It's no secret that I love a good destination thriller, so it comes as no surprise that I added Sun Trap as soon as I saw the Abu Dhabi setting. It's not often that I get to visit the United Arab Emirates in books, so the setting was definitely one of the things I was most excited about... Although the blurb itself was enticing as well with the mention of a murder complot and that Hollywood angle. I admit I was a bit worried when I saw the mixed reviews coming in... I guess it helped that I lowered my expectations though, because while I didn't love Sun Trap, I didn't exactly hate it either.

So, Sun Trap. The first and most important thing to know is that you definitely have to be able to suspend your disbelief. This plot is wild! Especially the second half goes way over the top and there is no doubt that there is nothing credible about the developments at all. That said, somehow it does mostly work on an entertainment level, so if you just sit back and enjoy the ride the lack of credibility shouldn't be too big of a problem. What I do have to say that especially the final part did take things too far to be enjoyable... I mean, I like a good twist or two in my thrillers, but this story has proven that there is actually such a thing as 'too many twists'. As a result, the impact of the individual twists was lost, and it only resulted in my eyebrows working overtime.

I can't deny that I did love the Abu Dhabi setting, although I do wish the descriptions of the setting would have been a bit more extensive to truly make it come alive. As it is, the story could have been set in any place near a desert... Adding more local flavor would have definitely enhanced the story for me. That said, I did like the Abu Dhabi chapters. The story also has flashbacks to a recent past set both in New York and London, and those chapters are very important in revealing more about the main character Ellie.

The Hollywood angle is very present in this story, with lots of diva/entitlement moments as well as the preparations to film a movie. While the first made it a lot more difficult to like certain characters, this behavior did fit with the world and the drama wasn't unexpected. That said, it was a bit too obvious from the start that Ellie was an unreliable narrator, and I can't say that I had a lot of fun having to spend so much time in her head. Sure, some of her secrets definitely came as a surprise, but her motivations were too over the top to be credible and it only made me like her less. The rest of the cast is a bit of a mixed bag, and they could have been developed more thoroughly beyond the typical cliches. It took some time to keep them all apart, that's for sure!

I don't want to give away too much of the plot to avoid spoilers, but if you don't mind a complete lack of credibility and like a Hollywood angle and a foreign setting, you might find Sun Trap to be entertaining as well. The twists are so wild that it will be very hard to guess the truth before they pop up, that's for sure.

The film industry is notoriously difficult to break into, so it should not be a surprise when people go to great lengths for their shot at the golden ticket. In such a competitive environment, who can you really trust?

This is an intriguing and fast paced story set on location at luxury hotel in the middle of the desert. The VIP guests are of the cast, many of whom have their own secrets. In this incestuous environment, unsurprisingly, when things start going wrong, it's not too long before the domino effect kicks in.

This was an enjoyable thriller which packed in quite a few surprises - quite an achievement in an overcrowded genre. Worth a read!

I was looking forward to getting stuck into this one as it’s described as a destination thriller. Unfortunately I really didn’t feel Dubai coming through and didn’t really get a feel for it at all. I didn’t find it a thriller more a slow paced storyline that was just going through the motions and at times disjointed. I’m all for storylines that are a little different and might border on the unbelievable but it really just felt silly and the twists a little left field that didn’t quite come together. There was just too many things that didn’t work or make sense in this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus Audiobooks for the opportunity to listen and review #SunTrap

There's a lot of suspense in this book. I was concerned for Ellie. I was curous about the secrets both she and the people on the plane had.

Who is lying?

There's mystery here, too.

I was gripped by the book and writing style.

4 stars

Thanks to Rachel Wolf and Head of Zeus for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary reviiew.

Ellie has always dreamed of becoming an actor, and finally, her opportunity has arrived. Although it is only a minor role, she will be acting alongside her childhood idol—the very actor whose posters once covered her bedroom walls.

However, the role does not come under honest circumstances. It was originally meant for her friend Phoebe, who, unable to accept it, convinces Ellie to step in due to their striking resemblance. With filming set in Abu Dhabi and all expenses covered, it seems like the perfect opportunity. What could possibly go wrong?

Almost immediately, the journey descends into chaos. During a turbulent flight, Ellie overhears a chilling conversation between two passengers discussing a murder. Unsure whether it was real, part of a script, or a figment of her imagination, she chooses to stay silent. Upon arrival, a car crash claims the life of their driver, and it soon becomes clear that someone may be targeting the cast.

Driven by loyalty—and perhaps a deeper infatuation—Ellie is determined to protect her favourite actor. Yet, as the story unfolds, questions arise about how reliable Ellie truly is. Her shifting accent and concealed identity cast doubt on her version of events, and readers are left questioning how much of the danger is real—and how much is imagined.

