"The Trap" by Catherine Ryan Howard is a chilling mystery inspired by a series of real-life disappearances in Ireland in the 1990s. As the third Irish woman vanishes without a trace, Lucy is consumed by the agony of not knowing what happened to her sister, Nicki, who disappeared after meeting friends at a pub in Dublin.

Desperate for answers, Lucy decides to take matters into her own hands, determined to uncover the truth behind her sister's disappearance. Meanwhile, Angela, a civilian working in the Missing Persons Unit, harbors aspirations of joining the Irish police force. Frustrated by the stalled official investigation, Angela begins her own unofficial inquiry, risking her career in pursuit of justice.

As Lucy and Angela delve deeper into the case, they uncover shocking secrets and dangerous truths that threaten to shatter their lives. Meanwhile, a nameless man prowls the night, his latest victim in tow. As he drives, he reveals his sinister intentions to his captive, unraveling a terrifying narrative of deception and violence.

With tension escalating and the stakes higher than ever, "The Trap" explores the unsettling consequences of what lies beneath the surface, where the truth can be more terrifying than fiction. Catherine Ryan Howard delivers a gripping tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Howard always has cutting edge thrillers that feel fresh and timely. Loved the dual perspectives with this one, and the ending is one that’s stayed with me long after I finished reading.

A mystery that took inspiration from the still-unsolved disappearances of women, during the late 80s/90s in Ireland, from an area that is now known as the Vanishing Triangle.

One evening, Nikki walks out of a pub in Dublin, but does not return home. Her disappearance marks the third from the area. Lucy, Nikki’s sister, takes matters into her own hands (technically feet), as she tries to find her sister and figure out what took place. Beyond grief, Lucy’s efforts are fueled by her frustration that the police investigation and media attention on the missing women has not been equal. Rather, the amount provided has been informed by the level of importance assigned to each by society. It is clear early on, that Nikki has not been apportioned much.

This book started out strong, but it ended up just okay. There were certainly gripping moments. The writing and atmospheric tension effortlessly reeled me in. But in the end, it became a bit repetitive and did not come together in any wow way.

I’ve heard excellent things about this Irish crime author, so I am going to go back and read her others: Distress Signals (shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey/New Blood Dagger), The Liar’s Girl (shortlisted for the Edgar Award for Best Novel), Rewind (shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year), The Nothing Man (shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year), and 56 Days.

This was a twisty thriller told in multiple perspectives, one of them the presumed killer which actually was a unique angle in my opinion! Feeling the bad guy's energy throughout added a layer of suspense that made me get the sense of a predator still out for his prey. I felt as though there were enough twists that kept me on my toes, and at times making me question and look back at what I'd already read!

I honestly had to give this one a few go's to get into it, I can't exactly explain why other than that I didn't feel "hooked" from the beginning which is kind of an essential part of thrillers for me. The middle was engaging but at times a bit confusing. And the ending left things feeling unresolved for me, which I can appreciate the intent, but also I just feel like I read all of that and didn't get the satisfaction of a full resolution.

Overall a decent thriller - definitely recommend going in blind and with an open mind! Things may not be as they seem.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was not for me. The story was kinda slow and I couldn't connect with the characters at all. I was hoping for something different

Thank you so much Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing, & Catherine Ryan Howard for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🖤⁠
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I received this one on my kindle 7/31/23 & I was SO excited but unfortunately I just couldn't get into it. ⁠
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I am so bummed to have to give it 3 stars. 😔⁠
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It felt anti-climactic & a bit confusing. When it was over, I was shocked because I couldn't believe that it just ended without much being resolved in my opinion. ⁠
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I love this author so it pains me to say this-- but this book was a definite letdown for me. ⁠
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After the author's note, I understand where she was going with it-- but it just didn't work for me. I am someone that needs to know all the things when I book is over & this one just didn't satisfy that.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book!

A couple years ago I read (and disliked) 56 Days by this author. I figured I’d give her another go with The Trap but unfortunately I have come to the conclusion that she is not the author for me.

This story follows multiple points of view including a woman who believes her sister was one of a handful of women abducted and murdered, members of the Irish police force following these cases, and the apparent abductor/murderer of the missing women.

Overall this story felt sluggish. It never hooked me and I didn’t care about the outcome, nor did I get attached to any of the characters. But I think anyone that is a hardcore true crime fan may find this type of story entertaining and gruesome.

