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Trent Walker #1
Trapped in Whittier
Just because you don’t believe in something doesn’t mean it can’t kill you.
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Trent Walker is a mentalist who makes his living off of people believing in magic and the afterlife, even though he doesn’t believe in anything other than science, logic, and sleight of hand.
The two hundred or so residents of the strange town of Whittier, Alaska, are convinced that vengeful spirits and a horrific curse have doomed them to lives of eternal darkness.
When Trent finds himself trapped in Whittier, with no way to leave until the next morning, he's forced to reassess his own beliefs and to fight for his life against an unnatural force that his logical mind can’t explain.
Prologue:
The man shifted uncomfortably in the fold-up metal chair. He had done this before. They all had. But he had never gotten used to it.
The growling. The snapping of the teeth. The shaking of the cages in the dimly lit room. He knew the bars were strong enough to hold them—that there was no way for them to escape, but it unnerved him to think of what they would do to him and anyone else who got in their way, if they did.
None of them had gotten loose before, but the Elder had made a special point of warning him this time—told him to stay vigilant—that there might be trouble coming their way. Maybe not this month, but soon.
The man turned his head from the cages, calmed his breathing, and tried to will his heart to beat slower. He reached into his pocket, found the little oval pill, and dry swallowed it.
Maybe it would also help if he changed his way of looking at the situation. He wasn’t their warden. He was caring for them and making sure they survived another full moon.
That made him feel a little better. But he still wished this could be done another way. These were his friends. His neighbors. His family.
But until the morning came, they were also dangerous and had to be treated that way.
Tonight, they were no longer humans.
Tonight, they were animals.
-----------------------------
Trent Walker is a mentalist who makes his living off of people believing in magic and the afterlife, even though he doesn’t believe in anything other than science, logic, and sleight of hand.
The two hundred or so residents of the strange town of Whittier, Alaska, are convinced that vengeful spirits and a horrific curse have doomed them to lives of eternal darkness.
When Trent finds himself trapped in Whittier, with no way to leave until the next morning, he's forced to reassess his own beliefs and to fight for his life against an unnatural force that his logical mind can’t explain.
Prologue:
The man shifted uncomfortably in the fold-up metal chair. He had done this before. They all had. But he had never gotten used to it.
The growling. The snapping of the teeth. The shaking of the cages in the dimly lit room. He knew the bars were strong enough to hold them—that there was no way for them to escape, but it unnerved him to think of what they would do to him and anyone else who got in their way, if they did.
None of them had gotten loose before, but the Elder had made a special point of warning him this time—told him to stay vigilant—that there might be trouble coming their way. Maybe not this month, but soon.
The man turned his head from the cages, calmed his breathing, and tried to will his heart to beat slower. He reached into his pocket, found the little oval pill, and dry swallowed it.
Maybe it would also help if he changed his way of looking at the situation. He wasn’t their warden. He was caring for them and making sure they survived another full moon.
That made him feel a little better. But he still wished this could be done another way. These were his friends. His neighbors. His family.
But until the morning came, they were also dangerous and had to be treated that way.
Tonight, they were no longer humans.
Tonight, they were animals.
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2013
57 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
Michael W. Layne
13 books37 followersMike lives in Northern Virginia with his dogs, Elsa and Baloo. He is still not sleeping nearly enough.
If you'd like to get in contact with Mike, please email him at mwlayne@gmail.com.
And please leave a review here or on Amazon if you feel so led. They are the coin of the realm nowadays, and Mike would love to hear your thoughts.
If you'd like to get in contact with Mike, please email him at mwlayne@gmail.com.
And please leave a review here or on Amazon if you feel so led. They are the coin of the realm nowadays, and Mike would love to hear your thoughts.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 17, 2017
The whole of Trapped in Whittier takes place in one day and most of the action is crammed into two or three hours. It's pretty good. You never get the feeling it is slowing down and the horror of the situation Trent Walker finds himself in is introduced slowly. It gradually changes from his research to find out more about fear into a run for his life type of story.
