The Trunk Key

by Carolyn Nash

On her way to work, for one terrifying instant Jennifer Canfield sees a tiny hand in the trunk of a car that barely misses slamming into her van. A doll? A child? With no time to think she must act and so begins a non-stop, breathlessly suspenseful journey to find the truth and possibly save a life. Stephen Baron, a road construction worker, joins her in her pursuit of a possible kidnapper through the hills of California. And where the chase ends reveals exactly how courage and love can show up when we least expect them and change everything

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Short Stories, Suspense, Romantic Suspense

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Reddwhine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished "Raising Abel" a week or so ago and in looking up information about the author I discovered that she had written another book. It was on Kindle. It was $2.99. So I was willing to take a gamble. I really liked "Raising Abel" and I liked the way this author writes so for 3 bucks I didn't feel like I was taking a big chance. I was well rewarded. I liked this book. It was a very easy read and quite short but like all good books I was sorry to finish it.

"The Trunk Key", like "Abel" grabbed me from the very beginning. I found the book very interesting and loved some of the dialogue between Jennifer and Stephen. Even when things were tense and frightening, their interaction was fun and more to the point, I thought it was very real. Even as dire as everything was she made me laugh more than once.

The heroine was damaged, but also a very ordinary woman in the sense that she is overweight, kind of schlumpy but still an interesting likable character. She is in a way every-woman and I liked that because I could relate. I would like her as a friend.

I kept thinking that if it was me, would I have the courage and tenacity to pursue something so uncertain for fear of looking like an idiot if it turned out to be not a child at all? I'm not sure I would but Jennifer was made of stronger stuff and her history I think pushed her to be more and to do more.

I certainly hope that Carolyn Nash will keep on writing. If she does I'll keep on reading what she writes.

[Jan Crossen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense and adventure of this book. The plot was exciting and held my interest. The "good guys" were very likeable, and the bad man deplorable. I think Carolyn Nash is an excellent writer. I've already read two other books she has written and I'm off to find more of her work.

[Lisa Jay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wish I knew Kindle Single meant self-published before I read this book, but it was so hilariously bad that I had to finish it. I could not stop cringing.

So we have a woman driving to work when a car speeds past her. Its trunk momentarily pops open and she's almost sure she saw a child in it. She calls the non emergency number sounding uncertain and they just tell her to call back if she gets the license plate number.

Then of course it's impossible to get signal for the rest of the book and phones die or get misplaced.

She drives after the car, they pass a school, and she thinks he's probably "...some poor, innocent stranger. He was just some regular guy... except the way he watched that little girl skipping to school; the way his tongue came out and ran slowly across his lip..." but I mean, apart from that he's probably an okay guy.

They come to a standstill, she calls over a construction worker pretending to need directions, tells him there might be child in some guys trunk and so obviously he hops in her car to come along for the ride.

(It was at this point I looked to see what Kindle Single meant.)

It quickly turns into an unnecessary romance. And a bad one at that. "Do you know," he said, looking over at me, "you may be the first woman I've ever met who has actually admitted eating donuts?" Wow. Just, wow.

They follow the car to the middle of no where, having a right old laugh along the way, until eventually it stops and the man they've been following gets out. The Stranger She Allowed Into Her Car gets out to ask him for... lord help me... “directions”. This escalates pretty quickly, the guys fight and there’s a gun at one point. The woman gets out to go check on the child in the trunk, looks at her and assumes she’s dead and so charges at the man who has a gun. Fight, fight, fight. The man goes tumbling down a hill and she hopes he’s dead. They go back to the child and oh look, she’s actually alive and probably just been drugged unconscious - so what do they do? LITERALLY HOLD HANDS AND DANCE AROUND IN A CIRCLE SCREAMING IN JOY.

That’s only half of it. The child abductor, who is now arrogantly being referred to as “Dumbass” because the writer knows nothing bad will happen in her fairytale, is still alive and coming after them. Blah blah blah.

Honestly it’s terrible but 10/10 would recommend for the laugh.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Trunk Key will make you think about what you would do if you briefly saw something, but your instinct told you you were right. Carolyn Nash makes you think, and for days to come you may still be pondering what you would do.
It is a serious story told by an author who knows how to keep you turning the pages.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read very quickly and kept my attention. The plot is a bit predictable and I think she tries to fit too many vague details into a short novel, but it kept me interested. The characters don't have much time to develop but I did get invested in wanting them to win and get what they wanted. Predictable, short, good for a quick read to keep you entertained.

[Doreena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a major thrill ride, from beginning to the end. It reads quickly, but it is rich in detail and suspense. Two good samaritans trying to rescue a kidnapped girl, even before they know for sure she has been kidnapped.... Has she been kidnapped or is the girl in the trunk that she got a quick glimpse of just a doll???? Read it to find out! Definately a must read!

[Mitsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fast paced, expertly detailed, wild ride! From the beginning, I was hooked and with every page I just kept getting deeper and deeper, until I came to the end where I was like YES! I love this! Read it. Trust me, it won't take long.

[Cloudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and thrilling story about a middle-aged woman getting rid of her adolescent abuse trauma by saving a little child out of the trunk of a kidnapper`s van.
Somehow not only a thriller but also a brilliant roadmovie-story.

[Elvan · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was fun!

[Katy Grinberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great easy read!

[Bethany Berger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't Put it Down

Normally, I lose interest quickly in things and I'll see if something else gets me, but not this book. From start to end, I read it in two hours to take in every detail. Vividly descriptive and only including those truly needed details, you dive into the life of Jennifer, and see every last step she takes on this adventure. The story is a little more than it seems, and it's not one for the light hearted. Truly emotional and inspiring for those who've been through serious things, I can truly say my favorite part is her dream.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story felt like the foundation of an enjoyable longer novel that just wasn’t fleshed out sufficiently. The action of the kidnapping plot is fun to read, but the author hints at the protagonist’s back story without ever bothering to give sufficient detail, making it come across as just extraneous information. There are also hints at the potential for a developing romance between the two main characters, but the storyline just ends without any conclusions being reached -they haven’t even set up a date. It is very unsatisfying.

[Sylvie Rochon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A suspenseful survival story with emotional twists and turns. Jennifer is on her way to get donuts when she thinks she sees a little arm dangle out of a trunk. Although scarred from her past Jennifer fights her demons to stay with the car, trying to get help. Steven is the construction worker who although skeptical at first believes Jennifer enough to hop in her van to help her. But it quickly becomes a fight to stay alive. I loved the audiobook. I would have loved an epilogue, but it was still an amazing story.

[Susan McMillan · Rating 1 out of 5]

So irritating. The narrator had a very slow, halting style that dragged the story out. Almost like the Director was trying to make the book last longer. The main character Jen could not spit out her thoughts in very stressful situations. She would giggle when being pursued by the killer. She and Stephen would waste precious escape time by flirting and asking how each other were doing. I don’t recommend the book.

[Jeffrey H. Schreider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this sort but nicely paced novel.

There's raw talent here and I hope to read more from Carolyn Nash. 😁 Very topical author could have balanced the story better in terms of the villain who was never really introduced and there could have been a few plot twists but author is solid and I'd love to see what's next....

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending section went on a bit long in my opinion, could've ended it with them reaching police, then an epilogue maybe of the scene with Jennifer and the kids, and Steven calling. Still very entertaining and kept me interested!

[Gerald Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful

I thought this book was full of suspense. I didn't want to stop reading until a resolution had been reached...

[Ryan Woodard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really solid read

Honestly, this is the first book I have read in 5 years and I enjoyed every page. The mechanics of the storyline is portrayed very clear.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trunk Key

Wow!! Amazing story!! So realistic!! Read from beginning to end in one sitting!! Not able to articulate the worthiness!! Please add to list of reads!!

[AmadorBibliophile]

Great premise...
but it was just a romance quickie in disguise
:/

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I am not a short story fan I rather enjoyed this one. Chosen purely because of the Narrator Ilyana Kadushin ( who did such an amazing job on the twilight series)

[Carolee DeWitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting!

[Scott Booker · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what it is…a self published book…I loved it. It kept me entertained for the few hours it took to read it. And for me…that is more than enough to give it at least 4 stars.

[Nikki "The Crazie Betty" V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a well done story. I've always enjoyed stories where you are literally just dropped into the middle of something that is already happening and it ends in the middle of something happening. This just makes more sense to me than a 500 page story trying to cram all past, present, and future stuff into one book so they can tie it all up in a pretty bow in the end. It just feels more real. The only information you get is what is willingly shared by the character through her inner monologue and her own observations. I mean how many times do you tell someone something and then begin to recount your entire life's experiences to make sure the listener knows every detail of your life? If you do then I feel sorry for your friends.

This story is about a woman who almost gets in a car accident and as the secondary vehicle swerves and bounces to avoid her she sees their trunk come open just enough to let her see that there may or may not be a child in the trunk. The rest of the story is us following along with the protagonist and only learning something as she does. Very suspenseful and frightening given the nature of the topic. There were moments throughout the story, however, that let us know that we are just along for the ride and have no control. Like the fact that through the entire story she is randomly trying to come up with nicknames for her car. We can see that not only is this a product of her nervous mind trying to fill it with something not quite so intense, but also a display of human nature. It's only natural that regardless of how bad the circumstances our minds will wonder to something that gives us a break from it. Like being at a funeral and all of the sudden thinking to yourself "I wonder if my show recorded like I set it up to?". It doesn't show callousness or a lack of empathy, it instead shows a true human aspect and that even in this kind of harrowing dilemma, themes like the TV show 24 are just that; a TV show, not how life actually operates.

