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The Trap
Stranded on a dark road in the middle of the night, a young woman accepts a lift from a passing stranger. It's the nightmare scenario that every girl is warned about, and she knows the dangers all too well - but what other choice does she have?As they drive, she alternates between fear and relief - one moment thinking he is just a good man doing a good thing, the next convinced he's a monster. But when he delivers her safely to her destination, she realizes her fears were unfounded.And her heart sinks. Because a monster is what she's looking for.She'll try again tomorrow night. But will the man who took her sister take the bait?
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2023
1414 people are currently reading
54889 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Ryan Howard
19 books4,311 followersCatherine Ryan Howard is an internationally bestselling crime writer from Cork, Ireland. Her debut novel, DISTRESS SIGNALS, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey/New Blood Dagger. THE LIAR'S GIRL (2018) was shortlisted for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. REWIND (2019) was shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year and is currently being developed for screen by Clerkenwell Films (Misfits, Lovesick, The End of the F***ing World.) THE NOTHING MAN was a no. 1 Irish Times bestseller and a no. 1 Kindle bestseller (UK) and was shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year. Her latest novel, 56 DAYS, was published in August 2021. It is a thriller set in lockdown that Catherine wrote while she was in lockdown.
Prior to writing full-time, Catherine worked as a campsite courier in France and a front desk agent in Walt Disney World, Florida. She still wants to be an astronaut when she grows up.
Prior to writing full-time, Catherine worked as a campsite courier in France and a front desk agent in Walt Disney World, Florida. She still wants to be an astronaut when she grows up.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,825 reviews
August 1, 2023
Sometimes, you just have to bump a book straight to the top of your TBR pile…
An ex-boyfriend once told her that his favorite part of a night out, was walking home, just him and his thoughts on a deserted street. He didn’t need to walk to the front door with his keys squeezed between his fingers, ready to scratch or disable. He didn’t need to text a thumbs up before he went to sleep so that someone at the receiving end could sleep too. The part of the night HE loved, was the part that SHE had to survive.
And, yet, she sets a TRAP, night after night, walking the desolate streets where her sister was last seen, hoping to attract a monster.
And, that realistic, opening chapter when she voluntarily GETS INTO THE CAR-is TERRIFYING!! (Shout out to the Cover Art for both editions!)
Three women have disappeared, never to be seen again.
Tana Meehan, legally separated from her abusive husband was the first. Nicola (Nicki) Sullivan, who was last seen leaving a Pub after drinks with friends was next. And, 17 year old, Jennifer Gold vanished while out walking her dog, who returned home without her.
Operation Tide was formed when the girls were linked because their smashed cell phones were all found at the scenes where they were last seen.
When Angela Fitzgerald, a Gardai support staff member member for the Missing Persons Unit (MPU) receives some “physical evidence” brought in by a Charity Shop employee, she finds herself teamed up with a fast rising Detective, Denise Pope, who has been the Family Liaison Officer (FLO) for two of the families with missing women.
Could there be a fourth Victim?
“You’re not being told everything. Call me, and I”ll tell you”
Lucy Sullivan, who is currently living with her sister’s boyfriend, Chris, has admittedly been RECKLESS as she searches for answers into her sister’s disappearance. So, when she gets that message from former tabloid correspondent, turned “True Crime Expert” Jack Keane, she bites.
She cannot move forward without answers, or stop herself from doing “stupid things”.
And, interspersed with the chapters of Lucy, and the two women who have teamed up to investigate the crimes outside of “Operation Tide”, are some from the first person POV of the ABDUCTOR-deemed “The Phantom” by that author who wrote the book, “The Nothing Man”.
He will CONFIDE to us, how he succeeds in getting his Victims into his car, AND how he chooses his VICTIMS, and you, yes YOU, might recognize yourself as a person he may have preyed upon.
How CREEPY is that?
Catherine Ryan Howard, delivers YET AGAIN, with her latest, and I was thrilled to receive an early copy. No regrets on moving this one straight to the top of my TBR! It will make my favorites list for 2023.
I am still thinking about that haunting ending!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Blackstone for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
An ex-boyfriend once told her that his favorite part of a night out, was walking home, just him and his thoughts on a deserted street. He didn’t need to walk to the front door with his keys squeezed between his fingers, ready to scratch or disable. He didn’t need to text a thumbs up before he went to sleep so that someone at the receiving end could sleep too. The part of the night HE loved, was the part that SHE had to survive.
And, yet, she sets a TRAP, night after night, walking the desolate streets where her sister was last seen, hoping to attract a monster.
And, that realistic, opening chapter when she voluntarily GETS INTO THE CAR-is TERRIFYING!! (Shout out to the Cover Art for both editions!)
Three women have disappeared, never to be seen again.
Tana Meehan, legally separated from her abusive husband was the first. Nicola (Nicki) Sullivan, who was last seen leaving a Pub after drinks with friends was next. And, 17 year old, Jennifer Gold vanished while out walking her dog, who returned home without her.
Operation Tide was formed when the girls were linked because their smashed cell phones were all found at the scenes where they were last seen.
When Angela Fitzgerald, a Gardai support staff member member for the Missing Persons Unit (MPU) receives some “physical evidence” brought in by a Charity Shop employee, she finds herself teamed up with a fast rising Detective, Denise Pope, who has been the Family Liaison Officer (FLO) for two of the families with missing women.
Could there be a fourth Victim?
“You’re not being told everything. Call me, and I”ll tell you”
Lucy Sullivan, who is currently living with her sister’s boyfriend, Chris, has admittedly been RECKLESS as she searches for answers into her sister’s disappearance. So, when she gets that message from former tabloid correspondent, turned “True Crime Expert” Jack Keane, she bites.
She cannot move forward without answers, or stop herself from doing “stupid things”.
And, interspersed with the chapters of Lucy, and the two women who have teamed up to investigate the crimes outside of “Operation Tide”, are some from the first person POV of the ABDUCTOR-deemed “The Phantom” by that author who wrote the book, “The Nothing Man”.
He will CONFIDE to us, how he succeeds in getting his Victims into his car, AND how he chooses his VICTIMS, and you, yes YOU, might recognize yourself as a person he may have preyed upon.
How CREEPY is that?
Catherine Ryan Howard, delivers YET AGAIN, with her latest, and I was thrilled to receive an early copy. No regrets on moving this one straight to the top of my TBR! It will make my favorites list for 2023.
I am still thinking about that haunting ending!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Blackstone for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
May 18, 2023
Clever and Captivating
The Trap is a psychological thriller about three missing women in Dublin and those determined to find them.
Lucy will do anything to find her sister, Nicki, who disappeared without a trace a year ago. Angela, a civilian working in the Missing Persons Unit, finds a clue that could help unravel the entire case. A killer shares their story about what drives them to kidnap, abuse, and murder. All three narratives are uniquely tied together. I liked Angela’s character best, but I found the killer’s chapters the most intriguing.
The first chapter ends with a twist that hooked me! I thought this book was going to go in a similar direction to Strange Sally Diamond and The Quiet Tenant, but thankfully it goes in a different direction. Additional twists are woven throughout the narrative. They are clever and surprising and turn the missing girl's trope on its head.
The pacing is fast and twisty, but it did slow down for me in the first half. Things quickly pick back up, and I found myself immersed and unable to put this book down.
The ending is somewhat open-ended. It worked for me, but some readers might not be satisfied. I would have liked more concrete details on the fate of one of the missing girls, but I can use my imagination to fill in the gaps.
There are also some fun moments, especially when one of the narrators references The Nothing Man. This is a dark thriller with some standout twists and turns that sets it apart.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Blackstone in exchange for an honest review.
The Trap is a psychological thriller about three missing women in Dublin and those determined to find them.
Lucy will do anything to find her sister, Nicki, who disappeared without a trace a year ago. Angela, a civilian working in the Missing Persons Unit, finds a clue that could help unravel the entire case. A killer shares their story about what drives them to kidnap, abuse, and murder. All three narratives are uniquely tied together. I liked Angela’s character best, but I found the killer’s chapters the most intriguing.
The first chapter ends with a twist that hooked me! I thought this book was going to go in a similar direction to Strange Sally Diamond and The Quiet Tenant, but thankfully it goes in a different direction. Additional twists are woven throughout the narrative. They are clever and surprising and turn the missing girl's trope on its head.
The pacing is fast and twisty, but it did slow down for me in the first half. Things quickly pick back up, and I found myself immersed and unable to put this book down.
The ending is somewhat open-ended. It worked for me, but some readers might not be satisfied. I would have liked more concrete details on the fate of one of the missing girls, but I can use my imagination to fill in the gaps.
There are also some fun moments, especially when one of the narrators references The Nothing Man. This is a dark thriller with some standout twists and turns that sets it apart.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Blackstone in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2023
HAPPY PUB DAY!!!🫶
Thank you Blackstone and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.
RING THE ALARM!!! IT'S A BANGER ALERT!!!!🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
Writing: 4.5/5 | Plot: 5/5 | Ending: 5/5
SYNOPSIS
Missing women and a serial killer on the loose.
MY OPINION
OOOHHHWEEEEE THIS WAS A BANGER!!!!! If you loved The Nothing Man, I'll bet my right arm (it's stronger than my left btw) that you will like this too. This had my fave parts of The Nothing Man combined with a lil police procedural and citizens gone rogue. Tbh there's something for everyone in this book.
Lots of books are labelled thrillers, but they often lack the thrills. This had my butt cheeks clenched IMMEDIATELY. While some povs are tamer than others, the plot quickly progresses as we get closer and closer to solving the mystery. What impressed me the most were the twists. Talk about original... And yes, they were foreshadowed and no, they weren't OTT! It doesn't get much better than that. Oh and the ending???? Perfection. Chefs kiss. I think some people might feel differently, but I absolutely DESPISE an epilogue that feels like an email from your mom recounting the previous week's events. I really don't give AF is Suzy opened a bakery, I want to be left asking for MORE. And this ending certainly will.
While the characters may not be particularly well-developed, the pace and unfolding mystery keep you otherwise occupied. I've only read two of Catherine Ryan Howard's books, but I found this to be her funniest. Loved the tongue-in-cheek humour. And those Easter Eggs???!!?! YERRRR. It felt like she had fun writing it, which made it an all the more enjoyable read. My fave POV was definitely the unnamed baddie... I hate that I wanted to know more about him 😂
All in all, READ IT. This is definitely the best thriller I've read this year. Like I said, it has something for everyone, and the humour keeps it from being uber depressing. No melodrama, no annoying, whiny inner monologues, no long-ass similes describing the mundane. Just bangerliciousness. I wish this was going to be a series... I want more crime-fighting adventures from Denise and Angela! Congrats, Catherine, on a FANTASTIC thriller. I hope this gets the hype it deserves. And I won't be put out if it becomes a movie either...... Just sayin'
PROS AND CONS
Pros: fast-paced, truly a thriller, original twists that truly had me shook, fantastic ending that leaves you wanting more, loved the humour, multi-povs that were all interesting and distinct
Cons: characters could've been a tad more flushed out but this is still a banger regardless
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
Thank you Blackstone and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.
RING THE ALARM!!! IT'S A BANGER ALERT!!!!🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
Writing: 4.5/5 | Plot: 5/5 | Ending: 5/5
SYNOPSIS
Missing women and a serial killer on the loose.
MY OPINION
OOOHHHWEEEEE THIS WAS A BANGER!!!!! If you loved The Nothing Man, I'll bet my right arm (it's stronger than my left btw) that you will like this too. This had my fave parts of The Nothing Man combined with a lil police procedural and citizens gone rogue. Tbh there's something for everyone in this book.
Lots of books are labelled thrillers, but they often lack the thrills. This had my butt cheeks clenched IMMEDIATELY. While some povs are tamer than others, the plot quickly progresses as we get closer and closer to solving the mystery. What impressed me the most were the twists. Talk about original... And yes, they were foreshadowed and no, they weren't OTT! It doesn't get much better than that. Oh and the ending???? Perfection. Chefs kiss. I think some people might feel differently, but I absolutely DESPISE an epilogue that feels like an email from your mom recounting the previous week's events. I really don't give AF is Suzy opened a bakery, I want to be left asking for MORE. And this ending certainly will.
While the characters may not be particularly well-developed, the pace and unfolding mystery keep you otherwise occupied. I've only read two of Catherine Ryan Howard's books, but I found this to be her funniest. Loved the tongue-in-cheek humour. And those Easter Eggs???!!?! YERRRR. It felt like she had fun writing it, which made it an all the more enjoyable read. My fave POV was definitely the unnamed baddie... I hate that I wanted to know more about him 😂
All in all, READ IT. This is definitely the best thriller I've read this year. Like I said, it has something for everyone, and the humour keeps it from being uber depressing. No melodrama, no annoying, whiny inner monologues, no long-ass similes describing the mundane. Just bangerliciousness. I wish this was going to be a series... I want more crime-fighting adventures from Denise and Angela! Congrats, Catherine, on a FANTASTIC thriller. I hope this gets the hype it deserves. And I won't be put out if it becomes a movie either...... Just sayin'
PROS AND CONS
Pros: fast-paced, truly a thriller, original twists that truly had me shook, fantastic ending that leaves you wanting more, loved the humour, multi-povs that were all interesting and distinct
Cons: characters could've been a tad more flushed out but this is still a banger regardless
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
August 3, 2023
”You women aren’t as trusting or naive as you once were, you see. Thanks to all those bloody documentaries and true-crime podcasts, you’ve wised up. You know now that men like me love to use your own sweet and generous nature against you, that we’ll rely on your manners and pleasantness and your being nice, and prey on your fear that the absolute worst thing someone could accuse you of is being a bitch.”
Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor. This will be THE crime fiction novel for me of the year.
I spent too long waiting for a good time to write this review, and now my brain just keeps chanting, “Read it, read it, read it!” Between the Easter eggs for The Nothing Man and The Liar's Girl, the multi-pov providing insight into multiple aspects of the case(s), and the killer’s inner monologue, this was an incredibly suspenseful and well-written novel. It’s the kind of book I don’t want to say too much about, because I would hate to ruin the complexity of the story and its twists, but I cannot sing its praises highly enough. CRH has really outdone herself here, and I cannot wait for her next novel. She’s back!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor. This will be THE crime fiction novel for me of the year.
I spent too long waiting for a good time to write this review, and now my brain just keeps chanting, “Read it, read it, read it!” Between the Easter eggs for The Nothing Man and The Liar's Girl, the multi-pov providing insight into multiple aspects of the case(s), and the killer’s inner monologue, this was an incredibly suspenseful and well-written novel. It’s the kind of book I don’t want to say too much about, because I would hate to ruin the complexity of the story and its twists, but I cannot sing its praises highly enough. CRH has really outdone herself here, and I cannot wait for her next novel. She’s back!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
August 28, 2024
this is a quick and easy read with a good ending, but its probably my least favorite book by CRH so far.
i think the idea is interesting and the fact this is loosely inspired by the series of women who went missing in ireland in the 90s had me intrigued, but i dont feel as if this fully delivers what it promises.
the title is called ‘the trap’ and the synopsis claims the story is about a woman risking everything to catch the person who took her sister, but none of that is really the focus of the story. its mainly about introducing all of the characters, how they are impacted by the missing women, and the police investigation. lucy trying to “trap” the culprit is only like 10% of the story. so i wish that had gotten more page time and played a bigger part in the plot.
but, like i said, this is a quick and easy read with a good ending. i just think it could have been better if the main focus of the story was different.
thank you, blackstone publishing, for the ARC.
↠ 3.5 stars
i think the idea is interesting and the fact this is loosely inspired by the series of women who went missing in ireland in the 90s had me intrigued, but i dont feel as if this fully delivers what it promises.
the title is called ‘the trap’ and the synopsis claims the story is about a woman risking everything to catch the person who took her sister, but none of that is really the focus of the story. its mainly about introducing all of the characters, how they are impacted by the missing women, and the police investigation. lucy trying to “trap” the culprit is only like 10% of the story. so i wish that had gotten more page time and played a bigger part in the plot.
but, like i said, this is a quick and easy read with a good ending. i just think it could have been better if the main focus of the story was different.
thank you, blackstone publishing, for the ARC.
↠ 3.5 stars
March 4, 2025
Okay this was very tricky!!! My head is still spinning and I might need to go back and reread a couple chapters because that was a bit of a mindf*ck
May 2, 2023
A young woman walks along a country road in the middle of the night - she has no phone signal whatsoever, and her stiletto heels are killing her. In the distance she hears a car engine, and all too quickly the car is pulling up alongside her. It’s a male driver - does she get in, can he be trusted? She doesn’t really have a choice, stuck out here in the middle of nowhere……
The storyline follows Operation Tide, and its search for a serial killer. Lucy’s sister Nicki is one of the missing persons believed to have been abducted by the killer, but Lucy has no faith in the investigation and decides to take matters into her own hands.
Told from multiple points of view, The Trap takes the reader into some scary places, but sadly I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, and also found it slow going at times. I really thought I would love this one, and it started off really well, but for me, not one of the author’s better books.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
The storyline follows Operation Tide, and its search for a serial killer. Lucy’s sister Nicki is one of the missing persons believed to have been abducted by the killer, but Lucy has no faith in the investigation and decides to take matters into her own hands.
Told from multiple points of view, The Trap takes the reader into some scary places, but sadly I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, and also found it slow going at times. I really thought I would love this one, and it started off really well, but for me, not one of the author’s better books.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
January 6, 2026
The Trap is the latest release from beloved Irish author, Catherine Ryan Howard. I was so excited for this novel and happily, ended up really enjoying it.
Admittedly, I did reread about 40% of it, due to slight confusion with perspective shifts, but I was definitely invested in the story nevertheless.
The Trap is inspired by the real-life cases of missing women in Ireland in the late 1980s-early 1990s. If you are curious about these events, prior to picking up the novel, I would recommend a google search for Ireland's Vanishing Triangle.
Additionally, if you do decide to pick this one up, which I absolutely recommend if you are a fan of Crime Fiction, be sure to read the Author's Note at the end where she discusses her motivations for writing this story.
The Trap is told via a few different perspectives. I enjoyed them all and felt each of the main characters brought some intrigue and feeling to the table. I particularly enjoyed that we got the perspective of the criminal. That was disturbing.
One of the perspectives is Lucy, whose sister, Nicki, has been missing for a year; disappearing after a night out with friends. I felt like Lucy really took center stage in bringing all aspects of this story together.
We also get the perspective of a woman working in a civilian capacity for the police force investigating the disappearances, and as mentioned above, the baddie.
It does shift a lot and if you aren't paying close enough attention, to people mentioned, as well as the timeline, it can be easy for it to get a little muddled. I came to a point, about 65% of the way through, where there was a reveal and I was like, who is this person?
Needless to say, I learned my lesson and went back and reread. It certainly made that reveal much more impactful and honestly, I was enjoying it so much that I didn't mind at all. It helped to reiterate the facts of the story for me and I am glad I took the time to do that.
This is only the second book I have read from this author, but I am excited to read more. Incidentally, the other was Run Time, which I thought was so good.
I feel like Ryan Howard has a knack for examining the darker side of humanity with her stories and that's what I am here for when I pick up a book. I love the atmosphere she creates as well. Her stories definitely have ominous vibes.
This got me in the end. I loved how it sort of flipped the script on how I was expecting it to end. I thought it was so well-plotted, particularly in that regard.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I think a lot of Thriller Readers are going to really enjoy this.
I'm definitely going to start exploring some of Catherine Ryan Howard's backlist. I think we are going to have a long and beautiful friendship...
Admittedly, I did reread about 40% of it, due to slight confusion with perspective shifts, but I was definitely invested in the story nevertheless.
The Trap is inspired by the real-life cases of missing women in Ireland in the late 1980s-early 1990s. If you are curious about these events, prior to picking up the novel, I would recommend a google search for Ireland's Vanishing Triangle.
Additionally, if you do decide to pick this one up, which I absolutely recommend if you are a fan of Crime Fiction, be sure to read the Author's Note at the end where she discusses her motivations for writing this story.
The Trap is told via a few different perspectives. I enjoyed them all and felt each of the main characters brought some intrigue and feeling to the table. I particularly enjoyed that we got the perspective of the criminal. That was disturbing.
One of the perspectives is Lucy, whose sister, Nicki, has been missing for a year; disappearing after a night out with friends. I felt like Lucy really took center stage in bringing all aspects of this story together.
We also get the perspective of a woman working in a civilian capacity for the police force investigating the disappearances, and as mentioned above, the baddie.
It does shift a lot and if you aren't paying close enough attention, to people mentioned, as well as the timeline, it can be easy for it to get a little muddled. I came to a point, about 65% of the way through, where there was a reveal and I was like, who is this person?
Needless to say, I learned my lesson and went back and reread. It certainly made that reveal much more impactful and honestly, I was enjoying it so much that I didn't mind at all. It helped to reiterate the facts of the story for me and I am glad I took the time to do that.
This is only the second book I have read from this author, but I am excited to read more. Incidentally, the other was Run Time, which I thought was so good.
I feel like Ryan Howard has a knack for examining the darker side of humanity with her stories and that's what I am here for when I pick up a book. I love the atmosphere she creates as well. Her stories definitely have ominous vibes.
This got me in the end. I loved how it sort of flipped the script on how I was expecting it to end. I thought it was so well-plotted, particularly in that regard.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Blackstone Publishing, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I think a lot of Thriller Readers are going to really enjoy this.
I'm definitely going to start exploring some of Catherine Ryan Howard's backlist. I think we are going to have a long and beautiful friendship...
September 30, 2025
Wow! I think I fell into a trap by not seeing the last shocking twists of the book until they hit me in the face! Catherine Ryan Howard writes unputdownable, highly heart-throbbing, and smart psychological thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat. The short and captivating chapters, well-executed mystery, and strong heroines who risk their lives to catch the psychopath are the main strengths of this book that kept my eyes and hands glued to the pages for hours, canceling my entire schedule to fix my entire attention to this wild ride!
There’s a psychopath riding his car in the middle of the night to lure women into his car. "Tana Meehan, Nicki O' Sullivan, and Jennifer Gold are the missing women. They disappeared in December, June, and then December again from Kildare town, Dublin city center, and the Enniskerry Road, around 10 p.m., around midnight, and in broad daylight just after three.
When Jennifer disappears, the three cases are linked, and Operation Tide is established.
Nicki’s sister, Lucy Sullivan, looks for the man who captivated her sister by using herself as prey, lurking around the place she’s taken in the middle of the night. She can do anything to bring her sister back home, including teaming up with a notorious anchor man.
Angela, who works as a civilian paper-pusher in the Missing Person Unit, finally has a chance to work with Detective Denise Pope after her recent discovery from a thrift store, which leads them to an important clue about the missing women cases.
Tana Meehan’s husband, Roland Kearns, is one of the suspects in their investigation. But there’s no reason to think that he may be involved in the other missing women cases.
One of the other narrators of this book, along with these women, is the killer. He is married, living a double life, and thinks hunting women in the middle of the night is as exciting as climbing Mount Everest. The narration parts that belong to him are definitely irritating, making your blood run cold!
The entire characters’ stories intercede at the conclusion in a very satisfying and dark-twisty way.
I devoured this book in one sitting. It’s riveting and luring. You may also catch smart references to the author’s previous books as well. I absolutely recommend it if you’re keen on reading something fascinatingly mind-blowing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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There’s a psychopath riding his car in the middle of the night to lure women into his car. "Tana Meehan, Nicki O' Sullivan, and Jennifer Gold are the missing women. They disappeared in December, June, and then December again from Kildare town, Dublin city center, and the Enniskerry Road, around 10 p.m., around midnight, and in broad daylight just after three.
When Jennifer disappears, the three cases are linked, and Operation Tide is established.
Nicki’s sister, Lucy Sullivan, looks for the man who captivated her sister by using herself as prey, lurking around the place she’s taken in the middle of the night. She can do anything to bring her sister back home, including teaming up with a notorious anchor man.
Angela, who works as a civilian paper-pusher in the Missing Person Unit, finally has a chance to work with Detective Denise Pope after her recent discovery from a thrift store, which leads them to an important clue about the missing women cases.
Tana Meehan’s husband, Roland Kearns, is one of the suspects in their investigation. But there’s no reason to think that he may be involved in the other missing women cases.
One of the other narrators of this book, along with these women, is the killer. He is married, living a double life, and thinks hunting women in the middle of the night is as exciting as climbing Mount Everest. The narration parts that belong to him are definitely irritating, making your blood run cold!
The entire characters’ stories intercede at the conclusion in a very satisfying and dark-twisty way.
I devoured this book in one sitting. It’s riveting and luring. You may also catch smart references to the author’s previous books as well. I absolutely recommend it if you’re keen on reading something fascinatingly mind-blowing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
August 21, 2023
Dark, twisted, and disturbing but clever, unpredictable, and intense.
A book that is inspired by real events in Ireland known as the ‘vanishing triangle’ and the disappearance of young girls. Years on there are still no clues, no suspects and none of them found. A string of cold cases and families with no answers.
The Trap, as a psychological thriller offers something different, we hear from the ‘abductor’ himself in this disturbing story. Add to that the premise of setting ‘the trap’ to lure the abductor / killer then you have all the ingredients for an edge of your seat thriller.
The opening was fantastic, and so I was braced for another one of Catherine Ryan Howard’s books, after all she wrote ‘The Nothing Man’. Then something went wrong. No, a number of things went wrong.
The Plot
Frustrated at the lack of progress in the disappearance of her sister Nicki, Lucy takes matters into her own case to prevent her sister from becoming another cold case. She uses herself as human bait.
Meanwhile we switch to one of the other central characters, Angela. A young woman keen to prove herself on the case to secure a job in the An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force. Finally, we have ‘The Phantom’, which allows us inside the head of the kidnapper because he wants his airtime too, he is about to tell his story, and with his latest victim in the back of his car, he has an audience.
Review and Comments
There is no doubt some of this was pretty unsettling and it is one of those books that will be hard to put down because you want answers. So yes gripping in that sense but it didn’t ‘thrill’ overall and there were some things missing in this ‘missing persons’ story - justice, understanding why, great characters, and a satisfying conclusion.
The book started really strong, we then seemed to spend a long time going nowhere in the story and the ‘ending’ - well it is unique but personally I’d have preferred a different outcome from the story.
Characterisation - ⭐⭐⭐ I wasn’t particularly invested in any of the characters which brought the scoring down for me.
Plot / Twists - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Some of the Plot twists were excellent. The premise wonderful, but then the book just didn’t not conclude in a way that was satisfying. The major twist is great but I was wanting justice or even closure for the other women.
Writing Style - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I love this authors writing style, but the story dipped after that excellent opening and it took some time to get back into it. Then we had ‘that’ ending or lack of it.
In all, a disappointment because of the promising start, and having read the authors other books, I was sure to love this, but sadly did not.
A brilliant premise that did not conclude well and interesting characters that did not develop with the story. So unfortunately 3 stars.
A book that is inspired by real events in Ireland known as the ‘vanishing triangle’ and the disappearance of young girls. Years on there are still no clues, no suspects and none of them found. A string of cold cases and families with no answers.
The Trap, as a psychological thriller offers something different, we hear from the ‘abductor’ himself in this disturbing story. Add to that the premise of setting ‘the trap’ to lure the abductor / killer then you have all the ingredients for an edge of your seat thriller.
The opening was fantastic, and so I was braced for another one of Catherine Ryan Howard’s books, after all she wrote ‘The Nothing Man’. Then something went wrong. No, a number of things went wrong.
The Plot
Frustrated at the lack of progress in the disappearance of her sister Nicki, Lucy takes matters into her own case to prevent her sister from becoming another cold case. She uses herself as human bait.
Meanwhile we switch to one of the other central characters, Angela. A young woman keen to prove herself on the case to secure a job in the An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force. Finally, we have ‘The Phantom’, which allows us inside the head of the kidnapper because he wants his airtime too, he is about to tell his story, and with his latest victim in the back of his car, he has an audience.
Review and Comments
There is no doubt some of this was pretty unsettling and it is one of those books that will be hard to put down because you want answers. So yes gripping in that sense but it didn’t ‘thrill’ overall and there were some things missing in this ‘missing persons’ story - justice, understanding why, great characters, and a satisfying conclusion.
The book started really strong, we then seemed to spend a long time going nowhere in the story and the ‘ending’ - well it is unique but personally I’d have preferred a different outcome from the story.
Characterisation - ⭐⭐⭐ I wasn’t particularly invested in any of the characters which brought the scoring down for me.
Plot / Twists - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Some of the Plot twists were excellent. The premise wonderful, but then the book just didn’t not conclude in a way that was satisfying. The major twist is great but I was wanting justice or even closure for the other women.
Writing Style - ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I love this authors writing style, but the story dipped after that excellent opening and it took some time to get back into it. Then we had ‘that’ ending or lack of it.
In all, a disappointment because of the promising start, and having read the authors other books, I was sure to love this, but sadly did not.
A brilliant premise that did not conclude well and interesting characters that did not develop with the story. So unfortunately 3 stars.
October 27, 2023
Holy macaroni!! THIS was excellent. I’m feeling all the feels for one of my favorite thrillers this year. It really caught me off guard, my mind had to rearrange itself at the end, I was so dumbstruck. After the initial shock it just all made perfect sense, and I wanted to read the book again to check what I’ve missed.
Also, the chapters from the killers POVs were really interesting. So much so that I started googling things to see if it corroborates with facts about serial killers (it did). The author did an amazing job describing the mindset of her characters, I was really drawn into their world and their emotions were raw and real. I was sometimes a bit exacerbated by Angela, but I grew to like her determination and her stumbling efforts to figure things out.
Also, the chapters from the killers POVs were really interesting. So much so that I started googling things to see if it corroborates with facts about serial killers (it did). The author did an amazing job describing the mindset of her characters, I was really drawn into their world and their emotions were raw and real. I was sometimes a bit exacerbated by Angela, but I grew to like her determination and her stumbling efforts to figure things out.
August 19, 2023
Well I do love that cover… Here’s the thing- this book started off very strong for me. Then it was just okay throughout the middle, and then the ending made me angry (or perhaps even baffled)! Although, I will say that the ending did have quite the clever twist.
We have several different viewpoints throughout this story. One viewpoint is that of Lucy, who is searching for her sister Nicki who disappeared over 440 days ago. We get to follow Lucy on her frantic search for Nicki, and in doing so find out that there are other missing women involved. After 17 year old Jennifer Gold turns up missing, Operation Tide is formed to help locate these missing women who are all believed to be abducted.
Throughout this story we also hear the viewpoint from the abductor/murderer. That was rather interesting, because going into the mind of a murderer is never dull.
The ending of this story made me very angry due to one of our characters lack of communication and sense of entitlement (cannot say who or what it was because that would be a major spoiler). It also makes you think of how horrible and tragic a situation may be, and that it can end up very differently for some people. Not all is what it appears to be.
As I mentioned above, this story started off strong for me but fizzled somewhere along the way. I did resonate with Lucy early on and even felt as she did- “The world, she’d discovered, just wasn’t designed for people with open wounds. Instead, it seemed packed with the privileged and their petty problems, their shitty attitudes, their blatant ungratefulness.” Yes, even with all I felt for Lucy, she still couldn’t save this book for me unfortunately…
Now I did like this book, I just didn’t love it like I thought I would. I’m seeing some high reviews for this book, so I do recommend reading this as it has something for everyone.
We have several different viewpoints throughout this story. One viewpoint is that of Lucy, who is searching for her sister Nicki who disappeared over 440 days ago. We get to follow Lucy on her frantic search for Nicki, and in doing so find out that there are other missing women involved. After 17 year old Jennifer Gold turns up missing, Operation Tide is formed to help locate these missing women who are all believed to be abducted.
Throughout this story we also hear the viewpoint from the abductor/murderer. That was rather interesting, because going into the mind of a murderer is never dull.
The ending of this story made me very angry due to one of our characters lack of communication and sense of entitlement (cannot say who or what it was because that would be a major spoiler). It also makes you think of how horrible and tragic a situation may be, and that it can end up very differently for some people. Not all is what it appears to be.
As I mentioned above, this story started off strong for me but fizzled somewhere along the way. I did resonate with Lucy early on and even felt as she did- “The world, she’d discovered, just wasn’t designed for people with open wounds. Instead, it seemed packed with the privileged and their petty problems, their shitty attitudes, their blatant ungratefulness.” Yes, even with all I felt for Lucy, she still couldn’t save this book for me unfortunately…
Now I did like this book, I just didn’t love it like I thought I would. I’m seeing some high reviews for this book, so I do recommend reading this as it has something for everyone.
July 27, 2023
Outlier 🏝️ 2.5 STARS
I struggled with this one from the beginning..... help!
Operation Tide is investigating the disappearance of three missing women, hoping to find and arrest the killer. Lucy is determined to find her sister, Nicki. She can't wait on the authorities. She decides to go out on a hunt and puts herself in a situation that I found very hard to believe! It was a s-t-r-e-t-c-h to say the least.
This type of story should be fast moving, but was very slow and drawn out for me.The killer pov was beyond creepy (I couldn't help but think of the Gilgo Beach killer that was just caught). It was also very dark, had unlikeable characters that struggled to feel authentic, and had an ending that left me annoyed. Really? The end?
Others have raved about this one, so check out all the reviews! I'm a lonesome outlier and just wasn't a fan of this book. I'll still try again with the author!
Thanks to NG for the arc. OUT August 1, 2023
I struggled with this one from the beginning..... help!
Operation Tide is investigating the disappearance of three missing women, hoping to find and arrest the killer. Lucy is determined to find her sister, Nicki. She can't wait on the authorities. She decides to go out on a hunt and puts herself in a situation that I found very hard to believe! It was a s-t-r-e-t-c-h to say the least.
This type of story should be fast moving, but was very slow and drawn out for me.The killer pov was beyond creepy (I couldn't help but think of the Gilgo Beach killer that was just caught). It was also very dark, had unlikeable characters that struggled to feel authentic, and had an ending that left me annoyed. Really? The end?
Others have raved about this one, so check out all the reviews! I'm a lonesome outlier and just wasn't a fan of this book. I'll still try again with the author!
Thanks to NG for the arc. OUT August 1, 2023
June 3, 2023
4.5🌟
Lucy’s sister Nicki vanished without a trace. She’s not the first to go missing in this quiet part of Ireland and won’t be the last. But Lucy is done twiddling her thumbs, waiting patiently for the officials to break the case. It’s time to mount up and go monster hunting herself!
Angela desperately wants to be a member of the Irish Police force. Though failing in her first attempt, she’s still employed by them, but strictly as a desk-jockey. Angela has the mind-set and drive of a detective and just can’t help herself from being a little too involved.
Catherine Ryan Howard weaves a story of missing women, heartbroken families, meddling media and a foot dragging police force that was failing.
You’ll be lulled into the storyline until the author stars throwing twist after twist that will leave you picking your jaw up off the floor! No joke…I audibly gasped as I was completely blindsided! (More than once.)
If you’re a fan of this authors work don’t miss this latest!
Be sure to read the note from the author at the end.💔
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing
Lucy’s sister Nicki vanished without a trace. She’s not the first to go missing in this quiet part of Ireland and won’t be the last. But Lucy is done twiddling her thumbs, waiting patiently for the officials to break the case. It’s time to mount up and go monster hunting herself!
Angela desperately wants to be a member of the Irish Police force. Though failing in her first attempt, she’s still employed by them, but strictly as a desk-jockey. Angela has the mind-set and drive of a detective and just can’t help herself from being a little too involved.
Catherine Ryan Howard weaves a story of missing women, heartbroken families, meddling media and a foot dragging police force that was failing.
You’ll be lulled into the storyline until the author stars throwing twist after twist that will leave you picking your jaw up off the floor! No joke…I audibly gasped as I was completely blindsided! (More than once.)
If you’re a fan of this authors work don’t miss this latest!
Be sure to read the note from the author at the end.💔
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing
August 19, 2023
Lucy’s sister, Nicki, went missing a year ago, the third woman in 3 years. The one thing that ties them all together is each victim’s cell phone is found by the side of the road. The trail has gone cold, but Lucy is so obsessed with finding her sister she puts herself in danger over and over again to do so (sets a trap, if you will).
We also hear from the perspective of the policewomen, two characters I liked quite a bit. Their POV helped eased some of the tension and was a welcome relief.
All perspectives were compelling, but the one from the serial killer, as we find out he is an average Joe, married to a woman who is a true crime fan (oh, the irony…), plus how he chooses and abducts his victims, was particularly creepy. I suspect most of us will be able to relate in some part to how we judge a person on how ordinary they seem, and how we women usually want to appear to be nice and helpful, instead of following our instincts. All while falling into a trap set by a diabolical killer. The book is titled properly.
I was a bit frustrated by Lucy and the stupid decisions she makes, putting herself in danger over and over. But, let’s face it, a lot of people do stupid things.
The ending? I loved it! It was surprising and unexpected in a good way. No predictability here. Not all the blanks are filled in, but it didn’t leave the reader frustrated or hanging. Readers will “know” what will happen next (at least what I choose to believe what will happen next). I appreciate authors who trusts their readers to fill in the blanks.
This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce, be sure to check out her review!
Don’t miss the author’s note at the end!
*I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley
* I also had the audiobook and found I much preferred this format. The switching POV’s were much less jarring and confusing on audio than in print.
We also hear from the perspective of the policewomen, two characters I liked quite a bit. Their POV helped eased some of the tension and was a welcome relief.
All perspectives were compelling, but the one from the serial killer, as we find out he is an average Joe, married to a woman who is a true crime fan (oh, the irony…), plus how he chooses and abducts his victims, was particularly creepy. I suspect most of us will be able to relate in some part to how we judge a person on how ordinary they seem, and how we women usually want to appear to be nice and helpful, instead of following our instincts. All while falling into a trap set by a diabolical killer. The book is titled properly.
I was a bit frustrated by Lucy and the stupid decisions she makes, putting herself in danger over and over. But, let’s face it, a lot of people do stupid things.
The ending? I loved it! It was surprising and unexpected in a good way. No predictability here. Not all the blanks are filled in, but it didn’t leave the reader frustrated or hanging. Readers will “know” what will happen next (at least what I choose to believe what will happen next). I appreciate authors who trusts their readers to fill in the blanks.
This was a buddy read with my friend Marialyce, be sure to check out her review!
Don’t miss the author’s note at the end!
*I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley
* I also had the audiobook and found I much preferred this format. The switching POV’s were much less jarring and confusing on audio than in print.
July 21, 2023
It’s a trap, so why does Lucy try over and over again to fall into it?
In Ireland, 3 women have disappeared. One of them is Lucy’s sister, Nicki. She risk everything to find her. Hoping to attract the man who took her because not knowing is harder to live with.
When Angela from Missing Persons Unit receives information, she builds a case with Detective Denise. Even the killer gives insight to his mind revealing how he lures, chooses and captures them. Very chilling details!
This is a dark thriller containing such realistic scenes. Outstanding writing inspired by unsolved disappearances in the 90’s. It brought back memories of 1993 “The Vanishing” and 2012 movie “Gone”
Written from several POVs and at times you will be screaming “Do not get into that car!” The Epilogue will send a shock through you with an outstanding twist!
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
In Ireland, 3 women have disappeared. One of them is Lucy’s sister, Nicki. She risk everything to find her. Hoping to attract the man who took her because not knowing is harder to live with.
When Angela from Missing Persons Unit receives information, she builds a case with Detective Denise. Even the killer gives insight to his mind revealing how he lures, chooses and captures them. Very chilling details!
This is a dark thriller containing such realistic scenes. Outstanding writing inspired by unsolved disappearances in the 90’s. It brought back memories of 1993 “The Vanishing” and 2012 movie “Gone”
Written from several POVs and at times you will be screaming “Do not get into that car!” The Epilogue will send a shock through you with an outstanding twist!
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
April 4, 2023
4+
A young woman accepts a lift in the middle of the night from a stranger and despite the concerning turn of the conversation and some off behaviour she makes it to the safety of a service station. It’s not the monster she’s been searching for, so she’ll try again and again, placing herself in acute danger until she traps and baits the man who took her sister.
Oh my goodness! The start of this has my heart in my mouth, as you feel as if you are actually trapped in that car seat with the threat levels at Defcon one. I can safely say that Catherine Ryan Howard is well and truly back on form in this very well written, compulsive, pacy chiller of a mystery thriller. In some places the scenarios are so scary it raises the hairs on the back of your neck with sky high tension and suspense. The novel is told from several perspectives which I really like. Switching points of view helps to break some of the acute tension and allows you to catch your breath. It also broadens the depth of the book. For instance, we follow Garda staff, very likeable Angela at Missing Persons Unit whose narrative starts with some welcome humour. Through Angela, we meet Detective Denise Pope, a Garda legend, and also very likeable, and she gives us insight into the ineptitude of the operation looking into several missing women. Denise Pope also raises valid points about which missing people are seen as worth pursuing by the authorities and with these judgements speaking volumes. Another narrative is Lucy whose sister is missing and through her you get the despair of those whose family members are missing and that feeling is palpable. We also hear the calm, shockingly calm, voice of the killer which makes your blood run cold. This keeps my focus throughout, in fact, I’m glued to the pages. The plot twists are very good, the final one is a clever jaw dropper and kudos to the author for coming up with that one. The finale is good too, and it feels right to me and although it is slightly ambiguous I do like it.
Overall, if you like psychological mystery thrillers this is well worth your time and it’s also worth reading all the authors notes at the end.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
A young woman accepts a lift in the middle of the night from a stranger and despite the concerning turn of the conversation and some off behaviour she makes it to the safety of a service station. It’s not the monster she’s been searching for, so she’ll try again and again, placing herself in acute danger until she traps and baits the man who took her sister.
Oh my goodness! The start of this has my heart in my mouth, as you feel as if you are actually trapped in that car seat with the threat levels at Defcon one. I can safely say that Catherine Ryan Howard is well and truly back on form in this very well written, compulsive, pacy chiller of a mystery thriller. In some places the scenarios are so scary it raises the hairs on the back of your neck with sky high tension and suspense. The novel is told from several perspectives which I really like. Switching points of view helps to break some of the acute tension and allows you to catch your breath. It also broadens the depth of the book. For instance, we follow Garda staff, very likeable Angela at Missing Persons Unit whose narrative starts with some welcome humour. Through Angela, we meet Detective Denise Pope, a Garda legend, and also very likeable, and she gives us insight into the ineptitude of the operation looking into several missing women. Denise Pope also raises valid points about which missing people are seen as worth pursuing by the authorities and with these judgements speaking volumes. Another narrative is Lucy whose sister is missing and through her you get the despair of those whose family members are missing and that feeling is palpable. We also hear the calm, shockingly calm, voice of the killer which makes your blood run cold. This keeps my focus throughout, in fact, I’m glued to the pages. The plot twists are very good, the final one is a clever jaw dropper and kudos to the author for coming up with that one. The finale is good too, and it feels right to me and although it is slightly ambiguous I do like it.
Overall, if you like psychological mystery thrillers this is well worth your time and it’s also worth reading all the authors notes at the end.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 3, 2023
2.5 stars
I was pretty disappointed in this book because I've liked Howard's last few books quite a bit. This one suffered from some issues.
It is the story of Lucy, whose sister Nicki disappeared a year ago and has started taking it into her own hands to try to flush out her kidnapper. She puts herself in dangerous situations in order to possibly be taken by the same man, she just wants to know what happened to her sister. The police have a task force and are working to find Nicki, as well as some other missing women that appear to have been taken in a similar manner. Two women, peripheral members of the police, think there may be even more victims.
I wanted to like this one so much, and many of my reviewer friends have loved it. I just didn't connect with any part of the story, it took me much longer to get through this book than I normally would have. It's really disjointed, skipping from perspective to perspective and timeline to timeline. There are times where you don't have any idea whose head you're in--that is the point when you get to some of the twists because sometimes you will believe you're in one character's head when it really was another one entirely, and the same thing with timelines.
This created a chaotic type of reading experience for me, I wanted it to be more cohesive and way less scattered. There are parts that are police procedural, yet just when I got into that groove it would switch to the villain's POV, then abruptly we go to Lucy's POV just long enough to gain momentum, then another switch. Even though that should have made the book fast paced, it slowed it way down for me. The premise is good overall and I like missing people stories!
Then I must talk about the ending. Ugh. Didn't like it.
Many, many people have loved this one, but I'm not one of them. Waving from outlier island.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I was pretty disappointed in this book because I've liked Howard's last few books quite a bit. This one suffered from some issues.
It is the story of Lucy, whose sister Nicki disappeared a year ago and has started taking it into her own hands to try to flush out her kidnapper. She puts herself in dangerous situations in order to possibly be taken by the same man, she just wants to know what happened to her sister. The police have a task force and are working to find Nicki, as well as some other missing women that appear to have been taken in a similar manner. Two women, peripheral members of the police, think there may be even more victims.
I wanted to like this one so much, and many of my reviewer friends have loved it. I just didn't connect with any part of the story, it took me much longer to get through this book than I normally would have. It's really disjointed, skipping from perspective to perspective and timeline to timeline. There are times where you don't have any idea whose head you're in--that is the point when you get to some of the twists because sometimes you will believe you're in one character's head when it really was another one entirely, and the same thing with timelines.
This created a chaotic type of reading experience for me, I wanted it to be more cohesive and way less scattered. There are parts that are police procedural, yet just when I got into that groove it would switch to the villain's POV, then abruptly we go to Lucy's POV just long enough to gain momentum, then another switch. Even though that should have made the book fast paced, it slowed it way down for me. The premise is good overall and I like missing people stories!
Then I must talk about the ending. Ugh. Didn't like it.
Many, many people have loved this one, but I'm not one of them. Waving from outlier island.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
August 11, 2023
A powerful beginning followed by occasional slower moments, but the unexpected turns and a sister's obsession make the reading enjoyable. I particularly enjoyed the parts written from the perspective of the killer.
July 21, 2023
The beginning of this book was gripping and tense. I just knew this book was right up my alley. A woman walking alone on a road is picked up by a man who later drops her off at a service station. The ride was creepy and tense. As was the fact that she does this often, goes out walking late at night, setting the trap, hoping to catch the man who took her sister!
Buckle me in!
I had such high hopes but had difficulty connecting with any of the characters. I found myself feeling a little apathetic after the chilling beginning. The highlight for me was the POV of the killer. I found these to be so well done, sinister and creepy.
Then the second half of the book begins to ramp things up and then suddenly, I was shocked a few times. There were a nice number of twists and reveals which I thought were very clever and well done.
This book was a mixed bag for me. Really gripping and shocking parts with parts that I just felt meh about.
But the ending!!!!! That is how you do it!
Overall, I enjoyed this but didn't love it as much as the other books I have read by this author. I will still be excited to read whatever Catherine Ryan Howard writes next.
#TheTrap #NetGalley #CatherineRyanHoward, #BlackstonePublishing
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Buckle me in!
I had such high hopes but had difficulty connecting with any of the characters. I found myself feeling a little apathetic after the chilling beginning. The highlight for me was the POV of the killer. I found these to be so well done, sinister and creepy.
Then the second half of the book begins to ramp things up and then suddenly, I was shocked a few times. There were a nice number of twists and reveals which I thought were very clever and well done.
This book was a mixed bag for me. Really gripping and shocking parts with parts that I just felt meh about.
But the ending!!!!! That is how you do it!
Overall, I enjoyed this but didn't love it as much as the other books I have read by this author. I will still be excited to read whatever Catherine Ryan Howard writes next.
#TheTrap #NetGalley #CatherineRyanHoward, #BlackstonePublishing
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 8, 2024
Its not you... its me... or is it actually you?
Arrrgh! I really really wanted to enjoy this one!
I mean the book literally starts off with a woman named Lucy who in the dead of the night is trying to get a lift from a serial k!ller man she believes took her sister Nicki. She has been taken lifts from unknown men for a while and wont stop till she finds the right one... "errrrrr this is different, what's not too love!?"... In my case A LOT
The beginning started of strong but then for me it just went nowhere. There was soo many characters involved/ mentioned (which i usually don't mind) that felt pointless for the most part. I found myself being so confused to the point of not caring anymore.
Although the twist was a unique one that i haven't read before, the trudge of having to get through the book beforehand left me not feeling excited or enthralled about the major reveal.
Truthfully i didn't care about the characters and just felt tiresome overall reading this one.
What i can appreciate is the author can write well, but she doesn't write for my particular taste. I also liked that the ending was not tied in a pretty bow, which most thriller books do, which infuriates me because it kind of cheapens the whole story for me a little bit.
Even though i am rating it low, I do believe a lot of people would enjoy this, i just don't think i was the right audience for it.
2.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
🔪 A Serial K!ller on the loose
🔪 A sister who will stop at nothing to find the man she believes k!lled her sister
🔪 A woman who works in the missing case unit who will do whatever it takes to solve the case!
I AM BUZZING FOR THIS ONE! 😲😲🖤
Arrrgh! I really really wanted to enjoy this one!
I mean the book literally starts off with a woman named Lucy who in the dead of the night is trying to get a lift from a serial k!ller man she believes took her sister Nicki. She has been taken lifts from unknown men for a while and wont stop till she finds the right one... "errrrrr this is different, what's not too love!?"... In my case A LOT
The beginning started of strong but then for me it just went nowhere. There was soo many characters involved/ mentioned (which i usually don't mind) that felt pointless for the most part. I found myself being so confused to the point of not caring anymore.
Although the twist was a unique one that i haven't read before, the trudge of having to get through the book beforehand left me not feeling excited or enthralled about the major reveal.
Truthfully i didn't care about the characters and just felt tiresome overall reading this one.
What i can appreciate is the author can write well, but she doesn't write for my particular taste. I also liked that the ending was not tied in a pretty bow, which most thriller books do, which infuriates me because it kind of cheapens the whole story for me a little bit.
Even though i am rating it low, I do believe a lot of people would enjoy this, i just don't think i was the right audience for it.
2.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
🔪 A Serial K!ller on the loose
🔪 A sister who will stop at nothing to find the man she believes k!lled her sister
🔪 A woman who works in the missing case unit who will do whatever it takes to solve the case!
I AM BUZZING FOR THIS ONE! 😲😲🖤
August 31, 2023
OMG guys!! I LOVED this book!! This is my first @cathryanhoward book!! 🤫😳 Right?! WHY??? 🤷♀️ I have a feeling that she is going to be a favorite 🤩 must read author!! She blew me away with this book!! Why??
Creepy ✅
Intense ✅
Oh SO Clever!!✅
Serial Killer ✅
🤯🤯 Twists ✅
I absolutely loved the POV from the killer! ���� It was so creepy it freaked me out!! However… he was kind of funny too.. some of his snarky comments 😂🤷♀️…
When Nicki goes missing after a night out at the pub🥃🍷🍸🍻…well after a WHOLE year… I just knew she was dead..😩 … Her sister Lucy won’t give up… she needs to know… what happened that night?! Even if it means…finding the killer herself.😳
This was such a fast, addictive read!! I could NOT put it down!! I had to know what happened to Nicki too!! 🤔🤷♀️ Those twists!! 😳 😮🤯
Did I immediately add to 🛒 The Nothing Man and 56 Days?? You bet I did!! 😉😍
🤯🤯🤯 Have you read this one? Is it on your list?? Do you have a favorite @cathryanhoward book? OMG 😳 I am such a fangirl now. 😂
Creepy ✅
Intense ✅
Oh SO Clever!!✅
Serial Killer ✅
🤯🤯 Twists ✅
I absolutely loved the POV from the killer! ���� It was so creepy it freaked me out!! However… he was kind of funny too.. some of his snarky comments 😂🤷♀️…
When Nicki goes missing after a night out at the pub🥃🍷🍸🍻…well after a WHOLE year… I just knew she was dead..😩 … Her sister Lucy won’t give up… she needs to know… what happened that night?! Even if it means…finding the killer herself.😳
This was such a fast, addictive read!! I could NOT put it down!! I had to know what happened to Nicki too!! 🤔🤷♀️ Those twists!! 😳 😮🤯
Did I immediately add to 🛒 The Nothing Man and 56 Days?? You bet I did!! 😉😍
🤯🤯🤯 Have you read this one? Is it on your list?? Do you have a favorite @cathryanhoward book? OMG 😳 I am such a fangirl now. 😂
October 1, 2023
Just over a year ago, Lucy’s sister, Nicki, vanished without a trace. Out on the town with a group of her girlfriends, she left without saying goodbye and was never seen or heard from again. Now, with no new information on what could have happened to her sister, Lucy is getting more and more desperate to find out the truth. Willing to do almost anything to learn what happened to Nicki that night, Lucy has begun to go to extremes that could put her own life very much at risk. After all, her sister isn’t the only woman to disappear in the past three years and sticking her own neck out just might put her directly in the path of the very monster she seeks.
