Ellie, a budding actress, goes to Abu Dhabi in place of her flatmate and doppelganger Phoebe. After a turbulent flight, things go from bad to worse on location with an unexpected death.
All the characters have history with each other, and as the book progresses, we find out more of their secrets, and their reasons for being there. It is pacy, and written with a lot of humour. Ellie/Phoebe is really funny, there is always another revelation coming from her.
I enjoyed this.

Ellie and Phoebe meet in an acting class in New York, against all the odds they are so alike they could be doppelgängers so when Phoebe offers Ellie the chance to take her place on the set of a movie, Ellie, is at first reluctant but then realises it’s an amazing chance to kick start her own acting career. Flying to Abu Dhabi, Ellie meets the rest of the cast on an eventful flight which sets the scene for the rest of the plot. There’s such a lot going on and Ellie has to convince everyone that she is who she says she is but then mysterious things start to happen and tension flies high as more and more things start to go horribly wrong.

I enjoyed the complexity of the plot, meme era of the cast seeming to get bumped off rather quickly which adds a certain frisson of excitement to the novel as you never quite know what’s going to happen next. It’s all set against a stunning desert backdrop which adds a surreal quality and whilst there were times when I had to suspend belief I did enjoy trying to guess which way the plot was heading. There’s several twists and turns which add depth and a final reckoning which I didn’t see coming. All in all Sun Trap is a well thought out destination thriller, with a stunning location, a diverse bunch of quirky characters and an exciting plot. It would make a great holiday read.

Strap in for a wild, sun-soaked ride, The Sun Trap is an addictive, twist-filled thriller that will leave you breathless and questioning everything.

When Londoner Ellie meets the glamorous, enigmatic Phoebe at an acting class in New York, their uncanny resemblance sparks an instant connection.

But what begins as a fun friendship quickly spirals into a dark and dangerous game of identity-swapping.

With Phoebe suddenly unwell and about to lose her first major acting role in Abu Dhabi, Ellie agrees to impersonate her just for a few days. What could possibly go wrong?

Well… quite a lot, actually.

From the moment Ellie boards the plane, the tension ramps up.

Overhearing a sinister conversation mid-flight, she lands in the desert with more than just nerves to manage - there’s a murder plot, a dream role, and her favourite actor all wrapped up in a web of lies.

What unfolds is a deliciously disorientating thriller full of misdirection, dark secrets, and unreliable memories.

The narrative moves fluidly between timelines, keeping you hooked as you slowly piece together what brought Ellie to this sun-drenched nightmare.

The setting a luxurious yet unsettling hotel in the middle of nowhere is the perfect backdrop for this claustrophobic, high-stakes whodunnit.

And Ellie? One of the most delightfully unreliable narrators I’ve read in a while. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on things, The Sun Trap throws another curveball your way.

Yes, you’ll need to suspend your disbelief, some of the plot twists are bold and more than a little implausible but that’s part of the fun.

It’s dramatic, atmospheric, and absolutely made for devouring in one or two sittings.

If you're after a clever, fast-paced psychological mystery with serious summer thriller vibes, this one's for you. I loved it, and it’s a solid 4 stars from me.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sitting in a scorching hot garden reading this was the perfect place for a book set in Abu Dhabi.

This is a page turner. I couldn’t get enough and I flew through it. There are a lot of twists that I just didn’t see coming, and I just found the writing and plot absolutely thrilling.

This is the second book of Rachel’s that I’ve read and she’s now an author that I will always pick up as I know she won’t let me down!

My thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

WoW. . . . . . Sun Trap by Rachel Wolf and narrated by Alexandra Boulton was an interesting audiobook. it was a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller and set in Abu Dhabi was very good. What more could you ever want?
Once I started to listen to it I ended up being my main audiobook to listen to until it had finished, especially as it was a roller coaster ride from start to finish and a setting for a good whodunit. I loved it.

If you are reading this book, it is a great page turner full of twists and turns throughout that will have you turning your pages to see what happens next. Sun trap has everything, Impersonation, friendship, fear and revenge that may lead to Murder! Excellent combination to make a excellent audiobook/book!

