mysterymom46's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Violence, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Pregnancy
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
"The Family Game" is a fast-paced thriller that follows a woman named Harry. Harry's life could be going better. She is struggled to write her second novel following the success of her first, but at least she has Edward. Edward is a seemingly perfect man, and he has just proposed to Harry. However, Harry has never met Edward's family. With the holidays just around the corner, now seems like the perfect time for Harry to meet all of the Holbecks, until Harry learns of their ruthless games and cutthroat attitudes towards one another.
This was a fast-paced, thrilling mystery with the added layer of a game. The Holbecks have some very eccentric holiday traditions, and honestly if I were Harry, I would have stormed out of the house far more quickly. As I have recently read "The Inheritance Games", this book reminded me quite a bit of that plot. The Holbecks do not come right out and say anything. They have a tendency to play games and leave riddles for people to try to guess what is really going on. "The Family Game" was also much more deadly.
The Holbecks have some dark secrets they are trying to keep buried, and those mysteries left me on my toes throughout the book. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another layer of the story was introduced, and I was thrown for a loop. Ultimately, I did not see the ending coming, and I enjoyed where the story ended up.
This book takes place during the holiday season, and because of that, it is very atmospheric. The depictions of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and snow made me excited for the season to come, and I highly recommend this thriller during the months of November and December.
Harry is an author in this book, but I did not think this fact did a lot for her character. I think the reader is supposed to see that Harry is an author and because of this she knows how to investigate. However, for me, her character felt very amateur in her sleuthing and the fact that she was an author was just a small part of the story.
I had a pretty good time reading this, and I will keep an eye out for more from Catherine Steadman in the future!
Graphic: Torture, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Suicide and Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual content
javafenn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Addiction, Suicide, Vomit, Alcohol, and Abortion
Minor: Cursing, Abortion, and Drug abuse
livvmarks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Violence, Child abuse, Death, Pregnancy, Blood, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Gun violence, Medical content, Miscarriage, Suicide, Classism, and Abortion
bookishgoob's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, Suicide, Violence, Car accident, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
norwegianforestreader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Medical content, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Suicide, Vomit, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Mass/school shootings, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Violence
amiegold's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Car accident
becca9849's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Murder, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Classism, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Addiction, Abortion, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug use, Gaslighting, Sexism, Gore, Miscarriage, Grief, and Toxic relationship
blackcatkai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
So there were aspects of this that I did enjoy, but overall it was an absolute miss for me. I do find myself interested in any other books Steadman puts out, though.
the book blurb makes it sound like the movie Ready or Not and it really isn't. the only similarities are rich people have weird drama & traditions & the MC is meeting them all for the first time. the MC listens to a tape she's given over time instead of right away and though the first time she stops it part way through was believable to me, not after that. so many things could've been dealt with sooner if she had just not waited and it really just helped the book drag. leaving out info to have a twist or something later is just a thing that bugs me, especially if not done well. which this felt like.
and the ending totally took me out of it. I liked the climax part when the game takes a turn, but afterwards made me roll my eyes so hard, just not for me. a few entertaining bits does not make me invested and this missed me. so....yea.
Graphic: Gun violence, Classism, Death, Murder, Violence, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Blood, Alcohol, and Drug use
Moderate: Suicide and Ableism
Minor: Abortion
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Pregnancy, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Car accident, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide, Violence, and Vomit