I will definitely check out more books by Catherine Steadman!

I would recommend this to anyone who loves contemporary murder mysteries and thrillers!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60417443

THE FAMILY GAME by Catherine Steadman
rating: 4 STARS
genre: mystery, suspense

I have mixed feelings about this book. And this review is difficult to write even though I just finished the novel yesterday.

Did I enjoy it? Yes, immensely.
Does it make sense? No, not really.
Did the "twist" seem to come from no where? Yes, absolutely.

The beginning of THE FAMILY GAME moved kind of slowly for my taste. Steadman really spent some time trying to let you get to know Harry and the inner workings of her brain - which was interesting. You're kept on the edge of your seat while you wonder what could have possibly happened in her past that makes her so anxious about the future. You see as she becomes more and more enthralled in Robert and the mystery that he has laid before her - you can hear it in the tone Steadman writes in.

However, as the family events begin to happen and relationships come to light, that's when the plot seems to run away with itself. It was VERY entertaining and interesting, however it made no sense to me.

So if you're looking for an interesting suspense novel & you're okay with the twists coming out of no where, then this book is for you! Again, really enjoyed! Just confused. Will continue to read Steadman's novels because they always keep me turning pages to find out what happens next.

This book didn’t totally do it for me. Interesting premise and storyline but it all felt a little over the top and ridiculous to me and I had trouble getting into it.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

OMGAHHHHH I couldn’t put this one down at all. Very much Ready or Not - a woman is marrying into an Uber rich family with eccentric traditions, like cruel games designed to push you to the brink. It was so fast paced and full of tension and I could not stop reading. Well done!!

WOW! The cover was what pulled me in, love the blue background with the neon letters and then the write up pulled me in more. I started it much later then I had intended to because it was sooo suppose to have been read weeks ago, but yeah, so read in a day because the more Harry tells you about the Holbroks the more you want to know. And then when you think you know enough...well you'll see. This has definitely turned me onto a new author with fingers crossed I love her other books as much as this one. Everyone needs to go check out The Family Game!

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

Published: October 18, 2022
Ballantine Books
Pages: 332
Genre: Psychological Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Catherine Steadman is an actress and author based in London. She has appeared in leading roles on British and American television as well as on stage in the West End, where she has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award. She grew up in New Forest, Hampshire, and now lives in North London with her husband and daughter.

“Actions must have repercussions.”

Harriet is an author in love, living in New York. She’s far from home, but since her parents died in the accident, Harriet doesn’t have a home. She had Edward, the oldest son of an extremely wealthy and influential family. A family that can control any narrative and erase the facts if necessary. Coming into this family could cost Harriet her life.

This was a slow burn. There was a lot of build-up and a lot of explanation. The intensity starts at a solid seven and holds there for a large portion of the book. There are increases, but on average, the plot moves along slowly.

The characters were deeply complicated, and each had more layers than an onion. As the plot moves along, we get to know the various characters through Harriet’s perspective. Harriet is also a deeply layered character, though she is not nearly as complicated as the rest of the cast.

I enjoyed how this story was told and how the past was tangled in with the present; it was reminiscent of a volcano. The pressure slowly starts to build up more and more, and as we begin to anticipate the eruption- things shift unexpectedly.

The twist in this novel was well placed, well played, and took me completely by surprise. I enjoyed the twisted methods in this book. This would make an excellent tv show if it were done correctly.

The intricacies, the deceit, and the will to survive will keep you glued to the pages of this book.

What an adventurous thriller. This novel is a fast paced. It will keep you on your toes. A lot of characters. As a reader, you have no idea who to trust. Steadman let’s you think you’ve got it all figured out, but at last you don’t. There were a few holes left in the story in my opinion, but the ending came around full circle, so I can live without the answers to my questions. I will read another book by this author.
There is a scene in the book where the main character gives an absolutely fantastic “drop the mic response ” to another character. Slayed. Had to add that. Mild sexual content. Medium profanity.

Harriet Reed is about to have it all, her first book was a success and she is newly engaged to the love of her life, Edward Holbeck. Edward is the heir to an extraordinarily powerful family. He has been distant from his family but when the news of the engagement hits the family wants to reconnect. Soon Harriet finds out the Holbecks like to play games, even deadly ones. Joining this family comes with a price you may just have to pay with your life!

Wow! This book was absolutely amazing! The buildup to the Christmas ending was slow and palpable and had me biting my lip. The slow reveal of secrets kept this book suspenseful. I had no clue that ending was coming and when it did it all made such perfect sense. One of my favorite reads of the year!