It's a great holiday book/audiobook. I loved it!

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries | Head of Zeus for my Audiobook and ebook.

As thoughts turn to summer holidays, is there anything better than a destination thriller to get you in the mood? Sun Trap transports you to the Abu Dhabi desert - buckle up, because it’s a wild ride!

Ellie is an aspiring actress who gets the chance to appear in her first film. But on the plane en route to filming in Abu Dhabi, she overhears two people discussing a planned murder - and it’s not long before someone ends up dead …

There seems to be no shortage of suspects amongst the cast and crew and as the body count grows, things become ever more complicated, particularly for Ellie who is harbouring secrets of her own.

This is the epitome of a twisty plot - and at times will have your head spinning, as things take yet another unexpected turn. The desert setting is intense, with a sprinkling of Hollywood glamour, and the characters, charismatic but largely unlikeable, all add another layer of complexity to a plot that never ceases to surprise.

It’s a rollercoaster of a read and one that kept me guessing but had me thoroughly entertained - perfect for reading poolside this summer.

Unfortunately this was unbelievable from the start for me and very quickly was a DNF,I wonder if wrong book,wrong time as I seem in the minority but it just didn’t work for me,apologies

Ellie who has always wanted to be an actor gets her big break when she gets a role in a blockbuster film. However on the plane she overhears a couple plotting murder but remains silent, not wanting to risk her chance. But then one of the cast is killed and she knows she has to be careful as she has a lot on the line.

I was really interested in the plot of this one, especially as it is set in Dubai and I enjoy a destination thriller. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the setting and the storyline being based on a film set added to my intrigue. This certainly ended up original and a bit crazy, you need to suspend disbelief and it becomes over the top at times. I have to admit that even though this was the case, it made for an entertaining read… especially when the reader begins to be introduced to twist after twist. Although this could be confusing at times, it was a fun story overall and would be great for a holiday read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I’m gutted my chaotic personal life kept me from reading this quicker because it was a great read!

Once I actually got a couple of days to myself, I couldn’t put it down. A definite page turner!

A book with great twists, good cliffhanger chapters and some lovely tense moments.

My favourite character was Josh, I loved the support he gave the FMC Ellie even when things weren’t quite as they seemed!
Loved how my opinion changed towards certain character throughout the book also.

I really enjoyed Rachel’s writing and thought it flowed well. A certain point through the book we do start to flit between timelines and I thought that would feel confusing but it helped put the story together.
There are quite a few characters to keep track off but I found this easy and thought each one had a great role to play in the story.

Great summer vibes from the Abu Dhabi setting so definitely pick this one up for a thrilling summer read!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an ARC of the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to netgalley for approving this arc.

This book felt super intense! It has all. the feels for a summer thriller, or a book to take on holiday..
It had drama, it was very good in the sense of pacing of the story, and I throughly enjoyed trying to guess who was behind everything.

I would recommend if you’re looking for a quick paced thriller for the summer.

Wow, this is one hell of a read. Just when you think you know where the story is going, it throws you in a completely different direction. I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down.

Sun Trap by Rachel Wolf is amazing, and what you believe becomes twisted and it all changes!! This book took me only 24 hours to read, it was so enjoyable!
Ellie is a young English woman who wants to be an actress. She finds out about a movie being made that will include her childhood hero. She devises a plan that will make sure she is chosen to be within the cast. And close to him.
But on the plane journey to Abu Dhabi, she overhears two people discussing murder, and not long after, this becomes a reality…
I love the way Rachel Wolf gives you the true facts gradually, feeding us readers a truth at a time. She makes sure you make assumptions that have to change as more tidbits come to light. Brilliant!!
Many thanks is to Head Of Zeus for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #HeadOfZeus, #RachelWolfAuthor.

3.25*

I love a destination thriller and enjoy suspending belief to become immersed into the high unrealistic and crazy world of the story and 'Sun Trap' is no different. You really do need to suspend belief with the story premise but it's so ridiculous that you can't help but go along for the ride. There are plenty of twists and turns and our main character, Ellie is well realised and reasonably likeable (not often the case in these books!). There are pacing issues for the middle third of the book but the ending comes at you like a speeding train with reveal after reveal that for the most part I didn't see coming.

You know what you're getting with this kind of book so don't think too much about the story or how far fetched it is. Just go along and enjoy the whirlwind ride, and whilst it's a cliché to say, it really is going to be a great read by the pool for your 2025 holiday.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries | Head of Zeus - an Aries Book for a digital review copy of "Sun Trap" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

3.5 rounded up.

This book begins with a girl and her doppelganger and I though "What? Really?" and had low expectations. I read on though thinking I could overlook this highly unlikely plot device. I am glad I did read on because this is a goof read with so many secrets, deceptions and unexpected but believable plot reveals.

It is very entertaining with a lot going on and I like the unusual setting of the desert. The intense heat is very well described as is the sand storm and the choking and extreme discomfort it causes. Most of the reveals came as a surprise to me although the alert reader might guess one of them quite early on. The ending was quite good too..

This would be a great holiday read especially if you are somewhere hot.

Gosh, I just finished this book and my head is swimming. This book lulls you into a false sense of security and then sucker punches you. There are so many red herrings, Rachel Wolf could put a fishmongers out of business. The characters are shifty, the setting is opulent and unfamiliar, and the secrets are many. My only qualm is that I wish that the characters were a little more developed.

A very entertaining albeit implausible thriller that uses its Abu Dhabi setting to great advantage. Ellie wasn't supposed to be in the movie or on the plane-she's taken her friend's place-but she is and now she's got a problem. A big one because she heard two people plotting a murder. And guess what- there's a murder. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This will be a great travel book (hah!) or one for the beach bag.

Ellie lands her dream job in a film in Abu Dhabi, but that’s not true she is pretending to be her friend Phoebe who actually won the part. On the private jet to the hotel Ellie overhears two people planning a murder.
Well written, gripping and full of twists and turns I practically read this in one sitting.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for others to read it coming out this month


BE CAREFUL
Ellie has wanted to be an actor since she was a child so, when a role in a blockbuster film presents itself, she grabs it.

WHAT YOU
On the plane to Abu Dhabi to begin filming, Ellie overhears something she shouldn't – two people discussing plans for murder.

WISH FOR
Unsure if it's a misunderstanding, and not wanting to ruin her big break, Ellie remains quiet. Then ten members of the cast become nine...

Ellie needs to be careful – it's more than just her career on the line.

Because she isn't who she says she is.
And liars are always the prime suspect.

I love this time of year when the summer thrillers start to appear and Sun Trap is the perfect beach or holiday read if you’re looking for a bit of escapism! ☀️🩸🏜️💀 Honestly, it's one of those books that's just outrageous, a real rollercoaster of over the top fun!

Ellie is taking part in an acting workshop in New York when she meets Phoebe who looks eerily similar, the others on the course are fascinated by the pair who could be twins they are so alike. Phoebe is due to fly out to Abu Dhabi straight after the course ends for her first small film role but she falls ill and the stress of having to turn down the role is making matters worse. Ellie agrees to pretend to be her and take her place on the film set - what could possibly go wrong?!?! On the private plane, Ellie overhears a conversation where a man and a woman talk about murdering one of the cast members but without knowing who they are or who they are planning to kill, Ellie is stuck in an impossible situation, but this is just the beginning...

This is an especially twisty thriller, just when you think you know where the story is going, everything takes a completely different turn and this unexpected departure is so brilliant. The film industry, the glamorous hotel, the scorching hot desert, the egos of the cast and crew and a sinister murder plot are all key components in making this thriller work so successfully. There's something about the setting that gave me an Agatha Christie vibe but with a more contemporary cinematic feel.

You will need to suspend belief while reading Sun Trap, but it's a thoroughly entertaining destination thriller where nothing is as it seems!

What an incredible read - I just had to sit and finish it in two sittings. Fast paced, topsy turvy and fascinating characters with a totally unexpected ending.