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Mouse Trap
For almost 20 years, Carlton Mellick III has been writing some of the strangest and most compelling novels the bizarro fiction genre has to offer. Described as one of the top 40 science-fiction writers under the age of 40 by The Guardian and "one of the most original novelists working today" by extreme horror legend Edward Lee, Mellick returns with a quiet, apocalyptic tale of young unrequited love in a dying world.
It's the last school trip young Emily will ever get to go on. Not because it's the end of the school year, but because the world is coming to an end. Teachers, parents, and other students have been slowly dying off over the past several months, killed in mysterious traps that have been appearing across the countryside. Nobody knows where the traps come from or who put them there, but they seem to be designed to exterminate the entirety of the human race.
Emily thought it was going to be an ordinary trip to the local amusement park, but what was supposed to be a normal afternoon of bumper cars and roller coasters has turned into a fight for survival after their teacher is horrifically killed in front of them, leaving the small children to fend for themselves in a life or death game of mouse and mouse trap. There appears to be a hope for salvation when eighth grader Clyde Donner, a boy Emily has had a crush on ever since she was a little girl, enters their lives and promises that all the children will be safe as long as they do exactly as he says. But when it appears that Clyde does not have everyone's best interests in mind, it's up to Emily to put her feelings aside in order to ensure the safety of those younger and more vulnerable than her.
Mouse Trap is an intense, suspense-filled thrill ride for fans of Mellick's more disturbing YA stories such as Sweet Story , Quicksand House , and The Terrible Thing That Happens .
It's the last school trip young Emily will ever get to go on. Not because it's the end of the school year, but because the world is coming to an end. Teachers, parents, and other students have been slowly dying off over the past several months, killed in mysterious traps that have been appearing across the countryside. Nobody knows where the traps come from or who put them there, but they seem to be designed to exterminate the entirety of the human race.
Emily thought it was going to be an ordinary trip to the local amusement park, but what was supposed to be a normal afternoon of bumper cars and roller coasters has turned into a fight for survival after their teacher is horrifically killed in front of them, leaving the small children to fend for themselves in a life or death game of mouse and mouse trap. There appears to be a hope for salvation when eighth grader Clyde Donner, a boy Emily has had a crush on ever since she was a little girl, enters their lives and promises that all the children will be safe as long as they do exactly as he says. But when it appears that Clyde does not have everyone's best interests in mind, it's up to Emily to put her feelings aside in order to ensure the safety of those younger and more vulnerable than her.
Mouse Trap is an intense, suspense-filled thrill ride for fans of Mellick's more disturbing YA stories such as Sweet Story , Quicksand House , and The Terrible Thing That Happens .
168 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2019
8 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Carlton Mellick III
119 books2,168 followersCarlton Mellick III (July 2, 1977, Phoenix, Arizona) is an American author currently residing in Portland, Oregon. He calls his style of writing "avant-punk," and is currently one of the leading authors in the recent 'Bizarro' movement in underground literature[citation needed] with Steve Aylett, Chris Genoa and D. Harlan Wilson.
Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.
Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.
He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.
In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.
In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.
Mellick's work has been described as a combination of trashy schlock sci-fi/horror and postmodern literary art. His novels explore surreal versions of earth in contemporary society and imagined futures, commonly focusing on social absurdities and satire.
Carlton Mellick III started writing at the age of ten and completed twelve novels by the age of eighteen. Only one of these early novels, "Electric Jesus Corpse", ever made it to print.
He is best known for his first novel Satan Burger and its sequel Punk Land. Satan Burger was translated into Russian and published by Ultra Culture in 2005. It was part of a four book series called Brave New World, which also featured Virtual Light by William Gibson, City Come A Walkin by John Shirley, and Tea from an Empty Cup by Pat Cadigan.
In the late 90's, he formed a collective for offbeat authors which included D. Harlan Wilson, Kevin L. Donihe, Vincent Sakowski, among others, and the publishing company Eraserhead Press. This scene evolved into the Bizarro fiction movement in 2005.
