Title: The Family Game
Author: Catherine Steadman
Genre: thriller
Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.
This book is preposterous. Just flat out no way in the world would any of this happen. And I don’t mean this in a fun way. I gave this three stars, but that was generous. The main character jumps to conclusions that no actual person would. I rolled my eyes a lot at her.
From GoodReads: Harriet Reed, a novelist on the brink of literary stardom, is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir of an extremely powerful family. And even though Edward has long tried to severe ties with them, news of the couple’s marital bliss has the Holbecks inching back into their lives.
As Harriet is drawn into their lavish world, the family seems perfectly welcoming. So when Edward’s father, Robert, hands Harriet a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen. But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t just a novel. It’s a confession. A confession to a grisly crime. A murder. And, suddenly, the game is in motion.
Feeling isolated and confused, Harriet must work out if this is part of a plan to test her loyalty. Or something far darker. What is it that Robert sees in her? Why give her the power to destroy everything? This might be a game to the Holbeck family—but losing might still prove deadly.
READY OR NOT, HERE THEY COME…
I mean, I could not stop reading mostly because I wanted to see what wretchedness the family would concoct from one scene to another, but Harriet is the most ridiculous detective. Given the meager clues Steadman writes, there is no way Harriet would have figured out what was going on as quickly as the did. The plot holes are gaping, the characters are empty, and the story was flat. I was really disappointed with this snoozefest.
Pleasant Nights 