anniemd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
charlotte113's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Absolutely loved reading this and couldn't put the book down!!
The connection formed between reader and characters is amazing, and I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen next. The author writes beautifully, and really engages the reader. Her plot twists kept me engaged and I couldn't stop reading! Can't wait to read more of her novels!
The connection formed between reader and characters is amazing, and I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen next. The author writes beautifully, and really engages the reader. Her plot twists kept me engaged and I couldn't stop reading! Can't wait to read more of her novels!
catiaacribeiro's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
kursten's review
4.0
You have to get to the 30% mark for this book to really take off, but once it does, it really kept me interested and largely maintained the tension.
I did guess the twist about halfway through, but it didn't really take away my enioyment of seeing everything unfold in the end. My biggest issue is probably that I wish we had gotten more closure at the end in the form of a discussion among the family members once all was said and done. I didn't love the way that closure was attempted in the last chapter instead, so I felt like I was left hanging at the end.
But I was left wanting more, so while not necessarily a pro, it does mean the book was good. Definitely recommend if you like thrillers/mysteries that involve mega rich families with a lot of baggage.
I did guess the twist about halfway through, but it didn't really take away my enioyment of seeing everything unfold in the end. My biggest issue is probably that I wish we had gotten more closure at the end in the form of a discussion among the family members once all was said and done. I didn't love the way that closure was attempted in the last chapter instead, so I felt like I was left hanging at the end.
But I was left wanting more, so while not necessarily a pro, it does mean the book was good. Definitely recommend if you like thrillers/mysteries that involve mega rich families with a lot of baggage.
okcookie's review
5.0
Brilliant. My favourite book by Catherine. I listened to the audiobook which is also read by Catherine, and I loved that because 1) she's a great narrator and 2) you know you're hearing the words with the intended inflection and tone.
The story didn't let me down at any point. It's a well thought out thriller, in a beautiful and festive setting.
The story didn't let me down at any point. It's a well thought out thriller, in a beautiful and festive setting.
lindseyreads's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jhscolloquium's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Family Game opens with a prologue in which Harriet Reed reveals, in a first-person narrative, that she is lying on the parquet floor of the grand entrance hall of the Holbeck family’s upstate New York Mansion. Harriet is bleeding and struggles to stand up, the diamond in her engagement ring twinkling in the light. She also notes that she faced death twenty years earlier, but survived and is determined to do so again. “A girl with a past tries to marry into money and all hell breaks loose. “We all know how that story ends,” she wryly observes, before the action moves back to November 21.
Harriet arrived in New York City four months earlier. She is a successful author – her first published novel is a bestseller that has so far sold over a million copies. She eschewed relationships until she met Edward Holbeck at a gala thrown by her publisher, and she feels as though she has finally paid for her past mistakes and can now allow herself to experience real happiness. She has started a new life, complete with new friends, and soon she’ll have a new family to get to know. Harriet was just eleven years old when she lost her own parents in a tragic accident. She is adamant in her belief that her future with Edward looks bright. She loves him deeply, in no small measure because “he saved me.”
Edward does not rely on his family’s fortune. Rather, he is an entrepreneur in his own right in the midst of negotiating to sell his company for a staggering sum. Edward is plainly as smitten with Harriet as she is with him. He stages an elaborate proposal at the Rockefeller Plaza ice skating rink where he presents her with the ring that belonged to his great-grandmother. The Holbeck family is not just wealthy. John Livingston Holbeck, Edward’s great-great-great-grandfather, was one of America’s Gilded Age tycoons. The family’s history is as storied – and notorious -- as those of the Morgans, Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Andrew Carnegies, and they wield unparalleled and far-reaching power, with a stately family home in Manhattan. But Edward has kept Harriet away from his family, explaining that they are controlling and domineering, and have caused problems in his personal life and relationships in the past. His relationship with his father, Robert, has been particularly strained. Robert has long been rumored to be involved in payoffs, blackmail, and questionable foreign business deals, although he has never been criminally charged. “Which makes the sudden appearance of this family ring now on my finger all the more interesting,” Harriet muses.
But meet them she does when she is finally summoned to afternoon tea at an exclusive members-only club on the Upper East Side. It soon becomes clear that the family is capable of meddling in Harriet’s affairs and the meeting has been arranged specifically to convince her to assist them. Edward’s sister, Mathilda, bluntly asks Harriet to help bring Edward back into the fold. “Will you help the family out? We want him back; we want to keep him where we can see him. We think this engagement is just wonderful.” And promptly tricks her into bringing Edward to Thanksgiving dinner.
