House Trap by Mike Mauthor

Publisher: Self

Format: Kindle

Published: 7^th May 201

Number of Pages: 120

Book: For Review*

Genre: Realistic-Ficion, Science-Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Horror, Action-Adventure, YA

Recommended Age: 12+

Contains: Violence, Death

No Alcohol, Drug References
Available On: Amazon (US) and Nook
Author's Blog: NovelPro

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Rachel Evans is a sixteen year old overachiever who would take nothing less than to achieve her goal of getting into Dartmouth College. But Rachel’s life would never be the same once she stepped into the house of Alicia Hausefalle, the most popular girl in Wedds High School. Rachel was there to tutor her. She never expected to meet two strangers who were ready to end her life.

Review:

This was sent to me by the author to review, and as I love a good thriller I said: Yes Please!  So thank you Mike!

Rachel just went over to Alicia’s house to do a little tutoring.  She would go in and out, and would then be free to get on with her dream of going to Dartmouth.  She knows Alicia’s father is the renowned inventor of House Trap, a device designed to protect the inhabitants inside the home against everything.  But... what do you do when the house goes into lockdown mode... and the killers are stuck in with you...?

The story started with a double murder, and just got more suspenseful and action-packed from there.  The characters felt real, the story was not written in a way that slowed down the pace and the fear and creepiness were palpable all the way through.  Plus there was that brilliant little twist that makes all good thrillers. 

Rachel was believable and relatable.  I found myself comparing her to me: I was always the girl that took Dickens or text books with me on school trips as well.  She was determined, academic and couldn’t care less about what others thought of her.  As I read, I couldn’t help thinking “good for you”.

The rest of the characters were also well thought out, but it was the suspense that made this story special.  It had break-neck speed (although that admittedly didn’t start from the word go), numerous twists and, of course, a few deaths.  I don’t like it when characters die.  But are thrillers truly thrillers without a little violence?  And it made me fearful for my characters, wondering who’d get out, rather desperate to know.  Plus, the basis of the story was terrifying.  A home-safety system that ends up being a cage... with the murderous lunatics inside?  Honestly, I will never look at the things the same way again.

The one thing I can complain about is the way the focus jumps suddenly between the characters, leaving me a little confused.  One minute it’s Rachel, the next the bad guy.  It threw me, but maybe that just added to the break-neck, thriller effect?  Plus, some of the grammar was incorrect, but I’ve seen that in a fair few eBooks, so I don’t really notice that anymore, and it didn’t distract me much at all.

Although this book was only 120 pages long, I could have read many more.  I do love me a good thriller once in a while... 

So, a suspense-ridden story with well-padded characters and murderous lunatics trapped inside a house, with a security system ironically called “House Trap”.  What more could you want?

Star Rating:
4 Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:
I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan
Silent Night Series by R.L. Stine
The Midnight Club by Christopher Pike

 

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 (Hosted by Book Chick City)
2011 e-Book Challenge (Hosted by The Ladybuy Reads)

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review