Reviews

Mouse Trap by Caryn Larrinaga

curiousherring's review

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

A good read for anyone after a short ghost story.

cassidyforgood's review

3.0

Mouse Trap is a paranormal horror novella by Caryn Larrinaga. It follows Dakota Scott and her family’s torrent of grief around the death of Dakota’s youngest brother, Kai, as a child and now her adult brother, Lennox. These horrors are tied to their childhood home, and Dakota finds herself in the house’s clutches as its new owner.

The horror is, as the author describes it, quiet. While the book’s central antagonistic force is terrifying, its effect is subtle. The terror does ratchet up in the few final chapters, and this is where Larrinaga’s writing shines—or rather fades into the background of the story.

Larrinaga’s writing is capable, but I was aware of it almost the whole time. The mousetrap metaphor is multilayered and apt, though I do wish it had been introduced sooner in such a short novel.

In general, this story lacks something for me. The characters and plot are just underdone enough to be noticeable. Also, I do prefer faster-paced novels, and this one is slower, as it happens largely the on the psychological plane. We witness the story as Dakota perceives it, and her realizations and memories drive the story.

I think this novella would appeal to fans of Darcy Coates who are looking for something shorter. Personally, I would be willing to try other titles from Larrinaga in the future.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Timber Ghost Press and NetGalley for access to this ARC!

its_rosa_reading's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

acornsbooksandcoffee's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Mouse Trap is an enjoyable, haunted house horror story that can be read in a single sitting. The story explores grief and trauma in childhood, and the way that bleeds into our adulthood and the relationships we have with our families. This was delightfully spooky, and I would absolutely read it again. 

kattrent's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

This is a great discussion of grief and how trauma makes it so you cannot fully process your emotions. How that holds you back and makes you feel more worthless everyday. 
I enjoyed this book, but it was not enrapturing-- I could put it down and come back to it, which is not a bad thing. It discusses interesting topics all wound up in a supernatural bow. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

heather_harrison's review

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

What to do when your agoraphobic brother dies in your family home, the second death in the house in some twenty years? Well - head on home of course! Cue gut-wrenching grief, dark secrets & general spookiness. 
The characters and relationships are well crafted by author Caryn Larrinaga. 

It gives off Gothic vibes of Shirley Jackson & Silvia Moreno-Garcia. 
This very creepy novella is a fantastic read for any horror fan stuck in a reading slump! 

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Mouse Trap by Caryn Larrinaga. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

_readwithlauren_'s review

4.0

4.5*

I absolutely adored this book! I read this book in 2 sittings and that never happens to me. This book hooked me from the beginning and I could not put it down. I loved how this book intertwines grief and loss with elements of horror. Caryn Larrinage does such an amazing job at making you care about the characters and want the best for them. The way Caryn Larrinaga portrays Dakota the main character's emotions as she deals with the death of her brother was beautifully done. The way Dakota is dealing with our emotions about her brothers' death was so real and raw, and I feel like people can really connect with her. Dakota is riddled with guilt and regrets about her brother and you really get to see how she deals with that. The reason this isn't getting five stars is that I felt that the ending was rushed. I really wished we got more at the end about how and why Dakota made the decisions that she did. Other than that this really was an amazing book, I highly recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for arc in exchange for an honest review!

kylethewild's review

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This was short and quick, and the way the character's grief crept into the spooky aspects of the story really added depth. It was interesting to see things from her perspective when she was a kid (and she attributed things to ghosts), and when she was an adult (and she attributed things to her emotions from losing her brother).

aswift1's review

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

vanmeers's review

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Mouse Trap follows Dakota as she travels back to her childhood home in Astoria where her older brother has been found dead. Dakota has to, alongside her parents, arrange her brother’s funeral and find arrangements on what is to happen to her childhood home. While her parents travel back to their city, Dakota stays behind and slowly uncovers deep dark secrets that lurk in the darkness of the home - a home that was once a place of happiness and joy but which turned into a place for grief and sadness when her younger brother died twenty years prior. Now grief and sorrow finds itself in the house again and Dakota has to fight the urge to fall into the grief. 

I read Mouse Trap in two days and the only reason I had to spend two days on it was because of adult responsibilities such as a “full time job”. If I had had the ability to sit down and read it all at once, I would’ve done it. This is a book that you do not wanna put down when you first start it. Thankfully, the beauty of Mouse Trap is that this book is exactly short enough for you to do so without it ever feeling too short or that there’s anything left unturned when you reach the last page. 

It’s quick paced and manages to snatch your attention from the first page and the author does an exceptional job in describing grief and how it affects you deep down in your bones. Even if you haven’t experienced the grief that the main character, Dakota, has experienced, you will be able to fully immerse yourself in it all thanks to the descriptive and detailed nature of the writing. The book explores grief through the supernatural and I think it’s done it quite well. Mouse Trap is definitely a book worth reading if you like slow creeping horror, trauma and grief, and want a quick read that leaves you stirring in your own feelings afterwards.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Timber Ghost Press, for the digital review copy!