This is a slow-burn thriller with a steady build-up that leads to a gripping, tension-filled final act. While some plot elements stretch plausibility, the story remains highly engaging, filled with well-drawn characters of varying backgrounds and unexpected twists that consistently challenge reader expectations.

The final fifty pages ramp up the suspense considerably, and the narrative ties up all loose ends in a satisfying conclusion.

Overall, this is an engrossing, twisty read featuring a dynamic mix of characters and a narrator who keeps you guessing. I read it in one sitting and found it thoroughly entertaining.

Thank you to #netgalley and the publishers for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, unbiased review, all thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

"Sun Trap" is an exciting destination thriller set in Abu Dhabi! The story revolves around Ellie, an aspiring actress with dreams of stardom. She comes up with a bold plan to swap identities with her look-alike friend Phoebe, whom she met during a fun and intensive acting course in New York. Ellie hopes to step into Phoebe's shoes and land a role in an eagerly awaited film. But things take a thrilling twist when a series of mysterious deaths begin to unfold among the film's crew!

This book is really well-written, and I found the plot to be gripping and fast-paced. Sure, some parts might seem a bit far-fetched—like things that just wouldn’t happen in real life—but I loved the vibrant setting and the detailed descriptions that made me feel like I was right there in the sunny landscapes of Abu Dhabi.

The characters are another highlight, even though many of them are pretty unlikable and unreliable. I found myself drawn to their complex personalities, which added an extra layer of drama to the story.

I did feel that the ending was a little stretched out and could’ve packed more punch, but overall, I really enjoyed the book!

This was my first read by this author, and I can’t wait to dive into more of their work in the future.

In summary, "Sun Trap" is a fantastic read, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced mystery with an exotic twist.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers Aria & Aries (Head of Zeus) for providing me with a digital review copy! All the thoughts in this review are completely my own, and I’m excited to share them with you!

I struggled with this book, and after initially enjoying it, I found it to be a slow read to the end. I did not like Ellie, no redeeming qualities, then all of a sudden a huge influx of other characters none not even remotely fun or likeable put me off to be frank.
The previous novel Five Nights was brilliant so give this author a go

I’m sorry to say that I really struggled with this book. At first I was enjoying it, even though i never particularly took to Ellie/phoebe I was intrigued to read on but the sheer volume of characters, none who are likable, got too much for me, which is down to my brain fog I know but it also got so far fetched and verging on a bit ridiculous that I very nearly gave up on it. I did finish it however but def not a favourite book of mine, sorry. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Sun Trap
Rachel Wolf

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was such a unique storyline and definitely had lots going on that I've not seen done before in a thriller like this.

On the whole, I really enjoyed it!
It was definitely a slower paced thriller than I'm used to, but I quite liked this for a change.
The pace suited the complicated ins and outs of the plotlines and all the different threads that were running through this.

There was however, a lot going on!
I normally love getting my head around each of the different threads, but I found that the connections twists were a little obvious in some areas....and a little unbelievable in others.
Still, this was a super twisty read, which I loved.

The circumstances of the trip were a little dubious from the start and this made me a bit wary of our main character Ellie.
I definitely had the unreliable narrator vibe from very early on and the circumstances surrounding this snowballed as we learned more about Ellie's past.

A little unbelievable, yes - but definitely not something I was expecting and not something that's been done before.

I loved the setting which added to the drama with the oppressive heat and lack of other guests - this created an almost locked room scenario, but again, I'd made guesses at certain aspects quite early on.

I wasn't overly keen on any of the characters really - but I think this worked well and meant I was free to suspect any one of them throughout the book as I'd not really felt too connected to any of them.
There was no shortage of suspects and although I did guess some of the twists, I didn't connect all the final dots until the reveal.

This was my first read by this author - although I think I also have Five Nights on my tbr - so will be heading on into that one in the near future.



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

Finally realising her childhood dream of being an actor, Ellie gets her big break in Sun Trap (2025) by Rachel Wolf. On her flight to the film’s location in Abu Dhabi, Ellie cannot help hearing talk of a plan for a murder. When one of the cast members is killed, Ellie regrets her silence and is afraid her hidden secret will make her the prime suspect. There are the usual requisite twists and surprises, yet it has too many unlikely happenings to be totally credible. Despite its intriguing premise, exotic location and murder plan, this mystery tale is a somewhat mediocre read with a three stars rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Aria & Aries and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

A destination thriller set is Abu Dhabi - I was excited to read this. However, the most exciting part turned out to be getting to the final pages.

Firstly, for me, a thriller needs to be thrilling. I expect fast-paced scenes that have me on the edge of my seat. I'm prepared to suspend my disbelief to a point, but some of the stuff here is so left field that it's ridiculous. I love a twist and a turn, but this was just silly.

