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Find out what Mumsnetters thought of The Trap by Melanie Raabe

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SorchaMumsnet · 23/01/2017 12:12

We gave away 50 copies of The Trap, a twisted debut thriller from Melanie Raabe.

Twelve years ago, Linda's sister Anna was murdered. Her killer was never caught, but Linda saw his face. Now, all these years on, she's just seen him for a second time – on TV. He has since become a well-known reporter, and Linda, a famous novelist and infamous recluse. What will happen when they meet again?

We ask all winners to share their thoughts about the book on this discussion thread. However, you don't have to win a free book to take part in the discussion - you're welcome to grab a copy of The Trap and post a review on this thread.

Everyone who posts detailed feedback on the book by midday Monday 13 March will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Love2shop voucher.

Obsessed with crime and thrillers? The Trap is the first in Mumsnet and Thin Blue Spine's Crime and Thriller book club. Get involved and find out what other books you could win, plus enter the competition to win a £100 Waterstones voucher.

This giveaway is sponsored by Thin Blue Spine crime writing blog

Find out what Mumsnetters thought of The Trap by Melanie Raabe
OP posts:
RACHELSMITH45 · 22/02/2017 21:42

Love the sound of this book, looking forward to starting it this week.

Summerholidayblues · 23/02/2017 08:27

I found this a really easy to read book which I got into immediately. I liked the way the tension was built through the opening section.
I was less of a fan of the excerpts from her book but understand why these were included.
I haven't finished it yet but am gripped!

saltedcaramelhotchoc · 23/02/2017 08:51

I enjoyed this, but I found the narrator's voice a bit awkward at times. Not sure if this was an effect of translation? It was a real page turner though and I would recommend it.

phillie1 · 23/02/2017 09:18

read this very quickly as couldnt wait to find out what was happening, and the weather was too crap to go out!

Holidayenthusiast · 23/02/2017 11:44

This is the story of Linda, a famous author who has been a recluse for 11 years. She suffers extreme anxiety since finding her sister murdered and catching a glimpse of her sister's killer.
Then one day, watching TV, Linda sees a journalist who she believes is her sister's murderer. She hatches a plan to trap him. She writes a book about the murder, inviting this journalist to interview her when the book is released.
The narrative is written from point of view of the main character and sometimes it seems that Linda is going mad and has lost her mind from being a recluse who has suffered a trauma. At other times it seems she has really found her sister's killer and has set a trap to solve the unsolved murder.
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish - it kept me guessing with twists and turns and a surprise ending. A good read!

iut044 · 23/02/2017 12:40

Sounds like a very good read.

sweir1 · 24/02/2017 19:38

Great story. Thoroughly enjoying it.

cookie09 · 25/02/2017 11:46

Great storyline, great characters who show strength and an insight into how tragedy can affect a person. thoroughly enjoyed it. Some good twists and turns, keeps you guessing.

BearAusten · 26/02/2017 15:46

An interesting thriller novel. I liked the idea of Linda, a crime writer and the protagonist, writing a crime novel and then allowing one interview in order to trap her sister's killer. It is quite an unusual both in terms of its plot and the structure of the novel itself (story within a story). It starts off very well, but after a while it does seem to drift a little. The ending wasn't unexpected. I wonder how much has been lost in translation.

sophiefouldsx · 27/02/2017 22:39

I loved this book! Really hooked me from start to finish. I honestly was not sure if Linda Conrad was utterly mad or if she was right about having seen her sisters killer on the TV. I love how we get to follow Linda's story, but also chapters from her book about the murder are included in the story. And through the chapters, we get a picture of what happened 12 years before which intrigued me.

bigwiggle · 02/03/2017 13:00

This book got me hooked from the start, and there were so many twists I was kept guessing until the end as to who the real culprit was. With the main character being an author with a vivid imagination, the reader really didn't know what was real and what was imagined, which maintained my interest. I felt a little disappointed with the ending, with the culprit taking the easy way out, and was surprised how easily a supposed recluse with a fear of leaving her house did indeed leave her house with seemingly little trouble at the end. I don't normally like thrillers as I usually have trouble sleeping after reading them, but I would describe this as more of an 'intrigue' and am very glad I read it!

anne2408 · 03/03/2017 10:18

This book immediately draws you in and holds you there page after page. One of those books that you don't want to put down.

It is clear from the start that the heroine has psychological issues. The question in your mind throughout the book is: did she really see someone else in the room when she found her murdered sister or did she commit the murder herself.

If you like thrillers, especially psychological thrillers, then this book is a must-read.

sheiladore1 · 03/03/2017 15:48

thanks really looking forward to reading this

juleslucas · 03/03/2017 15:55

Really enjoyed this book, liked the format which made it easy to get hooked into the story. Found the ending a bit disappointing, and I also wasn't keen on the whole romance thing, but overall it was a good read.

dorey69 · 03/03/2017 16:14

Enjoyed every minute of this book,
Excellent thriller with twists & turns.
I had trouble putting it down & passed it on to my sister to read on her Easter Break. Look forward to the next chapters of future books 📚 from this Author Smile

angiehoggett · 03/03/2017 19:36

Fantastic read lots of plot twists and kept me on my toes!

Fozi · 03/03/2017 19:44

Really enjoyed this book.
Just when you think you know how it's going to end,the plot suddenly changes. Well written without any of the unnecessary waffling that goes in some thrillers just to fill pages. So happy to have received this book!

Amg099 · 03/03/2017 20:19

Cleverly constructed story with many twists to the plot (maybe too many as I started to expect the unexpected)

grannybiker · 05/03/2017 08:46

A welcome diversion from usual chick lit- gripping stuff!

Radley1 · 06/03/2017 09:53

Many thanks for my copy . This novel translates well into English and the main characters feelings of depression and despair are not lost . Your heart goes out to Linda who is desperately grabbing at straws to get her life back.
Interesting take on a thriller and well worth a read

doctorboo · 07/03/2017 11:59

Good opening chapter
I read the back cover and thought it was an interesting premise. The plot twists kept me guessing until the final chapters.
I enjoyed that the book was set in Germany, although the location wasn't imperative to the novel, what with Linda's agoraphobia.
Found the combination of Linda's 'current' thoughts and feelings and the parallel lives of created her characters was refreshing. I'll be recommending The Trap to friends and family.

user1489059568 · 09/03/2017 11:44

I enjoy a thriller and this was no exception, keeping me hooked from start to finish! Linda's thoughts and feelings were intriguing and it was an interesting storyline. Although romance is not usually key in thrillers, I enjoyed this addition to the storyline.

rocketriffs · 09/03/2017 19:30

A real page turner of a thriller. Author Linda hasn't left her house for 11 years. She has panic attacks, suffers from clinical depression and nightmares after she discovered her sister's body and caught a glimpse of her killer who was never convicted. She sees him again and decides to lay "The Trap"....... Is fact stranger than fiction? A great read that keeps twisting and turning to the end.

user1472646069 · 10/03/2017 13:30

The plot of this book had such potential. It has a good beginning and then moves too slowly until the last chapter.

claza93 · 11/03/2017 14:00

I found this really good! A right rollercoaster of a read - didn't want to put it down!