
The Family Game
A Novel
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed

Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $20.25
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Catherine Steadman
About this listen
“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 . . .
Critic reviews
“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)
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Stockholm
- Getaway Collection
- By: Catherine Steadman
- Narrated by: Samara Naeymi
- Length: 1 hr and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Psychiatrist Olivia Cole is a shell of herself after only two years with her tyrannical husband, the outwardly perfect Sebastian. On their two-year anniversary, she’s subjected to one power move too many when Sebastian whisks her away on a surprise trip—first to the charming capital of Sweden, then to an unexpected final destination. Miles from home and help, the only way for Olivia to wrest back control of her life is to give Sebastian an even bigger, shocking surprise.
-
-
Worth it !
- By JB on 10-17-23
-
Look In the Mirror
- A Novel
- By: Catherine Steadman
- Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nina, still grieving from the loss of her father, discovers that she has inherited property in the British Virgin Islands—a vacation home she had no idea existed, until now. The house is extraordinary: state-of-the-art, all glass and marble. How did her sensible father come into enough money for this? Why did he keep it from her? And what else was he hiding?
-
-
Masterful
- By Amanda on 08-17-24
-
The Disappearing Act
- A Novel
- By: Catherine Steadman
- Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A leading British actress hoping to make a splash in America flies to Los Angeles for the grueling gauntlet known as pilot season, a time when every network and film studio looking to fill the rosters of their new shows entice a fresh batch of young hopefuls - anxious, desperate, and willing to do whatever it takes to make it.
-
-
Does not disappoint
- By Jennifer Paugh on 06-10-21
-
Mr. Nobody
- A Novel
- By: Catherine Steadman
- Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When a man is found on a British beach, drifting in and out of consciousness, with no identification and unable to speak, interest in him is sparked immediately. From the hospital staff who find themselves inexplicably drawn to him, to international medical experts who are baffled by him, to the national press who call him Mr. Nobody, everyone wants answers. Who is this man? And what happened to him?
-
-
Along for the ride
- By LW09 on 01-14-20
-
Getaway
- Secrets follow you everywhere
- By: Sally Hepworth, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Catherine Steadman, and others
- Narrated by: Candice Moll, Shayna Small, Samara Naeymi, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Perfect vacations or last resorts? In this collection of short psychological thrillers, bestselling authors bring trouble to paradise. Today’s itinerary: surfing, sailing, hiking, facing your worst fears . . . Most dream vacations never live up to expectations—but few cause this many nightmares.
-
-
It's the last story....
- By DJR on 09-27-24
By: Sally Hepworth, and others
-
Something in the Water
- A Novel
- By: Catherine Steadman
- Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough, Mark a handsome investment banker with big plans. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, where they enjoy the sun, the sand, and each other. Then, while scuba diving in the crystal blue sea, they find something in the water....
-
-
No Thrill Here
- By Sara on 06-08-18
-
Stockholm
- Getaway Collection
- By: Catherine Steadman
- Narrated by: Samara Naeymi
- Length: 1 hr and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Psychiatrist Olivia Cole is a shell of herself after only two years with her tyrannical husband, the outwardly perfect Sebastian. On their two-year anniversary, she’s subjected to one power move too many when Sebastian whisks her away on a surprise trip—first to the charming capital of Sweden, then to an unexpected final destination. Miles from home and help, the only way for Olivia to wrest back control of her life is to give Sebastian an even bigger, shocking surprise.
-
-
Worth it !
- By JB on 10-17-23
-
Look In the Mirror
- A Novel
- By: Catherine Steadman
- Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nina, still grieving from the loss of her father, discovers that she has inherited property in the British Virgin Islands—a vacation home she had no idea existed, until now. The house is extraordinary: state-of-the-art, all glass and marble. How did her sensible father come into enough money for this? Why did he keep it from her? And what else was he hiding?
-
-
Masterful
- By Amanda on 08-17-24
-
The Disappearing Act
- A Novel
- By: Catherine Steadman
- Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A leading British actress hoping to make a splash in America flies to Los Angeles for the grueling gauntlet known as pilot season, a time when every network and film studio looking to fill the rosters of their new shows entice a fresh batch of young hopefuls - anxious, desperate, and willing to do whatever it takes to make it.