Harriet soon discovers that when the Holbeck family gathers in their gothic castle -- which boasts all the expected accoutrements in addition to a massive and frightening maze, trails through the adjacent mountain, a treehouse, and an abandoned well – their family traditions include playing bizarre and dangerous games. Harriet is concerned not just for her own well-being, but that of the children who, in her estimation, are far too young and impressionable to be included in such activities. Nonetheless, she knows that she has to participate in the competition, and it would be in her best interests to win. So she puts on her game face>, determined to show the family – especially Robert – that she intends to become a member of the family and will be a formidable addition.
That’s because Robert sends her a mysterious cassette tape. It has been created with a Dictaphone and before she can listen to it, she has to secure the proper equipment. Once she does, she is shocked at the contents of the recording. It has been created by Robert. As she listens to his voice, she realizes how naïve she has been. She should have realized that with all of their power, the Holbecks would never allow her to marry into the family without vetting her. Robert has, of course, had a complete background investigation conducted and learned her secret. It’s a secret Harriet has never told anyone . . . and never intended to reveal it. Twenty years ago, she committed an act that could have profound consequences if discovered because no statute of limitations would bar her from being held to account for her actions. But she has always been confident that no one witnessed her behavior. Robert, however, is highly intelligent and savvy, and from the evidence gathered during the investigation has been able to draw inferences and reach conclusions. He makes it clear that if Harriet does not follow his directions, she will regret it. He also confesses that he has engaged in criminal behavior, along with his rationale. And emphasizes that he will not hesitate to take further draconian action if Harriet does not accede.
Steadman keeps the story’s action moving at a steady pace, gradually revealing details about Harriet’s past, the heinous act she committed, and her reasoning. She wisely makes Harriet not just a believable character, but a likable one and she is, in a number of ways, sympathetic. Steadman challenges readers to ponder the moral and ethical implications of Harriet’s decision and question what they would have done in Harriet’s place all those years ago. Harriet is bright, has sustained horrible losses in her life and, in many ways, deserves the happiness she believes she has found with Edward. Robert is the obvious villain in the tale, a confessed murderer who is wielding his power to ensure that Harriet complies with his demands. Edward is also bright and likable. He’s a caring, attentive partner to Harriet who is happy to be on the brink of formalizing his commitment to her and seemingly willing to interact with his family to the extent necessary in order to ensure his legacy as a member of the Holbeck clan.
However, in Steadman’s capable hands, readers discover clues along with Harriet that not all is as it seems. When the family gathers to celebrate Christmas, the rules of the latest game are outlined. Harriet is given the option by Edward and others not to participate since she did so well in the previous competition and has shared with the family news about how much is now at stake for the happy couple. However, not being a competitor is not a viable option, in accordance with the terms outlined by Robert. The game, however, quickly becomes completely beyond the realm of all reason . . . and Harriet begins discovering bodies in various areas of the vast estate. She knows that she could become one of them if she fails to discover precisely what Robert’s real motivation and intentions are, and is shocked when she discovers, along with readers, that her presumptions have been erroneous, and the stakes are even higher than she originally believed. Steadman deftly ramps up both the dramatic tension and the tale’s pace as it hurtles toward the shocking revelation of the truth.
The Family Game is an inventive and clever thriller in which the setting – that eerie, multi-story castle set in a remote area of upstate New York – effectively serves as an additional character. Even though many readers will correctly guess the largest plot twist well before it is revealed, that does not detract from the sheer fun of going on the perilous journey with Harriet to see if their hunch is accurate. Steadman’s narrative establishes a cinematic quality that makes both the characters and their plights vivid visceral, illustrating again that she is an accomplished storyteller.
Thanks to Random House for a paperback copy of A Smile in a Whisper in conjunction with the Tandem Collective Readalong.
Harriet arrived in New York City four months earlier. She is a successful author – her first published novel is a bestseller that has so far sold over a million copies. She eschewed relationships until she met Edward Holbeck at a gala thrown by her publisher, and she feels as though she has finally paid for her past mistakes and can now allow herself to experience real happiness. She has started a new life, complete with new friends, and soon she’ll have a new family to get to know. Harriet was just eleven years old when she lost her own parents in a tragic accident. She is adamant in her belief that her future with Edward looks bright. She loves him deeply, in no small measure because “he saved me.”
Edward does not rely on his family’s fortune. Rather, he is an entrepreneur in his own right in the midst of negotiating to sell his company for a staggering sum. Edward is plainly as smitten with Harriet as she is with him. He stages an elaborate proposal at the Rockefeller Plaza ice skating rink where he presents her with the ring that belonged to his great-grandmother. The Holbeck family is not just wealthy. John Livingston Holbeck, Edward’s great-great-great-grandfather, was one of America’s Gilded Age tycoons. The family’s history is as storied – and notorious -- as those of the Morgans, Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Andrew Carnegies, and they wield unparalleled and far-reaching power, with a stately family home in Manhattan. But Edward has kept Harriet away from his family, explaining that they are controlling and domineering, and have caused problems in his personal life and relationships in the past. His relationship with his father, Robert, has been particularly strained. Robert has long been rumored to be involved in payoffs, blackmail, and questionable foreign business deals, although he has never been criminally charged. “Which makes the sudden appearance of this family ring now on my finger all the more interesting,” Harriet muses.