In addition to writing, Mellick is an artist and musician.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 9, 2022
"Mouse Trap" by Carlton Mellick III is captivating!
I couldn’t stop reading. I never knew what was going to happen.
The plot is perfect, all the characters are well developed.
In my opinion, it’s an allegory of our societies. Everyone enjoy their life as if nothing horrible is happening around us. Because life is short and we never know when ours, is going to end.
The ending is perfect!
I loved this story!!!
I highly recommend it!
🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁
I couldn’t stop reading. I never knew what was going to happen.
The plot is perfect, all the characters are well developed.
In my opinion, it’s an allegory of our societies. Everyone enjoy their life as if nothing horrible is happening around us. Because life is short and we never know when ours, is going to end.
The ending is perfect!
I loved this story!!!
I highly recommend it!
🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁
November 8, 2021
Another fantastic storyline from CM3 containing great imagery and a serious message for us all behind all the quite wonderful chicanery.
Loved the sticky cheese, helicopter and alien droid ideas, whilst the ending also delivering a powerful punch and very possible conclusion, albeit in such a bizarre and abstract adventure under such a mad set of circumstances.
Emily, the 5th grader - was an absolute star and I had visions of her being similar in nature to a very young Sarah ‘Terminator’ Connor, but without the extreme violence, rage and murderous intentions.
Was undecided between a 4 or 5 star rating but thinking about all the unique creativity that was delivered to produce such a brilliantly enjoyable crazy story that worked so well, then it just had to be the full 5. Once again, for A CM3 masterpiece, thoroughly deserved!
Highly recommended.
Rating: 4.5 fun-filled stars of bright happiness.
Loved the sticky cheese, helicopter and alien droid ideas, whilst the ending also delivering a powerful punch and very possible conclusion, albeit in such a bizarre and abstract adventure under such a mad set of circumstances.
Emily, the 5th grader - was an absolute star and I had visions of her being similar in nature to a very young Sarah ‘Terminator’ Connor, but without the extreme violence, rage and murderous intentions.
Was undecided between a 4 or 5 star rating but thinking about all the unique creativity that was delivered to produce such a brilliantly enjoyable crazy story that worked so well, then it just had to be the full 5. Once again, for A CM3 masterpiece, thoroughly deserved!
Highly recommended.
Rating: 4.5 fun-filled stars of bright happiness.
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May 24, 2022It takes a minute to get there (for Mellick, at least) but I really love the place this book eventually goes. Growing up is tough. Everything feels like a trap. Who knows what we'll have to become to survive.
May 24, 2019
"I'm not sure what this place is, but it sure as hell isn't Disneyland."
Mouse Trap is yet another delightful book from Carlton Mellick III. I buddy read this book with my friend Mindi, and we had so much fun with this one.
I loved that the main character's name was Emily, and she's such a cool Emily 😂. I liked the characters in this book. Mouse Trap is both unsettling and amusing, and I can't wait to see what the author does next. I would call this book a post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror comedy (a bit of everything), so if that sounds good to you, pick it up!
Mouse Trap is yet another delightful book from Carlton Mellick III. I buddy read this book with my friend Mindi, and we had so much fun with this one.
I loved that the main character's name was Emily, and she's such a cool Emily 😂. I liked the characters in this book. Mouse Trap is both unsettling and amusing, and I can't wait to see what the author does next. I would call this book a post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror comedy (a bit of everything), so if that sounds good to you, pick it up!
May 23, 2019
MOUSE TRAP, the latest from Carlton Mellick III, was a buddy read with my pal Emily who actually introduced me to Mellick last year on my birthday. How did she know that one of his novels would be the perfect birthday gift? Emily just knows. She's really good at knowing people and finding out information. I recently called her the Lord Varys of Instagram.
But I digress. Emily made me a Mellick fan for life, and now we buddy read his books anytime a new one is released. MOUSE TRAP is such a fun ride. Sincerely, if you aren't familiar with bizarro fiction or Mellick I urge you to check him out. Start with this one. It's a nice way to ease into the world of bizarro.
