Okay, wow. This book had me absolutely hooked. If you love true crime documentaries, missing person cases, and books that make you question everyone, then The Trap is for you.

Set in Ireland, this story follows Lucy, whose sister went missing a year ago. She’s desperate for answers and willing to take dangerous risks to get them. Meanwhile, we also get the perspectives of a rookie Garda (police officer) and a mysterious man who seems… off (to put it mildly). These three storylines weave together in such a chilling, tension-filled way that I had to keep turning the pages.

Catherine Ryan Howard does atmosphere so well. The constant sense of unease, the dark roads, the isolated feeling—it’s all so vivid. And the way the story unfolds? Brilliant. Just when I thought I knew where it was going, it took a sharp, unsettling turn.

I will say, this book is definitely eerie, so if you’re looking for something light and cozy, this isn’t it. But if you want a thriller that feels real, one that taps into the true crime obsession while also reminding us why it’s so terrifying, The Trap is a must-read.

What a creepy and exciting read! The premise sounded really interesting and it did not disappoint. Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC!

Review for The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard ”

1. Plot Uniqueness : 3/5
2. Pacing and Coherence :” 4/5
3. Emotional and intellectual Engagement : 4/5
4. Twists and turns : 3/5
5. Protagonists Character Development : 4/5
6. support character development : 3.5/5
7. Setting and atmosphere : 4/5
8. Chapter Organization : 4/5
9. Conclusion and tied loose ends : 4/5
10. Overall rating of book : 4/5

3.5 stars
There is a serial killer on the loose in Ireland. Women keep coming up missing. When Lucy's sister, Nicki, comes up as missing they didn't take things seriously until more women followed. Lucy knows her sister would not just disappear like that. So, she walks the streets in hopes that the same man will pick her up as well. She just has to know what happened even if it kills her.
Angela works on the sidelines in the Missing Persons Unit but desires a position on the police force. The missing women really sticks with her and she wants more than anything to catch this maniac. She starts digging deeper and jeopardizes everything she has worked for.
Lots of great characters and a story that is well written and keeps moving. Enjoyed every moment up until the end. As for the end, it was a bit of a disappointment as there was no clear conclusion.

The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard starts with a promising premise—a suspenseful cat-and-mouse game inspired by real-life disappearances—but struggles to maintain its momentum. While the initial setup is intriguing and the atmosphere tense, the plot quickly becomes bogged down by slow pacing and underdeveloped characters.

The twists, though creative, feel forced at times, and the emotional stakes never fully land, making it hard to connect with the story’s core. Despite flashes of Howard’s sharp writing, the narrative doesn’t quite deliver the gripping thriller it aims to be.

2 stars — an interesting idea that ultimately lacks the tension and depth needed to make it truly memorable.

Quick and easy but not my total fav.

Just as much a story about the power of what a sister would do to find the truth as it is about men being horrifying as a species.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

This was fine. A good popcorn read for a mindless sleepless night. This author always wraps things up nicely. Like a good Scooby doo mystery but without the dog

*The Trap* by Catherine Ryan Howard struggles to live up to its thriller genre expectations. The plot feels predictable, with few genuine twists or surprises, and the pacing often drags, making it hard to stay engaged. While Howard’s writing is solid, the lack of suspense and tension ultimately leaves it feeling like a missed opportunity for a gripping thriller.

This was a great thriller! I truly enjoyed the audio for this. Catherine Howard does a fantastic job writing an atmospheric thriller that captivates you from page 1.

The mix of a variety of narrators and timelines really got in the way of this book's flow for me. The twists and turns and reveals were interesting enough, but I found it a slog to finish and it's not a long book. I tried the audiobook and when that didn't help I pushed through but it wasn't a favorite of mine.

I loved how this book was inspired by a series of missing women from Dublin in the 90s. Things like this go on every single day all over the world, and get such little attention. So any kind of spotlight shone on a very real and troubling epidemic is helpful.

I just wish I liked the book itself more. It started out great, and I loved the premise, but it just didn't stick the landing for me.

I enjoyed the beginning of this story with the multiple perspectives and the little details that we received from them. However, the ending made me sad. I know that thrillers aren't suppose to have happy endings, but I had hoped. Just left me wanting something, but that's just me.

This was kind of my foray back into thrillers and it was very suspenseful and kept my attention. This is my first book from this author but I’m excited to read more of her books.

Slightly disturbing! There's a killer out there luring women into his car, and it could literally be anyone! Pulse pounding and scary! Short chapters which I love. Full of twists and turns and wow what an ending! I'm still thinking about this one and will continue to do so for a long time

This is a quick and easy read with a good ending, but it's probably my least favorite book by CRH so far.

I think the idea is interesting and the fact this is loosely inspired by the series of women who went missing in Ireland in the 90s had me intrigued, but I don't feel as if this fully delivers what it promises.

The title is called ‘The Trap’ and the synopsis claims the story is about a woman risking everything to catch the person who took her sister, but none of that is really the focus of the story. It's mainly about introducing all of the characters, how they are impacted by the missing women, and the police investigation. Lucy trying to “trap” the culprit is only like 10% of the story. So I wish that had gotten more page time and played a bigger part in the plot.

But, like I said, this is a quick and easy read with a good ending. I just think it could have been better if the main focus of the story was different.

I loved this!! So many twists that I didn’t see coming which makes it so enjoyable all throughout. It felt like a complex storyline but it wasn’t difficult to follow, and the payoff was unexpected and dark. Also I love Irish settings and characters so this checked lots of boxes for me.

Can Catherine Ryan Howard do any wrong?? I doubt it. Huge fan of this one and can't wait to get my hands on her next book as well.

There is a serial killer on the loose in Ireland. Women keep coming up missing. When Lucy's sister, Nicki, comes up as missing they didn't take things seriously until more women followed. Lucy knows her sister would not just disappear like that. So, she walks the streets in hopes that the same man will pick her up as well. She just has to know what happened even if it kills her.. Unputdownablle!