But meet them she does when she is finally summoned to afternoon tea at an exclusive members-only club on the Upper East Side. It soon becomes clear that the family is capable of meddling in Harriet’s affairs and the meeting has been arranged specifically to convince her to assist them. Edward’s sister, Mathilda, bluntly asks Harriet to help bring Edward back into the fold. “Will you help the family out? We want him back; we want to keep him where we can see him. We think this engagement is just wonderful.” And promptly tricks her into bringing Edward to Thanksgiving dinner.
Harriet soon discovers that when the Holbeck family gathers in their gothic castle -- which boasts all the expected accoutrements in addition to a massive and frightening maze, trails through the adjacent mountain, a treehouse, and an abandoned well – their family traditions include playing bizarre and dangerous games. Harriet is concerned not just for her own well-being, but that of the children who, in her estimation, are far too young and impressionable to be included in such activities. Nonetheless, she knows that she has to participate in the competition, and it would be in her best interests to win. So she puts on her game face>, determined to show the family – especially Robert – that she intends to become a member of the family and will be a formidable addition.
That’s because Robert sends her a mysterious cassette tape. It has been created with a Dictaphone and before she can listen to it, she has to secure the proper equipment. Once she does, she is shocked at the contents of the recording. It has been created by Robert. As she listens to his voice, she realizes how naïve she has been. She should have realized that with all of their power, the Holbecks would never allow her to marry into the family without vetting her. Robert has, of course, had a complete background investigation conducted and learned her secret. It’s a secret Harriet has never told anyone . . . and never intended to reveal it. Twenty years ago, she committed an act that could have profound consequences if discovered because no statute of limitations would bar her from being held to account for her actions. But she has always been confident that no one witnessed her behavior. Robert, however, is highly intelligent and savvy, and from the evidence gathered during the investigation has been able to draw inferences and reach conclusions. He makes it clear that if Harriet does not follow his directions, she will regret it. He also confesses that he has engaged in criminal behavior, along with his rationale. And emphasizes that he will not hesitate to take further draconian action if Harriet does not accede.
Steadman keeps the story’s action moving at a steady pace, gradually revealing details about Harriet’s past, the heinous act she committed, and her reasoning. She wisely makes Harriet not just a believable character, but a likable one and she is, in a number of ways, sympathetic. Steadman challenges readers to ponder the moral and ethical implications of Harriet’s decision and question what they would have done in Harriet’s place all those years ago. Harriet is bright, has sustained horrible losses in her life and, in many ways, deserves the happiness she believes she has found with Edward. Robert is the obvious villain in the tale, a confessed murderer who is wielding his power to ensure that Harriet complies with his demands. Edward is also bright and likable. He’s a caring, attentive partner to Harriet who is happy to be on the brink of formalizing his commitment to her and seemingly willing to interact with his family to the extent necessary in order to ensure his legacy as a member of the Holbeck clan.
However, in Steadman’s capable hands, readers discover clues along with Harriet that not all is as it seems. When the family gathers to celebrate Christmas, the rules of the latest game are outlined. Harriet is given the option by Edward and others not to participate since she did so well in the previous competition and has shared with the family news about how much is now at stake for the happy couple. However, not being a competitor is not a viable option, in accordance with the terms outlined by Robert. The game, however, quickly becomes completely beyond the realm of all reason . . . and Harriet begins discovering bodies in various areas of the vast estate. She knows that she could become one of them if she fails to discover precisely what Robert’s real motivation and intentions are, and is shocked when she discovers, along with readers, that her presumptions have been erroneous, and the stakes are even higher than she originally believed. Steadman deftly ramps up both the dramatic tension and the tale’s pace as it hurtles toward the shocking revelation of the truth.
The Family Game is an inventive and clever thriller in which the setting – that eerie, multi-story castle set in a remote area of upstate New York – effectively serves as an additional character. Even though many readers will correctly guess the largest plot twist well before it is revealed, that does not detract from the sheer fun of going on the perilous journey with Harriet to see if their hunch is accurate. Steadman’s narrative establishes a cinematic quality that makes both the characters and their plights vivid visceral, illustrating again that she is an accomplished storyteller.
Thanks to Random House for a paperback copy of A Smile in a Whisper in conjunction with the Tandem Collective Readalong.
brianjeagan's review
5.0
Loved it. Slow start but so worth it once it picked up. When I got to the halfway point I was a bit disappointed because I thought I guessed what the twist would be but was so far from being right and it was so satisfying.