Absolutely loved this! Former colleagues from 1999 are invited for dinner and then the story takes on a creepy, claustrophobic edge. Riveting with suspense, the story is told from two POVs - 1999 and the present, and I was kept on edge the whole time. The ending was satisfying (for me) . Have read several of Mark Edward’s books and this did not disappoint.
Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers, Penguin Random House for this ARC.

A group of friends and old co-workers gather together for a memorial dinner party. But secrets need to be spilled.
Told in two time frames, 1999 when working together to create a new website, and present day, gathered together for a dinner party to remember their boss. I liked the mix of characters and the tense action.
This was a slow burner for me, but once the action started, I was invested!

This story is told in a dual timeline, switching between past and present POVs. I could easily relate with Wills character. The story was divided into three parts first part was bit slow compared to other parts could be due to setting up the environment and characters. The author cleverly plotted back to back twists , the ending and epilogue stumped me . This is my first read by Mark Edwards and would love to read his other books.

An elegantly plotted mystery story, based on the secrets of a startup that went wrong in 1999.

All are invited to a dinner party following many years apart after the death of the mentor from their startup days.

The dinner party quickly goes off the rails and the group is forced to tell its secrets it starts slow and then is hard to put down by the end, with each disclosure repositioning the story in a dramatic way.

Wow this was an incredible thriller. I was transfixed from start to finish. So much intrigue, deception and manipulation in one book, an absolute belter of a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for letting me read The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards. With all of Mark Edwards books you are gripped from the first page until the last. You gel with the characters and the story just keeps on giving. The Wasp Trap is no different. I certainly didn't expect the ending of this five star read. Looking forward to his next masterpiece

Loved this! I love everything Mark Edward’s writes and this was dark, deviant and twisty. I barely liked any of the characters but they all fascinated me and kept me hooked. I cannot wait to read what comes next. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Mark Edward’s just gets better and better! The Wasp Trap is the most terrifyingly tense book I’ve read for a long, long time. A dinner party for a group of old colleagues who haven’t seen each other for 25 years soon escalates into a horrific home invasion. The guests are threatened with violent torture or death unless one of them reveals the secret their attackers is demanding, a secret that none of them has any idea about - or do they?

Twisty and complex, the action arcs between the project the dinner guests were working on in 1999 and the present day. It’s a brilliant read with some fabulous shocks and red herrings along the way. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to all concerned for letting me read and review this terrific book.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for enabling me to read an advanced copy of this book.

The Wasp Trap is a psychological thriller set in the summer of 1999, It follows Will who joins a group of graduates working for an eccentric psychology professor. Their goal is to revolutionize online dating, however, tragedy strikes, leaving lingering secrets. The story then moves to twenty-five years later at which point Will receives an invitation to a reunion dinner party but something feels off—the hosts are hiding something, there’s an unexpected guest, and eerie sounds hint at trouble. It appears that the past isn't truly buried, and someone is willing to kill to uncover the truth.

The novel explores how hidden truths from the past can resurface, leading to tension and danger among old friends. The story revolves around a psychological experiment that was meant to revolutionize online dating but instead became a tool for identifying psychopaths. The dinner party setting forces characters to confront their past, revealing how unresolved events can shape their present and the characters must make difficult choices when faced with a deadly ultimatum, testing their ethics and instincts.

It’s a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers questioning motives and truths. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it is a genre i highly enjoy reading so it was a welcome addition to my collection. Its a perfect addition to any reading pile.

I absolutely devoured this book!! I knew as soon as I read the first chapter I was going to love this, and every chapter from then on kept my attention.

I loved the whole ‘locked room’ aspect of the book, whilst jumping back in time to a different timeline involving the same people. This book was tense and the suspense Mark Edwards creates is amazing, you really have no idea what’s going to happen next!

Whilst most of the characters are not very likeable, this doesn’t detract from the book and it adds to whole mood of the book and keeping you guessing.

One I will definitely be recommending to others!!

In the summer of 1999, six idealistic graduates—including Will—join forces under an eccentric psychology professor to develop a revolutionary dating website. Their project, however, ends in tragedy. Twenty-five years later, Will receives an invitation to a dinner party, reuniting the group. Upon arrival, he senses something is amiss: an unexpected guest appears, the hosts are concealing secrets, and he hears unsettling sounds. As the evening unfolds, it becomes evident that each attendee harbors secrets from that fateful summer, and someone is willing to kill to uncover the truth.

I devoured The Wasp Trap in under three days—had it not been for Easter festivities and family time, I could have easily finished it in a single sitting. Mark Edwards delivers a masterclass in psychological suspense with this gripping novel.

The story alternates between the events of 1999 and the present day, seamlessly weaving together the past and present. The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter ending on a note that compels you to read just one more. Edwards crafts a tale filled with suspense, intrigue, and a series of twists that keep you guessing until the very end.