Secondly, if you're promoting a book as a destination thriller, I want to feel the destination. Apart from the mention of a Friday Brunch UAE style, there's nothing UAE here. The author could have gone so much further to promote UAE daily life and culture. Emirati police officers and local laws, the nationalities of the hotel staff and multi-cultural environment, and the feel of the desert. For someone who experienced a sandstorm in Syria, the author didn't do a great job of creating an atmosphere of the desert and the scenes there. This could have been set on a sand pit in Clacton on Sea.

Thirdly, it's 2025. Can we please stop putting in sexual assault references that do nothing for the story. It does not advance the story in any way, nor is it handled well. If anyone is sexually assaulted, can we please not treat it like a cut knee. This really did not need to be included.

And finally, aren't we bored of the unreliable unstable female narrative now? It's been done over and over again, and it is becoming insulting. Don't even get me started on female mental health.

Sadly, this is a two star for me.

I should've loved this book but sadly I didn't. I really struggled to get into the plot and found myself having to reread chapters as my mind was drifting whilst reading. It was almost a dnf but I'm glad I persevered.
I very much struggled with the sheer volume of characters, I lost track of who's who for practically the 1st half. I will say the storyline picked up when the 1st twist was revealed and we had a duel timeline, at that point I knew I'd continue and was curious about how everything would pan out.
Seriously crazy twists, possibly ott but an average 3 stars from me. Thank you #NetGalley for the arc

I was lucky enough to listen to this one while reading along with my ebook copy. While the story started out strong, I found myself getting a little distracted as more and more characters were killed off. I don't know why, as the suspense should have kept me intrigued but the way each of the deaths happened just seemed so unbelievable that I found myself shaking my head several times. I did love the Abu Dhabi setting though since I'm also desert based in Qatar! The audiobook narration was also done well with the narrator doing a fantastic job.

Ellie has dreamed of being an actor her whole life, so when a role in a major blockbuster film lands in her lap, she’s determined to make the most of it. However, on the plane to Abu Dhabi to begin filming, she overhears a conversation about a planned murder. Unsure whether she’s misinterpreting the situation and not wanting to jeopardize her big break, Ellie chooses to stay silent. But when ten cast members become nine, she begins to realise that her silence might have been a mistake.

With her career at stake and a murder mystery unfolding around her, Ellie finds herself in a perilous position. What’s even more dangerous, however, is that Ellie isn’t who she claims to be—and in a world full of lies, she quickly becomes the prime suspect.

Sun Trap is an utterly addictive, twisty, and suspense-filled thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. With a wild and unexpected twist, this book is an unputdownable page-turner that I couldn’t stop reading!

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I’m not entirely sure what to say about this book other than it suspends belief and is more farce than thriller. The author certainly has the most incredible imagination to think up all the different scenarios! It rolls from mild “really?” to “That’s just impossible” I appreciate its fiction but some of the twists had me chuckling they were so unrealistic

I did finish the book just to see how it wrapped up which makes it a 2.5* rather than a 1* if I’d given up

Thank you to Netgalley the author and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately, this was not for me. The premise was great, but I ended up coming to a point where I couldn't keep up with the twists and was thinking "Really?!" as things kept happening.
Thank you to Netgalley for the Arc to review.

Rachel Wolf's novel Sun Trap is a suspenseful tale of murder and deception.

Phoebe, an aspiring actress, falls ill before her big breakthrough role and asks her friend Ellie to take her place. As they have been mistaken for each other in the past both girls think they may get away with the ruse. Ellie reluctantly agrees and heads off to take up the role.

The plot has plenty of intrigue and twists, although suspending disbelief at times can be challenging. The characters often feel one-dimensional, making it harder to connect with them.

Despite this, the author's engaging writing and well-paced narrative make Sun Trap an enjoyable read. It earns a 3.5-star rating for its suspense but falls short on character depth. If you enjoy tales of deception, this book will capture your interest.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

This was an easy and entertaining read. It was full of so much craziness and coincidences as to be pretty unbelievable. But cast that aside and just enjoy it for what is - a fun, shallow, twisty celebrity-based thriller.

I got into it quite quickly, I was invested and liked the fact Ellie was pretending to be Phoebe. Although slightly far fetched, they made it work.

It got to the point where there was so many twists that I wasn't actually sure what was happening. I much preferred the first 3/4 of the book I'd say.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 8th May 2025
Thank to NetGalley, Publishers and Author for this ARC.

A location / destination thriller. One of my favourite types for a bit of escapism. That said, with this book it was not so much escapism as needing the ability to suspend any element of reality.

The premise of this book is very good, I felt it just tried a bit too hard to be unsolvable. The initial 'twist' was quite obvious fairly early on and that could have led to an enjoyable plotting. So many twists, turns and murders over the course of a few days though led ( for me) into slightly farce like territory.

For all of this it is still an enjoyable read if you take it with a very large pinch of salt.