Review: The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

This was fun to read with a group. 


The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

Released October 2022

Source: Audiobook Purchase

Horror & Horrorish Fiction  |  Goodreads  | Amazon

A rich, eccentric family. A time-honored tradition. Or a lethal game of survival? One woman finds out what it really takes to join the 1% in this riveting psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Something in the Water, Mr. Nobody, and The Disappearing Act.

Harry is a novelist on the brink of stardom; Edward, her husband-to-be, is seemingly perfect. In love and freshly engaged, their bliss is interrupted by the reemergence of the Holbecks, Edward's eminent family and the embodiment of American old money. For years, they've dominated headlines and pulled society's strings, and Edward left them all behind to forge his own path. But there are eyes and ears everywhere. It was only a matter of time before they were pulled back in . . .

After all, even though he's long severed ties with his family, Edward is set to inherit it all. Harriet is drawn to the glamour and sophistication of the Holbecks, who seem to welcome her with open arms, but everything changes when she meets Robert, the inescapably magnetic head of the family. At their first meeting, Robert slips Harry a cassette tape, revealing a shocking confession which sets the inevitable game in motion.

What is it about Harry that made him give her that tape? A thing that has the power to destroy everything? As she ramps up her quest for the truth, she must endure the Holbecks' savage Christmas traditions all the while knowing that losing this game could be deadly.

My 2 Cents for Free!

This was our Horror Spotlight December group readalong and reading with this group and sharing our thoughts and theories always makes this experience so much better! As for this thriller? Well, I'm probably giving it a 3. Some of the plot lines and manipulations came off as completely unbelievable. I realize this is fiction but there's a confession tape here that the heroine reads through not immediately like a normal person but she drags her feet and takes her time and it aggravated me so much. She has a MAID, she's finished writing her book, she has NO excuse. What was she doing? Her nails? How could she be so busy?! The only excuse was to drag out the book a bit. Grrrrr, I see you.



Anyhow, this was entertaining enough but I ended up disliking all of the characters and wish them ill but I suppose that was the point so I can't ding a book for doing that.

⭐⭐⭐

Comments

  1. AnonymousWednesday, January 11, 2023

    Thank you for this thorough review. I think I’ll pass on this one.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mary KirklandThursday, January 12, 2023

    Not liking the characters makes me not like a book most of the time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bark At The GhoulsThursday, January 12, 2023

      It can be fun to watch them come to a bad end but sometimes it's just annoying.

      Delete
  3. Carole's Random LifeFriday, January 13, 2023

    Yeah, why would you wait?! I am not sure that this one would be for me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Erica RobynSaturday, January 14, 2023

    This sounds wild!!

    ReplyDelete

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