Lorelei

by Kit Derrick

Trent’s girlfriend died almost two years ago. He dreams of her every night, and it’s always the same pattern. The pleasant memories slide into nightmares where he’s taunted and blamed by a seductive spirit, whispering promises of eternal life together. The only relief he can find comes from drinking and self-medication.

The voices and hallucinations reach into his waking hours, and Trent starts to lose his grip on the distinction between his own thoughts and those of his dreams. And the voices suggest that his salvation could lie in his own hands. If he’d just take one more life. One more..?

259 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2023

About the author

Kit Derrick is an author and Renaissance wannabe, creator of the novel Man in the Bath and of too many short stories and poems to count. His new book, The Raven Sound, will be available on Amazon soon.

Based in North-West England, he’s worked variously in bookshops, libraries, for the NHS and the police, at a speedway track and as an academic administrator, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He’s clearly very experienced at having jobs, and this has provided him with a lot of insight on the different perspectives in the World.

When he’s not writing, or doing another job, you can often find him by a river or the sea, dreaming of being a fish. His eclectic tastes include heavy metal, Pre-Raphaelite art, Football manager games, rhubarb, science fiction, and local history.

Reviews

[Vicky Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully written story was very thought provoking. With excellent descriptions of Liverpool that set the scene well, this book takes you a journey of the main characters life and feelings. Sometimes it's hard to know what is real and what is imagined but that only adds to the mystery of it. Well worth a read.

[Moona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kit Derrick’s Lorelei is a haunting psychological thriller that delves into the torment of grief and guilt. Trent, grappling with the death of his girlfriend, finds himself ensnared in a web of nightmares and hallucinations where a seductive spirit whispers promises of eternal reunion—but at a chilling cost.

Derrick masterfully explores the fragility of Trent's psyche, blending vivid dreamscapes with grim reality to keep readers guessing where the line is drawn. The seductive and sinister presence of Lorelei adds a chilling allure, while Trent’s descent into despair is both heartbreaking and unnerving.

The novel’s pacing is relentless, building suspense as Trent teeters on the edge of morality and madness. Lorelei is a gripping tale of loss, obsession, and the lengths one might go to for love—or escape. Perfect for fans of dark, psychological stories with a supernatural twist.

[Caroline Rebisz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a number of this author's books and they are always thought provoking and hard hitting. This novel deals with some difficult subject matter in both a humorous fashion and at the same time dealing sensitively with death and mental health issues. Well worth a read.