I’ve seen some mixed reviews on this one, but I honestly thought this was such a solid thriller!

the premise of this story involves a girl named Lucy who has made it her mission to find her missing sister after she’s been linked with several other missing women in the area. with their captor still at large, Lucy puts her own life in danger to find answers—and more importantly, her sister—before it’s too late.

while reading through Lucy’s perspective, we also get an alternate perspective from Angela, a civilian who is essentially a paper-pusher in the local Missing Persons Unit. after managing to get herself involved in a lead regarding the local missing women, Angela shadows a notable member of the Irish police force & finds herself in the thick of this mysterious case.

as the events unfold, we also get the perspective of the man at large. to me, this is what gives this book its chilling suspense factor. not only do we get a picture of the pure evil and darkness a seemingly normal person can possess—but all the while, we know that his presence is still looming, and he continues to be a threat.

overall, I thought this was thoroughly entertaining and cleverly written. the climax/ending frustrated me a bit, but I can’t really say why without giving it away 🙈 the beginning of the story ends up taking on a whole new meaning once you finish the book—I actually ended up rereading it to see how the experience changed for me after getting to the end. i would definitely recommend for any suspense lovers who enjoy hearing the bad guy’s perspective, too!

thank you to @netgalley, @blackstonepublishing & @cathryanhoward for my #advancedreaderscopy of this book!

Lucy is desperately trying to find her sister. She’s been missing for a year, and her disappearance is tied to several other missing women. Denise is a detective attached to the cases; alongside a civilian worker named Angela, Denise is trying to figure out what happened to these women and if the cases are even connected. Told through multiple points of view, including the presumed guilty party, readers are put on a roller coaster that doesn’t stop. As the mysteries unravel, readers are left questioning everything they thought they knew about the story. The writing and plot devices used by the Catherine Ryan Howard are surprising and satisfying despite Howard not giving the readers all of the answers. This book is a must read for mystery lovers; the twists are infuriatingly amazing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow, this was really dark. I was a bit surprised!

Overall, I found it compelling and I felt I needed to keep reading. I thought the jumping in perspective was a little confusing and the end was a little vague.

Thank you Netgalley & Blackstone Publishing for an eARC of The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard! Howard is one of my favorite authors - I absolutely love everything she writes, so I was thrilled to get my hands on this early copy.

I can see this one having polarizing reviews, because while some may find this a slow burn, it's so expertly written and gives you a true - "wait, what?" moment at the end that I found myself wanting to read the book back from the start knowing what I then knew. For me, that's a sign of a great read!

The book follows a series of unsolved disappearances in Ireland in the 90s, and one woman finding herself risking absolutely everything to catch this killer. A year prior, Lucy's sister, Nicki, went to meet friends at a pub and never came home. Lucy's life has turned into a nightmare, constantly wondering and trying to figure out what happened to her sister - And the other missing women who vanished inexplicably.

I loved the alternating POVs between Lucy and the investigator Angela. It was a great balance between that police/procedural feel and more of a psychological thriller that kept me on edge the entire read!

What a fun thriller! This author never disappoints. The multiple POVs kept this one super interesting and fast paced. I didn’t love the ending which is why it’s not a 5 star, but overall would be a book I recommend to others.

My insanely delayed review of The Trap is not indicative of it's quality. It is, in fact, an incredible thriller. Probably one of my recent favorites.

There are multiple POVs and time-lines, and it took me a bit to get into a few of the perspectives (namely the Missing Persons officers), but ultimately loved the way they all come together with the big reveal at the end. It's absolutely one of my favorite endings of any thriller I've read. I was so blown away, I'm currently reading another book from the author, Catherine Ryan Howard.

I enthusiastically recommend this book, and furthermore this author, as I'm already loving my current read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC I received in exchange for an honest review. I'm sorry it was so late!

Catherine Ryan Howard shows the lengths a woman will go to find her missing sister:

Lucy's sister Nicki left the pub she had been with her friends one night and was never seen again. Nicki is also not the only one who has gone missing, at least 3 women are missing and have been linked together and the agony of not knowing does not just haunt Lucy but the other families as well.It has now been one year and Lucy is trying everything she can in order to find who may have taken her sister. The more risks that Lucy is willing to take put her closer and closer to her own danger.

