The synopsis and cover intrigued me, but unfortunately, it was a read that disappointed me. The characters were unlikeable and unbelievable, and the more I read, the more far-fetched and unconvincing the plot.
The final reveal I didn't see coming, but honestly, by that point, it just didn't make sense, and I just really wasn't that interested.
I feel some sympathy for Perry, but Kara and Chris?! Nope.
I have quite a few reads from this author on my Netgalley list, I'm hoping I enjoy those more.

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again, Theo Baxter did not disappoint! This was a fun, quick read that was hard to put down. It was full of suspense, drama, and secrets. I read this so fast!

The Honey Trap by Theo Baxter is a thrilling, suspenseful dive into the complexities of love, lust, and morality. Kara Bryant, a woman seemingly trapped in a loveless marriage, seeks something more—something darker. When she sets her sights on Chris Abrams, a talented psychologist hired by her wealthy husband, Perry, she pulls him into a web of seduction and danger.

Baxter skillfully navigates Chris’s internal struggle as he grapples with his attraction to Kara and his growing moral dilemma. The tension between desire and guilt is palpable, and as Kara's true intentions come to light, the story becomes a high-stakes psychological game that will keep readers on edge.

The plot is gripping, filled with twists that challenge the reader's assumptions about loyalty, love, and the lengths one might go to for personal gain. Kara’s ruthlessness and Chris’s vulnerability create a compelling dynamic, and the morally gray characters add depth to the narrative.

The Honey Trap explores dark themes of manipulation and deceit, making it a provocative and engrossing read. If you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers with complex characters, this one will keep you hooked from start to finish.

The Honey Trap by Theo Baxter is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the complexities of desire, morality, and betrayal. Chris Abrams, a psychologist looking to start fresh, is offered a job by millionaire Perry Bryant, only to find himself captivated by Perry’s wife, Kara. What begins as an irresistible attraction quickly turns into a dangerous proposition when Kara asks Chris to help her murder her husband. As Chris grapples with his growing feelings for Kara and his own ethical boundaries, Baxter expertly builds suspense, leaving readers questioning how far love can push a person. A thrilling, dark exploration of manipulation and temptation, The Honey Trap is a captivating read for fans of psychological suspense.

This thriller kept me guessing with its clever plot and realistic characters. The shocking ending took me completely by surprise.

Anything and everything by Theo Baxter is a great read, and this set is no exception! Quick read, but excellent. Always great characters and a good mysterm to keep me reading!

Theo Baxter, you are my idol.

What the freak did I just read?!?!

Let's first stop to admire this cover. Once I saw it, I knew not only did I need to read it without reading the description but I also pre-ordered myself a copy. I mean, let's be real, this cover is a stunner.

Going in blind is highly recommended, The Honey Trap, delivers.

This book is filled to the brim with secrets, lies, deceit and TWISTS!!!

Don't believe me, check out this teaser :

Kara knows exactly what she wants to be. A widow.

Kara Bryant is everything Chris Abrams ever wanted. She’s passionate, beautiful, and smart.

She’s also married to his boss.

When millionaire Perry Bryant offers psychologist Chris a position on his healthcare staff it seems the perfect chance for Chris to escape the mistakes of his past and start over.

But then he meets Perry’s wife, Kara. She takes his breath away. It soon becomes clear she wants him just as much as he wants her. And more… much more.

In fact, she wants everything.

Kara asks Chris to help her kill her husband. In spite of himself, Chris can feel himself falling under her spell. It makes him question everything – his friendship with Perry, his loyalty, even his own character.

Until finally he’s faced with the ultimate question – just how far will he go for love?

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.