The characters are well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations. Will, in particular, is a relatable protagonist whose instincts and observations drive the narrative forward. The dynamics among the group add depth to the story, making the revelations all the more impactful.

The conclusion is nothing short of epic. Just when you think you have everything figured out, Edwards throws in a twist that changes everything. It’s a testament to his skill as a storyteller that he can keep readers on their toes throughout the entire novel which is no easy feat.

I reserve five-star ratings for books that truly stand out, and The Wasp Trap earns every one of them. It’s an adrenaline-fueled, fast-paced thriller that I can’t recommend highly enough.

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to review this outstanding novel.

#TheWaspTrap #NetGalley
In this gripping tale, six friends reunite in London to honor a professor who once united them for a groundbreaking project: creating a dating website that used psychological testing to match people. But what starts as a nostalgic get-together quickly turns into a chilling nightmare. They're forced into a deadly ultimatum—reveal their most shameful secrets or be picked off, one by one. The plot thickens when the group realizes this isn't random. Their old project—the "Wasp Trap," a hidden test embedded in the dating algorithm to detect psychopaths—might be the key to what’s happening now. What was once a scientific experiment may have uncovered a real killer—and that person might be one of them.
What I like :-
1 Tense, locked-room style suspense: A classic reunion-gone-wrong setup, but with a tech-savvy, psychological twist.
2 Layered characters with skeletons in their closets: Each revelation peels back another layer of betrayal and trauma.
3 A clever, chilling concept: The idea of a dating tool secretly designed to flag psychopaths adds a fresh spin to the genre.
Overall, The Wasp Trap is a fast-paced, twisty thriller that explores how our past choices and secrets can come back to trap us—sometimes with deadly consequences. With Mark Edwards' signature suspense and sharp storytelling, this is a dark, smart, and compulsively readable novel.
⭐ Rating: 4.6/5 — A clever psychological thriller that blends tech paranoia with human vulnerability. Ideal for fans of locked-room mysteries and group-dynamic thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for giving me an advance copy.

I always look forward to a new Mark Edwards book. This one did not disappoint. An excellent and original storyline with lots of twists and turns. It kept me reading into the wee small hours.

In 1999 six post graduates were brought together to build a dating site. When the project ends abruptly everyone goes their separate ways. 25 years later after the death of their old boss, the group reunites for a dinner party, what should be a fun night, catching up. The party is soon crashed by gunmen demanding to know everyone’s darkest secret.
This is the type of thriller I usually avoid, however if Mark Edwards writes it then you know I’m going to read it. The wasp trap is told mainly from Will’s POV, although we do sometimes get snippets from the other characters, Will is a fine narrator although there were sometimes I found him to be a bit annoying. The start of the book lays the groundwork for the rest of the story, we get introduced to the characters and sort of a run down to where they are in their lives now. The story is told from dual POVs, the summer of 1999 and present day. This book is such a page turner, every chapter left me wanting to read more. In true mark edwards style this book is full of shocking twists that will make your jaw drop. I rated this book 4.5 ⭐ ️ and would highly recommend you check this out if you're looking for a fast-paced, suspense filled book that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to Mark Edwards, Netgalley and Penguin for letting me read this early in exchange for an honest review
The Wasp Trap By Mark Edwards will be released July 31st

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards

Another great book by this author . You know when you pick up a book by him you are in for a great read.
Full of twists and intrigue , great characters and a gripping plot.
Six ex work mates come together after the death of their old boss .
They were,working for him developing a dating site that emphasised on the psychological side of things..
The book took us from present day and back to 1999 where we find out everything about them and just what happened.
A pageturner .

WOW! I could really leave this review at that because I don't know what else to say. I wish I could go back a few days just to read it again for the first time because it was incredible. I was so gripped by the story - it had so many twists and turns in it, right until the very end. I feel like I should point out a few flaws or something that I personally didn't like but I cant. I literally can't think of a single fault with this story. This is definitely my favourite read so far of 2025 and possibly in my top 5 favourite reads of all time. It's been such a long time since a book consumed me like this. it was perfect.

I had high hopes for this book.
It started off very well, got me hooked in quickly.
Then it changed, it felt rather ridiculous at times, too far fetched in comparison to the beginning.
It also felt very drawn out and I began to not enjoy the book.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.

Excellent read from Mark. You won't want to put it down. I have read his other books, and admittedly I think this one is the best so far.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The psychology of it was fascinating and it was hard to put down when I ran out of time for reading each day.

The story was set at a perfect pace. Revealing more details as it went along. Pulling me in with the emotion and connection to the characters.

Incredibly well constructed and written with flair and deep insight into the nature of every character.

It’s 5 stars all the way, and if this author has written more books I will be reading them, as well as eagerly awaiting any new ones.

Highly recommended.

The plot for this book was really intriguing but I found it really difficult to connect to any of the characters. I found myself getting more uninterested in every chapter. I usually do enjoy mark Edward’s thrillers but this one didn’t hit the mark for me unfortunately.