DNF @ 33%

Rating: 2/5 ⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was excited to dive into this one with such high rating on Goodreads. It wasn’t for me though.

I didn’t like the third party pov in writing, the unlikeable characters and the rushed pace of the story that ironically drug on when reading.
There was no suspense or motivation to continue reading.

Decent, predictable, quick read. Even though I figured it out, some little hint things still made me want to continue reading because I might be wrong.

This was slow to start, but I ended up enjoying it!
I caught the twist early on, but it was still interesting to see what was going to happen.
I didn't really find any of the characters all that likable, lol.
I would recommend this!

The Honey Trap is a thrilling dive into betrayal, secrets, and unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Theo Baxter crafts a taut narrative where the lines between love and deception blur, leaving readers questioning every character’s motives. The plot hooks you from the start, slowly tightening the suspense as secrets unravel and alliances shift. Just when you think you have it figured out, Baxter delivers a punchy twist that flips everything on its head. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers, this is a story that lingers long after the final pagE

Genre: Psychological thriller

Plot: Chris Abrams, a recently divorced and unemployed man, encounters a wealthy businessman named Perry Bryant. Perry offers Chris a job, but things take a dark turn.

Themes: Themes of desire, betrayal, consequences of crossing moral boundaries, mental health (possibly related to Chris?), infidelity, divorce, and murder.

Thanks to both NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC copy!

This was an interesting read. I figured out what was going to happen, making this fall a bit flat for me. Overall I think it was a decent read, but I would have liked more from it. More suspense or excitement. I will say that the manipulation in the book was a nice touch, but it just wasn't enough to push me past a 3.

The Honey Trap is a page flipper. It had me eager to get to the end. And though some parts dragged but I liked the twist. It's not a book you get to see everyday.

I remember reading some parts and telling the characters what to do. I couldn't believe someone could be so trusting and also been wicked. As for the woman, the woman with the honey trap, I believe she got what she deserved at the end. I also wish her husband got better out of life.

I learnt through this book that money is not everything.

A fun story. Didn’t make sense to me how quickly the main character changed his mind about serious issues.

Chris and Perry meet under strange circumstances. Perry, who is a multimillionaire, offers Chris a job on his healthcare team. Chris is a former psychiatric nurse and is excited for the opportunity to start over. The job offers good pay and living quarters, which broke Chris cannot turn down. Once Chris moves in, he meets Perry's much younger wife, Kara. Kara is absolutely gorgeous and Chris is infatuated. It's clear Kara likes him too. In the midst of their budding affair, Kara asks Chris for his help. She wants Perry dead.

A very average read. The entire plot was super predictable. A very overused storyline - I have definitely read very similar stories before. Further, I found there was a LOT of filler. Paragraphs and paragraphs of filler thoughts from our main character, Chris. I found myself skimming over these pages as I was super bored. It did get really interesting towards the end, but it took some work for me to get there.

Thank you Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I highly recommend The Honey Trap by Theo Baxter if you crave:
- a thrilling and suspenseful tale filled with rich people drama, secrets, and murder, with a dash of luxury and intrigue,
- the challenge of unraveling dark and mysterious threads to solve a murder mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for providing me with an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

I enjoyed this! The first quarter of the book was hard going because the whole time I was thinking 'Chris, you are an idiot. Chris, what are you doing?? Seriously, Chris??' which I guess is a good thing. Better that than a character that doesn't evoke any emotions I suppose! A bunch of stuff happened and I was so shocked to see I was only 25% of the way through! The pace didn't slow down too much which was good. I read the other 75% in one sitting and there was a tipping point for the twist where I still didn't understand what the twist was 😂 I thought I had accidentally skipped a section and even went back a few pages to see if I had. They explicitly reference the twist and I still didn't click because I didn't trust the people involved. I was glad there was a positive ending even if it was a bit unbelievable. I got a lot of satisfaction in the arrest scene and I liked how quick the end wrapped up.

All in all I would recommend this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

In “The Honey Trap,” Theo Baxter crafts a psychological thriller that sizzles with tension and forbidden desire. Set against a backdrop of wealth, betrayal, and moral ambiguity, this novel explores the darkest corners of human longing.

 Chris Abrams, a psychologist seeking redemption, lands a dream job on millionaire Perry Bryant’s healthcare staff. But when he meets Perry’s wife, Kara, everything changes. Kara is passionate, beautiful, and married to Chris’s boss. Their attraction is magnetic, and Kara reveals a shocking proposition: she wants Chris to help her kill her husband. As Chris grapples with loyalty, love, and his own character, he faces the ultimate question: how far will he go for desire?

“The Honey Trap” is a gripping exploration of obsession and moral boundaries. Baxter’s prose crackles with intensity, drawing readers into a web of secrets. The characters—especially Kara—are complex and flawed, making their choices all the more compelling. The novel’s twists and turns keep you guessing until the final page.

For fans of twisted love stories and psychological suspense, “The Honey Trap” delivers. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride through forbidden territory.

I really enjoy this author and recently read more of their books. This thriller really has you thinking from the very start and full of plot twists here and there.

Book Review: "The Honey Trap" by Theo Baxter
In "The Honey Trap," Theo Baxter delivers a pulse-pounding psychological thriller that dives deep into the murky waters of desire, betrayal, and the consequences of crossing moral boundaries. There is issues like mental health, Phobia, Infidelity, Divorce and Murder that the author keeps the readers engrossed at the same time warn to look out for in the story being told.

The story revolves around Chris Abrams, a psychologist and therapist who sees an opportunity for a fresh start when offered a position by his wealthy boss Perry Bryant when helping Perry with a car trouble and gets a job because of it. However, for Chris what begins as a chance to escape his past soon becomes entangled in a web of deceit when he meets Perry's attractive wife, Kara. Kara is everything Chris could desire – beautiful, intelligent, and a housewife who is unhappily married.

Baxter expertly constructs a narrative filled with tension and intrigue as Chris and Kara's attraction intensifies into a dangerous liaison. Kara's proposition to Chris to help her eliminate her husband propels the plot into darker territory, blurring the lines between right and wrong. The author skillfully explores Chris's inner turmoil as he wrestles with his own desires, moral compass, and the consequences of indulging in Kara's dangerous game.

The characters in "The Honey Trap" are multi-dimensional and compelling, each driven by their own motivations and flaws. Chris's internal struggle is palpable, drawing readers into his conflicted psyche as he grapples with loyalty, love, and the allure of forbidden fruit. Kara, in her manipulative and enigmatic portrayal, adds layers of complexity to the narrative, keeping readers guessing about her true intentions until the final twist. Kara acts careless and selfish in the initial start of the story not thinking what would it become of her marriage with Perry when she can only think of having an illicit relation with Chris.

Baxter's prose is sharp and atmospheric, creating a chilling atmosphere that underscores the psychological tension throughout the novel. The pacing is relentless, with every chapter the suspense builds up and culminating in a climax that is as shocking as it is satisfying.

For fans of gripping psychological thrillers, "The Honey Trap" is a must-read. Theo Baxter weaves a tale of obsession and betrayal that will leave readers questioning the lengths they would go for love and the price they would pay for their desires.

Rating: 4/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator books for an advance copy for my honest review.

Novel Nerd Blog - https://smithareading.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-honey-trap-inkubator-books-crime.html

Rating 4 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
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Intriguing with a twist

My review
Chris is down on his luck. He was a part of the medical staff, but that quickly changed once he made a mistake and killed someone by being too tired to pay attention one night
On Chris's way to nowhere, he discovers a man off the highway. This gentleman Perry is having an anxiety attack. His car has broken down. Chris provides aid and helps to calm the gentleman down. After dropping Perry home, Perry offers him a job as an live in aide
Chris accepts. Perry has a wife who is way younger than him and also a knockout. She is also bad news! She begins to flirt with Chris every chance she gets. Chris knows this is wrong but somehow begins to see himself with Kara although she belongs to Perry
Flirting turns into Kara, meeting Chris in his lodge in the back of the house, and eventually, they make love every night
This is certainly not a good thing.
Kara now is whispering that perhaps if Perry was no longer in the picture, perhaps if maybe too much medication was given to Perry and something would happen to him, then of course she and Chris could be together
Is Chris this naive. Is he being used. Will he do the right thing, or will he fall into this bee's trap
All sweets aren't food to eat, and perhaps you should be mindful of the hand that feeds you

The honey trap by Theo Baxter.
I loved the cover. So different. I do love this author. This book was no different. I got into it straight away. I did like Chris. I didn't like Kara at all. Took a dislike to her straight away. I certainly didn't see that coming. Twisty and gripping. Definitely recommend. 5*.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Chris' journey into a new job started as the perfect escape, but immediately followed by temptation, passion, betrayl and deceit. With his morality coming into the test, how far will Chris go for love and how will he handle the consequences of succumbing to dangerous desires?

Ah I’m not sure where to start. I have mixed feelings about this book. The beginning of the book had me hooked. I didn’t know where the book was going but I felt the drama brewing. Then the middle became a bit repetitive and I hate to say it, but I was bored. I had to force myself to keep going. Then towards the end, things got interesting again. I don’t want to give anything away, but the main character mentioned something that was not mentioned before and I thought maybe I missed an important detail. I did not. The ending explained it all and I did not see it coming. The ending really redeemed this book for me. I did have an issue with some of the unrealistic things in this book though. (Yes, I know it is fiction but the more a book veers from reality, the less I like it.) For starters, the beginning was a big lucky coincidence that sounded very fake but hey I can roll with it. I cannot accept that an RN is now a therapist too. Those are two different licenses, schooling, etc. What on earth? I also felt the conversation between some characters was very rigid and did not flow as it would in real life. The character development was also a bit poor. I think this book was very creative and had some things been worked on more, it could have been a 5 star book given that ending. I would give this author another try based off of the creative story and the jaw dropping finale.

I can’t say it enough Theo Baxter is a master when it comes to psychological thrillers and The Honey Trap did not disappoint at all. We have Chris who is trying to get his life back on track he stumbles upon Perry who is having an issue and helps him. Perry then offers him a job that includes boarding and meals so Chris takes the job. Once at Perry’s he meets everyone including Perry’s much younger wife Kara. Instantly she flirts with Chris and before you know it they are having a fling and much more.

If you haven’t read any of Theo’s books I highly recommend this one.

The name and the cover caught my attention while I was scrolling around on NetGalley to find a new read. This didn’t turn out to be what I was looking for. With a title like that, I was expecting a character with a seductive nature, a more mature lady with some experience to share with her ‘victim‘. Instead, we were presented with a 20-something brat who was supposed to convince me that she was a master planner who could pull off a murder. Just no… The male character had been having a tough life and then stepped into a crazy situation, which he willingly stepped into, so I didn’t feel much sympathy for him throughout the book as soon as it was revealed. The whole plot and twist were given away in the first chapter and it wasn’t hard to put two and two together, the in-between details were provided as the book went on and the story felt flat. The one person I felt anything for and the most sympathy was Perry who was misused and mistreated by the people in his life. The title kind of makes sense when you know what the twist is in the book, but it’s a little misleading going in.