Thank you Atria for the gifted ARC!

Well damn, I FLEW threw this one (no pun intended). Also, once you find out why the book is called The Wasp Trap? *chef kiss* So clever, I loved it.

As with most books I read, I went in without reading the synopsis, but I saw a few early reviews saying it was super good, and they were not wrong. I was sucked into the story immediately, and although I admittedly didn't enjoy the flashback chapters as much, when the storylines started to weave themselves together I was incredibly impressed.

Every time I thought I had some inkling of an idea what was going on, I was completely wrong. And then the big reveal comes and my jaw hit the floor. But guess what? That actually wasn't the big reveal! Because there was an even BIGGER reveal!!

All in all, expertly done. I absolutely loved this one. I've only read a few of Edwards' books but this one is hands down my favorite so far.

The Wasp Trap US pub date is September 16.

Thank you so much Atria for the gifted book!

WOW- if you are looking for an absolutely UNHINGED thriller that will SHOCK you, look no further than THE WASP TRAP by Mark Edwards!

I don't even want to say much about the plot and I don't think you should read the synopsis, all I really want to say is BUCKLE UP because trust me you are unprepared for what you're about to read!

There were a few scenes in this book that will stay with me for a LONG time and I'm not even sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing (LOL), but I will say Mark Edwards sure kept me guessing! As soon as I started this it was impossible to put down and it just kept building and building and I was turning pages faster and faster as I went on!

I think this will be a major win for thriller lovers and can't wait til it's out in the world this fall!

4.5 -I absolutely devoured this delicious read! Set in two timelines and alternating between POVS, the story kept me engaged throughout. The characters are relatable in ways you maybe don't want them to be, and the story itself is a unique take on the locked-in-a-mansion-who-dunnit plot. Reading this book feels like being a fly on the wall of a gossip-filled awkward reunion you're not supposed to be at but never want to leave.

This was my first book by Mark Edwards, and I'm pleased to say it won't be my last! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC and introduction to a new favorite writer.

This was my first book by this author and I will read from him again.

Fast paced, short chapters and twisty? What else can I ask for?

The story is told from past to present, and it’s dark and suspenseful.

I kept turning the pages so fast, and the ending was clever!

Thank you so much Atria Books and Mark Edwards for this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Definitely recommend.

This book held my attention completely. Some bits of it were farfetched but that just fit in with the wild and fast paced plot. I loved all the different characters and twists. This was an easy and engaging read. So fun!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. The Wasp Trap was a face paced thriller that was hard to put down.

Twists and Turns You'll Never See Coming!

The Wasp Trap accomplishes a LOT under 400 pages. This book sets the stage for a classic closed-door mystery. College friends are reuniting after they hear of the passing of their beloved mentor. However, when they gather together, secrets that had been hidden for decades are ready to come to light. This story evolves from a simple mystery into a pulse-pounding thriller. There is a missing person case, hidden agendas, surprises, and secrets revealed, all of which connect to the dating application they created in 1999.

This was my first Mark Edwards novel, so I was delighted with his writing style. It is unique and truly "unputdownable!" The twists and turns were written with a clear direction, and it led me through several different theories until the climax revealed all. I NEVER SAW IT COMING! Readers should expect the unexpected and prepare to be shocked because the end of this story is going to absolutely blow your mind!

Check this out and don't get caught within the Wasp Trap!

As someone who is allergic to wasps but loves a good suspenseful mystery… The Wasp Trap had me at the title alone. It’s an amazing read that I didn’t want to put down (darn employment got in the way but unfortunately that happens every now and again lol). Mark Edwards really sets you up to think you know what’s going to happen only for you to just have to buckle up for the ride cuz the twists are twisting and the drops are steep.

You have a dinner party of old uni friends coming together to mourn the death of their old professor. Professor Sebastian brought these students to work together on a psychological based dating app he wanted to create where bonds were forged, secrets were buried, and lives were forever changed. However, their dinner goes awry when gun toting bad guys want to unearth the secrets these friends have buried. Thing about wasps, they don’t die when they sting you, it causes a swarm of chaos. And that is what ensues once this party gets started for real.

