J.D. Robb discussion

Our May Book of the Month is The Family Game by Catherine Steadman. Let's plan on opening discussion around May 15.

Goodreads Choice AwardNominee for Best Mystery & Thriller (2022)
A rich, eccentric family. A time-honored tradition. Or a lethal game of survival? One woman finds out what it really takes to join the 1% in this riveting psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Something in the Water, Mr. Nobody, and The Disappearing Act.

Harry is a novelist on the brink of stardom; Edward, her husband-to-be, is seemingly perfect. In love and freshly engaged, their bliss is interrupted by the reemergence of the Holbecks, Edward's eminent family and the embodiment of American old money. For years, they've dominated headlines and pulled society's strings, and Edward left them all behind to forge his own path. But there are eyes and ears everywhere. It was only a matter of time before they were pulled back in . . .

After all, even though he's long severed ties with his family, Edward is set to inherit it all. Harriet is drawn to the glamour and sophistication of the Holbecks, who seem to welcome her with open arms, but everything changes when she meets Robert, the inescapably magnetic head of the family. At their first meeting, Robert slips Harry a cassette tape, revealing a shocking confession which sets the inevitable game in motion.

What is it about Harry that made him give her that tape? A thing that has the power to destroy everything? As she ramps up her quest for the truth, she must endure the Holbecks' savage Christmas traditions all the while knowing that losing this game could be deadly.

I’m in!

I hope to read this one! If I can just work it in!

Was this made into a movie? It seems I have seen something similar on the big screen. I will definitely be joining in

Susan, that’s the name of an older (1984) Japanese movie. No relationship.

i found the movie I was thinking of READY OR NOT
A bride's wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying game.
All of us have made certain efforts so our in-laws will like us, but Grace is going to have to give it her all if she wants to fit in with her brand new husband's wealthy dynasty, who require her to follow a brutal tradition: for the bride to try to survive her wedding night while the rest of them hunt her down. The class struggle stuff hits the proverbial fan in this extremely black satire starring a brilliant Samara Weaving and including an uncommonly perverse Andie MacDowell.

Susan, that sounds like a great mystery/suspense movie. I'll have to look it up.

This book had me at "A rich, eccentric family." Done. I don't have to read the rest of the blurb.

Finished it last night. Talk about creepy.

Spoiler Zone Alert!! Feel free to openly discuss The Family Game.

I haven't read this one yet, but will come back to add my thoughts when I read it. Feel free to share your opinions...How did you like this one??

I'm starting it today.

I'm at 30% and I'm wondering if Harry may be an unreliable narrator? The very beginning of the book, the prologue, at a time near the end of the book, is bizarre, to say the least. Her sexual attraction to her soon to be father-in-law when she first meets him is was really, really Ick!

We are predisposed to be very suspicious of the family based on the prologue.

Anita, I had the exact same feelings at this point in the story. It’s one of the questions I want to pose.

I found it strange that Harry would be so ready to embrace Edward’s family without first checking with him. I’d never accept an invite without running it by him. She reacted as if she was flattered. Am I being overly proper here?

I got the same vibe about her reaction to Daddy. It was awkward at times.

And those games? Who does this?

Harry and Edward had a wonderful meet-cute but you just know there are going to be trust issues.

We don't know why Edward is estranged from his family and I agree that Harry should not have accepted the invitation without discussing it with him.

That freaky German Christmas monster, I can't remember the name. OMG! I would never have been with these people ever again.

That felt more like Halloween than Christmas.

Absolutely!

I liked the audiobook, but I had a lot of questions about it. Not sure if I just missed the answers or if book had a lot of plotholes.
I'm new to the group and goodreads.
How does Richard know the details (if victim fought, how long it took to get to burial place, what victim looked like when she died, etc) of Edward 's murders to leave on tape for Harry?

It says the next murder wasn't as easy as the first, but goes on to describe Monique slipping into death calmly. Any explanation of discrepancy?

Why did Richard call Edward when the mom was giving a tour around "The Hydes"? What was he yelling about and why did Richard break some thing?

Thanks.

Why did Edward let Harry have a private conversation with his Dad? He's so protective of her, but then let's her alone with his dad.

I don’t believe Edward imagined that his father would tell her about his crimes.

Up to the end Harry thought that those crimes were Richard's. I thought it was a plot fail that she didn't listen to the whole tape for so long. I definitely didn't get Killer Vibe off Edward and was shocked that he was the true baddie.

Okay…no way could I have gone five minutes without listening to that whole tape in one sitting. That was beyond believable.