The Family Game

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!