Emily (Ha! I'm so jealous the protagonist has my friend's name) is going on a school trip. Most of the kids and all of the teachers but one have stopped coming to school, and Emily has been sleeping with the remaining students in the school gym for weeks now, so she's glad to be getting out. Emily is a very observant 5th grader who wonders why Mrs. Jensen is barely able to hold it together while driving the school bus to the amusement park. As a matter of fact, there really isn't anyone else on the road, and things seem really odd, but Emily tries not to let that get to her. She's looking forward to the promise of a day of fun.
Once the bus arrives at the park it's even more apparent that something is definitely not right, and as events unfold in the almost deserted amusement park, Emily and her friends have to fight just to stay alive. And Emily proves to be an important asset to her group because the entire park is booby trapped, and she is the most adept at finding the traps. Traps that will kill you in an instant if you don't notice them first.
This one is just bizarro fun from start to finish. I love the details with Mellick. The reason Emily wears an eyepatch is so hilariously wrong, but also absolutely fitting for her character. It tells you a lot about the type of person she is. And a story about a bunch of kids trapped in an amusement park full of deadly traps is sincerely a page turner. Mellick teases out the reasons behind the missing people and the traps, and the reader learns these things along with the characters. Emily is one badass little 5th grader, and MOUSE TRAP is a book that I highly recommend. You need some Mellick in your life.
But I digress. Emily made me a Mellick fan for life, and now we buddy read his books anytime a new one is released. MOUSE TRAP is such a fun ride. Sincerely, if you aren't familiar with bizarro fiction or Mellick I urge you to check him out. Start with this one. It's a nice way to ease into the world of bizarro.
Emily (Ha! I'm so jealous the protagonist has my friend's name) is going on a school trip. Most of the kids and all of the teachers but one have stopped coming to school, and Emily has been sleeping with the remaining students in the school gym for weeks now, so she's glad to be getting out. Emily is a very observant 5th grader who wonders why Mrs. Jensen is barely able to hold it together while driving the school bus to the amusement park. As a matter of fact, there really isn't anyone else on the road, and things seem really odd, but Emily tries not to let that get to her. She's looking forward to the promise of a day of fun.
Once the bus arrives at the park it's even more apparent that something is definitely not right, and as events unfold in the almost deserted amusement park, Emily and her friends have to fight just to stay alive. And Emily proves to be an important asset to her group because the entire park is booby trapped, and she is the most adept at finding the traps. Traps that will kill you in an instant if you don't notice them first.
This one is just bizarro fun from start to finish. I love the details with Mellick. The reason Emily wears an eyepatch is so hilariously wrong, but also absolutely fitting for her character. It tells you a lot about the type of person she is. And a story about a bunch of kids trapped in an amusement park full of deadly traps is sincerely a page turner. Mellick teases out the reasons behind the missing people and the traps, and the reader learns these things along with the characters. Emily is one badass little 5th grader, and MOUSE TRAP is a book that I highly recommend. You need some Mellick in your life.
June 4, 2021
One day an advanced alien species shows up on Earth and they place booby traps all over our world in an attempt to slowly wipe out the human race and colonize our planet.
A group of young school children have been kept indoors and sheltered from this harsh reality, but once they finally come outside they quickly learn how dangerous this new world is and it is now up to them to use their wit and ingenuity to avoid these traps and live long enough to find help.
Now the books premise was decent and the backstory was interesting to learn about, but it quickly gets a bit repetitive since all of the main characters were annoying and all of the other characters were just cannon fodder so the reader could see how these Tom and Jerry type traps worked.
The book DID have a pretty satisfying ending, but unfortunately that was the only thing that I really liked about the story.
Im giving this book 2 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐
A group of young school children have been kept indoors and sheltered from this harsh reality, but once they finally come outside they quickly learn how dangerous this new world is and it is now up to them to use their wit and ingenuity to avoid these traps and live long enough to find help.
Now the books premise was decent and the backstory was interesting to learn about, but it quickly gets a bit repetitive since all of the main characters were annoying and all of the other characters were just cannon fodder so the reader could see how these Tom and Jerry type traps worked.
