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The Housetrap
Deliah, Sam and Claude follow little sister Amity inside a mysterious mansion. But no sooner have they found her than the floor beneath their feet starts to twist and the house rearranges itself like a giant Rubik’s cube. To escape, they must solve the puzzle – and the century-old mystery of a girl who disappeared ...
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2023
3 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Emma Read
3 books22 followersEmma is the award-winning author of the Milton the Mighty series (The Times book of the year) and brand new spooky standalone, The Housetrap. She also co-wrote Panda in the Spotlight with Sarah Horne, all with Chicken House Books.
When not writing, Emma is a freelance novel editor with EmDashED and a writing tutor and mentor with WriteMentor.
She loves Hallowe'en, sci-fi, and board games, and plays too much Fortnite. She lives in the southwest of the UK with her cat and two pet children ... is that right??
When not writing, Emma is a freelance novel editor with EmDashED and a writing tutor and mentor with WriteMentor.
She loves Hallowe'en, sci-fi, and board games, and plays too much Fortnite. She lives in the southwest of the UK with her cat and two pet children ... is that right??
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 20, 2024
Слушах аудиокнигата и много ми хареса.
Леко детска, малко крийпи, но интересен сюжет.
Леко детска, малко крийпи, но интересен сюжет.
August 14, 2023
This was oodles of fun and spoookyyy as well! I am really really happy I was able to save this one for my vacation (Day 6 here) and that I read it. Other books came in between, but eventually I fully focussed on this one. A friendship that is crumbling (and I could fully understand that feeling), a spooky house that has some special features (including moving rooms and the likes), a ghost (but is it one or more), kids in the walls (yes, if you thought things couldn't get spookier), puzzles (that were awesome), and lots of mould (well at least later). I really loved the MC and while Sam was a character I could do without for quite a chunk of the book he did get better. And those who read my reviews know that I am generally NOT a fan of little sisters and while Amity was a bit annoying at times, she really wasn't that bad. The ending was both sad and happy and a twist as well!
RECOMMENDED!
RECOMMENDED!
June 5, 2023
PUT EVERYTHIGN DOWN AND READ THIS NOW!
Honestly one of the best kids books (and not just for kids mind you) I've read all year, all decade. I know this will be in my top 10 for years to come. I would have devoured this book if it had been around when I was young, and read it again and again. If I could give it ten stars I would! So much creepy fun. Such good characters. A well executed plot delivered with expert writing! LOVED!!!
Honestly one of the best kids books (and not just for kids mind you) I've read all year, all decade. I know this will be in my top 10 for years to come. I would have devoured this book if it had been around when I was young, and read it again and again. If I could give it ten stars I would! So much creepy fun. Such good characters. A well executed plot delivered with expert writing! LOVED!!!
July 10, 2023
Loved this - the characters are so nicely balanced and contrasting, and the house itself is wild and mysterious and I loved following them as they had to work their way out of it all! Great storytelling and one not to miss!
January 16, 2024
4.75 ⭐
I thoroughly enjoyed this middle grade locked room mystery. This could honestly read as a YA. I feel as if the characters read as if they were a little bit older than what they were in the book.
With that being said I loved every twist and turn. I love how the author included mathematics and logic within the storyline to help solve the mystery. With each step, it took them one step closer to their next stop along the way to their destination.
I enjoyed the banter between the characters and the different aspects that were placed within the book. I loved that one of the kids in the books was an empath. He was more than willing to show the others that it wasn't just a fluke that something was happening.
I am excited to read more format bus author in the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed this middle grade locked room mystery. This could honestly read as a YA. I feel as if the characters read as if they were a little bit older than what they were in the book.
With that being said I loved every twist and turn. I love how the author included mathematics and logic within the storyline to help solve the mystery. With each step, it took them one step closer to their next stop along the way to their destination.
I enjoyed the banter between the characters and the different aspects that were placed within the book. I loved that one of the kids in the books was an empath. He was more than willing to show the others that it wasn't just a fluke that something was happening.
I am excited to read more format bus author in the future.
September 23, 2024
3.5 stars
A reasonably good YA horror/thriller with a fairly strong storyline. The characters are just the right side of annoying and the plot moves at a steady pace. I think my main problem (apart from the emphasis of using Ouija boards, which I don't agree with) was that I am the wrong age group to fully appreciate this story.
A reasonably good YA horror/thriller with a fairly strong storyline. The characters are just the right side of annoying and the plot moves at a steady pace. I think my main problem (apart from the emphasis of using Ouija boards, which I don't agree with) was that I am the wrong age group to fully appreciate this story.
December 22, 2023
I felt this book started with so much promise. For the first 150 pages I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, from here I just felt it began to go down hill a bit. The final ‘level’ in the book just seemed to go on forever, partly because it was roughly half the book. There were some good twists and a nice ending.
August 18, 2024
Gruselig schön.
"The House Trap - Diesem Spiel entkommst du nicht" von Emma Read ist ein Locked-Room-Mystery Jugendbuch mit übernatürlichen Elementen für Leser ab ca. 12 Jahren.
Das Cover finde ich sehr gelungen. Auf der Rückseite sieht man den dunklen Wald mit dem Warnschild "Lebensgefahr - Betreten verboten" und vorne das Haus, in dem die Kinder eingesperrt sind. Auf den ersten Blick wirkt es ein wenig komisch da die Etagen nicht aufeinander zu passen scheinen, aber das ergibt nach und nach Sinn, sobald man ein wenig weiter gelesen hat.
Obwohl vieles, was passiert, in Wirklichkeit einfach nicht funktionieren kann (sauberes Haus, obwohl es seit Jahren leer steht; Eis, das nicht schmilzt; etc) wirkt die Handlung realistisch, z.B. durch die anfängliche Skepsis der Kinder und dass sie zunächst versuchen, eine logische Erklärung zu finden, bevor sie sich wirklich auf das Spiel einlassen.
Der Schreibstil ist wirklich packend und der Gruselfaktor garantiert. Man kann sich sehr gut in die Charaktere einfühlen; ganz besonders in den gruseligen Momenten fiebert man mit, dass alles gut ausgeht.
Die Autorin schafft bei allen Protagonisten eine gute Charakterentwicklung, besonders von Sam.
Sam, Claude, Deliah und Amity lernen, andere Sichtweisen zu verstehen und anzuerkennen und für andere Ansichten überhaupt erstmal offen zu sein, aufeinander zuzugehen und einander zu vertrauen.
Die gemeinsame Erfahrung, in der keiner den anderen aus dem Weg gehen kann, hat eine alte Freundschaft gekittet und neue geschaffen. So wird auch die Wichtigkeit von Freundschaft deutlich.
Gewünscht hätte ich mir, dass man als Leser mehr in die Handlung eingebunden wird und einige Rätsel hätte selbst lösen können. Da auf dem Einband geworben wird "Für Fans von Escape-Games" habe ich auch irgendwie fest damit gerechnet und dann würde es auch den fünften Stern für dieses Buch geben.
"The House Trap - Diesem Spiel entkommst du nicht" von Emma Read ist ein Locked-Room-Mystery Jugendbuch mit übernatürlichen Elementen für Leser ab ca. 12 Jahren.
Das Cover finde ich sehr gelungen. Auf der Rückseite sieht man den dunklen Wald mit dem Warnschild "Lebensgefahr - Betreten verboten" und vorne das Haus, in dem die Kinder eingesperrt sind. Auf den ersten Blick wirkt es ein wenig komisch da die Etagen nicht aufeinander zu passen scheinen, aber das ergibt nach und nach Sinn, sobald man ein wenig weiter gelesen hat.
Obwohl vieles, was passiert, in Wirklichkeit einfach nicht funktionieren kann (sauberes Haus, obwohl es seit Jahren leer steht; Eis, das nicht schmilzt; etc) wirkt die Handlung realistisch, z.B. durch die anfängliche Skepsis der Kinder und dass sie zunächst versuchen, eine logische Erklärung zu finden, bevor sie sich wirklich auf das Spiel einlassen.
Der Schreibstil ist wirklich packend und der Gruselfaktor garantiert. Man kann sich sehr gut in die Charaktere einfühlen; ganz besonders in den gruseligen Momenten fiebert man mit, dass alles gut ausgeht.
Die Autorin schafft bei allen Protagonisten eine gute Charakterentwicklung, besonders von Sam.
Sam, Claude, Deliah und Amity lernen, andere Sichtweisen zu verstehen und anzuerkennen und für andere Ansichten überhaupt erstmal offen zu sein, aufeinander zuzugehen und einander zu vertrauen.
Die gemeinsame Erfahrung, in der keiner den anderen aus dem Weg gehen kann, hat eine alte Freundschaft gekittet und neue geschaffen. So wird auch die Wichtigkeit von Freundschaft deutlich.
Gewünscht hätte ich mir, dass man als Leser mehr in die Handlung eingebunden wird und einige Rätsel hätte selbst lösen können. Da auf dem Einband geworben wird "Für Fans von Escape-Games" habe ich auch irgendwie fest damit gerechnet und dann würde es auch den fünften Stern für dieses Buch geben.
October 20, 2023
When four pre-teens happen upon and enter a creepy house in the woods, they have to solve a series of clues to find their way out of the world's most twisted escape room.
In the beginning, there is tension within the group of kids. Deliah believes her and Claude's friendship has come to an end, not helped by Claude's new friend Sam, who Deliah can not stand. Then there is Amity, the plucky little sister of Claude, who he finds annoying at times.
Despite their differences and fraded friendships, they must work together to make it through the house's levels to find their way out. But there is much more to this house than the kids realise.
There were some nice twists in this book, and Read sets a creepy atmosphere. The characters were engaging, particularly Sam, who becomes more interesting the more we get to know him.
Read lays the groundwork for several mysteries outside the puzzles of the house, and it was interesting how we get to find out how it all came to be.
I recommend this book for the young person in your life who likes puzzles, adventures, and creepy settings.
In the beginning, there is tension within the group of kids. Deliah believes her and Claude's friendship has come to an end, not helped by Claude's new friend Sam, who Deliah can not stand. Then there is Amity, the plucky little sister of Claude, who he finds annoying at times.
Despite their differences and fraded friendships, they must work together to make it through the house's levels to find their way out. But there is much more to this house than the kids realise.
There were some nice twists in this book, and Read sets a creepy atmosphere. The characters were engaging, particularly Sam, who becomes more interesting the more we get to know him.
Read lays the groundwork for several mysteries outside the puzzles of the house, and it was interesting how we get to find out how it all came to be.
I recommend this book for the young person in your life who likes puzzles, adventures, and creepy settings.
December 2, 2023
Reading the synopsis, I thought this was going to be more escape room than it was. So while it was good, I would've wanted the puzzles to be more solveable beyond the history of the house.
I liked our main character's emotional maturity. She learned to love the nerdy side to herself, but could also realise when she was in the wrong and should apologise.
The friendships and their complications were well developed and woven into the narrative.
I became more enamoured by the characters and concept than the plot itself, and I wish the plot had engaged me more. I do think it will still be a fairly solid read for its age audience, especially if they like historical elements to their stories.
I liked our main character's emotional maturity. She learned to love the nerdy side to herself, but could also realise when she was in the wrong and should apologise.
The friendships and their complications were well developed and woven into the narrative.
I became more enamoured by the characters and concept than the plot itself, and I wish the plot had engaged me more. I do think it will still be a fairly solid read for its age audience, especially if they like historical elements to their stories.
August 12, 2024
Not a book for children who like puzzles and escape rooms. I am not sure there were any puzzles which the reader could enjoy solving along with the characters.
It is a shame that the main character is so unlikeable. I think her know-it-all-ness is a reflection of the author, who seems just to want to show of her own intelligence, rather than building it into the story.
Small amounts of sexism are thrown unnecessarily into the story, without the issue being resolved by the characters.
Main themes of the book are friendships and growing up. These I think are written well and are what keeps the book enjoyable.
The Housetrap, recommend for 9 - 12 year olds, is definitely a ghost / spooky story, that will keep it’s reader in suspense.
It is a shame that the main character is so unlikeable. I think her know-it-all-ness is a reflection of the author, who seems just to want to show of her own intelligence, rather than building it into the story.
Small amounts of sexism are thrown unnecessarily into the story, without the issue being resolved by the characters.
Main themes of the book are friendships and growing up. These I think are written well and are what keeps the book enjoyable.
The Housetrap, recommend for 9 - 12 year olds, is definitely a ghost / spooky story, that will keep it’s reader in suspense.
January 1, 2024
The House Trap is a mystery adventure book with all the strange twists and turns one would expect. The House itself is a mechanical nightmare and the characters must work together to solve the puzzle and find a way out.. if they can all be trusted to work together! A good middle grade book with a great deal of effort put into the world building element.
Journey to a world like no other where friendships are tested and all is not as it seems.
Journey to a world like no other where friendships are tested and all is not as it seems.
February 11, 2024
A modern day fairy tale of a book that sucks you in and then slams the door closed! This creepy story sees three squabbling friends set off in search of a missing little sister. But when they find her scarf near an abandoned house in Badwell Woods, they have to go inside. The only problem is, the house won't let them out. A brilliantly spooky read with a plenty of puzzles and games to keep you guessing all the way to the end.
January 31, 2025
A CAPTIVATING and SPOOKY tale as four children try and find they way out of a house that's determined to keep them prisoner. Strong theme of friendship, and full of mystery and unanswered questions which keep you flying through the pages. Who or what lurks in the walls and what at the heart of the house is really keeping the children trapped? Brilliantly written and gripping!
November 27, 2023
This was creepy. If I read this as a child I would have been terrified.
It was so fun, quick to read, sad, engaging, funny, it has so much packed in. Definitely recommend if you want a creepy adventure, and don’t mind a children’s book.
It was so fun, quick to read, sad, engaging, funny, it has so much packed in. Definitely recommend if you want a creepy adventure, and don’t mind a children’s book.
August 23, 2023
A little puzzlebox of a story ready to unpack. Spooky and refreshingly new. Frienship and mystery at the centre of the plot. Very good read.
November 5, 2023
Part logic puzzle and part spooky ghost mystery. I enjoyed working through the puzzles with the characters.
November 6, 2023
This is such a fun, creepy, unusual adventure that gripped me from the start. I thoroughly enjoyed it! The idea of a scary puzzle house is just amazing. Huge recommend!!!
January 8, 2024
A fun read for kids who love adventure and solving puzzles of all kinds.
August 1, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
January 23, 2025
4.5
First half of the book started very strong, 5/5.
Second half of the book, 4/5.
A brilliant, unique story, a fast paced quick read.
First half of the book started very strong, 5/5.
Second half of the book, 4/5.
A brilliant, unique story, a fast paced quick read.
May 6, 2024
Sono indecisa tra due e 3 stelle. Copertina bellissima, idea dietro alla trama non originalissima, ma carina.
Una casa che intrappola dei ragazzini che devono poi risolvere degli indovinelli per riuscire ad uscire e tornare a casa. Ma in casa ci sono anche dei fantasmi...
Tutto carino, ma molto blando. I protagonisti ci mettono tantissimo anche solo per iniziare a cercare indizi, la casa è interessante ma alla fine non ho ben capito perchè sia stata costruita, il finale sembra molto Casper il film.
Non ho apprezzato l'aggiunta di due scene macabre che coinvolgono degli animali, erano inutili per la trama, inoltre questo dovrebbe essere un middle grade.
Una casa che intrappola dei ragazzini che devono poi risolvere degli indovinelli per riuscire ad uscire e tornare a casa. Ma in casa ci sono anche dei fantasmi...
Tutto carino, ma molto blando. I protagonisti ci mettono tantissimo anche solo per iniziare a cercare indizi, la casa è interessante ma alla fine non ho ben capito perchè sia stata costruita, il finale sembra molto Casper il film.
Non ho apprezzato l'aggiunta di due scene macabre che coinvolgono degli animali, erano inutili per la trama, inoltre questo dovrebbe essere un middle grade.
January 9, 2024
The Housetrap by Emma Read has the perfect amount of mystery, puzzles, humour and spook with a threat of exploration of what friendship is and who can be trusted. Nothing is as it seems, with twists and turns galore. I love this mash-up of escape room logic puzzles and supernatural essence. The characters are trapped in a mysterious house and have to solve puzzles to be able to get out; they have no other choice but to keep going. The premise almost feels reminiscent of the 1997 film Cube. The bizarre architecture of the house was a unique touch to younger audiences…something like a Rubik’s Cube turning into a house. It’s a great Halloween read, not only that!
June 25, 2023
Who doesn’t love a haunted house adventure. Well, okay there may be some people who don’t but when it is safely tucked into the pages of a book and we can put it down any time it gets too scary it really does make for a great story. The Housetrap, a middle-grade debut for author Emma Read, is a great story. It is a twist on the haunted house story, an adventure and a game too. If you are a lover of adventure, maybe you love solving puzzles, being a detective, then you will love this book. It’s spooky, splendid fun and you never quite know what is going to happen next as you cautiously turn the pages.
Amity is Claude’s little sister, and she has run off into the forbidden Badwell Woods, they had gone out there with Sam and Delilah after their parents insisted the boys came out of their Escape Room computer game and they all got some fresh air. Sam, Claude and Delilah are arguing about Sam’s insistence that as a girl Delilah could not play football when they realize Amity is missing. Following her into the words the three children stumble across a mysterious mansion which, once inside, they see has been frozen in time. The mansion is stuck in the 1930s and they find an invitation to a devious party. Next, they find Amity who is hiding from the ‘ghosts.’ When the floor starts to twist and turn, and rooms swap places the children realize they have a puzzle to solve before they can leave. Will they get out and will they work together to escape and rebuild their friendships?
Amity is Claude’s little sister, and she has run off into the forbidden Badwell Woods, they had gone out there with Sam and Delilah after their parents insisted the boys came out of their Escape Room computer game and they all got some fresh air. Sam, Claude and Delilah are arguing about Sam’s insistence that as a girl Delilah could not play football when they realize Amity is missing. Following her into the words the three children stumble across a mysterious mansion which, once inside, they see has been frozen in time. The mansion is stuck in the 1930s and they find an invitation to a devious party. Next, they find Amity who is hiding from the ‘ghosts.’ When the floor starts to twist and turn, and rooms swap places the children realize they have a puzzle to solve before they can leave. Will they get out and will they work together to escape and rebuild their friendships?
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews