A woman meets her soon-to-be in-laws, and gets involved in a dark and mysterious game.

The Family Game is told using the single point of view of Harriet, aka Harry. Soon after meeting her fiancé’s eccentric family, the family patriarch gives her a cassette tape. On the tape is a confession, which puts a dark game into motion.

The Family Game is a slow burning psychological thriller. Atmospheric, creepy, and twisted.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I picked up the Family Game mostly because it was a shorter book, but I found that it mostly took place around the holidays. The book is about this British author, Harriet Reed, who has recently moved to NYC to be with her fiancé and work on her second book with her publisher. She hasn’t met her fiancé’s family and she knows they are well off. She doesn’t quite realize they are as wealthy and famous in NYC as the Rockefellers or the Astors. Because of this, they are also very private. Harriet tries to research, but doesn’t find much beyond surface items.

They are invited to several events for the holidays and Harriet is excited for the chance to get to know her new in-laws. But everyone has their quirks and Edward’s father, Robert even hands a recording of a book idea over to Harriet. She takes it home and that’s when things get really weird. The book is a confession of a murder. Is it real? Is it fiction?

The book is called the Family Game because they literally play a few games including a truly terrifying game called Krampus, but also is Robert toying with Harriet? She uses some of her book contacts to help see if there’s any truth to the recordings.

There were several errors in the details about life in NYC that were distracting. Anyone in NYC knows the Rockefeller tree isn’t lit until the Wednesday after Thanksgiving. This was a huge plot error right up front in the book. I also found that the pacing of the book was off and the plot was so far fetched. I love the premise of super rich family with secrets galore, but it just fell flat for me. I would read others by this author though.

I'm quite behind when it comes to reading and reviewing this book, but due to its setting, this time of year is the perfect time to read this one. Admittedly, I saw the twist at the end coming, but that in no way diminished the intensity or enjoyment I got from reading it. The darkness in both the Holbeck family and in Harriet was intriguing, and I was on the edge of my seat to see how this book would be wrapped up. I wasn't disappointed. This was the first book I've read by Catherine Steadman, but I hope to read many more by her in the future! That said, if you've yet to pick this one up, do it this week/Christmas weekend! You won't regret it.

This book takes place over Christmas so is a perfect choice this time of year! It is an imperfect thriller (need to suspend a little belief at times and there were some loose ends) but fast paced and genuinely surprised me in the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This one started out strong, but then fell very quickly apart at the end for me. The premise was interesting—average woman, Harriet falls in love with Edward, the eldest son of a very wealthy and influential family, the Holbecks. But he, also, seems on the surface, pretty average. He is somewhat estranged from his family and lives mostly like a regular guy, albeit a somewhat privileged one. When he and Harriet become engaged, he tells her it is high time she meets his family. Not only are they all slightly mysterious—his two brothers, his sister, mother and most of all his inscrutable father—they have a slew of family traditions, "games" that toe the line between amusing and, well, cruel.

The lead up to Harriet's becoming inducted into the Holbeck family is a fun read, watching as she learns more about each family member and the curious habits of the uber-wealthly. The suspense builds as secrets are uncovered leading up to one final family game, from which Harriet may not emerge unscathed, or even alive.

This read like a great premise which the author eventually was unable to fully actualize, and finally abandoned. The last several chapters only work if you are able to forget the painstaking way in which she crafted the characters and their relationships to each other. You will have to forget, for instance, that Harriet harbored a strange sexual attraction for her father-in-law which never gets fully explained; and that when one of her new prospective family members absolutely alters their personality for the sake of their being a fresh kill as part of the story's climax; and finally, you'll have to accept the ultimate unmasking of the villain without having been given a single breadcrumb to make you feel that person's villainy was either marginally foreshadowed or commonsensical. The leap to get to where the book ended up was just a bridge too far for me.

One other tiny thing. With a good-sized American readership, it is probably worth it in future for one of this author's editors to make sure that the American characters don't use British axioms. For instance, where a Brit might say, 'it is down to me' to get something done, Americans say, "it is up to me" to get something done. Small inaccuracies like those, if there are enough of them, can add up and make a book seem shoddily researched, or casually edited.