The book DID have a pretty satisfying ending, but unfortunately that was the only thing that I really liked about the story.
Im giving this book 2 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐
June 19, 2020
I rly love this book. A super fun read into a crazy world of mouse traps, only those who set the traps are aliens trying to colonize earth, and those who are killed by the mouse traps are the human race. Highly recommended for fans of bizarro fiction, CM3, and fun.
November 15, 2024
En un mundo postapocalíptico donde trampas mortales acechan en todas partes, Emily, una niña de quinto grado, viaja junto a su clase a lo que les prometen es Disneyland, pero terminan en un parque abandonado y peligroso llamado El Bosque Encantado. Este lugar, lleno de trampas automatizadas, se convierte rápidamente en una pesadilla cuando su profesora, Mrs. Jensen, muere de forma violenta. A medida que los niños exploran el parque, descubren que no es un refugio seguro, sino una trampa gigantesca. Emily, sombría y madura para su edad, lidera a sus compañeros, enfrentándose al caos y a la revelación de que las trampas no son exclusivas del parque, sino una característica de su desmoronado mundo.
Emily, marcada por la muerte traumática de su padre en una de estas trampas y por su decisión de cegarse un ojo para emular a un pirata, enfrenta esta nueva realidad mortal mientras intenta proteger a sus compañeros. La llegada de tres adolescentes mayores, acostumbrados a la brutalidad del entorno, ofrece a los niños una visión más clara de su situación. A través de un entorno grotesco y surrealista, la historia explora la lucha por la supervivencia, el trauma y el crecimiento personal, mientras cuestiona la capacidad humana para ignorar la realidad cuando enfrentarse a ella resulta insoportable.
Emily, marcada por la muerte traumática de su padre en una de estas trampas y por su decisión de cegarse un ojo para emular a un pirata, enfrenta esta nueva realidad mortal mientras intenta proteger a sus compañeros. La llegada de tres adolescentes mayores, acostumbrados a la brutalidad del entorno, ofrece a los niños una visión más clara de su situación. A través de un entorno grotesco y surrealista, la historia explora la lucha por la supervivencia, el trauma y el crecimiento personal, mientras cuestiona la capacidad humana para ignorar la realidad cuando enfrentarse a ella resulta insoportable.
May 9, 2022
Loved this book! Our main character Emily was such a badass and the traps were seriously awesome (unless you found yourself setting one off of course) and the setting was my fav. A group of kids trying to survive in an abandoned amusement park with fatal traps hidden throughout? Yes, please! Mouse Trap is definitely in my top three CM3 books now.. 5/5 cheese skulls 💀
April 28, 2021
It was a good story. I wish it had been twice as long, I would have liked to read the specific things Emily did as a grown up.
The comic at the end was strangely miniscule and I couldn't read it.
The comic at the end was strangely miniscule and I couldn't read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2025
Extremely Entertaining!!! This was such a twisted and imaginative title. I had a blast reading this from the first page. Absolutely loved the characters and the crazy situation that Carlton threw them into. The title for this story was absolutely perfect. Seriously, if you haven't read a Carlton Mellick III book yet, you are totally missing out. I wish I owned every book this guy has written, and I am working on that collection cause these titles are easily worth reading more than once. Hopefully, Hollywood will wake up and start adapting bizarro fiction titles to film. Mellick's titles would make such a fantastic film collection, and I think the products/merchandise based off the books/movies would sell very well.
April 10, 2020
I’ll do a better review later, but I loved this book. Actually, can someone just give me all of Mellick’s books ... please? This is a bizarro win, for sure.
December 15, 2022
My 3rd CM3 book. So far 3 for 3. Really enjoyed this one!
July 24, 2019
I am still treading the shallows of bizarro fiction and haven’t read many of these books, but I have enjoyed what I’ve tried. They are so completely unique and so totally in a different universe that it really shakes up my reading list.
I’ve heard about the extremely prolific Carlton Mellick III (this is his fifty-ninth book!) from several reading buddies, so I wanted to give one of his books a go, and I can say that Mouse Trap is a strange and wild rollercoaster of a read that will definitely be different from anything else you’ve read recently.