They are so many layers and stories going on within this setting, however they are so beautifully written and interwoven that you want to follow the threads to get to the entire blanket. You genuinely want to become the amateur sleuth that solves the case… and yeah I’ll stick to couch sleuthing because I did not see 75% of the twists coming in this book. If you’re a suspense lover, prepare to be suspended. And the ending is just as well written as the entire story. It doesn’t feel rushed or thrown together. It wraps the story up so elegantly like a seasoned wrapper in the mall during Christmas. The Wasp Trap was a great read and the only quip I have about it is the epilogue… Mark, we need to know the results!!!!! Solid 4.5 ⭐️ novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for granting me access to the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

#NetGalley #TheWaspTrap

3.75⭐️ there’s a lot I enjoyed with this plot. This book kept my attention from the beginning, I didn’t lose interest throughout. I enjoyed one of the twists towards the end a lot! One negative is that I felt like there were certain pieces of the plot that were unnecessary to the story and just made it confusing. Also, sometimes the characters acted or said things in a way that felt unrealistic to what people would say in the situation they were in. This was my first book by this author but I have more of his books on my shelves and definitely interested in reading the others I own!

** I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Wasp Trap is an original locked room thriller that keeps you guessing. I did not expect the twist! The unfolding of the story is suspenseful. I enjoyed being transported back to 1999.

This book had so much promise, but for me it didn't quite live up to that promise. I thought for sure this was going to be a solid 4 star read for me but I couldn't connect with the characters and it took far too long to get to the point for me. The buildup was long and the action was short. Too much of this felt unbelievable to me and I just couldn't get on board with it.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by this author. The story follows six friends across dual timelines, and it started off strong. However, I found myself losing interest as it went on—not because the plot was confusing, but because it just didn’t hold my attention. If it had maintained the early momentum, I think it could’ve been a great read.

Wow, what a twisty ride! I had so much fun with this one. I truly didn't see the ending coming and it takes quite a bit to surprise me these days. The only reason I won't give it a full 5 stars is that the beginning starts off a bit slow - by the time the first part ends it's a thrill ride from one reveal to the next. But getting there takes a bit of effort!

This book was really fun. I sometimes am wary of books that do dual timelines but I thought this one worked really well. I loved the twist with what the questionnaire turned into and in general just really liked the book

2.5 stars. Really wanted to love this one, but it just didn’t work for me. The pacing was slow and I never got pulled into the story. I pushed myself to keep going, hoping it would pick up, but I just couldn’t get invested in the story or the characters.

Thank you for an advance reader copy.

Thank you NetGalley for this Arc! It’s been a while since I’ve had a book I couldn’t put down, thank god this broke the slump. I didn’t see the twists and turns coming but they made complete sense and I feel like I could have figured it out almost. There’s something about mysteries and thrillers where you need to have the ending have a layer of plausibility for it to really hit, and this one delivers. Highly recommend!

A slow burn with a solid payoff. The Wasp Trap takes a while to hit its stride, but once the secrets start unraveling, it’s hard to put down. The dual timeline works well to build tension, and while not every subplot felt essential, the final twists landed. If you’re into locked-room thrillers with messy friendships and buried truths, it’s worth the ride. Just be patient with the first few chapters.

This book had all the makings of a successful locked room thriller but it suffered from poor editing and too much length and filler. I wanted to know “what happened” so i did finish it, but Will was not a well developed character-and neither was anyone else!! Missing that foundation, i struggled to care about anyone as the secrets unfolded and when the flashbacks started to drag it just got worse.

3.5 rounded up

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards is a twisty, fast-paced thriller that grabs your attention right away. The setup is creepy, the tension builds quickly, and it’s super easy to get pulled into the mystery. I flew through it in just a couple of sittings!

There are plenty of surprises, and I definitely didn’t see the ending coming. Edwards knows how to write a page-turner, and the short chapters made it hard to stop reading. It’s the kind of book that makes you say “just one more chapter”… until you’ve read five more.

That said, I didn’t totally connect with the characters, and some of the plot points felt a little too far-fetched for me. I wanted a bit more emotional depth or development, but if you’re in the mood for something entertaining and suspenseful, this definitely delivers.

Overall, a fun, fast read with some solid twists—even if it leans a little on the dramatic side.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Atria for the ARC!

What happened at the end of the summer of 99? Why did this group of 'friends' never see each other after that summer? Who has a secret that they've been holding onto? Or should I say secrets? All these questions come to light after 'The Revolutionaries' reunite, 25 years later. Their beloved professor passes away, and the group now finds themselves at a dinner party together. The suspense in this novel was crazy high. I didn't know who was being truthful, including our narrator, and who was keeping secrets from the group. I did not see the two big twists coming, and I absolutely loved this story!