-
-
Does not disappoint
- By Jennifer Paugh on 06-10-21
-
Mr. Nobody
- A Novel
- By: Catherine Steadman
- Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When a man is found on a British beach, drifting in and out of consciousness, with no identification and unable to speak, interest in him is sparked immediately. From the hospital staff who find themselves inexplicably drawn to him, to international medical experts who are baffled by him, to the national press who call him Mr. Nobody, everyone wants answers. Who is this man? And what happened to him?
-
-
Along for the ride
- By LW09 on 01-14-20
-
Getaway
- Secrets follow you everywhere
- By: Sally Hepworth, Zakiya Dalila Harris, Catherine Steadman, and others
- Narrated by: Candice Moll, Shayna Small, Samara Naeymi, and others
- Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Perfect vacations or last resorts? In this collection of short psychological thrillers, bestselling authors bring trouble to paradise. Today’s itinerary: surfing, sailing, hiking, facing your worst fears . . . Most dream vacations never live up to expectations—but few cause this many nightmares.
-
-
It's the last story....
- By DJR on 09-27-24
By: Sally Hepworth, and others
-
Something in the Water
- A Novel
- By: Catherine Steadman
- Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Erin is a documentary filmmaker on the brink of a professional breakthrough, Mark a handsome investment banker with big plans. Passionately in love, they embark on a dream honeymoon to the tropical island of Bora Bora, where they enjoy the sun, the sand, and each other. Then, while scuba diving in the crystal blue sea, they find something in the water....
-
-
No Thrill Here
- By Sara on 06-08-18
-
The Woman in Apartment 49
- By: Ross Armstrong
- Narrated by: Catherine Steadman
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lily Gullick lives with her husband, Aiden, in a brand-new apartment opposite a building that has been marked for demolition. A keen bird-watcher, she can’t help spying on her neighbors. Until one day Lily sees something suspicious through her binoculars, and soon her elderly neighbor Jean is found dead. Convinced of foul play, she knows she has to act. But her interference is not going unnoticed, and as she starts to get close to the truth, her own life comes under threat. But can Lily really trust everything she sees?
-
-
Catherine Steadman for the win! Again!
- By Dr F on 10-12-18
By: Ross Armstrong
-
You're Invited
- By: Amanda Jayatissa
- Narrated by: Shimali De Silva, Soneela Nankani, Deepa Samuel
- Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Amaya is invited to Kaavi’s over-the-top wedding in Sri Lanka, she is surprised and a little hurt to hear from her former best friend after so many years of radio silence. But when Amaya learns that the groom is her very own ex-boyfriend, she is consumed by a single thought: She must stop the wedding from happening, no matter the cost.
-
-
Second narrator ruined the book!
- By Jessica on 08-24-22
By: Amanda Jayatissa
-
What Remains
- By: Wendy Walker
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman, Peter Ganim
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Detective Elise Sutton is drawn to cold cases. Each crime is a puzzle to solve, pulled from the past. Elise looks for cracks in the surface and has become an expert on how murderers slip up and give themselves away. She has dedicated her life to creating a sense of order, at work with her ex-marine partner; at home with her husband and two young daughters; and within, battling her own demons. Elise has everything under control, until one afternoon, when she walks into a department store and is forced to make a terrible choice: to save one life, she will have to take another.
-
-
very meh
- By \\Kimberly Pampanin on 08-26-23
By: Wendy Walker
-
Someone in the Attic
- A Novel
- By: Andrea Mara
- Narrated by: Jessica Regan
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Anya is enjoying a relaxing bath when she hears a noise coming from the ceiling. Through the open bathroom door, she sees the attic hatch swing down, and a masked figure drops to the floor. Thirty seconds later, Anya is dead. Across town, Anya's old school friend, Julia, sees an online video of a masked figure climbing out of an attic. She suddenly realizes why the footage is eerily familiar: it was filmed inside her own house in a luxury gated community, designed to keep intruders out. Why would a stranger target Julia? Unless of course, it's not a stranger at all.
-
-
Basil the Bunny
- By Maryanne T. on 04-30-25
By: Andrea Mara
-
The Clinic
- A Novel
- By: Cate Quinn
- Narrated by: Kate Handford, Laurel Lefkow
- Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meg works for a casino in LA, catching cheaters and popping a few too many pain pills to cope, following a far different path than her sister Haley, a famous actress. But suddenly reports surface of Haley dying at the remote rehab facility where she had been forced to go to get her addictions under control.
