The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards Happy Publication Day

Happy publication day, out to buy NOW, here is my review, I was lucky enought to get an arc but kept my review til today.


The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over a few days

Pages - 336

Publisher - Michael Joseph books

Source - ARC

Blurb from Goodreads

A dinner party in a beautiful Notting Hill townhouse turns into a sinister game, as six old friends are forced to spill their darkest secrets…or else.

Six friends reunite in London to celebrate the life of their recently deceased ex-employer, a professor that brought them together in 1999 to help build a dating website based on psychological testing.

But what is meant to be a night of bittersweet nostalgia soon becomes a twisted and deadly game when the old friends find themselves held at gunpoint. They are given an ultimatum: reveal their darkest secrets to the group or pick each other off one-by-one.

It soon becomes clear that their current predicament is related to their shared past. The love questionnaire they helped develop in 1999 for the dating site was also turned into a tool for weeding out The Wasp Trap. This and the other tragic events of that summer long ago may help reveal the truth behind a killer hiding in plain sight.

Alternating between the past and present with a colorful ensemble of characters, The Wasp Trap is a fast-paced and twisty thrill ride that is perfect for fans of Lucy Foley and Alice Feeney.#


My Review

It has been over 20 years since everyone was together, getting together to celebrate the man who had once brought them all together, all those years ago. Six friends who live very different lives coming to their affluent pals, the duo of the group who have done the best and now having a posh meal at their fancy gaff. No expense spared, all the stops are pulled out however the night takes a turn and the six are forced to face the past and come clean about secrets they would rather stayed buried.

The first part of the book they are all kind of feeling each other out, catching up with the missed past twenty odd years. Then a turn of events, violence and shocking admissions as they try to get to the bottom of what is wanted. We then go back to when they were all pulled together on a project as we try to figure out, along with the character, what exactly the secret is.

Tense, shocking, violent, a forced game of cat and mouse almost with people being put on the spot to choose and try and figure "the secret". Psychological thriller, the guests/friends are clueless just like the reader so we are all figuring out, or trying to figure out what is going on. The threat of violence is constant and looming and as moments tick by (we are very much clock watching) tempers fray and fear climbs making everyone volatile in an already tense and dangerous situation, 4/5.

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The Devils Work by Mark Edwards

The Devil's Work by Mark Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time take to read - < 1 day

Publisher - Thomas & Mercer

Pages - 376

Blurb from Goodreads

A gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of Follow You Home and The Magpies.

When Sophie Greenwood returns to work after four years raising her daughter, she is ready for an exciting new challenge.

But after an unnerving encounter drags up memories she’d rather forget, things take a turn for the sinister. What is her ambitious young assistant really up to? And what exactly happened to Sophie’s predecessor? When her husband and daughter are pulled into the nightmare, Sophie is forced to confront the darkest secrets she has carried for years.

As her life begins to fall apart at work and at home, Sophie must race to uncover the truth about her new job…before it kills her.


My Review

Sophie Greenwood is taking a huge step in her life, going back to work after having her little girl AND it is her dream job. Head hunted for a prestigious publisher, Jackdaw Books, the world's most successful publishing company, Sophie is up for the challenge. However, Sophie has a connection to the head of the company, something from her past she would rather not revisit. Challenges arise in the form of her ambitious young assistant, work politics and soon it is evident someone is out to get Sophie. A spiral of events soon has Sophie on edge, questioning everything and putting her family and herself at risk!

So this is either my first Edwards book or it has been a very long time since I danced with this author. The opening chapter sets the hairs on the back of your neck up, we then go to Sophie's first day at work and drop in over a 50 odd day timeline from when her job began. With periods of throwback to Sophie's past we begin to get an insight into the connection with her employer and hints at what may have happened, building intrigue and mystery.

It begins as a slow burner well after the prologue, eerie and drawing an atmosphere where the reader holds their breath and the heart starts pounding. Particularly, for me, one office scene and I think those who know how bitchy an office environment can be and how quickly the tables can turn. Events transpire that set Sophie on edge, questioning who she can trust, impacting her relationships, behaviour and sanity. I think psychological thrillers are taking off right now, if you enjoy that genre you will love this book! Certainly won't be the last time I will be reading this author, 4/5 for me this time. Thanks so much to Thomas & Mercer for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. You can pick up your own copy on the 13/09/2017 from all good retailers.

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ARC - All Fall Down by Louise Voss & Mark Edwards

All Fall Down by Louise Voss & Mark Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 2 days

Blurb from Goodreads

Two years on from uncovering a terrifying conspiracy of rogue scientists, all Kate Maddox wants is to lead a normal life with her partner Paul and son Jack. But then a face from the past turns up, bringing chilling news.
A devastating new strain of the virus that killed Kate’s parents is loose in L.A. – and when a bomb rips through a hotel killing many top scientists, it becomes clear someone will do anything to stop a cure being found.
While Paul goes on the hunt for answers, Kate finds herself in a secret laboratory in the heart of California, desperately seeking a way to stop the contagion. But time is running out and soon it will be too late to save their loved ones, themselves, and the world…

My Review

Kate Maddox is a virologist and the world is about to need her. Terrorists have released a new strain of virus that spreads and kills quicker that its predecessor ever did. The terrorists means business and bomb a convention with top scientists and a specific target or two amoung them to stop any chance of a cure. Kate has to make a choice, to help the world and leave her family behind or stay with them and watch it collapse and die slowly. Time is running out and Kate finds herself targeted, under pressure and in a life threatening situations.

I really enjoyed this story from the start and it kicks off fairly swiftly with patient zero. We then are introduced to Kate and the story really goes from there when she is addressed to come and help deal with the situation. Paul is her boyfriend and plays a big part in the story too however he branches off searching out people relating to his brothers death. The story also breaks off into the terrorists and the main characters from there, building up a picture of how they work and why they are doing what they do. It sounds like a lot to take in but actually it isn't, they all slot into their parts and the story links in very quickly to each other.

The chapters are really short, which as you know I love, so as the story flips between them you can follow it easily and dip in and out as you have to. To be honest I could have read it in one sitting had time permitted. It has a great pace to it, really good story and you don't have to be virus savy or have a high IQ to follow the scientist viral stuff. There is some sex in the book but not a huge focus and you can skip by if without missing anything from the story. The idea behind what drives the terrorists is really interesting too and I enjoyed having a wee read up on that and learning something new from that side (sorry to be vague but I hate spoilers).

Even as you approach the big conclusion there are still more surprises and action to come. This is my first time reading these authors and it won't be my last. Kate Maddox has made an appearance in at least one previous book (I believe this would be the 3rd joint effort) and this can be read, as I did, as a stand alone. I will seek out their previous books as I did like the style of writing and quick pace, 4/5 for me.

Thanks so much to HarperCollins for sending me this ARC. You can get your own copy when this book comes out on the 14th of February 2013 (or you can get the ebook from Amazon.co.uk from the 20th of December 2012).

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