The first weird thing he finds out about Whittier, Alaska (population 220) is that there is one one way in and out. If you miss the designated hours to pass through the tunnel, you're stuck. I think it's not a spoiler to say Trent got stuck in more way than one. The second is the building he found the night before on the internet when he researched the town. Nothing he could put his finger on, but the feeling was there. Then there is the fact that most of these 220 residents live in one tall building. All of them.
The thing about this story is that you probably expect certain tropes thanks to the title and, well, the blurb. You'd be wrong or at least partly wrong. I liked the way this thing the residents have is presented.
And finally the choice of the villain or something resembling one is pretty brave.
There are a couple of nitpicks but they are my own and in no way take away anything from the story. One of them is connected to whatever is happing to the Whittier residents each full moon: Trent finds out how it all started and it is said that the people involved attacked each other and yet, the residents of Whittier don't do that.
Anyway, nitpicks aside, I think I'll read the next one too. There's more to Trent than you get from this story.
July 30, 2023
Not my typical genre, but I loved The Control by Layne and gave this a try. His writing style is great and characters are relatable. I do find Layne excels in psychological thrillers though I did find this enjoyable.
August 25, 2015
I'll be honest, most of the books I review, I can't even make it through the first chapter in one sitting. This book was selected a while ago, but once I started reading it, it flew by quicker than any other book I've read. It was intelligently written, and Michael W. Layne paints a picture like an artist on a canvas.
I don't believe in giving away spoilers in my reviews, so I'll keep it short. This book contains some of the most vivid setting descriptions I've ever read in such few words, the "werewolves" were not at all what I was expecting, and there was a lot of research done on the subjects covered in the book.
The believable twist on an ancient tale makes this probably the best werewolf story I've read to date.
On a side note, I first thought the description of Whittier was a genius idea for a fictional town. After some quick research, I found Whittier is in fact a real town, and the description is more accurate than the way some people describe their own homes. This book not only tells a good story, but serves as a great advertisement for the tourism industry in Alaska.
Because of Michael W. Layne, Whittier has moved to the top of my list of places I wasn't to visit. If it's anything like the book, I wouldn't mind being trapped there myself.
Here's the part where I usually do a pros and cons list, but I think I covered all pros I can without giving any spoilers, and there really aren't very many cons. There's a few editing mistakes, but that's about it. The rest of the book more than compensates for any faults I found.
I don't believe in giving away spoilers in my reviews, so I'll keep it short. This book contains some of the most vivid setting descriptions I've ever read in such few words, the "werewolves" were not at all what I was expecting, and there was a lot of research done on the subjects covered in the book.
The believable twist on an ancient tale makes this probably the best werewolf story I've read to date.
On a side note, I first thought the description of Whittier was a genius idea for a fictional town. After some quick research, I found Whittier is in fact a real town, and the description is more accurate than the way some people describe their own homes. This book not only tells a good story, but serves as a great advertisement for the tourism industry in Alaska.
Because of Michael W. Layne, Whittier has moved to the top of my list of places I wasn't to visit. If it's anything like the book, I wouldn't mind being trapped there myself.
Here's the part where I usually do a pros and cons list, but I think I covered all pros I can without giving any spoilers, and there really aren't very many cons. There's a few editing mistakes, but that's about it. The rest of the book more than compensates for any faults I found.
December 14, 2013
Don't Get Stranded in Whittier Overnight
In Whittier, by Michael W. Layne, Trent is an entertainer. As a Mentalist, his work consists of sleight of hand, misdirection, an acute understanding of human nature, and ensuring people have a great time during his shows. On his well-deserved vacation in Alaska, Trent decides to take a glacier cruise from Whittier, a small town accessible only at certain times via a tunnel though the mountain. With only bears to worry about, Trent feels confident he can navigate on his own. After all, there's only one way in and one way out of Whittier.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides and arctic water on the fourth, Whittier is isolated. Not even large enough to run a 5K course, the town seems smaller than its only claim-to-fame cruise ship. The town is remote, colder than surrounding towns, and has a posted bear warning.
During his cruise, Trent discovers many things as he runs through his impromptu act for the other passengers. First, the town is haunted. Second, his date with a beautiful Whittier woman may not turn out the way he expected. And last, he receives a warning: don't get stranded in Whittier overnight.