I loved the originality of the story, and it’s hard not to get on board with the main character, a sullen Wednesday Addams–type girl who blinded her own eye with bleach to justify wearing an eyepatch.
The style of the book faltered for me in places, overexplaining sometimes by fully describing moments or actions of the characters that, to me, seemed obvious and would have been better left unsaid. Perhaps this is just the author’s style, but I found it to be a bit overboard.
It is written in a very dry, matter-of-fact tone that offers an interesting contrast to the insanity that is taking place on the page but also put me at quite a distance from all the characters. I didn’t feel like I ever got to know them.
I’m not sure if I’m quite the right reader for this work, but I definitely enjoyed giving it a try.
My thanks to the author for sending me an e-copy of this one to read and review.
I’ve heard about the extremely prolific Carlton Mellick III (this is his fifty-ninth book!) from several reading buddies, so I wanted to give one of his books a go, and I can say that Mouse Trap is a strange and wild rollercoaster of a read that will definitely be different from anything else you’ve read recently.
I loved the originality of the story, and it’s hard not to get on board with the main character, a sullen Wednesday Addams–type girl who blinded her own eye with bleach to justify wearing an eyepatch.
The style of the book faltered for me in places, overexplaining sometimes by fully describing moments or actions of the characters that, to me, seemed obvious and would have been better left unsaid. Perhaps this is just the author’s style, but I found it to be a bit overboard.
It is written in a very dry, matter-of-fact tone that offers an interesting contrast to the insanity that is taking place on the page but also put me at quite a distance from all the characters. I didn’t feel like I ever got to know them.
I’m not sure if I’m quite the right reader for this work, but I definitely enjoyed giving it a try.
My thanks to the author for sending me an e-copy of this one to read and review.
May 21, 2021
Ironically the book opens with a note from the author about how his last several books have started as short stories and been expanded into novels. This is one of those and it should have remained a short story. The expansion consists of a nonsensical trip to an abandoned amusement park when people have been dying around the globe from unexplained booby traps. Even after the survival nature of the book becomes apparent the kids try to go on a boat ride at the amusement park for no reason. The actions of the characters make zero sense for 92% of the book and the dialogue coming from these kids is completely false. Just kind of boring as a whole.
June 14, 2020
I've read all of CMIII's books. I love them for their stupid and silly and wild ideas.
If you've read him before you know what to expect going in. This book had all the great and wild ideas mixed with some intrigue and emotion, all the weirdness and messiness you can expect from the "godfather of bizarro fiction." It's by no means high-class literature but who the fuck wants to read that shit anyway?
Give me the weirdness. Give me a strange little book I can read in a single sitting on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
If you've read him before you know what to expect going in. This book had all the great and wild ideas mixed with some intrigue and emotion, all the weirdness and messiness you can expect from the "godfather of bizarro fiction." It's by no means high-class literature but who the fuck wants to read that shit anyway?
Give me the weirdness. Give me a strange little book I can read in a single sitting on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
August 1, 2019
This book gave me all the emotions. I'm a Carlton Mellick fan for life. I love this little book so much. If a ridiculous apocalyptic horror comedy appeals to you on any level, you will love this, too.
December 12, 2021
Doooooooood.
This was so unbelievably good. I didn’t expect to enjoy this one anywhere NEAR as much as I actually did.
Initially, some of the writing got on my nerves a bit but I’m so glad I stuck with it.
The story itself and the metaphors in it are worked wonderfully, intertwined with a fun gore factor.
This was like if Saw, Indiana Jones and Nothing But Trouble were married into one story.
I can’t wait to read more books by this author.
This was so unbelievably good. I didn’t expect to enjoy this one anywhere NEAR as much as I actually did.
Initially, some of the writing got on my nerves a bit but I’m so glad I stuck with it.
The story itself and the metaphors in it are worked wonderfully, intertwined with a fun gore factor.
This was like if Saw, Indiana Jones and Nothing But Trouble were married into one story.
I can’t wait to read more books by this author.
