The Wasp Trap

Author: Mark Edwards
Genre: Psychological Thriller
336 pages
Publisher: Atria Books, September 2025

Synopsis
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.

My review
The Wasp Trap is a snappy, character-driven psychological thriller from Mark Edwards that makes for a entertaining afternoon read. With its short chapters and fast pace, this one reads more like domestic suspense than a dark, gritty thriller, which was exactly what I was in the mood for.

The story begins with a compelling hook. In 2024, six old friends reunite in London to honor the memory of a former mentor, a psychology professor who, back in 1999, brought them together to build a dating website based on psychological compatibility. That same summer, they also created “The Wasp Trap,” a series of tests designed to identify potential psychopaths (though sadly, not intended for use on the dating app).

Fast forward to the present, and what starts as a nostalgic dinner party quickly unravels into a nightmarish scenario where guests are forced to reveal dark secrets or face deadly consequences. What are they hiding? And can they save each other before it’s too late?

Told mostly from Will’s perspective, the main protagonist, the novel alternates between past and present. The 1999 flashbacks are well executed and add much-needed depth to the current-day storyline. The characters are (mostly) well developed, and their dynamics feel authentic, even when things get a little far-fetched.

There’s a lot packed in here: murder, secrets, a missing person, a mysterious guest, and even a touch of romance. It’s the kind of story where I needed to suspend disbelief and just go along for the ride. The premise is clever, but undeniably unrealistic, and that’s okay if you’re in the mood for something that plays more like a thriller-meets-psychodrama party game.

I did wish the story had committed more fully to a tone. It flirts with psychological depth but also leans toward camp and never quite settles on either. There are moments where it feels like it could’ve gone darker and more nuanced with the “psychopath test” angle, or fully embraced the fun, high-stakes absurdity. To pull either off, I needed more insight into the characters’ inner lives and motivations. Also, the plot unfolds in a way that’s more tell than show, and I would’ve liked more clues to piece together rather than having revelations delivered all at once.

Despite its shortcomings, I’d recommend The Wasp Trap to readers who enjoy light, fast-paced psychological thrillers with intriguing setups and a dash of dark humor. It’s entertaining, even if a little uneven, and perfect for those looking for a quick, twisty escape.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Mark Edwards for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

My recommendation: an OK read, but not much thrill.