The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

 Book Rating:  2.5 out of 5 (3 raters)

The Family Game was not a fan favorite for our thrill seekers.  The plot and many of the events were too unnerving to be believable and/or worthy of our attention and praise.

The book dives into the life and love of Harriet (Harry) and Edward, two individuals in an unexpected relationship.  The renowned author, Harry, falls in love with an estranged son of a billionaire, Edward, and relocates herself to the United States after a short romance.  Now they are engaged and expecting a child and Harry is yet to meet his rich and eccentric family.  In fact, Edward is reluctant for her to make an acquaintance.

Eventually, Harry is warmly welcomed into the Holbeck family, especially by the head of the household, Robert.  He entrusts her with his secret, which he has recorded on a tiny mini cassette.  Yes, the same type of mini cassette that basically becomes extinct in the 1990s.  On this tape is a confession to a string of murders.  Could Robert actually be that dumb to record his confession and let her listen to it?

The family's eccentrics is divulged further when we are introduced to some creepy family traditions that are way over the top (i.e., Krampusnacht).  Although the tradition is carried on by many families throughout the world, it seems the Holbecks have to be extra in their execution.  Not to mention the final Family Game that leads to more executions ...

Either way, the thrill seekers were shocked by the decisions made within this book's main and peripheral characters and gave it a low rating.  Will that turn us off to this author?  We'll see.  Stay tuned.

Join us for our next book club meeting on April 22, 2023.  

We will be reading What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall.

RSVP HERE

Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter

 For this month, we read a great thriller by a renowned author.  This was a sequel to Pieces of Me, but low and behold, no one in the book club has read that yet!  Could it be coming up on the reading list?  Let's find out!

Two Timelines

The story has two timelines: 1980s and present day.  In the 1980s we are taken through the life of a soon to be teen mother who has started her own investigation to figure out who the father of her unborn child is.  Is this a case of rape or poor decisions?  Were things really that ridiculous in the 80s?  I mean that doctor!  I was born in 1984, so I was not familiar with this topic, but could definitely empathize with Emily Vaughn's character when she was placed in several vulnerable positions.

Fellow Thrill Chasers commented that they did not remember the world being so closed minded back then.  Teen pregnancy existed then, too.  Yet, this was a small community.  So, maybe it just doesn't happen there?  Either way, it was scandalous enough to get her killed.

In present day, we meet a new U.S. Marshall who is tasked to protect, none other, than Emily's mother, Federal Judge Vaughn.  Andrea has an ulterior motive to be back in the town where Emily was killed.  Emily's murder was never solved, but most everybody pinned the deed on Clay, who also happens to be the Marshall's father.  His sentence for his otherwise nefarious crimes is almost up and she is afraid that he will.  These crimes are more clearly outlined in the prequel, Pieces of Me.

Several Suspects

Emily was killed by a brutal and fatal blow to the face, which completely disfigured her.  She was trying to reveal a secret that nobody wanted out.  Could it have been the baby's father?  Why wouldn't it be, right?  Slaughter provides twisting and sinister backgrounds on every would-be killer.  Plenty of intriguing side stories that distract us from the main story line but provides context to the same.

All Thrill Chasers believed Dean did it.  I'm not going to spoil the ending here but will let you in the discussion.  I must admit I would not have been upset if Dean was killed in the end.  Of the other suspects (Blake, Nardo, Clay, and Jack "Cheese"), I was not leaning towards the one who finally confessed.  I kind of thought that the reveal was anti-climactic, what about you?  The story behind the true killer was so well developed, it wasn't until you reached the end that we discover that the father is not that important.

Add a comment to keep the discussion going.

Join us for next month's book:  The Family Game by Catherine Steadman 

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

 The first book club meeting was a success.  It was great to meet with everyone and discuss this thrilling book.  Generally, the book was well liked (4.5 out of 5 rating from members that polled).  Some of the highlights for all questions are below.

Chloe is the narrator and main character in the story and is struggling with her past.  Her father is convicted of murder, which we find out she had a hand in providing evidence for his conviction.  In the end we find out she had it all wrong.  The book keeps us guessing, but it all makes perfect sense when it is revealed.

Without revealing the end of the story, the thrill seekers that joined the meeting agreed that they did not suspect the true murderer because he was not brought into play until the later text.  Was that on purpose?  What I find interesting (and can probably be true about many thrillers) is that the true killer is always introduced early on and then ignored mostly throughout until it is necessary to reveal more.  I think that is definitely true. 

Some concerning topics were also brought and it definitely thrilled me because of my background in psychology.  Chloe, also a psychologist, is sampling (illegally, I might add) the products she prescribes.  This can be predicted will ruin her much later in life and is never resolved.  Why do you think it is brought up and why not resolved?

Also, not exactly a love story, but there were elements of sex and relationships throughout.  Why did Chloe jump into bed with this reporter?  Why is this experience even included in the narrative, as it doesn't (at least to me) seem to connect?

Feel free to comment and add to the discussion!!

Join us for our next Book Club meeting on February 25, 2023.  We're reading Girl, Forgotten by Karin Slaughter.

RSVP FOR THE MEETUP HERE