July 30, 2019
By far, his best to date.
I have read quite a few of CM3's books and have loved all them in a way. From Baby Jesus Butt Plug to Razor Wire Pubic Hair to Exercise Bike and now Mouse Trap.
The one extreme difference between his earlier writing and his more recent is that he seems to be maturing. It sounds odd, I know, but Mouse Trap felt 100% adult while having child characters. Not in the way of sex or language, but in descriptions and dialogue.
This novel, as all of his novels, are more than just meets the eye. Children having to grown up before they should, parents (adults) lying or hiding truths from children, and trust. Along with infatuation, friendships, and self sacrifice, makes this his standout novel.
The only, and I mean the only problem I had with this book is a personal preference, I did not need the epilogue. I love when books just... end. It's not Mellick's writing, but just my preference.
Without a doubt, one to pick up!
I have read quite a few of CM3's books and have loved all them in a way. From Baby Jesus Butt Plug to Razor Wire Pubic Hair to Exercise Bike and now Mouse Trap.
The one extreme difference between his earlier writing and his more recent is that he seems to be maturing. It sounds odd, I know, but Mouse Trap felt 100% adult while having child characters. Not in the way of sex or language, but in descriptions and dialogue.
This novel, as all of his novels, are more than just meets the eye. Children having to grown up before they should, parents (adults) lying or hiding truths from children, and trust. Along with infatuation, friendships, and self sacrifice, makes this his standout novel.
The only, and I mean the only problem I had with this book is a personal preference, I did not need the epilogue. I love when books just... end. It's not Mellick's writing, but just my preference.
Without a doubt, one to pick up!
September 30, 2019
Another superb book by Mellick. I can't remember the last time I read one of his books and wasn't impressed.
October 17, 2019
Si unimos supervivencia, niños, muertes absurdas, aliens y un parque de atracciones... Qué puede salir mal?
Brillante!
Brillante!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2022
There is something about a Carlton Mellick book that is hard to describe. It has some kind of childish charm that allows for extreme gore and disturbing situations to just be ok. Insanely odd ideas become feasible. But compared to his other books, this one feels much more realistic than most.
The plot is intriguing and poses an interesting philosophical question. I feel like the book had three main parts. Part one is learning what the hell is happening, part two is essentially an survival horror action story, and part three is the aftermath. Unfortunately, part three is more of an epilogue that spans the last two pages. It took a while for me to create a connection to the main character, but once it happened it made the end of the book feel rushed and is pretty disappointing. This could be a great place for a sequel, but as it sits now the book feels like the ending is rushed.
The writing is typical of Mellick. He writes at a young reader level so he always reads quickly. But the extreme subject matter benefits from the innocent type of narrative. Otherwise his books would feel overly dark and depressing. There are always a few nitpicky lines in his books I don't like. For example when multiple characters all use the same sentence structure or re-use words between characters as if they are all the same person. But these are small annoyances that don't really take you out the experience.
The characters are pretty interesting in this one. There are a handful of developed characters and Mellick gives you some background on them as to why they make the choices they make. I think the antagonists could have used some more developing, but generally they are pretty fleshed out.
I liked this one more than most of his books I have read. I always like his books, I find them oddly fun. I complained about the ending mostly because I wanted more. I would have loved another 50 pages to flesh out the last two parts of chapter 10. But, I have been that way with other authors as well. Stephen King is a great author, but not great at endings. So I think Mellick is in good comany here. I would recommend this one for Mellick fans or anyone interesting in taking a small step into bizzaro.
The plot is intriguing and poses an interesting philosophical question. I feel like the book had three main parts. Part one is learning what the hell is happening, part two is essentially an survival horror action story, and part three is the aftermath. Unfortunately, part three is more of an epilogue that spans the last two pages. It took a while for me to create a connection to the main character, but once it happened it made the end of the book feel rushed and is pretty disappointing. This could be a great place for a sequel, but as it sits now the book feels like the ending is rushed.
