The Trap: A brand new gritty, gripping and twisting crime thriller

by Alex Rose

A family held hostage. A prison escape. A deadly game of survival.

Emma thought a secluded country cottage would be the perfect escape for her family. But their peaceful retreat is shattered when two masked men break in, turning the holiday into a waking nightmare. Calling themselves Jekyll and Hyde, the intruders are no ordinary criminals. They don’t want money. They want control. And they’ve devised a sinister plan that will force Emma and Joel to make an unthinkable choice—one that could destroy their family from the inside out.

Joel, a bank manager, is sent to rob his own bank. But the real target is Emma, a prison governor with dangerous connections. When the kidnappers force her to help a notorious inmate escape, the stakes turn deadly. One wrong move could cost her not only her freedom, but the lives of her husband and daughter.

As the plan spirals out of control, alliances shift, and trust is shattered. Jekyll’s and Hyde’s motivations run deeper than money and someone close to Emma is hiding a dangerous secret. With time running out, Emma must outsmart the criminals and protect her family even if it means sacrificing everything.

Dark, gritty, and utterly addictive — The Trap will keep you breathless until the final page.

336 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2025

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever, you read a book from this author Alex Rose, You just know you will love it and be hooked from the very beginning till the very end.

WoW, The Trap by Alex Rose was a fantastic read and one of the best reads this year, I loved it! It was a gritty, gripping and twisting crime thriller, I ended up reading it all day until I had finished. What a roller coaster ride this book was, Plus, the ending was Perfect.

I highly recommend this book. Perfect holiday read.

[Alison Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Rose is on a par with Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers- gritty family focused crime. In the Trap, Prison Governor Emma heads off for a weekend in a nearby cottage with her husband, bank manager Joel and daughter Minnie to celebrate Minnie's 19th birthday. Things don't go as planned with the arrival of armed thugs who kidnap the family and involve them in serious criminal activity. Full of action and suspense and strong female characters. #bloodhoundbooks #thetrap

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

What are my thoughts on The Trap...well maybe not as good as Alex Rose's other books I have read. Don't get me wrong The Trap is a good read but in my opinion not as good as his others for that reason I have given it 4* rather than 5 but that is just my personal opinion.
Overall The trap is a good steady read that I found quick and easy to follow with good characters that flow well.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Trap is my favourite kind of book it had me holding my breath all the way through. The plot is dark, gritty and intense. Filled with intent the kidnapping had me eagerly anticipating how it would turn out. The characters flow nicely as does the pace of the book. It's fast pace made it feel like a quick read because I was highly addicted.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gritty crime thriller will have you holding your breath and shaking your head with worry almost the whole book. What you think is happening it turns out it isn’t, the book has a lot of twists and turns that keep the reader glued to the pages of the book and trying to figure out the next suffering of the members of the family.
I think the ending is perfect

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Rose is an author whose books I love! Gritty crime thrillers with a cracking storyline. The Trap lived up to my expectations and more.
Authentic, well created characters and a plot that kept me gripped from start to finish. I was hooked as soon as I started reading.
If you love crime thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, this one is for you!

[Yvette Salmon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book that includes a prison break and a family being held captive amongst other things. This book had good characters that drew you in. I have found that other books by this author are better but it still is worth a read.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced gritty thriller.
Full of suspense, I really enjoyed it and would definitely read more by this author.

[Patricia Hollywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant book.