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A review by reads_eats_explores
The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Good God, she’s done it again with another top notch thriller. CRH is an auto-buy author for me, and this, book seven, did not disappoint.
Essentially this is the story of one sister, Lucy, who is desperate to find her missing sibling, and she will go to any length to do so, including setting traps for passing drivers, hoping that the man who took her sister will take the bait.
The Trap had me sitting on the edge of my seat from page one! My heart was in my mouth as Lucy entered a passing stranger's car that dank, dark night.
One year ago, Lucy’s sister, Nicki, met friends at a pub in Dublin and never came home. The third Irish woman to vanish inexplicably in as many years, the agony of not knowing what happened that night has turned Lucy’s life into a living nightmare. So, she’s going to take matters into her own hands. The only connection made between the cases is their mobile phones.
The Gardaí set up a task force under the name of Operation Tide. Still, they are not getting anywhere until Angela, who’s not a Garda (yet), but working at the Missing Persons Unit, stumbles upon something interesting left at a charity shop that could potentially help break the case open. Thankfully she is listened to, but how far can a few charity shop items take them?
Interspersed with the various other points of view, the abductor has a chance to share his thoughts as well. He is married, and his wife is obsessed with documentary tv shows, including true crime, yet totally oblivious to how close heinous actions are to home. This fella made my skin crawl, but getting inside his thoughts, finding out what motivates him to commit these acts was utterly fascinating.
With the high-stakes tension ebbing and flowing through the story, I raced along, unable to stop until a spectacular conclusion.
The Trap is a thoroughly immersive, twisted, pacy and perfectly executed thriller; everything I hoped and prayed it would be and SO much more. 5⭐
I received a proof copy from the publisher, but this is, as always, my honest opinion.
Essentially this is the story of one sister, Lucy, who is desperate to find her missing sibling, and she will go to any length to do so, including setting traps for passing drivers, hoping that the man who took her sister will take the bait.
The Trap had me sitting on the edge of my seat from page one! My heart was in my mouth as Lucy entered a passing stranger's car that dank, dark night.
One year ago, Lucy’s sister, Nicki, met friends at a pub in Dublin and never came home. The third Irish woman to vanish inexplicably in as many years, the agony of not knowing what happened that night has turned Lucy’s life into a living nightmare. So, she’s going to take matters into her own hands. The only connection made between the cases is their mobile phones.
The Gardaí set up a task force under the name of Operation Tide. Still, they are not getting anywhere until Angela, who’s not a Garda (yet), but working at the Missing Persons Unit, stumbles upon something interesting left at a charity shop that could potentially help break the case open. Thankfully she is listened to, but how far can a few charity shop items take them?
Interspersed with the various other points of view, the abductor has a chance to share his thoughts as well. He is married, and his wife is obsessed with documentary tv shows, including true crime, yet totally oblivious to how close heinous actions are to home. This fella made my skin crawl, but getting inside his thoughts, finding out what motivates him to commit these acts was utterly fascinating.
With the high-stakes tension ebbing and flowing through the story, I raced along, unable to stop until a spectacular conclusion.
The Trap is a thoroughly immersive, twisted, pacy and perfectly executed thriller; everything I hoped and prayed it would be and SO much more. 5⭐
I received a proof copy from the publisher, but this is, as always, my honest opinion.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Domestic abuse, Rape, Self harm, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Sexual violence, and Vomit