The writing is typical of Mellick. He writes at a young reader level so he always reads quickly. But the extreme subject matter benefits from the innocent type of narrative. Otherwise his books would feel overly dark and depressing. There are always a few nitpicky lines in his books I don't like. For example when multiple characters all use the same sentence structure or re-use words between characters as if they are all the same person. But these are small annoyances that don't really take you out the experience.
The characters are pretty interesting in this one. There are a handful of developed characters and Mellick gives you some background on them as to why they make the choices they make. I think the antagonists could have used some more developing, but generally they are pretty fleshed out.
I liked this one more than most of his books I have read. I always like his books, I find them oddly fun. I complained about the ending mostly because I wanted more. I would have loved another 50 pages to flesh out the last two parts of chapter 10. But, I have been that way with other authors as well. Stephen King is a great author, but not great at endings. So I think Mellick is in good comany here. I would recommend this one for Mellick fans or anyone interesting in taking a small step into bizzaro.
March 3, 2023
This is my second Carlton Mellick story back-to-back. I did prefer this story over “Dairy Queen” and here’s why:
This starts off with a group of elementary-school-aged children staying in their school, being loaded onto a bus and transported to “Disney.” Only this place strays far from the happy place we associate the Disney parks as. This “Disney” is filled with murderous booby traps, sure to pick off kids, adults, whoever, if you’re unlucky enough to be graced with their presence. (Think of Battle Royale but with cotton candy and rides).
Emily is our main character. She’s in the fifth grade and she wears an eye patch. She’s a smart cookie, but sort of reminds me of Wednesday Addams at the same time - she’s a dark soul, and boy does she go through it.
This story packed a punch - it had adventure and death and blood, gore, melting, cheese, etc. My favorite part was the Pirates of the Caribbean knock-off ride that held scary mermaids instead of pirates.
I really, really enjoyed this one and plan on reading more from this author in the near future. I think he’s deranged, but I kinda like that.
This starts off with a group of elementary-school-aged children staying in their school, being loaded onto a bus and transported to “Disney.” Only this place strays far from the happy place we associate the Disney parks as. This “Disney” is filled with murderous booby traps, sure to pick off kids, adults, whoever, if you’re unlucky enough to be graced with their presence. (Think of Battle Royale but with cotton candy and rides).
Emily is our main character. She’s in the fifth grade and she wears an eye patch. She’s a smart cookie, but sort of reminds me of Wednesday Addams at the same time - she’s a dark soul, and boy does she go through it.
This story packed a punch - it had adventure and death and blood, gore, melting, cheese, etc. My favorite part was the Pirates of the Caribbean knock-off ride that held scary mermaids instead of pirates.
I really, really enjoyed this one and plan on reading more from this author in the near future. I think he’s deranged, but I kinda like that.
November 20, 2024
Emily wanted an eye patch so bad, free of guilt placed on her about not actually needing it, so badly that she disintegrated her own eye- and that's solely the beginning of this wild ride. When Emily and some of her school friends attend Disney World, she is instantly suspicious- their teacher guide can't stop crying and resembles a wet paper bag, and the spray painted sign outside their destination leads her to believe they've been duped. Enter a Mouse Trap the game premise but for humans instead. It's hard to rate this without spoiling the best parts, so I'll just say- this was my second Mellick and I far preferred it. I especially adored the metaphorical feeling of the cheese and how simple it was to relate to that feeling of stuck sameness. The mermaid/ Pirates ripoff ride was quite possibly a ride I'd even ride based on how well described it was. The body horror bits were intense and by the end, genuinely too strange to look away from. Certainly a memorable tale!
December 1, 2022
If I didn’t have to be a responsible adult, I likely would have devoured this captivating story in one setting! This is the fourth book by Carlton Mellick that I’ve read so far and I assure you, it won’t be the last.
Mouse Trap is riddled with twists and turns in an imaginative world loosely based around the board game of the same name. From the get go you know something is not quite right with civilization as these characters should know it. I don’t want to spoil a thing, but the end of chapter one had me hooked and ready to find all the “cheese” this story had to offer! It’s gore done right throughout a story that displays humanity at its best and more accurately, worst.
