Trapped

Hide & Seek #1

by Sal Mason, Sally Mason

They took her sanity. Now they are back to take her life.

When Kelsey Miller was sixteen, she was kidnapped, beaten, and raped by two men--neither of whom was ever brought to justice. Three years later, the past still haunts her and fear, pain, and anger have taken over her world. Trapped in a cycle of self-harm and depression, she becomes her own worst enemy.

One night, her kidnappers return and ask her to make the ultimate sacrifice. This time, the stakes are even higher since her tormentors are not only determined to crush her spirit but her life.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Horror, Dark, Mystery

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 21, 2016

About the author

Sal Mason is the author of reality fiction thrillers, often combining dark themes with a good dose of hope and triumph. Writing stories has always been part of her life, but she decided to take it a step further when she discovered Wattpad in 2014.

Mother of two, she lives with her children and pug Einstein in Ireland where she can be found writing at Costa's, taking strolls along the Irish shore, or curled up in front of the fireplace with a good book.

You can learn more about Sal by visiting her website at www.salmasonauthor.com

Reviews

[Georgi_Lvs_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book totally engrossed me from start to finish!!

All day I have just been reading, I hated to even put this down for a second as I couldn't handle not knowing any longer.

The twists in this book are brilliant!

If your a fan of a dark/thriller genre READ THIS!!!!

[Ari Reavis · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Received from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*

I liked certain elements, but others felt like the author was trying to squeeze too much into her book. It dealt with rape, and I think that was done well, for the most part, as far as the after effects of it. The self-blame, the depression, and feelings like that. Especially since Kelsey's second abductor and rapist wasn't known to her or police, her fear and distrust were very genuine.
But then the drugs, gangs, dea... it was all too much and I feel, didn't really fit the story at times.
There's a little romance with another character who has a pretty tragic backstory, but it's pretty on and off, for good reason.
The level of mystery concerning the second abductor was what really kept me interested in the book.

[Yellagirlgc · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Gwen🗡️🐉 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ somehow this book got even better the second time I was reading it??

[Darcy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated how this one started, hated what Kelsey went through and how her life has seemed stalled in the aftermath. I was glad that Kelsey's family realized that she needed help and did what they could to see that she got it. I should have kept reading, but I realized that I didn't care enough to keep reading. This one just wasn't for me.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm this was definitely not what I was expecting. And sadly in a bad way. The plot twists were really predictable and the plot in general was just very confusing and hard to follow. The characters were really meh, not very lovable and the traits the author gave Hallie were really not well described. Don’t want to spoil anything, but the descriptions were pretty bad. I’ll give credit for the creativity, but other than that, the story was really messy and the characters very unlikable. I found Kelsey to be a very childish and irritating character.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally Mason's emotionally gripping and heart-stopping mystery/thriller Trapped, shadowed Kelsey Miller, a nineteen-year-old girl, who suffered from PTSD for three years. While kidnapped, Kelsey endured months of beatings, humiliation, and sexual assault by two men who were never brought to justice. One she knows; the other is a complete mystery.

(I was given this Advance Reader Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. Plus, spoiler-free.)

What drew me to Trapped is Mason's undeniable competence when alluding to the harrowing abuse and how all of that shapes her main protagonist. My favorite thing in this thriller was Kelsey's overall growth as the chapters progressed--specifically when her morality is tested through trials in which she is forced to decide who suffers the ramifications of the choices she makes.

This book raises awareness to PTSD symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and self-harm as Trapped depicted the raw emotions of a new-adult on a downward spiral. From beginning to end, Mason handled these tough topics with astute insight, awareness, and keen details interwoven with heavy scenes that made me cringe, crumble, and cry. Mason's heart-pounding suspense prowled in every chapter, keeping me on my toes and leaving me with more questions than answers at times: Who is Napoleon--the beast Kelsey calls her unidentified abductor, who stole her innocence, the ringleader to all of her pain.

🍉🍊🍍
Hero rating: 3.2
Heroine rating: 3.8

Writing mechanics (literary elements/devices usage included): 4.3
Plot rating: 4.0
Dialogue rating: 3.5
Storytelling rating: 3.8
Story ending rating: 3.6

Sexual tension rating: N/A
Sex scenes rating: N/A
Sex scenes frequency: 2 (not good nor bad, just occurrence rating)
**********************************************
Overall rating: 3.7 stars
Would I recommend this book: Yes
Would I reread this book: Yes.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.

[Christina Patey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally Mason will take you places - dark places, that most dare not go.

Trapped is an emotional journey following a damaged young woman living in the aftermath of hell.

Unfortunately for the main character, she's about to face her demons.

Kelsey's struggle with her depression and anxiety will ring dangerously close to home for anyone who has been unfortunate enough to experience them. If you've yet to experience these things yourself, her masterfully (and tactfully) written emotional extremes will offer you an in-depth look at a somber subject that most shy away from.

I was frustrated for Kelsey, angry for her, mournful for her. It may pale in comparison to other things that happened to her, but when the people around her sport a 'just try harder and life will get better' attitude before she's ready to come to terms with her issues, it really bothered me. I feel like it's one of the worst things that you can say to someone suffering depression, and yet it's such a common thing to hear. My heart broke for her when the people around her got so fed up with her that they betrayed her like that.

[Harleyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wow.... I just loved every part of this it kept me glued to my phone. If I hadn't spoiled the ending I wouldve been shocked about Napoleons identity. But I found napoleans identity being confusing as hell cause he was so nice to Kelsey and her protector then all of a sudden when it's revealed he's this cold hearted monster. So worth the read I loved every second of this

[Christina Culbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I just finished the book "Trapped" by Sally Mason, and Wow. What an awesome, tough, young adult novel. Although I'm 28, a good young adult book will always be a favorite genre to me, especially on tough subjects like this book is about. I will say, it can get pretty intense, so if your triggered by rape and sexual harassment, I wouldn't recommend this book. If your an adult, or a mature young adult, I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to read part 2. I will say, when I read the first couple of chapters, I was almost not into it, due to it sounded too juvenile, and the main character (Kelsey) was saying things like "I'll kick your butt" instead of "I'll kick your ass" and almost didn't give this book a chance, even though I always finish books. I figured this would was going to be a far too bit juvenile for my age, but man was I wrong. The story then starts to get interesting, and alot more mature subject matter, and my opinion and first impression was changed. This book has many twists and turns, it's suspenseful, and will keep a young reader on their seat, even my adult ass couldn't stop turning the pages. I don't want to give any spoilers, but Kelsey is a rape survivor. She was abducted and raped, had her virginity taken from her, and the whole book is crazy, and has her finally triumph in the end. Characters are not who they seem to be, and you shouldn't trust any of them besides Kelsey, I'm just saying . The only reason I'm taking a star away is because of Kelsey' s character at times. At times, I was so irritated and frustrated with her for being so naive, to the point I would get mad she was believing anything and anyone who told her anything. She learns in the end looks are not what they seem. At times, she's a brat, and I couldn't relate or sympathize with her when she cuts (Also a trigger warning) If you can stomach rape and self harm, murder, kidnappings, and twisted characters, you will love this book. I will soon be reading the second book (Survived) as soon as I can get my hands on it.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I don't even know where to start with Trapped. It was my first book by Sally so something new for me but I cannot stress how much I enjoyed it. I only read 1 sentence of the synopsis so went in a bit blind but this book really was a GREAT read.

I love a good mystery, throw in some new adult characters and a bit of darkness and you have me hooked. This book will keep you guessing right till the end and I loved that. Did I work it out? I was partially there.I won't give spoilers so can't say more than that. It was clever and twisted, just the right amount of darkness too. Granted there will be some triggers for some (Abuse, self harm, rape) but I felt all these subjects were dealt with in such a way by the author that you were told just enough and your imagination did the rest.

I really enjoyed the characters too. They were well developed, I was rooting for Kels throughout the book and other characters too and loved how the author really made me question my feelings towards said characters at times. This book is one of those 'Everyone is a suspect' books.I don't feel that's a spoiler. You will question everything and so you should.

4.5 stars, the reason this didn't get higher was namely in the beginning I felt something with Kels seemed a little out of character, especially one who had been through what she had. I know we all could react differently, but it didn't feel right to me (Kels and 'boy' going out - that's all I'm saying). Over all though, Sally has a new fan here and I cannot wait to read more of her work.

