The Trap by Ava Glass is published by Penguin in Paperback (£9.99)

The gripping new thriller from the bestselling queen of spy fiction

Book blurb

How far would you go to catch a killer?

This is the question UK agent Emma Makepeace must ask herself when she is sent to Edinburgh for the upcoming global G7 Summit.

The Russians are in town and Emma and her team know a high-profile assassination is being planned.

But who is their target?

There is only one way to find out. Emma must set a trap using herself as bait.

As the most powerful leaders in the world arrive and the city becomes gridlocked, Emma knows the clock is ticking.

My thoughts

Emma’s back! The third instalment of this spy thriller series is here and Emma is back on British soil for this one. Firmly set in an Edinburgh that is preparing for the latest G7 meeting taking place in a week.

A Russian, Vladimir Balakin, lands in Farnborough in a private jet. Since then Emma and her colleague Adam have been tailing him. Balakin is high level Russian intelligence. Second in command of the FSB an intelligence organisation that is one of the most feared in the world. These high level ranks just don’t travel to countries that are perceived as enemies. So why is he here? Where is he going? What is he here to do?

Emma and Adam follow him to the Russian Embassy once it is confirmed that he’s inside their boss, Charles Ripley, aborts the operation and recalls them to base.

Working out of a Victorian redbrick terraced house in Westminster under the guise of ‘The Vernon Institute’ is the Agency, the organisation that Emma works for, a highly secretive agency whose task is to hunt Russian spies.

On her return to base Ripley takes her to a building overlooking the river Thames where they meet with Giles Templeton-Ward, head of MI6, better known as ‘C’. They enter a secure room where they join Patricia Allan, head of MI5, Dominic Larch, Home Secretary and Lauren Cavendish, the Prime Minister’s special adviser. Here to discuss Balakin’s arrival.

There is a lot of anxiety about with the upcoming G7 meeting and Balakin’s arrival in the U.K. has just ratcheted things up a notch. What’s in motion? Is the G7 the target? Why is Balakin here?

An attack! It must be, but what exactly? How do we find out?Everyone is stretched with the G7 so Ripley puts forward the idea of a small, elite team lead by himself and Emma. With support from the other Agencies it’s agreed. Ripley’s team is to oversee the operation, the MI6 liaison will be Andrew Field. So, they have seven days to find out what is planned and put a stop to it.

Then news comes in that Balakin is flying to Edinburgh – the operation is under way!

Emma travels to Edinburgh and much to her annoyance is given a partner, Mackenzie, from Police Scotland to help since she is not sufficiently familiar with the City and hasn’t the time to get to know it well enough. However, as they work together Emma sees the benefits they work well together. Balakin is linked to a Russian who has lived in Scotland for many years, Nick Orlov, not someone on any radar. Who is he? What is the connection? What does he know?

The operation is barely up and running when leaks to the media become apparent and political pressure all but closes it down. Ripley, however, is determined to keep his team in Edinburgh and brings more of them up to Scotland as the other Agencies return to London. Ripley is sure that Orlov is the key to finding out what is planned. A honey trap! He wants Emma to get close, very close! Is it too close for Emma? Should she be asked to do this? Will she pull it off? Will they find out what is planned and be able to stop it?

What a set up! As Emma dives head long into an undercover operation right into Orlov’s lair. Will she succeed in the mission and come out unscathed?

I raced to an ending that is tense, thrilling and totally mesmerising.

I like the characters Emma, Charles Ripley, Zach, Adam, Martha and Kate Mackenzie. Even though the storyline only takes place over the course of a week Ava Glass has built a strong, believable relationship between Emma and Kate, which will be interesting to see if that goes anywhere in the future, as well as providing a pacey, compelling and thought provoking story.

Once again Ava Glass has written a terrific story that completely draws the reader into the world of Emma, the Agency, secrets and spies. It’s a fascinating world, a book well worth reading and a series that is clearly filling a need for new and seasoned readers of the spy thriller genre.

It’s been great to be back with Emma and the Agency. The Trap by Ava Glass is an excellent third episode in the series, it is an intense, engrossing and very enjoyable read.

Thanks

Many thanks to Amanda for the invitation to join The Trap BlogTour and to the publishers Penguin for an eCopy of the book to read and share my thoughts on.

BlogTour

Like to read more about The Trap by Ava Glass then why not take a look at these terrific blogs before going to the links below and getting your own copy or preordering a copy of The Trap?

Information

Published: Penguin | U.K. – 1st August 2024 | PenguinRandomHouse |USA – 3 September 2024 | 410pp

Buy: Penguin | AmazonSmileUK | Your local bookshop | Your local library | UK bookshop.org (affiliate link) | Hive

Author

Ava Glass is a former civil servant with the highest security clearance bar one. She has seen just enough of the inner workings of espionage to ensure that she will always be fascinated by spies. 

Prior to working at the home office, Ava Glass worked as a crime reporter, covering multiple homicides, making her writing both fresh and dangerously believable. 

Books

The Trap is the third book in the Alias Emma series by Ava Glass it follows The Traitor and 2022 debut The Chase the first in this spy thriller series.

The Chase shortlisted for the CWA IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER 2023 for Best Spy Novel at the 2023 Crime Writer Awards alongside established names including Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) and Linwood Barclay. No small feat for a debut novelist. 

Film rights to The Chase and The Traitor have been acquired by Ink Factory, producers of The Night Manager, who are currently working on a pilot in conjunction with Sky Atlantic.