I thoroughly enjoyed this one from start to finish and it is my favorite one of Steadman’s to date. I LOVE rich family dramas, especially ones where outsiders are trying to fit in and boy did this one fit that bill perfectly. Harry is an author that is writing her next up and coming novel, and her fiancé Edward is the love of her life. He has removed himself from his difficult family, who is made up of American old money and all that comes with that. They reemerge into Harry and Edward’s lives, and all seems to go ok at first, I mean, all they have to do in order to move forward with a wedding is a simple meet and greet and then they can get back to normal…. Right? Right….

Harry is enthralled with this family and cannot understand why Edward thinks they are as difficult as he has told her, minus the fact that he is the eldest child and set to inherit it all one day. When Harriet meets Robert, the head of the family, he slips her a cassette tape that reveals a shocking confession and also sets the game in motion.

I’m telling you this was excellent, and although I did figure it out before the end it did not take anything away from this story at all. It was exceptionally enjoyable, messed up family and all. I loved the concept of the game, it was well executed, and listening to this on audio was a real treat. Catherine Steadman reads this herself and she is fantastic at it, I loved it so much this way and highly recommend the audio version it is so enjoyable, especially the ending. This was a fun, twisty ride and I could not get enough.

Thank you to PRH Audio, NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ALC and ARC to review.

The atmosphere and setting of this story was on point. I love books about wealthy dysfunctional families and this was one of the best I've read. The story follows such a family that play some interesting "games" when they get together. The reader follows Harry, who encounters her fiancé' Edward's family for the first time. The writing is very fluid and I found myself lost in the story immediately. I picked this book up after a several month long reading slump and this was the story that pulled me out of it. I did find the ending to be a bit strange and somewhat confusing but I loved the rest of the ride enough to overlook that. I highly recommend this one!

I received this book from the publisher to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such great thriller to read for the spooky season! The book started off pretty slow but really picked up in the second half. I would have loved if there was more “game” in the plot but overall it was a easy and fun thriller to read!


Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC - The Family Game is out 10/18/22!

The Family Game focuses on Harriet Reed, a British writer who becomes engaged to Edward Holbeck, the prodigal son of the old-money Holbeck family. Edward has been long estranged from his family, but upon their engagement, Harriet meets them and begins to sense they harbor dark secrets. When the patriarch provides her with a disturbing, mysterious item, Harriet is forced to reckon with their secrets while also fighting to protect her own dark history.

At first I was concerned the plot would be too similar to other books or movies released within the last few years, but I am happy to confirm it is wholly its own original story and does not feel too derivative. The story is pretty engaging, and you can definitely visualize some of the intense scenes (the Krampusnacht chapter was especially scary and suspenseful). However, I had a very hard time connecting with the main character and found many of her choices frustrating.

I anticipated the twist, but it made sense for the story so I was still fine with it. Overall I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it as a quick spooky, suspenseful read.

After checking out the plot and starting to read The Family Game, I immediately thought it was going to be something similar to the movie Ready or Not. The similarities between the book and movie really end with someone marrying into a rich family with disturbing secrets. In The Family Game, Harriet (Harry) is head over heels for Ed, who happens to be a member of one of the most powerful, influential, and richest families in the world. Ed's been estranged from his immediate family for some time, but feels he must make them aware of his engagement to Harry. His family appears to be thrilled by the news, and the timing couldn't be more perfect - it's the holiday season, so there are opportunities for family gatherings with Ed and his new fiancee. Harry discovers that Ed's family likes to play games... and I'm not talking Monopoly or Scrabble here. Some of their games are terrifying and cruel. Harry starts to dig into the family history and finds some disturbing things - things that lead to many questions without clear answers. Can Harry and Ed's relationship survive his family?

The Family Game is told from Harry's perspective, so the reader accompanies her through the introduction to Ed's family and their games. There were bits and pieces of secrets reveled along the way that led to the wild ending. This was a very entertaining read!

What did I just read?!?! A great thriller to read for the spooky season. It is set between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so would work during that time if you’d like something dark. I had mixed feelings about all the characters in the book including the main character Harry. If you’re don’t enjoy unlikable characters then this book wouldn’t be for you. Fans of family dramas would enjoy.

To be honest, none of Catherine Steadman's book have completely blown me out of the water, including The Family Game. That being said, I read every single one because they are the perfect palate cleanser between more heavy literary reads.

This was my first Steadman and I will most likely not seek out her future works. The plot of this book just did not work for me. I had a hard time believing any of the characters' actions or motivations. The ending takes a huge amount of suspension of disbelief. The writing itself left a lot to be desired.

