A well done, gripping and suspenseful story that left me wondering until the end. Would recommend to anyone who likes true crime or thrillers.

The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard was a slow burn suspenseful read. I felt pretty meh about this one until very close to the end. What a ride the end of this book was! I truly shut the book and have been thinking about it ever since.

When Lucy's sister goes to meet her friends at a pub and goes missing, never to be seen again; Lucy is certain there's more to the story. Unable to move on, stuck reliving the moment her sister vanished, Lucy decides to do what the police can't- solve the mystery of her sister's disappearance.

This one line from the description for this book really says it all "A nameless man drives through the night, his latest victim in the back seat. He’s going to tell her everything, from the beginning. And soon, she’ll realize: what you don’t know can hurt you …"

...If that intrigues you, pick this up!

A huge thank you to Libra Fm and Blackstone Publishing for granting me access to this title!

This mystery hooked me from the start. What happened to the missing girls? I really enjoyed the different perspectives. The audio narrators were fantastic!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @blackstonepublishing for providing me with an advance audio copy of this book and giving me the chance to discover this fabulous author! I‘ll be diving into her backlist now.

Looking for a gripping truly dark psychological thriller ? Look no further, The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard is that kind of book and it is already out since August 1st !

At the start of this book a woman misses her night bus home and with a dead phone she has no choice but to walk. Picked up by a Good Samaritan, her thoughts race - she's in danger vs. she's fine. Suddenly things turn from the readers perspective since she is deeply disappointed when she's dropped off safe and sound. Her driver wasn't the man that took her sister. Maybe next time … and just like that this book keeps giving you whiplash.

Starting from this point this book drew me in with it’s focus on a string of missing women. The story is told from multiple POVs giving the reader an insight into very different minds (victims, perpetrator, family liaison officer and family members).

This was a completely addictive read - cleverly plotted with believable characters and enough twists to keep you second-guessing everything. The audio narrated by Alana Kerr Collins & John Keating was atmospheric and oh so good ! I listened to this in just a day and I'll be recommending it to all the thriller readers I know, this was fantastic!

I read an early NetGalley copy of The Trap and loved it - I'm doing a buddy read and wanted to refresh my memory, so I re-read/listened to the audio version. Catherine Ryan Howard is one of my favorites, and the narrators (Alana Kerr Collins & John Keating - who also did the audio of The Nothing Man together) were amazing. Highly recommend reading and/or listening to this!

Some twists, some turns. One “shock” factor, just not a good ending. It intrigued me throughout but I feel as if it was wrapped up too quickly. 3⭐️

This story had a lot of twists and turns. I really enjoyed the narrator. Character development was good and the storyline was complicated, in a good way. There is no way I could have figured out the end. I was captivated and wanted to keep listening.

This was my first book by Catherine Ryan Howard and I enjoyed it very much!
Loved the narration. I always love when they use someone with the accent of where the story is taken place.
I love a good missing person story and this one delivered. The multiple POV was great. A little hard to keep up with sometimes but not too terrible.
Ready to go binge her backlist.

Thanks for change to listen/read 🖤

This book was great! The story focuses on three women that have gone missing in and around Dublin and to what extent their loved ones will go to find answers. Right off the bat what I thought would be a predictable plot threw me off with a twist. I loved the direction the story went. Pacing was fast, and the multiple POVs kept the storyline highly engaging. The POV from the abductors standpoint was the most intriguing to me hearing his method and rationale for his actions. The story ends somewhat open ended feeling satisfied but ultimately wishing for a little more! Overall a great story that I highly recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC.

An unsettling mystery inspired by a series of still-unsolved disappearances in Ireland in the 90s, wherein one young woman risks everything to catch a faceless killer.

Spoiler alert: Ya girl loves a serial killer on the list & this book DELIVERED HUNNY.

I loved CRH's "56 days" and was stoked to get an ARC of her newest! It has all the components of a fabulous thriller: twists and turns, an unsub who is creepy AF and an ending you won't see coming. Add in a sprinkle of police procedural and this is a straight banger. So cleverly written and the incorporation of hot topics (our obsession with true crime, missing white women syndrome, etc) was chef's kiss.

I felt there were a couple loose ends (i.e. who killed Tana?) & the ending was unresolved but I think this is part of what CRH does best! She leaves you wanting more. Touche CRH; now I need to go read The Nothing Man.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was able to listen audio ARC through NetGalley. The Trap is available to purchase NOW in all formats.

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 stars!

**One interesting tidbit is this is a true crime inspired book. Google The Irish Vanishing Triangle.**

The opening of this book!! WOW!!!
It had me on the edge of my seat.

The Trap is written in multiple points of view. They zigzag and collide to bring us this story.
Lucy, Mystery Man, Angela and a little section with Denise

*Lucy*
Who is on a quest to find out what happened to her sister, Nikki. Nikki has been missing for a year. Lucy has put her whole life on pause. She needs answers, and she’s ready to do anything to get them.

*The Mystery Man*
This point of view is a creepy man driving around at night. He’s speaking to his latest a victim who’s in the back of his car. He’s telling her quite a bit about his kidnapping, serial killers, and true crime.

*Angela and Denise* (separate points of view but easier to group them together)
Both women work in the Missing Person’s Unit.
Angela is as civilian who answers phone but has hopes of joining An Garda Síochána (Irish Police).

Angela has great instincts but she’s walking a fine like and it might just backfire on her, putting her career aspirations in jeopardy.

Denise who is a Garda (Irish Police) and is the family liaison officer assigned to to Nikki’s case. Together these women work to find Nikki and the other missing women.

I did have to re-listen to many parts. I found myself lost or confused. The timelines should be carefully paid attention to. I read a few other reviews who mentioned this as well. I thought maybe it was the audio version, but it’s the same with other formats.

This was a good read, and I’m glad I pushed through those confusing moments. I wanted answers. I didn’t get them all but I sure did get some twists.

I would definitely suggest giving this book a shot. I look forward to reading other books by this another.

Thank you to Blackstone publishing for allowing me to listen to the audio version of this book.

A very dark and bleak thriller. Getting to hear from the killer throughout the entire book while not knowing who he is speaking to and who is alive was such an interesting addition that I really enjoyed.

A Intense thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. A cat and mouse chase that will completely have your head spinning. A what did I just read type of book. Top of TBR pile worthy! No spoilers here, just a nudge to let you know you do not want to miss out on this one!
Thank you NetGalley & Blackstone for this advanced audio version for my honest review.

The Trap
by Catherine Ryan Howard
2/5 ⭐

Three women have disappeared with no trace of their whereabouts. Lucy’s sister, Nicki is one of them. Nicki left a pub in Dublin over a year ago and vanished into the night. Lucy is determined to trap her abductor even if it means putting herself at risk.

The Irish police have let these disappearances go cold. Until Angela, an inspiring officer in the Missing Persons Unit, finds a clue that could crack these old cases. She needs to be careful not to jeopardize her chances of joining the force though.

Meanwhile, the killer has struck again. He drives through the night with his next victim in his back seat. He rambles on telling her his whole story about what drives him to kidnap and murder these girls.

Unfortunately, The Trap was confusing and not for me. The numerous characters were hard to keep track of and the story jumped around making it baffling. Both Lucy and Nicki were unlikeable characters. Lucy is simply stupid for her actions and Nikki is 100% selfish. Also, I strongly disliked the narrator for the killer. Even though his parts were interesting, I found myself annoyed after his chapters. And the ending, if you can call it that, was so disappointing! I did like the setting in Ireland and the Author’s Note about where she got the idea for this book.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing - Audiobooks and @netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. All my opinions are my own.
Publication Date: August 1, 2023

3.5🌟
The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard is a good twisty psychological thriller.
Nicki disappeared a year ago and not much has been done to locate her or the other missing women. Her sister, Lucy, is determined to find her and she’ll do whatever it takes.
Angela, from the missing persons unit, is trying to become a guard and she comes across a clue.
A Killer also tells his unsettling story.
I enjoyed listening to each POV. Although the ending is open, in which I did not care for.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.25
Catherine, you really know how to play with someone's mind...please keep it up...also really loved the mention of your "Nothing Man" in this book. Alana Kerr Collins was a great narrator as always. Iohn Keating was did a fantastic job as our "killer" narrator with subtle creepiness.

I loved the concept of the story. You get the POV of the killer which was so interesting! I love that the audiobook has two narrators.

The FMC is so relatable and you really feel like your walking in the shoes of someone who has been searching for their missing family member.

The author kept you on the edge of your seat until the very end. But what was this ending. What happened to our characters. It literally just ended.

The setting of Dublin Ireland was so good! I loved hearing about this place and hearing places I’ve heard in music.

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review

4.5 stars
Are you looking for a dark, twisted, fast paced psychological thriller based on true events? Look no further.

This story follows one woman’s pursuit for a serial killer who’s believed to have abducted her sister. We all know the story, a young woman goes missing, vanishing without a trace, never to be heard from again.. and what would you do if it were your sister? Would you take matters into your own hands? And what would happen if you did exactly that?

This story follows Ireland’s vanishing triangle and Catherine Ryan Howard does what she does best, tells the tale that keeps you engaged, guessing, and gripping the edge of your seat. I’m a big fan of this authors writing and I throughly enjoyed every bit of this book. Highly recommended.

* Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Catherine Ryan Howard book, but I do have a few of her other books on my TBR. This story was engaging and I enjoyed the narration. I also enjoyed the alternating POVs, but I especially enjoyed the perspective of the killer. It was interesting to get a glimpse of his mind and thought process. His comparison to being a serial killer and his hobby of mountaineering was interesting. He described both as dangerous and exhilarating. The pacing of the story was good and the way the mystery unraveled was well done. There were a couple twists I did not see coming and never would have guessed. I didn’t like that the ending was somewhat unresolved. I would recommend this book for those who don’t mind an open-ended story, and those who enjoy getting to see the POV of the killer. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Catherine Ryan Howard knows how to do thrillers! I enjoyed “The Trap” as much as her other work, and think fans will too.