And finally, I felt like the plot exposed too much of the author's process. By this I mean, she is clearly a "pantser" (flies by the seat of her pants when writing) rather than a "plotter". The holes were just too big that it's difficult to believe she wouldn't have spotted them had she plotted the final outcome. Having said that, I didn't dislike this book at all. The slow build of suspense and creeping dread of the next bad thing to happen was just done too well for me not to have enjoyed most of this read. And that's not inconsequential.

Will definitely read future offerings from this author.

Every year, the holiday season offers up a slew of cute and cozy romance novels designed to make your Christmas merry and bright. Catherine Steadman’s The Family Game is not that. If you are not looking for a holly jolly holiday read, but rather something more sinister yet still Christmas-centric, this is your book. Steadman has written an utterly captivating suspense thriller situated around a prominent and wealthy family’s unusual holiday traditions.

Harry, an up-and-coming novelist has recently become engaged to Edward of Holbeck family fame. The Holbecks are an insanely wealthy family, and Harry isn’t so sure how she will fit in among their old money ways and traditions. Nonetheless, she is about to find out because she and Edward have been invited to the Holbeck family home for the holidays. Harry soon finds herself spending the holiday season with her future in-laws, and surprisingly, being accepted, despite not having power, privilege, or a pedigree.

That is, until patriarch Robert pulls Harry aside one evening alluding to mentions of trust and secrets. He slips Harry a cassette tape, informing her that she must tell no one about it. Harry does not understand why Robert has chosen her to give the cassette to until she listens to it and discovers that Robert not only is hiding secrets of his own, but that he knows her deepest and darkest. As the days pass, propelling Harry and the Holbecks toward Christmas, she must figure out what she should do about the contents of the tape, while also finding away to protect all that matters to her most.

Catherine Steadman can apparently do no wrong in my book because I loved both this novel and its predecessor, The Disappearing Act. She has once again crafted a finely tuned tale of masterful suspense and intrigue. I am obsessed with how intimately Steadman writes her stories, drawing you into these worlds that she has developed and investing you in the fates of her characters.

I especially loved how Steadman played on the “game” aspect of The Family Game in a variety of ways. The Holbecks are a family who love their games, and within the realm of the larger game that Robert and Harry are secretly playing, there are also traditional family games sprinkled in, including Krampusnacht and a Christmas Eve scavenger hunt. While the Holbecks are not your typical American family, everyone can relate to the fact that every family has their own holiday traditions. I have to admit that I found it truly fascinating to uncover the Holbecks’!

The Family Game is recommended to readers who are looking for an atmospheric, ominous holiday read. This novel is perfect for reading during that transition period between Halloween and Thanksgiving when you may not quite be ready to let go of everything sinister and spooky for another year.

The Family game was a wild ride for sure. One filled with secrets and a huge twist in the end. The first few pages gripped me right from the beginning. Most of the characters are detailed and very complex. I enjoyed how the author wrote Harriet’s character. She had many layers and it truly showed through out the story line. The parts about Krampus Night where totally fantastic and just the beginning of this families dangerous games. With an ending I never saw coming, The Family Game is a book I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves big mansions and the secrets the people hold inside them.

This was so different than anything I've read before. I really loved it, and it took me a long time to really figure out the twists.

WTF did I just read?!

Each holiday, this family plays a rather disturbing game. And no, this isn't like other families... or other holiday games. This game has real world consequences, danger, and maybe a lil familial espionage.

This is one of those psychological thrillers that feels TRULY unique and full of mind f*ckery. AKA 5/5 stars. Can't stop raving about it!

*Gifted from Netgalley & Ballantine Books - thank you! All opinions are my own.

This was an interesting read. I am a sucker for anything family / inheritance related and you add a game to it and I'm intrigued. However, I felt the beginning of this book to be a little slow and hard to hold my interest. I thought it was weird how long it took her to listen to the tape in the book, although after I finishing I understand why it was dragged out.

