Derailed

by Erica Summers

A horrific car accident leaves me broken, partially sightless, and trapped in my childhood home under the questionable supervision of my mentally-ill mother.

THIS is when the real trouble starts.

Derailed is a wild short, horror story about a mother's decent into schizophrenic madness and the vicious toll that it quickly takes on her eldest adult child.

Genres: Horror

45 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2023

About the author

Erica Summers is an award-winning independent author, filmmaker, artist, and film grip. She is a cancer survivor and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Several of her horror films have screened worldwide and garnered awars (including Obsidian & Mister White, both available on most streaming services).

Born and raised in Wyoming, Erica spent most of her life in the swampy American South. Now, she resides in southern Connecticut. She is usually slathered in garden dirt, kayak fishing, solving cold case files, or devouring movies.

Summers also writes spicy romance under the pen name Odessa Alba and hilarious cozy mysteries as Trixie Fairdale.

Reviews

[Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/the...


When Summers feels like winters,
When cloudless skies start to rain,
When your personal trauma scars you,
Write some horror for the pain.

I know what you are thinking and you are right, a poet I am not. There’s more to it than making the final word in the second and fourth sentence rhyme. But there are two reasons why I started this review like that:

The first is that this story is best tackled blind. I can’t tell you more than what is in the blurb without spoiling something you should find out for yourself. There’s an accident and shit happens…

The second is that I felt really, really intimidated when I read this story. Damn, I can’t put words together like that. So, I decided to mention it in my very first review of her work – she’s better than me – so I don’t have to make myself say it every time I review her books. This author oozes talent.

Really good short story, brilliantly written. Highly recommend it to horror fans.

5 STARS

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a nightmare! And I mean that in the best possible way.

[Brendon Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derailed by Erica Summers is a personal story of tragedy, mental illness and suffering at the hands of those who are supposed to protect you.

It's a short story but as with her previous work I have read how she describes a scene or the terror which is happening on the page is magnificent.

Erica really puts us in the shoes of someone who has suffered greatly and the emotional pain and resentment our protagonist feels leaps from the page. I found the afterword by her and the real life experiences that lead to this story effect me deeply. Her willingness to be so open and honest gave the story a whole new perspective.

It's a violent look at untreated mental illness and how that can lead to the unthinkable happening. Definitely a go to author of mine now and cant wait till her full length novel Vanity Kills is released soon.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Derailed" is about a daughter who has to be taken care of by her mentally ill mother; this one might not go down very well for some people, it's too real, too close for comfort, too upsetting; no gore, "just" mental illness, with huge emphasis on the illness. I highly recommend it, though, even to newcomers to horror, it definitely shows how good the genre can be even in a very short space, without supernatural gimmicks or extreme gore.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is literally one of my absolute favorite short stories from Erica! It is so good! I am constantly in awe of the way she writes. I'm just amazed that her short stories can pack such huge punches. This story, in particular, is literally a punch right into the gut. I was on edge and uncomfortable the whole time.

As someone who has been in a bad car accident before, the opening chapter of this book was literally nightmare fuel for me. You know that corny line we often read in thrillers about "the breath you didn't know you were holding "? Well, that was me, staring at my Kindle, not breathing and wracked with anxiety. And don't even get me started on the house full of rodents...ugh!

What makes this story even more gut-wrenching is knowing that she wrote this as someone who came from a home where there were mental health struggles. Just...wow!

I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[Paige Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first read by Erica. This was a super short fun read! I read the afterword after and it gave us insight to the trauma's in Erica's past. I totally related to this book because I too have survived a near fatal car accident and have/had (I cut her out of my life) a bad mom. I can't wait to read more from this indie author!

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrific!

My second read by Summers, and this one's fast, disturbing, and intense. It's also atmospheric and beautifully written. Highly recommended!