If you’re new to Mellick’s work (or newer like myself), highly recommend this story! Personally, it had me hooked from the start and I love how the story evolves throughout the journey, as well as the ending.
Mouse Trap is riddled with twists and turns in an imaginative world loosely based around the board game of the same name. From the get go you know something is not quite right with civilization as these characters should know it. I don’t want to spoil a thing, but the end of chapter one had me hooked and ready to find all the “cheese” this story had to offer! It’s gore done right throughout a story that displays humanity at its best and more accurately, worst.
If you’re new to Mellick’s work (or newer like myself), highly recommend this story! Personally, it had me hooked from the start and I love how the story evolves throughout the journey, as well as the ending.
November 15, 2019
Dude never lets me down! His imagination is so vivid, and his descriptions are always impressive. His ability to paint a scene through words, without the need for pages among pages of drivel like do many other writers do to simply fill a book, is truly his strong suit.
This book truly grasps the reader and toys with your emotions. The idea of children being put in harm's way for the sake of personal safety certainly stirs a lot of emotion and makes it very evocative, but that being said, that's what made the story so great.
Am absolute must read if you're familiar with his work. If not, it could potentially be an excellent stepping stone into his other works.
This book truly grasps the reader and toys with your emotions. The idea of children being put in harm's way for the sake of personal safety certainly stirs a lot of emotion and makes it very evocative, but that being said, that's what made the story so great.
Am absolute must read if you're familiar with his work. If not, it could potentially be an excellent stepping stone into his other works.
August 27, 2021
A group of children led by Emily (a girl so dedicated, she blinded herself in one eye, because she wanted to be a pirate) traverse an abandoned theme-park booby-trapped by aliens.
This is very tightly plotted for Mellick and oddly unsexual - the heroine is a 10 year old girl, who begins like Wednesday Adams, but gains humanity as the book progresses. The whole thing is set against the back drop of a War of the Worlds style Alien Invasion.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. As ever CM3's imagination is staggering and his wry sense of humour shines through. This one isn't nearly as weird as some of his stuff, but thoroughly enjoyable none the less.
This is very tightly plotted for Mellick and oddly unsexual - the heroine is a 10 year old girl, who begins like Wednesday Adams, but gains humanity as the book progresses. The whole thing is set against the back drop of a War of the Worlds style Alien Invasion.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. As ever CM3's imagination is staggering and his wry sense of humour shines through. This one isn't nearly as weird as some of his stuff, but thoroughly enjoyable none the less.
November 23, 2019
This was my first foray into the Bizarro genre. A friend recommended Mouse Trap for a first read. There was a lot I loved - the lavish details of the Mermaid ride, the kids not being too simplistic (their principles, morals and priorities shine through), and the deaths, while being surprising and horrific, are described simply and clinically, so even squeamish-me wasn't horrified. I'm not sure how much more I'll read in this genre, but if I do, it'll be more of Mellick's stuff.
April 15, 2023
Emily is the most annoying brat. The rest of the children were, too. I'm glad most of them died, although, I wish Jeep had survived.
The ending was so bizarre, kinda cool up until the "women gave birth in litters" bit.
This book did nothing for me, I did love the sudden death of the teacher though, that went from zero to ten super fast, such a cool description. After that, it was pretty mediocre.
The ending was so bizarre, kinda cool up until the "women gave birth in litters" bit.
This book did nothing for me, I did love the sudden death of the teacher though, that went from zero to ten super fast, such a cool description. After that, it was pretty mediocre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2019
I loved it, though the ending was a bit of odd.
Funny, gruesome, and downright weird - as usual.
A bus full of school children in an abandoned theme park filled with booby traps. How many come out alive? Not many! The inventiveness and the (very) dark humour is glorious. Like all Bizarro genre books though, this is not for those who are easily offended.
Funny, gruesome, and downright weird - as usual.
A bus full of school children in an abandoned theme park filled with booby traps. How many come out alive? Not many! The inventiveness and the (very) dark humour is glorious. Like all Bizarro genre books though, this is not for those who are easily offended.
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