I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who enjoys thriller/suspense and has an hour to kill.

[Rebecca Vance · Rating 2 out of 5]

I reviewed this one on my blog. I downloaded this onto my Kindle e-reader. I thought that it could have been a good story, but it seemed incomplete to me. There were too many unanswered questions and it seemed as if it could have been developed much better and fleshing out the characters better and developing the plot more, then it would have been much better. The major problem that I had with this novella, is that it was badly in need of an editor. I got the impression that as soon as the author was finished, she uploaded it to the Amazon.com website, and was done with it. I am not a nitpicker, we all make mistakes. Even some of the best authors can have a typo or two. This work was glaring in its lack of grammar. For instance, when the context of the sentence indicated that the author intended the word weigh, the word way was used. Obviously not a typo. It continued with several similar errors. I was only able to give it 2 stars because I do believe there is some potential there if it is expanded upon to a complete story and edited correctly.

[Sharlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I begin, I feel it prudent to state that the author was kind enough to send me a few of her books to read. While, she did not ask me to review them, I am doing so, because I want to.

This is the third Nash book that I have read and she is still keeping me on my toes. I am impressed with how she is able to make each book completely different while keeping her work fresh and new.

This book treads on one of my secret fears; What would I do if I ever saw someone in the back of a trunk? I don't feel the need to elaborate on the story as I am not a reviewer who enjoys throwing in spoilers. The plot is solid and keeps the reader holding tight to the edges of each page and when the climax comes, you are flipping through them faster than a Rolodex.

Characters are believable and likeable, well, except for our villain, of course; No one should like that jerk.

The flow and editing were great. An easy read that can be completed in an hour or so and is appropriate for teens.

Thanks for the chance to sample some of your books Ms. Nash. I will be looking for more in the near future.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a woman named Jenny who is on her way to work and talking on her cell while about to make a pit stop at the donut store. She is complaining about her weight and knows she shouldn't stop. As she's going through an intersection an old rusty vehicle comes out of nowhere and runs the stoplight going in the other direction and almost hits Jenny.

She stops briefly to catch her breath while people behind her are honking their horns and she looks at the car going like a rocket through the intersection. It hits a bump and the trunk pops open a little bit just long enough that Jenny can see a little hand and long blond hair.

I thought this story was very well written and touches on every aspect of "was it her imagination"; is she having "another mental breakdown"; or did she really see something? She can't be like other people and not get involved.....you'll have to read the story to see what happens!

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its been awhile since I enjoyed a book that made me so eager to get to the next page. I read most of this book while waiting at the doctor's office, and it made a very long wait go by quickly. The great dialog and edge-of-your-seat suspense will keep your interest and you'll find yourself finishing this book wishing for more. I love that Ms. Nash's protagonist is not a twenty-something beauty queen.The fact that she could be your next door neighbor makes her easy to like and identify with.The story is set in the rugged hills above California's San Joaquin Valley. When circumstances beyond her control throw Jenny into a life or death situation, she follows her conscience and tries to do the right thing. It leads her to a dangerous adventure and unexpected romance. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast paced thrill ride lined with an underlying message of hope.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another Kindle book that I read...one they call a Kindle single. It was a very quick read but one that help my interest throughout the entire book. The main character of the book, Jennifer, is headed to work but with a goal of stopping by for donuts before she does. While chatting with her friend on her phone (using a hands free device I must add), her car is sideswiped by another car. The trunk of the car that hits her, pops open a bit and Jennifer sees what she things is a small hand and a bit of blond hair in the trunk. She is convinced that this man has a small child in the trunk and things change quickly for her from that moment on. A kidnapping, a cross-country chase, two unexpected partners thrown together for a common good, and good feeling ending. Short and sweet.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this story. The plot summary on Amazon drew me in and I ended up buying it, which I normally don't do. I did like the plot--it keeps you on your toes and wanting to know what is going to happen next. However, I just did not like the writing style. The dialog was unrealistic and there were times in the story where I thought to myself "Uhhh...what?" For example, when Jennifer and Stephen finally caught up to the kidnapper and saw the girl was still alive in the trunk and they "grabbed each other's hands and began a jubilant dance" until a good minute later Jennifer finally realizes oh, "we should get her out of the trunk". With that being said, I do want to try and read Carolyn Nash's other higher-rated stories.