I really enjoy this series. Great plot and I didn’t see where it was going which is always fun in reading. Characters are well developed. Can’t wait for the next installment !

Emma Makepeace is back in The Trap, the third book in this series, and British spy Makepeace is in Scotland, the location for a summit of world leaders set to take place in several days. The British government had gotten wind of a terror plot involving the Russians who plan on disrupting the summit, and Makepeace must infiltrate the spy ring and uncover the target of the plot. With the clock ticking and a traitor in their midst, Makepeace faces several ethical dilemmas as she goes uncover to accomplish her mission. As spy thrillers goes, this is a little on the bland side, and most of the action occurs in the climactic final scenes, but it’s a breezy read, and you can’t not like the main character, an unusual entity in this genre, and that makes this a decent read in an enjoyable series. Not the strongest of the three books so far, and you should start from the beginning to get a handle on Makepeace’s motives, but it’s good enough that I’ll happily continue on with this series. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House for a chance to read the trap by Ava glass. i've already read both her earlier books in the series featuring a British spy named Emma Makepeace. these are real action thrillers, not a lot of time for character development. They would easily translate into movies. the trap is a quick fun read and I look forward to the next adventure that Emma lands in.

Edinburgh is hosting the G7 summit. Tensions are high as Vladmir Balakin, an FSB Russian operative is in town.
Emma Makepiece along with the secret British agency she works for are tasked with uncovering what Balakin's
plans are. Emma gets close to Nick Orlov who is believed to be working with Balakin. How far will Emma have to go to get the information? In order to navigate Edinburgh, Emma is working with Scottish police officer MacKenzie. News is leaked about the investigation, increasing the danger for those involved. Will Emma and her cohorts be able to stop the Russian plot?
Fast pace page turner. - book 3 in the series
#TheTrap #RandomHouse #Bantam #AvaGlalss #NetGalley

We are back for the third installment following our British spy, Emma Makepeace. I always enjoy Emma, Ripley and the rest of the Agency but I found this one lacking in the thrills that the first 2 in the series gave us. I felt the author kept telling us that this was all high stakes but it never actually felt like it. There were some overused elements, moments that we tend to see a lot in these types of stories. For instance, racing to get away and a police car flicks there lights on behind you. You start to worry how you will get out of this situation, only to have them race passed you. And the coincidences that had to happen to have the exact right person brought in, that just so happen to be the only one that could point them in the right direction , seemed a bit far fetched. I will still read the next book in the series because I do like this series, overall. This one just was not my favorite.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free copy for my honest review.

I knew I had to set aside some time to read the new book from Ava Glass, because once I started, I wouldn't be able to put it down! In the third installment in the Emma Makepeace series, Emma and her team are tasked with protecting G-7 leaders gathering in Edinburgh from a Russian threat. As always, the pace is fast-moving, and we're kept guessing as to whether the people around Emma can be trusted or not. Although you definitely don't have to read the first two books to enjoy this one, I recommend that you do because they are just as fast-paced and action-packed as this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Super spy Emma is off on her third case, in search of Russia agents who plan on disrupting a G7 meeting of heads of state in Scotland. This time around, she has a partner, a local female cop to help guide her around, and the interaction between the two women adds a new dimension to Emma's case and sleuthing abilities. The usual cast of characters in her spy office are back to help move the plot along, and of course she manages to save the day and spoil the criminals' plans at just the right moment. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I have had the first two, and while you can read this one independently, Emma fans will find this case just as satisfying as the first two books. Glass has a lot of fun injecting plenty of realism -- at least the realism of fictional spies -- into her work, and almost making spycraft seem fun when Emma and her colleagues aren't targeted by the bad guys.

I love Emma Makepeace! This was a lot of fun as she was partnered with another very capable woman, Kate Mackenzie. I hope to see them partnered again. Thanks Netgalley for letting me read an advance copy.