With expert foreshadowing and deft descriptions, the author sends anticipatory shivers down your spine. The characters add a nice spicing to the story as it moves along at a brisk pace. I highly recommend the book.
In Whittier, by Michael W. Layne, Trent is an entertainer. As a Mentalist, his work consists of sleight of hand, misdirection, an acute understanding of human nature, and ensuring people have a great time during his shows. On his well-deserved vacation in Alaska, Trent decides to take a glacier cruise from Whittier, a small town accessible only at certain times via a tunnel though the mountain. With only bears to worry about, Trent feels confident he can navigate on his own. After all, there's only one way in and one way out of Whittier.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides and arctic water on the fourth, Whittier is isolated. Not even large enough to run a 5K course, the town seems smaller than its only claim-to-fame cruise ship. The town is remote, colder than surrounding towns, and has a posted bear warning.
During his cruise, Trent discovers many things as he runs through his impromptu act for the other passengers. First, the town is haunted. Second, his date with a beautiful Whittier woman may not turn out the way he expected. And last, he receives a warning: don't get stranded in Whittier overnight.
With expert foreshadowing and deft descriptions, the author sends anticipatory shivers down your spine. The characters add a nice spicing to the story as it moves along at a brisk pace. I highly recommend the book.
January 19, 2014
Just a fun story
As someone who has been to Whittier I can relate. It's quirky in a good way. The story has a good ending and makes you wonder what's next.
As someone who has been to Whittier I can relate. It's quirky in a good way. The story has a good ending and makes you wonder what's next.
October 27, 2021
Really enjoyable
I have several cousins who live in Alaska. One of them told me about this tunnel . He didn't talk about the town so I have learned something new and enjoyed the story.
I have several cousins who live in Alaska. One of them told me about this tunnel . He didn't talk about the town so I have learned something new and enjoyed the story.
August 17, 2018
cute book. Made me look up the city and it does exist and there is only one road that goes in and out through a tunnel.
May 6, 2016
Liked this monster story....Never get stranded overnight in a town in Alaska..I also like how the main character was a mentalist, good at reading peoples minds, and performing magic tricks, and knowing that its all a matter of illusion and slight of hand. A supernatural story where the main character doesn't believe in the supernatural really helped this story along. Good characterization, and an all out fun read.
June 23, 2015
Great tale
I lived in Alaska 13 years and have visited Whittier, the description is totally accurate. I fell right into your story, with the elder protecting the people, when he was actually protecting himself. I look forward to your next story in Whittier, when Trent changes from the bites he received from Christine! Am I close?? A great tale!
I lived in Alaska 13 years and have visited Whittier, the description is totally accurate. I fell right into your story, with the elder protecting the people, when he was actually protecting himself. I look forward to your next story in Whittier, when Trent changes from the bites he received from Christine! Am I close?? A great tale!
July 24, 2015
Not sure the genre but I liked it
This is the first I've read by this author. Briefly would call it "Smart Fiction" . (SPOILER ALERT) I could have done without the gratuitous sex because it added nothing to the story and wrecked it for the YA market. Too bad however. . Ill read more of Layne's work anyway.
This is the first I've read by this author. Briefly would call it "Smart Fiction" . (SPOILER ALERT) I could have done without the gratuitous sex because it added nothing to the story and wrecked it for the YA market. Too bad however. . Ill read more of Layne's work anyway.
December 31, 2015
Different in a good way
Well written and edited. A different spin on possession that I rather liked. Would give it 5 stars but the characters, while well done, did not grab me. Short, about 4 hours for me, but good story and I will be looking for more from this author.
Well written and edited. A different spin on possession that I rather liked. Would give it 5 stars but the characters, while well done, did not grab me. Short, about 4 hours for me, but good story and I will be looking for more from this author.
July 15, 2014
This book sucks bilge water big time.
December 26, 2014
A different kind of story.
October 6, 2015
not bad. interesting story but not sure if I like the main character or not... i'll read the next one and see how it goes....
June 2, 2015
Not bad, but not good enough for me to read any more in the series.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews