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A review by joyceheinen
The Family Game by Catherine Steadman
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m always in for a creepy thriller about a toxic family, with loads of drama and secrets. Harriet is about to be married into one, after meeting Edward. Their seemingly perfect happiness gets disturbed when meeting the Holbecks, Edward’s family, with whom has had broken ties with. His family is really eager to meet Harriet.
Edward is the heir of the family and the life the Holbecks are living, impresses Harriet. They seem to welcome her with open arms. But everything changes when she meets Robert, Edward’s father, and he hands Harriet a mysterious cassette tape.
The book is very reminiscent of the successful TV-show “Succession” and the movie “Ready or Not”. Both about a dysfunctional family with enormous wealth. Harriet is the new girl, the one marrying into this family. But she’s not your typical innocent woman. She has her own secrets and never told this to anyone, not even Edward. Creepy and deadly games follow.
It’s fun to read about family drama. I did not like a single character in this book, but they were all very interesting to read about. The pace of the book picks up when Harriet meets the Holbeck family. But it’s only towards the end that it really gets fast-paced and action-packed. It’s all a bit messed up, those games this family like to play. There are only a few minor surprises, in the sense of finding about things about certain characters. But none of them mind-blowing or groundbreaking.
I really liked the concept of the story and loved that final part of the story. If it wasn’t for this, the book would have been just okay. It’s a solid, enjoyable thriller.
Edward is the heir of the family and the life the Holbecks are living, impresses Harriet. They seem to welcome her with open arms. But everything changes when she meets Robert, Edward’s father, and he hands Harriet a mysterious cassette tape.
The book is very reminiscent of the successful TV-show “Succession” and the movie “Ready or Not”. Both about a dysfunctional family with enormous wealth. Harriet is the new girl, the one marrying into this family. But she’s not your typical innocent woman. She has her own secrets and never told this to anyone, not even Edward. Creepy and deadly games follow.
It’s fun to read about family drama. I did not like a single character in this book, but they were all very interesting to read about. The pace of the book picks up when Harriet meets the Holbeck family. But it’s only towards the end that it really gets fast-paced and action-packed. It’s all a bit messed up, those games this family like to play. There are only a few minor surprises, in the sense of finding about things about certain characters. But none of them mind-blowing or groundbreaking.
I really liked the concept of the story and loved that final part of the story. If it wasn’t for this, the book would have been just okay. It’s a solid, enjoyable thriller.