About half way through things the book really picked up for me. I found myself being more invested. I missed the twist although it was right under my nose the entire time.

I'd for sure read another book by Catherine Steadman.

Thank you Random House - Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this one!

This story is about Harriet who is in a relationship with a man named Edward. They go to visit Edwards family who have games that they play. You don’t know who to trust! I felt so nervous for Harriet especially during the family’s games! The story held my interest throughout the book and I enjoyed the author’s writing.

Thriller author Harriet Reed is hiding a dark secret about the day her parents died when she was eleven years old. She has been lonely most of her life since their accident, but when she meets handsome, rich American heir Edward Holbeck, she thinks life might be finally turning around. When Edward proposes and his family arrange a meeting and their subsequent entanglement with the family, Harriet wonders if she's in too deep, especially when she finds out she's pregnant and then her future father-in-law gives her a mysterious cassette tape that sounds a lot like a murder confession. As Harriet tries to find the truth while protecting herself and her unborn child, she discovers that there is a lot she doesn't know about the Holbecks.

This book was very twisty and kept me guessing until the very end! There were a lot of games in this story - both real and mental - that kept me intrigued and wanting to keep reading to see what happened next. The concept felt really fresh and the fact that Harriet was a writer really tied in nicely to the plot and her ability to unpack all of the evidence she uncovered and try to get to the bottom of things. This was definitely an over-the-top story about a group of extremely affluent people, but it was really enjoyable.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Balletine for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my goodness, I absolutely LOVED this book! What a phenomenal thriller, full of twists and turns and the perfect atmosphere. The creepy setting of a huge remote manor house, set at Christmas, with a powerful family who likes to play games is the perfect backdrop for a mystery that kept me on my toes the whole time!

I wasn't too fond of this one. For some reason every time I put it down, I found it hard to get back into or care about the plot. The twist at the end felt underwhelming. I'm not sure if this author's writing style is for me. I mostly found Harriet annoying and felt like she did so many things for invalid reasons. Like I think I would have cut and run from the first signs that the family gave, instead of sticking around and risking my neck. I felt she thought very little about herself or <spoiler> her unborn child. </spoiler> I will probably try another book by Catherine Steadman because I already own it to give her another shot, but if I don't enjoy it, I might not pick anymore of her stuff up.

Well, helllooo effed up family -- you are always welcomed here! I had no clue where "The Family Game" was going to take me, but I absolutely loved the ride.

Harriet is newly engaged to fiancé Edward. She hasn’t met Edward’s wealthy family yet, and as the holidays approach, she’s thrown into their family’s bizarre Christmas tradition of Krampusnacht. Which, BTW, is absolutely horrifying and not all the “Happy Saint Nick” or “jolly!” most folks are used to. Meeting the family, especially Edward’s father Robert, sends Harriet on a wild ride with a murderous confession and the need for answers. To add drama and suspense, we get multiple characters that add red herrings and half truths, sending readers on a wild ride that just may prove to be deadly for all involved.

Catherine Steadman knows how to pen a twisty thriller. This is a fun and interesting ride with a slightly predictable twist, but the writing holds it together throughout.

In The Family Game, a successful writer meets her fiancé’s family for the first time and finds herself embroiled in a complicated and dark game with her soon to be father-in-law. Twisted and engrossing—I didn’t want to stop reading this incredible psychological thriller until the very last page (and even then I didn’t want it to be over, if I’m honest)!

Setting

Set between Thanksgiving and Christmas in New York City and in the family estate, The Hydes, in upstate New York, this book takes a dark twist on the dreaded family obligations around the holidays.

Plot

Everything is coming together for novelist Harriet (who goes by Harry). Her writing career is taking off and she is on deadline for her next thriller. She is recently engaged to handsome, wealthy Edward Holbeck in a fairytale romance. She’s moved to New York City to live with him and left behind her lonely past in London, where she was orphaned at a young age. Harry is grateful to start a new family with Edward.