Harry is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck and pregnant with his child. The Holbeck family is notorious for their old money, various estates and high society lifestyle. Harriet is nervous about meeting them - will she be good enough? She has some secrets in her past, etc. She is worried that they will not accept her or that she will not be good enough for them. Harry meets the Holbeck family at Thanksgiving and is looped in and invited to several other holiday gatherings for the family.

The Holbeck family is a gaming family. They have several games and traditions that they play and they are quite serious about them. Harry knows that she will partake in the family holiday games, but she does not realize quite how serious they are about these games. In turn, Harry learns that she will need to save herself, lest she become a casualty of the Holbeck family Christmas. She knows that she can save herself, its just not clear who or what she is saving herself from.

It took me a little bit to get into this book, about 20% in before I felt like I was really engaged. This is a rich people behaving badly scenario but the motives aren't exactly clear. Harry must figure it all out to survive. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would like to read more books by this author.

What did I just read?! Catherine Steadman did it again. Many are comparing this to "Ready or Not." The comparisons are fair in a way; there are some similar themes, but The Family Game differs in many ways. I especially loved the clever chapter titles. Also, Harry is a badass. Thanks for the advance review copy. This may be one of my favorite books of 2022.

I received a digital advance copy of The Family Game by Catherine Steadman via NetGalley. The Family Game is scheduled for release on October 18, 2022.

Harry (Harriet) is a novelist who seems to have everything she wants. Her first novel sold over a million copies, she is engaged to a man she loves, and they have a baby on the way. The only trouble is her fiance’s family. They are rich and powerful, with a set of strange traditions and secrets. As Harry is pulled further into their lives, her own secrets threaten to surface, putting her in danger of not surviving the games they play.

The first half of this novel is full of suspense and hints of danger as Harry meets the family she is joining. They all seem a bit off, and their traditions are mysterious and terrifying. Unfortunately, this does not hold up in the second half of the novel. In the later half of the novel, Harry spends most of her time alone, thinking about the family rather than interacting with them. As a result, the pace here feels very slow, and all sense of risk is lost. This made the climax of the story feel rushed, as we are suddenly dropped back into a dangerous situation without a build up to those very high stakes.

Harry’s extended time away from other characters also impacted my connection to the characters. As we aren’t seeing her interact with anyone (not even much with her fiance), it was hard to get a sense of who Harry or the other characters were. This made it difficult to connect with them, and care about their well-being in the final game. It also made some of their decisions and actions in the last part of the story feel random instead of grounded in the characters.

Overall, The Family Game starts off strong, but struggles to maintain the suspense through to the end.

The Family Game by Catherine Steadman is a family drama that explores family secrets, power, and loyalty. Harry (Harriet) is a British author who is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck - all has been blissful in their courtship but now it’s time to meet the family. The Holbecks are one of wealthiest and most powerful families in the US - I was imagining a Succession type family. Right away things are a little off with the family - they quickly wield their power to get in front of Harriet’s schedule and trick her into attending family events that are not what they seem. Everything gets even more complicated with she meets Edwards father Robert - he slips her a tape which reveals a shocking confession and proves to Harry that they all know her better than she thought they did. What comes next is the game…

Overall, I thought the premise of this book was a lot more fun than the execution. The “game” was limited and I felt like some of the chapters inched by. I also wanted more from the characters - I felt like they had the capacity to be so interesting but ultimately felt fairly one dimensional on the page. This was a bit of a miss for me but I could see a lot of readers enjoying it. It was less of a thriller and more of a drama, in my opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC - The Family Game is out 10/18/22!

Although estranged from his family, Edward is first in line to inherit the family's wealth and assets. When his fiancé Hariet (Harry) asks to meet his family, he orchestrates a meeting, where Edward's father secretly slips a recorded message to Harry. When Harry listens to the shocking confession, she is stunned. Until she decides what to do with the knowledge, she needs to play the family's bizarre games...

Whoa what did I just read? If you like thrillers and are after something unique, this is one you'll have to add to your list. With lots of "oh my gosh" (possibly said in a more adult way!) moments and twists aplenty, I really enjoyed this one.

Oh boy, you've got some crazy ass in-laws in this book. They are generationally wealthy and love playing 'family games' especially on those unaware of what the games actually entail. Ugh, my worst nightmare in a relationship.

Harry met the man of her dreams, and when he proposes just before Thanksgiving, she of course says yes. Unfortunately, she hasn't met his estranged family yet. She is in for a rude awakening, and might just want to run for her life. Literally.

This was one of those thrillers that you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Harry did something horrible in her past that she has kept hidden. But she soon discovers that her fiancé's family secrets are even worse than her own. It will keep you guessing until the end... no one is safe in this family!

Thank you for my copy of this novel. The author’s attention to detail in her writing is incredible. Unfortunately, this novel was not my favorite. It started off as more of a romance than a thriller. The story fell flat and did not keep my attention. Most of the plot and the ending were too unrealistic for my liking.

Rich people doing bad things 😈.. I’m all in 🙋🏼‍♀️!!! This is an all-consuming diabolical thriller that kept me on my toes🦶🏻and my nerves on edge 😱. I did have to suspend belief at times but wow.. did I ever enjoy the premise of this story! It gets extremely chilling 😬.. when playing “games” goes too far.. getting way too personal 👁.. even DEADLY 🔪 . What a disturbing, wholly engaging story. I stayed up late to finish the book and boy was it a dandy 🤯. 4 stars — Pub. 10/18/22

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Harriet (Harry) is a writer who fell in love with an American from a well to do family. Luckily for Harriet her secret so far has been safe with her, the secret from day that changed her life. Soon Harriet finds it's time to meet the family of Edward. She's nervous. She also learns this family fancies a game during the holidays, a games she never would have played on her own. Slowly she learns about Edward's family and how things work. Harriet is confronted by Edward's father. He has cassette tape she needs to hear. The tape that changes it all. Harriet plays the family's games, and learns that she may not have known ALL about Edward.

I loved this slow burn, and the audio was phenomenal! The story follows Harriet (Harry) as she gets engaged to a wealthy man and the subsequent “meet the family”. With money comes power, and Harry learns how much influence the Holbeck family has and the enormity of the games they play. The book was a slow burn but never let up on the suspense. There is an undercurrent of mystery around the family and when secrets start to come out, you fear what could come next for Harry and how she will get through this unscathed. I HIGHLY recommend this audio! Not only was the quality incredible (as always coming from PRHAudio) but the narrator was Catherine Steadman herself! An incredible performance! 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounding up to 5 on Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Penguin Random House Audio and Catherine Steadman for providing me with a gifted ebook and audio in exchange for my honest review.

This was an entertaining mystery and Catherine Steadman did a fantastic job narrating it! I love games so I really enjoyed that aspect of the story.

Pun intended, this dark, twisty and glamorous mystery thriller was another winner from Catherine Steadman. While I normally prefer her audiobooks (her narration performance is exceptional, given she was also an actress in Downtown Abbey), her writing style flows so well I found myself hearing her voice anyway whilst unable to stop turning the pages.

After devouring Something in the Water, I quickly went through all of her other books and greatly anticipated this one. She is fast becoming one of my favorite mystery thriller writers, in the vein of Alice Feeney, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley.

Summary

Harriet “Harry” Reed, an up-and-coming British mystery thriller writer, has taken a leap of faith and moved to New York having met the man of her dreams, Edward Holbeck. Edward is nearly too perfect — handsome, successful and set to inherit a fortune as the eldest son of one of the wealthiest and influential families in America. The Holbecks, however, are manipulative, extremely well-connected, and are full of secrets. Harry, however, has a dark secret of her own.

After agreeing to marry Edward, Harry shortly after meets the Holbecks, with whom Edward had been somewhat estranged. The explanation he gives has to do with him not following his father’s footsteps and taking over the family business as well as other family customs that his exes had found strange. Harry quickly gets sucked into their world when she meets Robert Holbeck, her future father-in-law, who gives her an old cassette recording, the contents of which pulls her in to this high stakes cat and mouse game.

Despite being fully aware of how dangerous this family is, Harry is willing to play in order to keep her own dark secret from the love of her life, Edward.

Overall Verdict

This one closely ties Something in the Water as a top fave from the author. I liked the high stakes, the twist I didn’t see coming, and the constant feeling of danger and unease, the tension she creates so well throughout the book. Her stories always have deliciously dark, twisty elements but stop just short of being full-on disturbing à la Alice Feeney (all of the books of whom I absolutely love).

Harry as the main character is likeable and respectable as her actions show her as someone clearly intelligent, which makes her as a contender in the “The Family Game” all the more exciting.

The final setting takes place in a modern Hungarian castle built in upstate New York. The eery atmosphere fits so well with the tension in the story. A dark, “old-money” family estate, isolated in the winter weather is the perfect backdrop for the story’s dramatic end.

I look forward to listening to the audiobook version of this as soon as it is made available as well, as the author’s narration performance is not to be missed. Her pacing, tone and emotions convey the story so well, though as this was the first time I’ve read one of her stories as a book, the writing itself definitely contributes to the unfolding excitement in the story.

This one is definitely a 5 out of 5 for me. Big thanks to NetGalley for letting me get my eager hands on this early read. Can’t wait for more from this author!