Meanwhile, Angela is just a lowly staff member working out of the An Garda Síochána’s Missing Persons Unit. With dreams of being a fully fledged officer with the Irish force, her interest is well and truly piqued when new details emerge pertinent to the case of the three missing women. Despite knowing that any digging she does could end her gardaí career before it even begins, Angela starts to follow the lead. In her eyes, the official investigation is getting nowhere and what she’s discovered could help finally break the case wide open.
In the dark shadows, however, skulks an unknown man. Driving through the night with his newest victim, he’s intent on sharing how he’s become the faceless bogeyman that Irish women are terrified to confront. Despite her unbridled fear, he starts to unwind his sinister tale of disrepute. But as the truth is laid at her feet, she begins to realize that even ignorance won’t protect her from the very real danger she now finds herself in. Is there any way out of her current predicament? Or has she gotten in way over her head?
Phew… Let me catch my breath! A thoroughly twisty tale of ever rising suspense, The Trap was a ride and a half. From the outset, my attention was well and truly held. A woman walking the dark country lanes looking for the monster who has abducted her sister? Yes, most definitely, please. What followed was a thoroughly spine-tingling jaunt in Catherine Ryan Howard’s dark albeit talented mind. One where the wholly original, gasp-inducing twists took everything I thought I knew and turned it on its head.
Told via multiple POVs including that of the monster in question and a surprising number of timelines, the plot had me totally fooled. A combination of a fast-paced crime fiction novel and a menacing thriller, I had a front seat ride along with both the police and the grief stricken sister as she searched far and wide. What resulted from this mix was a finely tuned adventure that kept me guessing throughout. Did I think I knew what had happened? Oh, yes…more than once. But happily enough, I was quite off base every time.
Then there were the true-to-life characters. With Lucy, you could feel her desperation ooze off of the page. For Angela, I loved getting a realistic glimpse behind the scenes into the (rather inept) investigation. And the kidnapper/killer? What can I say? He literally creeped me out in a way that I hadn’t expected. Granted, at the same time, I felt that the chapters from his perspective dragged on just a bit, but once the climax rolled around… Phew, he had my pulse pounding to be sure. Bravo, Ms. Howard, you crafted a handful of characters who won me over free and clear.
There were, however, two unfortunate misses in my book. One was the rather slow middle where it felt as though little was happening. Yes, I realize it was just setting me up for the climax, but still I found my attention wavering just the slightest. Issue two was that unresolved conclusion. As you might be aware if you’ve read any of my reviews, I’m a lover of finales with neat, pretty, little bows. Needless to say, this ending most certainly lacked that, leaving off instead just when the the best was yet to come.
By the time I closed the cover, however, my mind still reverberated with the thought that Howard had done it again. After all, between the tongue-in-cheek wit and the creepy villain who explains himself, this deliciously dark tale had it all. Just be forewarned, if you hate being confused here or there, this one might not be for you. Complex and intricately layered, there was no hand holding here, but then, if you liked The Nothing Man, The Trap will likely be right up your alley. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: kidnapping, peeping Tom, forced captivity, mention of: rape
Meanwhile, Angela is just a lowly staff member working out of the An Garda Síochána’s Missing Persons Unit. With dreams of being a fully fledged officer with the Irish force, her interest is well and truly piqued when new details emerge pertinent to the case of the three missing women. Despite knowing that any digging she does could end her gardaí career before it even begins, Angela starts to follow the lead. In her eyes, the official investigation is getting nowhere and what she’s discovered could help finally break the case wide open.
In the dark shadows, however, skulks an unknown man. Driving through the night with his newest victim, he’s intent on sharing how he’s become the faceless bogeyman that Irish women are terrified to confront. Despite her unbridled fear, he starts to unwind his sinister tale of disrepute. But as the truth is laid at her feet, she begins to realize that even ignorance won’t protect her from the very real danger she now finds herself in. Is there any way out of her current predicament? Or has she gotten in way over her head?
Phew… Let me catch my breath! A thoroughly twisty tale of ever rising suspense, The Trap was a ride and a half. From the outset, my attention was well and truly held. A woman walking the dark country lanes looking for the monster who has abducted her sister? Yes, most definitely, please. What followed was a thoroughly spine-tingling jaunt in Catherine Ryan Howard’s dark albeit talented mind. One where the wholly original, gasp-inducing twists took everything I thought I knew and turned it on its head.
Told via multiple POVs including that of the monster in question and a surprising number of timelines, the plot had me totally fooled. A combination of a fast-paced crime fiction novel and a menacing thriller, I had a front seat ride along with both the police and the grief stricken sister as she searched far and wide. What resulted from this mix was a finely tuned adventure that kept me guessing throughout. Did I think I knew what had happened? Oh, yes…more than once. But happily enough, I was quite off base every time.
Then there were the true-to-life characters. With Lucy, you could feel her desperation ooze off of the page. For Angela, I loved getting a realistic glimpse behind the scenes into the (rather inept) investigation. And the kidnapper/killer? What can I say? He literally creeped me out in a way that I hadn’t expected. Granted, at the same time, I felt that the chapters from his perspective dragged on just a bit, but once the climax rolled around… Phew, he had my pulse pounding to be sure. Bravo, Ms. Howard, you crafted a handful of characters who won me over free and clear.
There were, however, two unfortunate misses in my book. One was the rather slow middle where it felt as though little was happening. Yes, I realize it was just setting me up for the climax, but still I found my attention wavering just the slightest. Issue two was that unresolved conclusion. As you might be aware if you’ve read any of my reviews, I’m a lover of finales with neat, pretty, little bows. Needless to say, this ending most certainly lacked that, leaving off instead just when the the best was yet to come.
By the time I closed the cover, however, my mind still reverberated with the thought that Howard had done it again. After all, between the tongue-in-cheek wit and the creepy villain who explains himself, this deliciously dark tale had it all. Just be forewarned, if you hate being confused here or there, this one might not be for you. Complex and intricately layered, there was no hand holding here, but then, if you liked The Nothing Man, The Trap will likely be right up your alley. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: kidnapping, peeping Tom, forced captivity, mention of: rape
August 30, 2023
the setup…
Nicola (Nicki) O’Sullivan disappeared a year ago after leaving her friends at a Dublin pub late at night. Her sister Lucy becomes frustrated with the Garda’s lack of progress, even after a task force was created once they connected Nicki’s disappearance with that of two other women. Lucy goes out at night, trying to set a trap for the man who is perhaps responsible for her sister’s abduction. Angela Fitzgerald is a volunteer in the Missing Persons Unit who believes she has a theory about these disappearances that she wants to explore but doesn’t have the authority to do so. Meanwhile, we get the abductor’s perspective, giving us the details of how he captures his victims…apparently telling the story to his latest in his back seat!
the heart of the story…
Holy schmoly!!!! This thing had me clutching at my chest from the first paragraph. It was like waiting for the train wreck you know is coming but you can’t look away. And, you’re hoping some rescuer will come and save the day. I’ve never felt so off balance emotionally in a story as I did here, struggling with my fear and need to know. Nothing about it is predictable and not one of my theories worked out (they were pitifully weak at best). When Angela gets paired with Garda Detective Denise Pope, things got interesting but still it all felt precarious.
the narration…
I am so glad I got to listen to this story as the two narrators were wonderful. There were multiple points of view at various times but primarily those of Lucy and the nameless abductor. By the way, Keating voiced him so well I couldn’t stand him! Both are highly skilled storytellers.
the bottom line…
Oh, the twists! I couldn’t patch together decent theories so you know the surprises were equally head snapping. The ending? Brilliant. It’s a great story in any format but if you have a choice, opt for the audio version. And please listen to/read the author’s notes at the end. It helps with the final digestion. 4.5 stars
(Thanks to Libro.fm and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Nicola (Nicki) O’Sullivan disappeared a year ago after leaving her friends at a Dublin pub late at night. Her sister Lucy becomes frustrated with the Garda’s lack of progress, even after a task force was created once they connected Nicki’s disappearance with that of two other women. Lucy goes out at night, trying to set a trap for the man who is perhaps responsible for her sister’s abduction. Angela Fitzgerald is a volunteer in the Missing Persons Unit who believes she has a theory about these disappearances that she wants to explore but doesn’t have the authority to do so. Meanwhile, we get the abductor’s perspective, giving us the details of how he captures his victims…apparently telling the story to his latest in his back seat!
the heart of the story…
Holy schmoly!!!! This thing had me clutching at my chest from the first paragraph. It was like waiting for the train wreck you know is coming but you can’t look away. And, you’re hoping some rescuer will come and save the day. I’ve never felt so off balance emotionally in a story as I did here, struggling with my fear and need to know. Nothing about it is predictable and not one of my theories worked out (they were pitifully weak at best). When Angela gets paired with Garda Detective Denise Pope, things got interesting but still it all felt precarious.
the narration…
I am so glad I got to listen to this story as the two narrators were wonderful. There were multiple points of view at various times but primarily those of Lucy and the nameless abductor. By the way, Keating voiced him so well I couldn’t stand him! Both are highly skilled storytellers.
the bottom line…
Oh, the twists! I couldn’t patch together decent theories so you know the surprises were equally head snapping. The ending? Brilliant. It’s a great story in any format but if you have a choice, opt for the audio version. And please listen to/read the author’s notes at the end. It helps with the final digestion. 4.5 stars
(Thanks to Libro.fm and Blackstone Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
January 7, 2026
A thriller that started with a bang but ended with a fizzle.