[Justin Boote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was honoured to have been offered the chance to read an ARC version of this short story . I started reading it on my lunchbreak, planning to finish later, then was so engrossed I was almost late for work again! People often ask for scary stories or ones that scares us, and the subject of this one is definitely up there. Who wouldn't be scared of their own mentally-ill mother, especially if she may have psychotic tendencies?
Written in first person, it tells the story of a woman who after suffering a terrible car crash leaving her partly blind, is forced to return to live with her mother, who she hates. Her mother is not stable. Yet she has no idea just how ill and warped her mind really is. To the point, she starts to worry for her own life...
Superbly written, the tension rises as the woman comes to understand just how unstable her mother really is and that in her condition is practically defenceless to protect herself. At just 37 pages long, it's a quick, compelling read!

[Jenny Coyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror is speculative. It really comes down to the question, "what scares you?"

For some people it's blood and guts and gore. (Which this little story has plenty of.) Some people think of supernatural elements as horror. For me? This short story has earned the horror genre. Why? Because it's not a make-believe scenario. Real life is always scarier than fiction. If it can happen it's easier for me to imagine.

I haven't read anything from this author before but her descriptions and detail from beginning to end suck you in and make you feel like you're there. I'll definitely be looking into her other work.

[Dawn Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this short last night at work. Derailed by Erica Summers, and let me tell you, this hit me right in the feels. As a child of a mother who has undiagnosed mental illness it cut deep. If you want to read a story that is part One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, part Mommy Dearest and a side of Hoarders….this one is for you. Messed up with a side of twist that you won’t see coming. Great job, Erica 💜

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young photographer has a near fatal car accident and is treated by her mentally ill (focus on fighting rats in their hoarder's home) mother. The story has some eerie moments and a good final (in the truest sense of the word) but it was a bit too short, too episodic to get me completely off the rocker. Had expected a bit more background. But ideal for a little shocking psycho tale for in between. Recommended!

[Heather Lachelle Fulmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A devastating car accident leaves a woman broken, partially blind, and forced back into her childhood home—under the unstable care of her mentally ill mother. That’s when the real horror begins.

Derailed is a fast, brutal psychological horror that explores a mother’s descent into schizophrenic madness and the devastating cost it inflicts on her eldest child. Claustrophobic, unsettling, and emotionally raw, this short story packs a vicious punch well beyond its length.

[Patrick McNulty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Home Run!!

Ever since BAD GOD TOWER I’ve been a big fan of Erica Summers. Her writing style is smooth and seductive as she leads you through one twist and turn after another. Her latest story is another banger. They say you can’t go home again, Erica explains why you definitely shouldn’t!

[Shannon Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not see this book ending like that. This book even though it was short. Made me want to read more. I need to know what happens next! I know after reading this book. I’m definitely gonna read more books by Erica Summer’s. I want to read everything she has written cause this book kept me intrigued.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'm in love with Erica Summers, a literal Queen of horror, gore and slashers!

Erica turned a real life scenario and mental health issues into a wonderfully terrifying horror. The scariest part is that this is the harsh reality for some individuals who suffer with mental health diagnosis' such as schizophrenia and manic paranoia. I wanted more!!

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, wow! Erica Summers takes us on a wild ride in Derailed. I was literally on the edge of my seat the entire way. This was a short read, but one that will stick with me for awhile. Highly recommend. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Book Sporut for providing a review copy.

After reading this, one thing is clear: if I ever need to recover from an accident, I'll be going it alone. No thanks!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Derailed is a very emotional deep and dark story. The book touches on tragedy, fear and mental illness. It’s a very quick read, but very well written and is frightening and sadly meaningful!
A definite read!!

[Tina Kroh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was crazy good! And horrifying! For being such a short story it was amazingly told and then I didn’t see the ending coming. So awesome!

[Sabrina Duggan · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a train wreck this book was, badly written, and no true purpose on why things happen.

[C.J · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book I've read by this author. Just when it started getting good, it ends.

[Honey-Marie Lashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very strange book to say the least. It is interesting but a bit confusing.

[Shona · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

A nice short read with an unexpected ending - it didn’t go the way I thought it would have !
Well written, I just wanted a bit more or the gore 😆

[Kylee Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5

[GiGi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly the afterword, where the author describes her personal traumas that inspired the story, was much more impactful than the story itself.