Amazing mystery! The twist is delicious and you won't see it coming until the very end of the novel...
Harriet Reed, mystery writer, is engaged to be married to Edward Holbeck, of the Holbeck dynasty. They're worth billions, but Harry couldn't care less. She loves Edward and he's not closely associated with his notorious family and has money of his own. Until they become engaged and Harry pushes to meet them and they become super-involved in her entire life. Especially, patriarch, Robert Holbeck who seems to be playing some sort of game with Harry. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, he hands Harry a tape with instructions to listen ALONE. Harry is caught in a game of cat-&-mouse. It seems Robert knows Harry and HER secrets. And she's going to have to do an unthinkable favor that only she can complete. The stakes are high and Harry is up to the task and willing to do anything to protect herself and her family.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-arc.*

So far, I haven’t read anything by Catherine Steadman that I didn’t like. I just finished The Family Game and it’s pretty great! This author is becoming a favorite of mine.

I went into this one not having any idea what it was about. It gave me serious Ready or Not movie vibes at the beginning, and also closer to the end. The movie is crazy and so is this book.

I really liked Harry’s character. She’s a tough cookie, especially with all she has to deal with in this family. The suspense about the games played throughout the book had me on the edge of my seat!

I thought the pacing was fast and exciting. This book has shorter (titled!) chapters that kept me wanting to read just a little longer.

I’m not sure all of it was believable, but it is a fun read!

This book is great! The secrets, the red herrings, and the spooky atmosphere were all so amazing. The plot was completely different than what I was used to and at times I felt that “The Family Games” was obnoxious and repulsive by what the family required but I loved every minute of this book. The ending was so unexpected and cleaver! This family is nothing like my family, thank goodness! I Highly recommend this book!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the complimentary ebook in return for my honest review!

Rated this 4.5 stars but rounds up to 5 stars on Goodreads.

Will post my review on Instagram (thriller_book_sisters) on 10/17/22.

(ARC for Net Galley): overall a good thriller, but took a second to get into the story! I kept wondering when this was going to turn thriller and the introduction of the tapes about a third of the way through finally did just that. While I didn’t suspect the ending.. it did seem a little more thriller and crazy than mystery, and because of that sometimes almost unbelievable. But all in all, still a good story! It also ended more abruptly than I would have liked.

Thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy of The Family Game by Catherine Steadman in exchange for my honest review.

I just finished reading this book and am at a loss for words, but in a good way. Although the first 25% of The Family Game was a bit slow for me, it picked up after that, and I wasn't sure where the book was going. I was taken on a ride, and the ending took me by surprise . . . I didn't see it coming at all. I would love a sequel, but if there isn't one, I am completely happy with the way it ended. This is book is a great combination of suspense and horror. Five out of five stars.

Ohhhh, I wanted to love this so bad. For the first 65-70%, it felt a bit disjointed. A lot of Harry’s thoughts and not a ton happening that was interesting enough. Like, stuff happened but I’d have preferred to hear more about them than her thoughts over and over.

Around the 70% mark, my interested started picking up. At like 80% in, I was hooked. Then it started waning again around 90%, with just a bit left to go.

Overall, I loved the idea. I’ve loved Steadman’s books in the past. This one didn’t do it for me the way I’d hoped, but I DO see it as something many would love.

British author Harriet "Harry" Reed's life is going amazingly well. Her first novel is a runaway bestseller, and she's recently relocated to New York City to live with her boyfriend, Edward Holbeck, heir to a powerful family's massive fortune. After Edward proposes, Harriet finds herself thrust into the influential Holbeck family's orbit, drawn into their holiday gatherings and the annual games they play at Thanksgiving, Krampusnacht, and Christmas.

But the Holbecks are a not an ordinary family, and these aren't ordinary games. When Edward's father gives her a cassette tape with explosive contents, Harriet realizes she has no choice but to play the game -- or suffer deadly consequences. After all, the Holbecks aren't the only ones with secrets to protect...

The Family Game is quite a wild ride, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Stories about uber rich, old money families behaving badly have started to become a common theme in contemporary fiction, but Catherine Steadman's take on this plot feels entirely original. I was immediately sucked into Harry's world, following her down the rabbit hole of the Holbeck family's eccentric, sinister, twisted traditions. I did guess the twist, but that didn't do anything to lessen my enjoyment of the journey there; I was on the edge of my seat the entire way through this book, eager to see how it would all play out. This is a book I think would translate very well into a movie, and I'd loved to see it optioned. Not surprisingly, given her background in the entertainment industry, Steadman's writing is propulsive, cinematic, and rich with atmosphere.

This is a book that requires you to suspend your disbelief; the concept itself is unnecessarily convoluted, and a high tolerance for characters making dumb decisions for the sake of the plot is required. But if you can do that, you'll be rewarded with a fun, tension-filled read that'll add some thrills to your holiday reading list. As for my family, we'll be sticking with our traditional Uno at Christmas rather than taking a page from the Holbecks' book. 3.5 stars.

The Family Game is yet another book about rich people behaving badly, and the poor/middle class people who get caught up in their depravity. In much the same way as a supposedly-autobiographical book is given to the main character in Verity, the protagonist (also a young, female author) is given a cassette that just may be a murder confession. Fans of this particular sub-genre of thriller may enjoy this book, but I'm sort of over the rich people as evildoers trope... Unless it's done in a particularly clever way, as in the criminally-underread Good Rich People.