There are whispers of suicide, but Meg can't believe it. She decides that the best way to find out what happened to her sister is to check in herself—to investigate what really happened from the inside.
-
-
Main character Meg
- By Anne K. on 05-04-25
By: Cate Quinn
-
The Guest House
- A Novel
- By: Robin Morgan-Bentley
- Narrated by: Joanne Froggatt, Zak Ford-Williams, Julie Hesmondhalgh, and others
- Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jamie and Victoria are off for a last quick vacation before the arrival of their first baby. The remote country guesthouse Victoria chose seems like the perfect retreat—miles away from the distractions of work and their regular life. And the older couple that runs the establishment, Barry and Fiona, is more than accommodating. But when Jamie and Victoria awake on their first morning, they find the house deserted. Barry and Fiona are nowhere to be seen. All the doors are locked. And their cell phones and car keys have disappeared.
-
-
Unique, Deep & Intriguing
- By Tawny on 09-16-22
-
The Intern
- A Novel
- By: Michele Campbell
- Narrated by: Sarah Mollo-Christensen
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Madison Rivera lands the internship of a lifetime working for Judge Kathryn Conroy. But Madison has a secret that could destroy her career. Her troubled younger brother Danny has been arrested, and Conroy is the judge on his case. When Danny goes missing after accusing the judge of corruption, Madison’s quest for answers brings her deep into the judge’s glamorous world. Is Kathryn Conroy a mentor, a victim, or a criminal? Is she trying to help Madison or use her as a pawn? And why is somebody trying to kill her?
-
-
Another Terrific Michele Campbell Novel
- By William G. Stuart on 11-15-23
By: Michele Campbell
-
One of the Good Guys
- A Novel
- By: Araminta Hall
- Narrated by: Elliot Fitzpatrick, Olivia Vinall, Helen Keeley
- Length: 7 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Desperate to escape the ghosts of his failed marriage, Cole leaves London behind for a remote stretch of coast, relishing the respite from the noise, drama, and relentless careerism that curdled his relationship and mental health. Leonora has made the same move for similar reasons. Though Cole still can’t figure out what went wrong with his marriage, and Leonora is having trouble acclimating to the hostile landscape, the pair forges a connection on the eroding bluff they call home. Then, two young women activists raising awareness about gendered violence disappear while passing through.
-
-
meh.
- By Amazon Customer on 09-17-24
By: Araminta Hall
-
The Hike
- By: Lucy Clarke
- Narrated by: David Johansen-Menkin, Stephanie Racine
- Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Burned-out by both her marriage and work, Liz is desperate for an escape. More than that, she craves an adventure, a total reset. So, when she plans a vacation with her three best friends, she persuades them to spend four nights camping in the stunning mountains of Norway. Following a trail that climbs through lush valleys, towering peaks, and past jewel-blue lakes, Liz is sure that the hike is just what they need. But as they stride farther from civilization, it becomes clear that the women are not the only ones looking to lose themselves in the mountains.
-
-
Ultimately insufferable
- By Jennifer on 09-11-23
By: Lucy Clarke
-
I Let You Go
- By: Clare Mackintosh
- Narrated by: Nicola Barber, Steven Crossley
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
I Let You Go follows Jenna Gray as she moves to a ramshackle cottage on the remote Welsh coast, trying to escape the memory of the car accident that plays again and again in her mind and desperate to heal from the loss of her child and the rest of her painful past. At the same time, the novel tracks the pair of Bristol police investigators trying to get to the bottom of this hit-and-run.
-
-
Compelling thriller
- By Nerida on 05-15-16
By: Clare Mackintosh
-
The Writing Retreat
- A Novel
- By: Julia Bartz
- Narrated by: Gail Shalan
- Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement.
-
-
Fun listen/read
- By RCS on 04-28-23
By: Julia Bartz
-
Cross My Heart
- A Novel
- By: Megan Collins
- Narrated by: Gail Shalan, Chris Andrew Ciulla
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One. A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret.
-
-
The twists and turns kept me from putting down this book
- By Anonymous User on 05-13-25
By: Megan Collins
Good twisty and creepy psych thriller
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Perfection
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Soooo good!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
best book I've listened to in a while!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Good but meh
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Fabulous!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Another gem
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent from S1tart to Finish
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Amazing!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Psychological thriller
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.