[Juliet Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like your thrillers dark and mysterious, this novel is for you. The story follows Kelsey, a teenage girl who was held captive by an unknown man until she was finally released back to her family. The story begins at the hospital after she has been found, but this turns out to be the calm before the storm and we are soon taken on a roller coaster ride of twists and turns as Kelsey fights to expose the identity of her kidnapper. Mason is an extremely talented mystery suspense writer, weaving a multi-layered tale which keeps the reader guessing right until the very end. The finale is edge of your seat stuff. You have been warned! I can't wait to see what else this series has in store for us.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of this book caught my eye and I had to click on it and read the blurb. The blurb intrigued me and I found myself wanting to read more about the main character Kelsey. The author has created such a strong storyline and touches so many sensitive topics within the book as Kelsey sure travels a road no one wants to ever experience or have to try to heal from, being kidnapped at the age of sixteen. If you are looking for a book that deals with some dark topics but gracefully played out, a main character that will capture your heart as you read her story and a book that will have you want to tune out the world for just another page or two, I believe this book is for you. Enjoy!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kada Uhara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trapped is an amazing read. Sal Mason effectively portrays the darkness of the main character, Kelsey, delving into trauma, self-harm and loneliness from having no one understand her inner turmoil caused by the rape suffered from her kidnappers prior to when the story begins. Full of twists until the very end, the book delivers as an emotionally gripping thriller.

I have personally never gone through such a harrowing experience, but the book is written in a way that I was able to connect with Kelsey: cheering her successes, sharing her sadness and disgust at the truth of what actually happened to her.

I hope other people give this book a try.

[Bookworm LLC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trapped is a story of abduction, rape and mental anguish.
I gave it a 3* because although it was a good story I think the author could have done a bit better with the ending.
Was I a bit shocked by who the two abductors were? Yes. However, there were times when I thought it very well could have been at least one of them.
I will read the next book, Survive, and see how that I like that story and review it here on GR.

[Nicole Sargent Kunkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did think the first part of this book was well thought out. I could really see Kelsey coping with her injustice by using self harm. I liked that the book had good characters. The story was building on a really good arc. I could begin to feel sad for Kelsey. There were lots of twists and turns throughout the book that kept you guessing.
I gave a four star because the story had a few too many plot twists. I think the book was made too long with these extra character side stories.

[Nathaniel Broomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trapped was an amazing book and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I barely could but the book down. The ending was great and I barely like endings of books because they are always rushed. I would recommend this book to people between the ages 14-18 and if you like mystery it would be the prefect book for you.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelsey takes a ride to get home, but she is not taken home. She is help captive and raped by two men, one keeps his identity unknown by wearing a mask. Kelsey escapes and finally finds the fight in herself to fight the demons. She makes a deal with her captor to give herself up to save a younger girl. This is when the story gets fast and furious with a twist at the conclusion.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap. I had shivers run thru my body as I read this. Dark, mysterious and depraved. The mind set of crazy you can't even wrap your head around. This story plays on every fear you have and makes you want to sleep with the light on. Twisted and sick, as you read you are transported in terror and fear things that go bump in the night.

I read and reviewed a copy of this book.

[DettaDrake · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a very good book, and you're bound to be trapped in it. You won't be able to put it away anymore.
It is written very good, and the story is excellent, but I won't be giving any spoilers here ;)
Anyways, I enjoyed every moment of reading it and I really recommend it.

[barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth 5 stars

This is a really well written book. Loved all the characters and the storyline was really good. This is the first time I've read this author and I highly recommend her. I am definitely reading book two..........
.

[J Balascio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well dang!!!

This work will keep you guessing from the first page. Your heart will break and heal more in this book than in all the anthologies COMBINED!!!
A vile plot with a sickening amount of twists make Trapped a must-read for any thriller fan.

[Geraldine Streit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few inconsistent but it’s a really good story. Some part are visually hard but the author make it somehow easy to read, you can’t actually put the book down

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very dark story with a young girls sanity at stake. This was a horrific tale that was hard to read at times. The author never falters though and delivers a well crafted story which will leave you reeling. Drama and suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page is read.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Really good plot to the story. Very well written. Would highly recommend it to anyone who likes this kind of stories. Can't wait to read more from this author. Fast paced to the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fran · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had an interesting premise. Unfortunately it reads like fan fiction. I think the story got overshadowed by attempts at (way too much) action and converging dramatic points. It became convoluted and implausible. I had to make myself finish reading it.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intreging

I first seennit on wattpad and so I had to get it. I was really a great story. I really didnt want to put the book down. It was a story that keep you on your toes. It was amazing. Thank you

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books is full of plot turns (in a good way). Never gets boring, totally recommend it

[Michelle Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, easy read. Always something happening. Never a boring moment. Look forward to book 2

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me very intrigued. Can’t wait for book 2 to be available in Canada!