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The Family Game cover art

The Family Game

Written by: Catherine Steadman
Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
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Publisher's Summary

“A powerful family and a deadly game. Be prepared for a nail-biting, roller-coaster of a ride” (B. A. Paris, author of Behind Closed Doors), from the New York Times bestselling author of Something in the Water, Mr. Nobody, and The Disappearing Act

“The Holbecks are what you might come up with if you took the Roys from
Succession and blended them with the Murdochs, the Macbeths, and the Borgias. . . . Let the fun begin!”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)

THE RULES
1. Listen carefully
2. Do your research
3. Trust no one
4. Run for your life

It’s the holiday season and 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 sever ties with them, news of the couple’s upcoming marital bliss has the Holbecks inching back into their lives with one invite after another.

As Harriet is drawn into their lavish world, the family seems perfectly welcoming . . . even if some of their traditions, like a “Christmas demon” called Krampus, seem creepy at best. 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 could still prove deadly.

READY OR NOT, HERE THEY COME . . .

©2022 Catherine Steadman (P)2022 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“The Holbecks are what you might come up with if you took the Roys from Succession and blended them with the Murdochs, the Macbeths, and the Borgias. . . . The mysteries accrue, as does our admiration for Steadman, whose gift for invention only increases with each novel. . . . Let the fun begin!.”The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)

“Both sharply modern and timeless, with strains of King Lear, Dickens, and P.D. James’s postwar holiday chillers.”—Flynn Berry, The Washington Post

“[A] terrifically twisty thriller.”Good Housekeeping (UK)

What listeners say about The Family Game

Average Customer Ratings
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Good book

Really great read/listen. I’m a big fan of Catharine, this did not disappoint. Highly reco!

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Incredible

My favourite of all Catherine’s books. So incredibly written and of course every performance she does is great. Couldn’t stop listening!

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I LOVED THIS ONE

i read a lot of thrillers. This one was refreshing! I loved our main character and her resilience

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Entertaining!

I really likes this book. I found myself thinking of it when I wasn't listening. Will be trying her other stories. Narration I'd fantastic!

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Loved it

Loved it right down to the end!
Kept me interested and I loved some of the different reading elements.

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Great book

Great book - this novel kept me intrigued throughout! Well written and solid performances. Thank you!

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Great story! Great Narrator!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s the first by this author, but I’ve already pre-ordered the next one. The narrator was great, drawing the reader in. I felt as though I was there, in the story.

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Excellent! I loved it!

I'm picky about my thrillers, but this one was a WINNER. A great twist, an interesting plot, and well-developed characters. Can't say enough good things!

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I am shook!

Did not see that plot twist! Definitely top 5 of 2022 favs! Loved the narrative of this novel, did not predict that ending! Catherine is such a beautiful narrator, I love listening to her.

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Pretty thrilling novel

I enjoyed this novel and it had me hooked, right until the end. I guess it was fairly implausible and the violence desensitized me eventually. One of those novels that takes twists so the bad guy is supposedly the one you least suspect. In this case, it became obvious who that unlikely guy would be! Narrator did accents well, including sounds effects for the tape, but it would have been better with a male voice helping out. In my opinion!

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