When I started listening to the audiobook I was immediately drawn into the narrative, high stakes and tension you could cut with a knife - what more could you want from a thriller?
But as the story progressed the pacing started to drag, the characters made increasingly idiotic decisions and were revealed to be insufferable, and the abrupt shifts in point of view left me confused and disengaged.
I held out hope for a satisfying ending, but unfortunately I was only left with questions and frustration.
This was a thriller with a lot of potential that missed the mark, and an author who seems to deride the use of trigger warnings while capitalizing off of violence against women in her writing.
I don’t imagine I’ll be reading any more of her work in future.
Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, blood, violence, death, confinement, misogyny, slut shaming
You can find me on...
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You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
Thank you to Netgalley for the ALC.
When I started listening to the audiobook I was immediately drawn into the narrative, high stakes and tension you could cut with a knife - what more could you want from a thriller?
But as the story progressed the pacing started to drag, the characters made increasingly idiotic decisions and were revealed to be insufferable, and the abrupt shifts in point of view left me confused and disengaged.
I held out hope for a satisfying ending, but unfortunately I was only left with questions and frustration.
This was a thriller with a lot of potential that missed the mark, and an author who seems to deride the use of trigger warnings while capitalizing off of violence against women in her writing.
I don’t imagine I’ll be reading any more of her work in future.
Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, murder, sexual assault, blood, violence, death, confinement, misogyny, slut shaming
You can find me on...
Youtube | Instagram | TikTok
You can join our book club over on Patreon...
PBB Book Club
Thank you to Netgalley for the ALC.
September 25, 2023
“Stupidity must run in the family.”
Inspired by the unsolved disappearances of women in Ireland in the 1990s, The Trap follows Lucy, whose sister went missing a year ago. The garda seem to have fumbled the investigation, other than to link several missing girls together. Did one man kidnap all three women? Lucy is determined to solve this case and find her sister at all costs. To what lengths will she go to get her back?
Despite the fact that Catherine Ryan Howard is a hit or miss author for me, I decided to read The Trap after seeing many five star reviews. I soon realized that I should have paid more attention to the less enthusiastic reviews as well.
No, this book did not work for me.
At a little over 250 pages, I should have been able to finish this book quickly. However, it took almost a week. Why?
1. See the above quote, as it perfectly explains why I could not relate to the characters.
2. The twists fell flat and weren’t very shocking.
3. Believability is completely absent from this narrative.
The one mildly saving grace in this book is the detective, as she is the only character with depth. However, she too made some very questionable decisions.
Be sure to read the author’s note, where she connects the origins of her love of true crime to the books she writes. I found this section insightful and nostalgic.
2.5/5 stars rounded up.
Inspired by the unsolved disappearances of women in Ireland in the 1990s, The Trap follows Lucy, whose sister went missing a year ago. The garda seem to have fumbled the investigation, other than to link several missing girls together. Did one man kidnap all three women? Lucy is determined to solve this case and find her sister at all costs. To what lengths will she go to get her back?
Despite the fact that Catherine Ryan Howard is a hit or miss author for me, I decided to read The Trap after seeing many five star reviews. I soon realized that I should have paid more attention to the less enthusiastic reviews as well.
No, this book did not work for me.
At a little over 250 pages, I should have been able to finish this book quickly. However, it took almost a week. Why?
1. See the above quote, as it perfectly explains why I could not relate to the characters.
2. The twists fell flat and weren’t very shocking.
3. Believability is completely absent from this narrative.
The one mildly saving grace in this book is the detective, as she is the only character with depth. However, she too made some very questionable decisions.
Be sure to read the author’s note, where she connects the origins of her love of true crime to the books she writes. I found this section insightful and nostalgic.
2.5/5 stars rounded up.
August 8, 2023
3 disappointed stars…. Yet another let-down on a much-anticipated new release, from an author that I had really enjoyed previously. This one just failed for me… from the 💩 ending (was it one?) to the very confusing jumping back & forth between 4 or 5 POV’s so much that you couldn’t tell which one it was. It started off really great and fizzled before the half-way mark, and it didn’t really deliver on “meta” aspects that I’ve come to think of as this writer’s calling card. Still down for her next tho...
April 16, 2024
Lucy's sister, Nicki, left a pub one evening and has never been seen again. Now, a year later, and Lucy is still hell bent on finding her. Even putting herself in dangerous situations in an effort to lure in Nicki's abductor. Will she succeed or die trying? You'll have to read this to find out.
This book had me on the edge of my seat nearly the entire book. The chapters from "the abductor" were especially chilling. I liked Lucy though I could in no way relate to her. I really liked the detective Denise and her side kick Angela though I don't think either of them would still have jobs if this were the real world.
What I didn't like? THE ENDING!!! I feel so cheated. People are saying that the ending is masterful, surprising, and clever. I was only surprised that there aren't any answers provided. No resolution. No comeuppance. None, zilch, zero. It's a shame that such an amazing book was let down by an unsatisfactory conclusion. 3 stars!
This book had me on the edge of my seat nearly the entire book. The chapters from "the abductor" were especially chilling. I liked Lucy though I could in no way relate to her. I really liked the detective Denise and her side kick Angela though I don't think either of them would still have jobs if this were the real world.
What I didn't like? THE ENDING!!! I feel so cheated. People are saying that the ending is masterful, surprising, and clever. I was only surprised that there aren't any answers provided. No resolution. No comeuppance. None, zilch, zero. It's a shame that such an amazing book was let down by an unsatisfactory conclusion. 3 stars!
January 4, 2024
The only thing I have to say about this book????
I haven’t read a serial killer story this good since . . . . I don’t even know. Dexter???? This had a perfect page count (THANK YOU, Catherine Ryan Howard for keeping it brief so I never left the edge of my seat), some Gilgo Beach feels, one scary mofo and an ending that had me like . . . .
This deserves way better than its current 3.77 Goodreads rating. Check it out if you’re looking for some scaaaaaaary stabbies this Fall.
Every Star.
Oh and additional thanks to the author for the little Easter Egg shout-out to her own book The Nothing Man. I’ll be reading that sometime soon.
I haven’t read a serial killer story this good since . . . . I don’t even know. Dexter???? This had a perfect page count (THANK YOU, Catherine Ryan Howard for keeping it brief so I never left the edge of my seat), some Gilgo Beach feels, one scary mofo and an ending that had me like . . . .
This deserves way better than its current 3.77 Goodreads rating. Check it out if you’re looking for some scaaaaaaary stabbies this Fall.
Every Star.
Oh and additional thanks to the author for the little Easter Egg shout-out to her own book The Nothing Man. I’ll be reading that sometime soon.
August 19, 2023
There are times when you sit back and wonder, would I do such a thing as placing myself in danger to find a missing relative? For that is exactly what Lucy, sister to the missing Nikki does, hoping to trap a kidnapper who has captured not only her sister but as she later learns other women as well.
There is the faceless man who travels the dark lonely lanes outside Dublin, to find another woman to prey upon. The killer has a certain type, but the police (Guarda) have been clueless to finding this man. Until recently when a special task force was formed after a young girl of some wealth and background was taken.
Angela was a civilian member of the missing person's unit so desiring to become a full fledged Guarda, that she seems at many times to be the push behind the investigation. When she finds and investigates a single thread in this woven psychological thriller, she in on her way to breaking open the case, but in the meantime might ruin her chance of becoming what she desires.
This was an intense game, one that constantly had me shaking my head at the utter stupidity of Lucy, out there all alone, taking such chances that put her life in severe risk. Then there were the kidnapper's chapters that sent definite chills down one's spine.
This book was based on actual happenings in Ireland in the 1990's and to this day, not a person, those poor kidnapped women, or the perpetrator have been found.
Catherine Ryan Howard, did a fine job of keeping the telling intense and although the ending was ft up in the air, this book will make you wonder once again why people do what they do?
Jan and I enjoyed this book and had some ideas as to who this mysterious psycho was but never got it right. Thanks Jan for another "fun" read.
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