Thank you NetGallery,Random House/Ballantine Books publisher,,and author,Ava Glass for her novel,The Trap. It was a free ebook sent to me for a review ,to be published September 03,2024.
This book is the third in a series with the British MI ( like America’s CIA) Emma Makepeace.who is sent to Edinburgh,Scotland to stop a terrorist from causing death of world leaders at a near future G7 Summit Meeting.It was not an “edge of your seat” spy thriller for me,have read much better.The story was really not as fast- passed as I would expect and a bit more talk about using the “honey pot” technique to get information from a suspect than was needed……but was not used after all. I gave it four stars because I believe it will be well received by others who enjoyed her previous two books.

Emma Makepeace is back! Ava Glass has quickly become a must read for me, and her latest did not disappoint. It was quite meta reading about a fictional G7 summit as the actual G7 was taking place, which only added to this atmospheric thriller where the action is fast paced, the settings come to life in the descriptive details and you will feel as if you are immersed in the rainy side streets of Edinburgh or in a pulse pounding car chase through Rome. I tore through this book in less than a day and I’m ready for the next predicament Emma and The Agency find themselves in.

“The Trap” was a good addition to the series. It was interesting to see Emma work with a partner (Mackenzie), who while a police officer, was not an intelligence officer, and had no prior experience of the intelligence community world. Of course, there are multiple recurring characters in the series. However, there is a brief reappearance of a character from “Alias, Emma" that is unexpected.

Say it isn't so!!! According to Amazon, this is book 3 of 3 in the Alias Emma series. I love this series. How could you end it after only 3 books??? With only 3 books, I recommend you get all of them even though each one works well as a standalone.

The books are edge-of-your-seat at times with characterization that is superbly done. Some of the situations Emma finds herself really have me saying, "Be careful!" out loud. I can't stand to stop reading until I know she's safe.

5 stars!

Ava Glass is quite possible my favorite spy thriller writer right now. Emma Makepeace is brilliant and these books get better each time. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for these galleys. This one mad my week!

The Trap is another exciting entry in the Emma Makepeace series. This time around, Emma and her agency travel to Scotland to figure out why Russian agents are trying to disrupt the G7 summit. Emma partners with a Scottish detective to figure out how Nick Orlov, a seemingly ordinary Russian living in Scotland is being pressured by Russian intelligence. Ava Glass does a great job of writing a character who isn't a spy stereotype- Emma is highly skilled but still has self doubt and makes mistakes. The story involving concerns about the state of the world and Russia's attempts to disrupt world peace are especially relevant. I enjoyed the first three books of this series and hope for another one! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Book Review: The Trap by Ava Glass
Rating: 4.5 Stars

In The Trap, the third installment of Ava Glass’s spy thriller Alias Emma series, we find ourselves deep in the high-stakes world of espionage once more. Emma Makepeace is thrust into the perilous landscape of international politics with an imminent G7 Summit in Edinburgh and possible terrorist threat. With the clock ticking, Emma must thwart a Russian plot amidst the chaos of a city on high alert.

The Agency (they are off the books being neither MI5 nor MI6) spot a high-ranking Russian intelligence office arriving in the UK, announced. They follow him to Edinburgh to the home of Nick Orlov, a British citizen with murky ties to Russia. They suspect a potential high-profile terrorist attack involving next week’s G7 Summit but very little intel and even less time to go into full op mode to gather it. Glass’s choice to intersperse news memos as each day passes effectively heightens the tension, reminding readers that every moment counts.

Being unfamiliar with Edinburgh, Emma is partnered with Detective Kate Mackenzie, a brilliantly-created cranky character I enjoyed every time she was on the page. The partnership is initially fraught with distrust, but evolves into a dynamic alliance. Their relationship provides both tension and a grudging camaraderie.

Emma is determined to stop whatever the Russians have planned, to put herself on the line, quite literally by being a honeytrap to get close to Orlov. Glass skillfully portrays Emma's inner strength and vulnerabilities, making her a compelling and relatable hero. Kate Mackenzie, on the other hand, is a standout new character. Mackenzie’s crankiness and skepticism provide a stark contrast to Emma’s methodical, professional, do-whatever-it-takes-to-save-the-world approach, making their interactions both tense and entertaining. Despite their initial friction, the two women develop a mutual respect that enriches the narrative. Nick Orlov is a complex figure shrouded in ambiguity. His connections to Russia and his new life in the UK add layers to the plot, keeping readers guessing about his true allegiance and role in the conspiracy.

The Trap delves into themes of trust, loyalty, and the gray areas of morality in espionage. Emma’s struggle to balance her mission with personal integrity is a recurring motif, reflecting the broader ethical dilemmas faced by those in her line of work. Edinburgh, with its historic streets and looming presence of the G7 Summit, serves as a vivid and strategic setting. The book’s title is evident in multiple ways: Are the Russians really going to risk a terrorist act or are they setting a trap to embarrass the UK? Emma’s honeytrap. Is Orlov a co-conspirator or has he been trapped into committing an act of terror unwillingly?

Conclusion
The Trap is a gripping addition to the Alias Emma series, cementing Emma Makepeace’s status as a formidable spy in contemporary fiction. Ava Glass masterfully crafts a tale of suspense and action, enriched by well-drawn characters and a vibrant setting. For fans of the series, this installment delivers everything you’d expect—high stakes, intricate plotting, and a protagonist who remains unyieldingly strong. The book’s relentless pace and compelling characters earn it a well-deserved 4.5 stars.

Reviewer’s Note
As an advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley, this review acknowledges the unpolished aspects that might be refined in the final publication. The minor editorial issues noted are expected to be addressed before the book’s release.
This review was based on an ARC provided by NetGalley.

A riveting and tense espionage thriller filled with taut suspense and exciting events. It’s a great evolution for this spy series with great emphasis on realistic tradecraft.

The Trap is the 3rd book of the series with Alias Emma and can easily be read as a standalone.

In this series, the case involves a treat against the G7 summit. For the first time, Emma is paired with a ‘partner’, Mackenzie, from the local police department.

It took me a while to get into this book. I am used to reading the Alias Emma series in one or two sittings. It wasn’t until Emma went undercover that I really started feeling like I was reading the series I love.

Ava Glass is a master at writing action and suspense. When Emma is undercover, that is exactly what the reader gets. It is a page turner. The sections of the book with Emma and Nick are outstanding. I wish there was more, and think there should have been more to Nick as he is an important character. I enjoyed their chemistry.

I wish I felt the same for Mackenzie. I see the need for her character in the plot of this story, but I prefer Emma to work alone. It makes it more exciting. Adding Mackenzie to the story resulted in a very quick case wrap up that was not credible. I felt like the characters in the end were introduced just to solve the case. It felt disconnected.

Overall, it is a satisfying read. I love the series and am looking forward to more. The reoccurring characters are enjoyable and make for a great series.

This was a good thriller. I didn’t want to put it down and I kept turning pages until the end. It was a must read!

She has just one week to stop a killer. Emma Makepeace is headed to Edinburgh for the global G7 Summit when her team is tipped off about a high-profile assassination the Russians are planning, but they have no idea who the target is!
Good book! I wasn’t too sure about this book at first I usually don’t get into the whole Russian spy stuff but with this author I thought ok I’ll try! I’m very glad I did!! It was a great read! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, and some twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I did enjoy reading this one! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I liked Alias Emma, another novel by Ava Glass, so looked forward to this new tale The Trap. Sorry to say I didn't like it as much, but it had its merits. It's an interesting tale, and Emma an interesting protagonist, but so much of it seemed implausible. Unable to believe what I am reading is not a positive response to a book.. I just don't think that Emma would really be involved in some of the scenes that the author places her in.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.