I slept on this book too long as I find that Howard can be hit or miss for me, but this one was totally a hit and this is no wonder as it hit on some key things that I enjoy in mystery/thriller books; Bad guy perspective, twists and turns along the way, multiple POV, small town fee to it (even though it is Dublin).

What I really enjoy about Ryan Howard books is that we typically get the persepctive of the bad guy. Gives you insight as to why they do what they do. In this one we get a lot of detail from how he did things and how he got so successful in his practice in getting the women but also evading the police. This was my favourite POV in the book as i found it really intriquing and slightly different from when you read the killer's POV. We do get Lucy's and a civilian worker, Angela's POV as well (in order to get the police information perspective) and while those other two POV are interesting, i think the the killer POV ios the most interesting.
There are quite a few major twists throughout the book and while the majority of them come in latter half of the book the build up was well done. It was awesome not to be able to predict where Howard was going to take things in this book and I think she shed light on some of what happens in the police department of making things Fit when they need to as well as shining a light on the media as to how when the 17 year old is reporting missing the media is all up in arms but when "older" women in their 20s are reported nothing is really said. I found it extremely impressive that that Howard did not take the easy way out and you’ll either appreciate for what it is or not, but i thought it was not only a bold choice but one that I really liked.

For some reason this book felt a little long, even at just over 350 pages in my kindle. I cant figure out or pinpoint why i felt this, maybe as there are multiple POV and some are go in very different directs but it just felt a bit long to me.

If you have been considering reading this book i would say move it farther up your TBR list. I really enjoyed it and when the twists stop coming they do not stop. I know i'm going to be reading more by Howard.

Enjoy!!!!

Edge-of-your seat thriller. This was my first Catherine Ryan Howard book, but definitely not my last. I found myself annoyed with the main character multiple times for making dangerous decisions, but at the same time totally understanding. A bit twisty, I found it unpredictable, which is the best kind of thriller. Character development was pretty good - unreliable narrator who was not always likeable or even relatable, and a lot of it was pretty far fetched, but it definitely kept my interest!

What's scarier than feeling afraid doing your everyday activities? Leaving a bar and just trying to get home and going missing.... The Trap feels ripped from the headlines and drives fear right into your throat. Read with the lights on!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝘼𝙣 𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡-𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙄𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧.

I went into this book completely blind and I’m so glad I did. I did this one as a mix between the ebook and audio (primarily audio), and I felt like the story was told in such an interesting way.

The cases of the missing women in this book were chilling to read about and disturbing at times. I enjoyed that the author told the reasoning behind why this book came to be.

The book is told through a few different perspectives and I found the characters to be intriguing in their own way.

However, there was a lot being told throughout the book and I ended up finding myself confused at times. I had to reread a few parts to fully understand what was going on.

This was such a fun read and I found the reveal to be fascinating!! I’m so glad I picked this book up and can’t wait to read more from this author.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the review e-galley and Libro.fm for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Despite being an avid crime fiction reader, I find CRH’s books quite hit and miss, largely because of how convoluted they are. I love a multi-perspective narrative but I found it to be a bit clunkily employed in The Trap and I kept having to check who I was with now which removed me from the story

Catherine Ryan Howard is an auto-read author for me! THE TRAP is about one woman (Lucy)'s journey finding her sister after she disappeared under mysterious circumstances. At the same time, multiple women are being reported missing, finally getting attention of the local police force. The police try to find the apparent serial killer, but Lucy chooses to take matters in her own hands.

THE TRAP is told from multiple POVs, with the serial killer's POV being the most enthralling. This is very slow moving book and can feel a bit slower than you probably would expect. I usually binge read this author's books, but it took me a few days to get through. All in all, THE TRAP was a good thriller and I will definitely be picking up her future reads!

Three women have disappeared into thin air, never to be seen again...Lucy Sullivan is looking for her sister in a very unusual way. She sets a trap for her sister's abductor, walking the dark streets night after night. The first chapter is FIRE! You have so much suspense and confusion- it sets the tone for what is one exciting story! She is reckless, living with her sister's boyfriend and searching for answers!

At the same time Angela, a Gardai staff member for the Missing Person's Unit, has a discovery, which leads to an important clue in the case.
One of the three narrators is also the killer- love to see the perspective of the killer!
They stories intertwine and twist around each other like snakes.
It's such a great thriller, I devoured it!
4 stars.