What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unbaited Trap
John Emmerson was a lonely man. He had a wife, a son, friends, but he was isolated from all the people and events about him by the tragedy of his past. Then he met Cissie, and for the first time his loneliness eased a little.
Cissie was everything his wife Ann was not. She was warm, and compassionate, and generous. And she was quick to sense the needs of a desolate, unhappy man.
But Cissie was also a young poor, and with a young son to support. And John Emmerson was one of the town's leading solicitors--a man of importance whose every move was watched by the local dignitaries...
Cissie was everything his wife Ann was not. She was warm, and compassionate, and generous. And she was quick to sense the needs of a desolate, unhappy man.
But Cissie was also a young poor, and with a young son to support. And John Emmerson was one of the town's leading solicitors--a man of importance whose every move was watched by the local dignitaries...
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
33 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cookson
501 books686 followersCatherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, who Catherine believed was her older sister. Catherine began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master.
Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.
For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.
Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular contemporary woman novelist. She received an OBE in 1985, was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993, and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997.
For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 16, 2013
This book was a breath of fresh air, old fashioned values, 'sensible' language, characters relying on a telephone box, running a few houses down to fetch the doctor.. Have I created a good image?! Don't get me wrong, love doesn't always go smoothly, and people still are immoral, but it was nice. I recommend this book! A quick read, and Catherine Cookson does create an easy visual of England in days gone by.
August 20, 2025
It’s probably forty years since I first read this book and although some of the language is a bit dated now it’s still one of the most heart-wrenching books I’ve read. The emotions lurking beneath the surface just cut me up. And the last few words will have you sobbing even though there’s a happy ending. Emotions will haunt you long after you finish reading.
July 1, 2020
This story rolled along easily and stilled the world for a short time. There were hidden assumptions and meanings of the characters but out of the mystery of life "we see things not as they are, but as we are".
November 17, 2008
Good book by this author as always.
Back Cover Blurb:
John Emmerson was a lonely man. He has a wife, a son, and friends, but he was isolated by the tragedy of his past. Then he met Cissie, and for the first time his loneliness eased a little. He was, however, a leading solicitor, whose every move was watched by local dignitaries.
Back Cover Blurb:
John Emmerson was a lonely man. He has a wife, a son, and friends, but he was isolated by the tragedy of his past. Then he met Cissie, and for the first time his loneliness eased a little. He was, however, a leading solicitor, whose every move was watched by local dignitaries.
January 26, 2018
This book really surprised me. A thrift store find, I was prepared to read it on the bus and immediately re-donate it, as I didn't anticipate enjoying it. Doomed affairs hold no interest for me, and frankly I read books to escape in happier alternatives, not to get even more bummed out.
First of all, I have three beers in me, so... yeah. Objectively I can't say whether or not this is a well-written book, as I have just seen the film "Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri" and as a result, am incredibly interested in characters who fight the fixtured failures in themselves. The rest of the story be damned. It is easy to read this and see John Emmerson as the failure, considering that is how his wife and son view him, but as you read this you see how it is the opposite. They have failed John. And the way Laurence emerges from near-sociopathic contempt towards his father, to striving to earn his respect, was an amazing development to watch. We all struggle with feelings of ambivalence towards our parents, and it was a struggle to watch Laurence actively hate his father, simply because it didn't make much sense to me. I understand his annoyance, but I couldn't understand his total lack of love. Watching him process his own ambivalence reminded me again how utterly unique Cookson can be in her writing. Sometimes she can be super black and white, but every now and then in her contemporary books she really tackles the littlest dysfunctions in our nearest social circles.
This book is about a rebirth of family dynamics, about cutting loose from your family & community, about love beyond sex, about the stories that get bandied about town, about how we class people as types, and about how these 'types' are entirely self-aware. (The dialogues between Cissie and Ann exemplified this tension, i.e. the 'good' woman vs the 'cheap' woman). The first half of this book was bit of a trial to get through as you really felt for John, and frankly really wanted an affair to happen. The twist was a sad surprise, but gave the book some new life as it was a total game-changer. The surprise love story in the second half... yowza. Loved it (even if I don't understand how Cissie could switch). This book felt like lessons out of cognitive behavioural therapy, the way Laurence shuts down certain thoughts as he learns to acknowledge his father's agency.
I'm finished this review the next day, with no beers in me, and while my regard has lessened one sober day later, I still enjoyed it. I liked the love story, the tensions, the emotional violence. I felt sad that there will always be this division between father and son, and that John's life will forever be kind of pathetic, but all in all this story was a good surprise read. Also, I love the line "you must have hit me before you drowned me in whisky".
But... what a stupid title.
[If you like any of my reviews, please consider adding me as a Goodreads friend. I need more!]
First of all, I have three beers in me, so... yeah. Objectively I can't say whether or not this is a well-written book, as I have just seen the film "Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri" and as a result, am incredibly interested in characters who fight the fixtured failures in themselves. The rest of the story be damned. It is easy to read this and see John Emmerson as the failure, considering that is how his wife and son view him, but as you read this you see how it is the opposite. They have failed John. And the way Laurence emerges from near-sociopathic contempt towards his father, to striving to earn his respect, was an amazing development to watch. We all struggle with feelings of ambivalence towards our parents, and it was a struggle to watch Laurence actively hate his father, simply because it didn't make much sense to me. I understand his annoyance, but I couldn't understand his total lack of love. Watching him process his own ambivalence reminded me again how utterly unique Cookson can be in her writing. Sometimes she can be super black and white, but every now and then in her contemporary books she really tackles the littlest dysfunctions in our nearest social circles.
This book is about a rebirth of family dynamics, about cutting loose from your family & community, about love beyond sex, about the stories that get bandied about town, about how we class people as types, and about how these 'types' are entirely self-aware. (The dialogues between Cissie and Ann exemplified this tension, i.e. the 'good' woman vs the 'cheap' woman). The first half of this book was bit of a trial to get through as you really felt for John, and frankly really wanted an affair to happen. The twist was a sad surprise, but gave the book some new life as it was a total game-changer. The surprise love story in the second half... yowza. Loved it (even if I don't understand how Cissie could switch). This book felt like lessons out of cognitive behavioural therapy, the way Laurence shuts down certain thoughts as he learns to acknowledge his father's agency.
I'm finished this review the next day, with no beers in me, and while my regard has lessened one sober day later, I still enjoyed it. I liked the love story, the tensions, the emotional violence. I felt sad that there will always be this division between father and son, and that John's life will forever be kind of pathetic, but all in all this story was a good surprise read. Also, I love the line "you must have hit me before you drowned me in whisky".
But... what a stupid title.
[If you like any of my reviews, please consider adding me as a Goodreads friend. I need more!]
April 26, 2023
John Emmerson is married yet it is loveless and he is desperately lonely.
His son, friends, pastimes, work as a solicitor give him little joy and then he by accident meets a warm, kind lady called Cissie and though it goes no further than companionship his life is forever changed and in a way was a substitute for his cold wife, Ann.
When her son Pat gets into trouble as a solicitor he tries to help then falls ill.
It's left to his son, Laurie to try to help, yet he and Cissie seem to actively loathe each other until Laurie sees he is as lonely as his father and heading into another loveless marriage.
This was a wonderful story but the ending was a little ambiguous in the last line or two and made me wonder about the character's true feelings.
But overall a great read.
His son, friends, pastimes, work as a solicitor give him little joy and then he by accident meets a warm, kind lady called Cissie and though it goes no further than companionship his life is forever changed and in a way was a substitute for his cold wife, Ann.
When her son Pat gets into trouble as a solicitor he tries to help then falls ill.
It's left to his son, Laurie to try to help, yet he and Cissie seem to actively loathe each other until Laurie sees he is as lonely as his father and heading into another loveless marriage.
This was a wonderful story but the ending was a little ambiguous in the last line or two and made me wonder about the character's true feelings.
But overall a great read.
September 11, 2025
Iive read many Catherine Coksons over the years and I was enjoying this up until the ending. I didn't like that she tracked down the son - why? Save him - again why? She hadn't met him enough times to fall in love with him! And the encounters weren't good. Even that's taking a kind heart too far.
The father deserved to be happy with Cissie and they were much better suited. But she goes off to save the son. I'm not convinced. And it wasn't a good ending for Cissie or John, both trapped. I felt like the mother and son won after all.
The father deserved to be happy with Cissie and they were much better suited. But she goes off to save the son. I'm not convinced. And it wasn't a good ending for Cissie or John, both trapped. I felt like the mother and son won after all.
August 20, 2025
Emotions linger long after you’ve finished reading
It’s probably forty years since I first read this book and although some of the language is a bit dated now it’s still one of the most heart-wrenching books I’ve read. The emotions lurking beneath the surface just cut me up. And the last few words will have you sobbing even though there’s a happy ending.
It’s probably forty years since I first read this book and although some of the language is a bit dated now it’s still one of the most heart-wrenching books I’ve read. The emotions lurking beneath the surface just cut me up. And the last few words will have you sobbing even though there’s a happy ending.
March 11, 2019
Nota Geral: 2.8/5
Escrita: 3
Cenário: 3
Originalidade: 3
Personagens: 3
Suspense: 3
Humor: 2.5
Romance: 3
Capa: 1
Aditivo: 3
Previsível: 3
Escrita: 3
Cenário: 3
Originalidade: 3
Personagens: 3
Suspense: 3
Humor: 2.5
Romance: 3
Capa: 1
Aditivo: 3
Previsível: 3
June 20, 2020
Synopsis:
TWO KINDS OF SIN
John Emmerson was a lonely man. He had a brilliant career as a lawyer. he had a wife, a son, friends, but he was isolated from all the people and events about him by the tragedy of his past. Then he met Cissie, a beautiful, young widow and for the first time his loneliness eased a little. It seemed quite innocent to offer friendship to this man trapped in a loveless marriage, so lonely and unhappy. But all too soon their friendship ripened into something deeper--and too late Cissie realized how much it would hurt John to lose her, and how large John now loomed in her own life.
Cissie was everything his wife Ann was not. She was warm, and compassionate, and generous. And she was quick to sense the needs of a desolate, unhappy man.
But Cissie was also a young widow: poor, and with a young son to support. And John Emmerson was one of the town's leading solicitors--a man of importance whose every move was watched by the local dignitaries...
Then John Emmerson's handsome, rebellious son came to tell Cissie to give his father up--and stayed to fall in love with her. And suddenly Cissie was torn between two kinds of men, two kinds of love, two kinds of shame--and she knew that she alone would have to choose...
One of my favourites of hers. It is an exploration of marriage, of fathers and sons and the ties that bind beyond unhappiness. It is also a complication that both father and son fall for the same woman but also the reader knowing under different circumstances and time the choices made might well have been different.
Not at all a traditional love story and all the better for this.
TWO KINDS OF SIN
John Emmerson was a lonely man. He had a brilliant career as a lawyer. he had a wife, a son, friends, but he was isolated from all the people and events about him by the tragedy of his past. Then he met Cissie, a beautiful, young widow and for the first time his loneliness eased a little. It seemed quite innocent to offer friendship to this man trapped in a loveless marriage, so lonely and unhappy. But all too soon their friendship ripened into something deeper--and too late Cissie realized how much it would hurt John to lose her, and how large John now loomed in her own life.
Cissie was everything his wife Ann was not. She was warm, and compassionate, and generous. And she was quick to sense the needs of a desolate, unhappy man.
But Cissie was also a young widow: poor, and with a young son to support. And John Emmerson was one of the town's leading solicitors--a man of importance whose every move was watched by the local dignitaries...
Then John Emmerson's handsome, rebellious son came to tell Cissie to give his father up--and stayed to fall in love with her. And suddenly Cissie was torn between two kinds of men, two kinds of love, two kinds of shame--and she knew that she alone would have to choose...
One of my favourites of hers. It is an exploration of marriage, of fathers and sons and the ties that bind beyond unhappiness. It is also a complication that both father and son fall for the same woman but also the reader knowing under different circumstances and time the choices made might well have been different.
Not at all a traditional love story and all the better for this.
January 1, 2020
Even though I feel very sorry for the older Emmerson, i still believe he is coward! Surviving almost 30 years with a ghost is absolutely unacceptable. We only come to live once in a lifetime, so why waste it with someone who doesn’t cherish it?! What did his wife sacrifice so that he feels very responsible about her?! NOTHING !!
Let’s talk about the younger Emmerson; he went through some development in terms of his personality and that’s SUPER. From a spoiled rich son to a very independent poor man with a private accommodation and farm; what else would he ask for?
Cissie was loved to by two Emmersons, but she made the right decision i guess ( from my personal point of view) because marrying someone at the age of your father shall take you deep down sometimes. Was it only because the young Emmerson lost his eyes she decided to live with him?! Oh! I definitely see that there should be a stronger reason! No other reason mentioned! Unfortunately, she said at the end: “Sorry John”
Loved the reading but not convinced of the climax at all.
Let’s talk about the younger Emmerson; he went through some development in terms of his personality and that’s SUPER. From a spoiled rich son to a very independent poor man with a private accommodation and farm; what else would he ask for?
Cissie was loved to by two Emmersons, but she made the right decision i guess ( from my personal point of view) because marrying someone at the age of your father shall take you deep down sometimes. Was it only because the young Emmerson lost his eyes she decided to live with him?! Oh! I definitely see that there should be a stronger reason! No other reason mentioned! Unfortunately, she said at the end: “Sorry John”
Loved the reading but not convinced of the climax at all.
August 29, 2024
I added an extra star as I enjoyed this one, even more the second time around.
I have read all Catherine Cooksons books, and she had me hooked from the first one. I had to come back for a revisit, and they seem even better.
I started reading late in life, but my goodness, I'm so glad I found Catherine Cookson, my first favourite author. What a legacy. 👏
I have read all Catherine Cooksons books, and she had me hooked from the first one. I had to come back for a revisit, and they seem even better.
I started reading late in life, but my goodness, I'm so glad I found Catherine Cookson, my first favourite author. What a legacy. 👏
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews