As a longtime fan of Mark Edwards, I always look forward to the gripping twists and psychological suspense he delivers—and Wasp Trap definitely kept me turning the pages. The story kicks off with a group of old friends reuniting after the shocking death of their former professor, and the mystery surrounding his demise pulls them into a web of secrets and long-buried truths.

The premise—friends coming back together under ominous circumstances—is one I usually enjoy, and Edwards paces the story well, revealing just enough at the right times to maintain tension without dragging things out. The plot unfolds smoothly, with plenty of eerie moments and uneasy revelations.

That said, I didn’t really connect with the characters. While that isn’t always a dealbreaker, in this case, it made it harder to fully invest in their fates. They felt more like pieces in the plot than fully fleshed-out people. It’s not necessarily a flaw in the writing—some stories don’t require deep emotional attachment to work—but here, the lack of connection muted the impact of some key scenes.

Still, Wasp Trap is a solid, suspenseful read. If you’re a fan of fast-paced thrillers with dark secrets and sinister pasts, this one’s worth picking up—especially if you already appreciate Mark Edwards' brand of psychological tension.

Thank You to NetGalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I'll admit: it's been quite some years since I last time really enjoyed a book by Mark Edwards, and this one...almost made it to my 'successful reads'.
I love the plot and the whole idea of old friends reuniting and all, but I didn't care for any of the characters. Didn't hate anyone, but I didn't care. If I can't care, I can't relate to them and, consequently, truly enjoy the story.
Also, in theory I really liked the idea of dark secrets being exposed by old friends. But in practice? It sounded a little too juvenile for my taste. Full grown-ups should know how to act better.

This book about 6 people who shared a summer together working for a professor who was developing a dating website. Each person had unique characteristics that complemented the group or not. I would say that during that summer the most interesting couple was Will and Sophie. You ache for Will as he is unable to tell Sophie how he feels. Fast forward to 25 years later and the group reunites after the beloved professor's death. What ensues is a locked room mysteries with plenty of twists and turns. The pace of the book was good, the characters seemed three dimensional. The ending I didn't see coming. 4 stars. I just don't like the title.

A dinner party bringing former co-workers. together to mourn the death of the man who brought them together turns into an evening of secrets to be revealed by all. Just when you think you have figured out the plot a new twist emerges. This is an incredible story that you have to read to the end.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

There are a lot of clever twists in this thriller that zips back to the nineties every few chapters. It is essentially the movie BLINK TWICE meets Lucy Foley’s work, but I wasn’t as invested in the characters in this one as I’ve been reading Foley’s books. The pacing is frustratingly slow at times. Ultimately, there’s quite a payoff for readers who stick around.

This was a really fun thriller with juicy secrets and tons of interesting psychological factors. I found the entire story completely engaging and left you wondering what was going on until the very end. I am a sucker for a fun ending and this definitely had that. The action started so early and continued on throughout the book, which kept me totally enraptured in what was going on and I did not want to put it down.

Wow! I hadn’t read an unputdownable thriller in so long! I loved everything about it. The rotating timelines and secrets upon secrets upon secrets! This is a must read! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy!

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the chance to eARC The Wasp Trap.

This book felt so classically thriller-themed and I devoured it in one setting. It felt very Agatha Christie modernized and I mean that in the highest praise. I didn't see certain aspects of this book coming and I enjoyed the twists and turns to keep me on my feet.

This was a medium then fast-paced read that built on itself so well. I appreciated the craft and use of flashbacks to create that much-needed snowball into the last act.

This was very well done and reminded me of exactly why I am a thriller girl. Mark Edwards, please, I'll take 15 more of these bad boys.

In 1999 six people get selected to take part in an experimental study based on psychological testing to create a new type of a web based dating site. The testing is used to weed out psychopaths while finding your perfect match. Little did they know that a psychopath lived among them. The story line jumps forward to 25 years later with the six individuals receiving an invitation to celebrate the life of their mentor Sebastian Marlowe who has passed away. Soon the celebration turns to horror and deceit. Whom among them hold a terrible secret and are they willing to die to keep it?

Wow just wow. Was not expecting all of those plot twists. I did not want to put the book down it was so good

*The Wasp Trap* by Mark Edwards is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat psychological suspense that keeps you guessing until the very end. Edwards masterfully builds tension with a plot full of twists, turns, and unforgettable characters. The story is gripping from the first page, drawing you into a web of secrets and danger that you won’t want to escape. If you’re a fan of fast-paced thrillers with dark, intricate mysteries, *The Wasp Trap* is a must-read that will leave you hooked from start to finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. A group of old friends come together after 25 years to celebrate the life of their mentor, Sebastian. Sebastian recruited this group of you college graduates to create a dating app dedicated to love. As the summer of 1999 wore on, the team was on the verge of success when one night Sebastian pulled the plug on the project and send them all home. Upon his death, one couple organizes a dinner party for the group but to what end? Are they really mourning the death of their friend or are there more sinister reasons at play? Everyone has secrets but are they willing to die to protect them? With a the story taking us from past to present the reader gets the best of both worlds with a closed door mystery in the present and a thrilling twist at the end that will keep the reader up all night.

Riveting - with a secret passageway in a house! YES!
That ending though - wowza! My daughter and I were both up late to finish!
Almost twenty years later, a group of people who worked on a dating site come together. The lead psychologist has died - curiosity brings the group together. But a secret holds their life in the balance.
Expert writing and delivery.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

Six friends who worked under a professor 20-plus years ago are now reuniting in current day after the professor has passed. This is a locked room thriller and they must reveal their secrets in order to survive.

This is my first time reading from Mark Edwards, and he does a great job of setting the atmosphere of a “locked room”-style thriller. The pacing is great; he gives out little nuggets of clues that are decently spaced out to keep you engaged. The ending is good, and the book has a few twists. Some are predictable, but there are a few that are a shock.

This has a dual timeline of past and present, which was a great way to keep the clues coming. The characters have lots of depth and are distinct, which is often difficult in books with multiple characters. I really enjoyed this and I would recommend it to people who like Lucy Foley or Alice Feeney.

At no point did I know where the book was going. It was full of emotion and great writing! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

If you’re a fan of popcorn thrillers, then this is for you. A group of adults get together after 25 years to remember an old mentor. What happened in 1999 is about to have a butterfly effect on the present. I loved Mark’s last release, but this one failed to deliver. The characters weren’t interesting to me and the whole set up with the dinner was too much. The pay off at the end was just ok, but not enough for me to enjoy the entire book.

I had a mixed experience with this book. I found the concept incredibly engaging, and I was immediately drawn into the mystery surrounding the six friends and their shared past. I loved the tension and unpredictability of their deadly reunion, and I felt genuinely invested in uncovering the secrets tied to their old project. However, I found the pacing uneven. Some sections gripped me and kept me turning pages, while others felt slower than expected. The alternating timelines added depth, but at times, I felt they disrupted the momentum of the present-day tension. Despite that, I really enjoyed the final twist. I thought it tied everything together in a way that surprised me and made me rethink certain characters and events. I finished the book feeling satisfied with the resolution, even if the journey to get there had its ups and downs.

Unfortunately I dnf'd this book.

I'm just not interested. The plot isn't pulling me in. And I'm having a hard time reading it.

I hadn't yet heard of or read this author before, but after reading this book it won't be my last.

I devoured this book in just a day and a half. That only happens when a book really gets my attention. The dual timeline was done very well. All things tied together and there was no confusion. This book was a wild ride from start to finish. I can't count the amount of times my mouth dropped.

I was unable to guess the ending, and I absolutely love that. 4.5/5 stars. Highly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

This was a fun, quick read that goes back and forth between time periods. Although, I had an idea of what the twist would be, it was able to keep my attention until the end.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to honestly rate and review this novel.