Title: A Game for All the Family
Author: Sophie Hannah
# Pages: 433
Published: 2015 in the U.K., 2017 in the U.S.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars
This is the first novel by Sophie Hannah that I’ve read, and to be honest, I only read it because it was chosen for one of my book clubs. Hannah is master of the psychological thriller, and she has earned numerous awards for her works. Her books have been published in 49 countries, which allows readers all over the world to enter her slightly twisted narratives.
At the beginning of A Game for All the Family, Janice Merrison has just fled London with her family in search of a calmer, relaxed life. She had nearly gone crazy in a high-paced, high-stress career, and she is looking forward to doing as little as possible each day. The Merrison’s now live in a beautiful country manor in Devon. It seems perfect in every way.
One day, Janice gets a call that changes everything. Someone who seems to know her says she and her family need to leave the house immediately. Ellen, Janice’s daughter, is suddenly completely different. Ellen starts talking about a friend the school adamantly states doesn’t exist, and she is writing detailed stories about a murder that took place in the Merrison’s new home. Janice’s languid days full of nothing turn into days of frantic research and discovery as Janice does everything she can to save her family.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I’m glad it was chosen by my book club so I could be exposed to Sophie Hannah and her twisted imagination. I couldn’t put it down, and though I did guess some of the turns the story would take, there were many I never saw coming. The ending took me completely by surprise, and I found myself sitting there for several minutes thinking “what in the world just happened.” That’s how you always want to feel after a psychological thriller, right?
Favorite Quotes
If there’s an aspect of your life that’s making you unhappy and you can escape from it, why wait?Worries are pack animals as well as cowards: too flimsy and insubstantial to do much damage alone, they signal for backup. Pretty soon there’s a whole gang of them circling you and you can’t push your way out.