This was an engaging book that reminded me a lot of the film Ready or Not.

Harriet, an author living in New York, is about to meet her future husband's very, very rich and somewhat estranged family. When she does, she realizes there are some deep family secrets and becomes a part of the family game.

The book moved quickly and was a fun, twisty time. I usually like Catherine Steadman's books, and this was no exception.

Here's a book I really sped through! A riveting thriller to me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for the chance to preview and review this book.
This is the story of Harriet, a British writer with an interesting past who has met and become engaged to an American businessman who is part of the Holbeck old money empire. Harriet is finally to meet the family as their engagement is announced over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Edward clearly has a strange relationship with his family and the family has some very idiosyncratic traditions.
The writing was brilliant and fast paced. The characters were quirky and interesting.
The plot was so well done. So many twists and turns. At times I was afraid to turn the page but couldn't resist at the same time.
I loved the ending!
This book is highly recommended for fans of a great story that will also send chills up your spine.

This book kept me on my toes wanting to know what happens next! The twists and turns of the Holbeck family dynamic and the relationship between Harry and Edward was captivating. I truly was not expecting it to end the way it did, but I absolutely loved it!! I didn’t see that coming!!

This book is an absolute MUST READ!!!

Steadman absolutely mastered the art of mystery and intrigue with this book. I found myself obsessively going back for more and more. Steadman reminds us that Harriet, as well as every character in every story, is much more complicated than we initially thought. There is not always a “good guy” or “bad guy” in every mystery book. There are sometimes complex characters doing what they think is best to protect the people they love - and watching that play out is addicting.

Steadman crafted the story perfectly, with twists and turns that all made sense in the end. And the last chapter wraps up the story in such a poetic way. While some stories are impossible to find complete justice, Steadman creates a level of peace and redemption that leaves the reader pleased with the ending.

“A game is only a game if you do not fully understand it. We play as we live. And I want you to play a game with me. The stakes will be high but there is everything to play for.” 10/10 - cannot recommend this book enough. It will be going on my list of favorite books!

“The rich are not like you and me,” F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, and indeed the folks in The Family Game by Catherine Steadman are not like anyone else. The Holbecks are old money, and British author Harry Reed is engaged to their eldest son Edward, who has been estranged from his family for some time. Harry was orphaned when a drunk driver crashed into her parents’ car, and she survived as well as witnessed the death of the other driver when his car exploded.

Because Harry longs for family since she has none, she is open to helping Edward rebuild his relationship with his parents and siblings. The Holbecks engage in a number of crazy games including a frightening game of Krampusnacht, a devilish take on Santa Claus they maintain is part of their German heritage, but it seems more like a horrifying Halloween with the seven-foot-tall Kramp chasing the children.

At a family dinner, Edward’s father Robert slips Harry a Dictaphone tape that could contain the details of certain crimes…all in hopes of helping her get a jump start to conquer her writer’s block. Under the pressure of a book deadline, Harry doesn’t get to the tape right away, which leaves her at a disadvantage when the games begin.

When she finally listens to the entire tape, Harry is very confused. Is Robert just playing a game with her, or are these confessions on the tape? To find the truth about the Holbecks, including the death of their first son Bobby, Harry will have to arm herself for the cat-and-mouse game that is the foundation of the family’s savage Christmas celebration.

Catherine Steadman's fourth novel is due out in November. Steadman is also a British actress, her most famous role being Mabel Lane Fox, Mary's rival in Downton Abbey. She also starred in the Starz series, “The Rook.”

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting June 28, 2022.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.

This story was so good! I love a psychological thriller that has me guessing. I felt on the edge of my seat and was unable to put the story down once I began. It's one of those stories that envelops you so much that you forget to predict what will happen, and just are along for the ride. Its hard to say too much as I would want anyone going into this story to be surprised! I can't wait to pick up other titles by this author!

Okay wow - I loved this book so much more than I would have thought. I saw the film "Ready or Not" and thought it was going to be too similar, but it was so much more complex. I was hooked from the beginning and this was very much a page tuner. I have already told 4 people about this book and they cannot wait to read it. It was exciting and crazy all at once. One of my favorite thrillers I have read.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publish-Ballantine for granting my gift of this edge of your seat thriller.

Imagine being invited to play games with the wealthiest of families, but not just any games. The Family Games are different from any other games you've played. A lot is at stake. Secrets uncovered, dark pasts, and futures lost. Crack this baby open to see how the games are played.

Omgerrrrrd. Okay the beginning was a tad bit slow, but it quickly ramps up and full fledge too. Harry gets a tape from her future father in law and what's on it would stun anyone. It threatens her past and future and reveals a dark dark secret.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. It had me on the edge of my seat for most of it. Definitely a thriller for the thriller lovers of the book world.

My favorite character is Harry. It's so cliche to pick the main character but her tenacity is remarkable.

If you need a good heart pump, love you some rich folk drama, and need some air to breathe then pick this book up.

“The Family Game” is the third novel I’ve read by Catherine Steadman and I couldn’t put it down. I read this in less than 24 hours. Harry is engaged to Edward, a mega rich heir to a family fortune and comes home to meet his eccentric family for the holidays. Only problem is that his family is somewhat dysfunctional and enjoys playing deadly games.
Highly suspenseful.

This just might be my favorite from Catherine Steadman yet! The very premise of the story had me excited to read this book, and I was not disappointed. Harry is a writer who just sent her recent thriller off to her publishers for review - but nothing she could have imagined would have prepared her for the chilling game her future father-in-law has ensnared her in. Told completely from Harry’s perspective with little reliance on the development of the other characters, this book had me on the edge of my seat - I could not put it down. Though somewhat of a slow build, it is well worth the wait for the final quarter of the book when the Family Game begins. I would highly recommend this book!

Thank you to the author, Random House Publishing Group Ballantine, and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. #TheFamilyGame #NetGalley

This was a really interesting read, and I'm glad I got to see another side of Catherine Steadman with this book. While the characters weren't my favorite, I found the plot to be really interesting and a great story!

I’m still thinking about this book and I finished it a week ago! I read it over a weekend and I was disappointed every time I had to put the book down to do something else. I’m not sure what to say about the book because I don’t want to give anything away. I read A LOT of psychological thrillers but I have never read a book like this. Just when I thought I had something figured out, Catherine Steadman threw in another twist! This book was so good that as soon as I finished I looked up Catherine Steadman and bought her other books.

Catherine Steadman's The Family Game follows Harriet as she's trying to navigate her new life as the fiancé to Edward Holbeck — the eldest member of a wealthy family. Everyone has their secrets, and Harriet is placed at the middle of the secrets after Edward's father gives her a tape with what she believes is a confession on it. Now, she's trying to navigate the continuous games that the Holbecks are playing.
This book was a pretty fast-paced read that I really enjoyed. Harriet tends to be a little naive at times, but I could get past it because I liked her enough. The ending was a pretty good twist, but it did remind me a little too much of Steadman's other book Something in the Water. Overall, I'd say this is a 4.5-star read.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I was very excited to read this one as the plot really intrigued me. Set in New York, a 30 something writer gets engaged to a man from a rich and powerful family. She has never met his family, a family full of secrets. She has a secret of her own. I enjoyed many parts of this book, however, I found the plot a bit too hard to believe and the characters somewhat underdeveloped. I really had trouble understanding what motivated each character, especially when it came to the "twist" ending. I am interested now to read some of her other works, as her writing style was fast paced. #TheFamilyGame #CatherineSteadman #NetGalley

This book is an absolute must read! You will be hooked from the prologue and not be able to put this one down! It’s a dark and twisting story of power, family, secrets, and a “game.” Does Harriet have what it takes to play the game and become a part of this mysterious and wealthy family? Or will she die trying? If you are looking for you next favorite psychological thriller, look no further.


This review will be posted on Goodreads and Instagram @always_ebooking_it

Harriett aka Harry, a British author that has recently found love with Edward—dreamy, romantic, smart, rich, handsome Edward. It all seems perfect until Harry meets Edward’s family, the Holbecks.
After the opening chapter, it was a bit slow for me. However, I kept reading and when I say it picked up, I mean it REALLY picked up. I couldn’t put it down. I sat, unmoving except for the occasional shift, and consumed this book.
As Harriet is drawn into the Holbecks lavish world, they seem perfectly welcoming. And when Edward’s father 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 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 he sees in her? Why give her the power to destroy everything?
This might be a game to the Holbeck family—but losing games can still be deadly.
The last 25% of the book had me holding my breathe! Loved Something in the Water but this one is full throttle! Will be a great fall read when it debuts!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley Catherine Steadman and Ballantine Books for this edition and hearing my honest review

An interesting read, not an absolute favorite, was not an “I can’t put this down” but drawn in enough to finish. I’ll have to read more of this author. Thanks to the publisher and net galley for this ARC opportunity

If there is a perfect thriller, this might just be it! Harriet, a thriller writer herself, gets engaged to Edward. Edward is the oldest surviving son of a very famous and wealthy old family. Harriet has never met his family until now, as her and Edward have been overseas in London. Edward is very tentative about Harriet meeting his family as he has a strained relationship with them. Once Harriet meets Edwards family secrets come to light, including her own. But how far will one go for family? This book sucked me in and kept me entranced the whole way through. I have been a fan of Catherine Steadman’s and will will continue to be. This is probably her best work yet, and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with in the future!

I loved this story so much I couldn’t put it down. I was swept away into the seemingly glamorous life of the Holbeck family. The Krampus part had me entirely creeped out. This is a must read for any thriller fan. Knives Out meets American Psycho.

Thanks @netgalley & @randomhouse for providing me with a review copy!

This premise at first seemed very reminiscent of Ready or Not, which was one of my favorite movies of the last few years, but I did find that the book is very slow to start with and doesn't really begin to pick up until the halfway mark. There is a solid thriller built under all of this, but it is buried under some twists that don't quite feel fleshed out or explained enough.

I did love that Harry, the main character, has secrets of her own that she is hiding. She is in a morally grey area, and the meta bits in the book about how she would be perceived by an audience reading a thriller were one of the high points of the novel.

My main issue is that the family is built up to all be very intense and somewhat threatening, and yet, one member is meant to be the most threatening of all, but in the face of all that has come before it feels like a real letdown, especially given that there's no real answers for why these things happened. Also... the addition of Harry being attracted to her father-in-law was very questionable given that she is meant to have a very solid foundation with her fiancé and Robert doesn't seem to do anything that merits this weird flirtation that they strike up. It also makes it very strange how much Harry wants to be part of his family and be seen as both a daughter and as a romantic viability for him? It was uncomfortable.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.