Not long after their engagement, Edward’s family reaches out hoping to connect with Harry and if she is willing to help, bring Edward back into the family. The Holbecks are old money, and though Edward could have been set for life in the family business, he has taken his own path to success separate from them. His engagement to Harry may be the perfect opportunity for him to come back to his family.

When Edward’s sister tricks Harry into agreeing to spend Thanksgiving with the family at their New York home, Harry finds herself drawn into the dark and glittering world of the Holbecks. Edward’s father Robert pulls Harry aside for a chat and she can’t help but feel there is more beneath the surface of their conversation than she realized. When Robert slips her an old cassette tape containing a shocking confession, Harry becomes entrapped in a game that she isn’t sure she wants to win.

Why was Robert willing to trust Harry with the secrets he revealed on the tape? As Harry pieces together the clues, she realizes things with the Holbecks are darker than she ever knew. Harry must win the game or risk losing it all, maybe even her life…

My Thoughts

I actually read The Family Game during the pandemic years where I was reading for enjoyment but didn’t have the bandwidth mentally to post reviews. That meant that when I went to look at books I wanted to review recently from my shelves, I couldn’t pass posting about this one. I went back and read it a second time so I can confirm this is a book that I enjoyed just as much on a re-read, even knowing the twists.

I read a lot of psychological thrillers so I notice when they deliver above and beyond. The Family Game is so expertly written and dark. I did the audiobook the second time around and Catherine Steadman narrating is truly a treat. Her acting skills plus being the creator of the story make the narration shine. Also, with the sections of the book from the tape being narrated, I loved the way they altered the audio recording to sound like a cassette tape. It pulled me even deeper into the story!

Harry as a main character is one of the best parts of the book. Initially she may seem too good and kind for this family, but she has some scrappiness to her that comes out as she gets deeper into the games. At a certain point I began to realize that no one was better suited to her position within the Holbeck circle.

The Holbecks are twisted! There is a voyeurism, I think, to reading about these extremely wealthy families and their secrets. More money, more problems (and more secrets), as they say. The Holbecks follow primogeniture, which is essentially about birth order regardless of gender. This added an edge to the family members, as their order in the lineage had a certain meaning to it and that translated to their freedom in their life, career, relationships, and future.

The games! From the moment Harry’s publisher calls her to back out of their meeting and she realizes it was because Edward’s sister pressured them to so she could meet her, I knew there was going to be a lot going on here. Nothing that any of the Holbecks and their extended family do should be taken at face value. These people play games merely by breathing!

The cassette tape was a particularly fascinating element to the story. Robert pulls Harry aside for a cryptic chat and slips her the tape. She must track down the right device to even be able to listen to the tape—something that was certainly a challenge that Robert intended. Once she has the tape, we hear the shocking contents of the message Robert recorded for her. And to add a layer to it all, Harry is faced with what she pursues, how she pursues it, and whether she should share anything with Edward.

The settings were outstanding, particularly the Hydes, which is old, opulent, and had a fascinating backstory. The grounds and house are full of hideaways, mazes, and secret spaces. I could vividly picture it all! It was similar to watching a film in my mind (which makes me realize this book absolutely should be made into a film).

Suspenseful, gripping, and dark—I truly didn’t want this book to end!

This was absolutely delightful, I just did a reread and I can not say it enough I loved this! This is one of those books where you there thinking hmmm this would make an excellent movie!

Both a nail biter, and twisty I could not put this book down.

If your fiance is the man of your dreams and his family is a little...intense you'd be curious right?

Well curiousity killed the cat and Harriet is in the cross hairs. A murder, a long standing tradition, and a mystery.

Would absolutely recommend, not saying a thing more except read this!

I pick this novel because they compared it to BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, but it wasn't like that to me. It was still a thrilling read I loved the main character. Highly recommend.

In The Family Game, Catherine Steadman tells the story of a woman who is joining a family, but the family has dark secrets in the past. The protagonist struggles to figure out who she can trust in this ultra-rich family. I personally did not like this book as much as Steadman's previous one, and I found the depictions of the wealth of the family to be unrealistic. Still, it was a fun, easy read.