Dream State

by Marcia Carrington

After losing his job, David Calloway has been seeing nightmares of the murder of a young girl, these intensifying recently after his girlfriend left him. David believes he may have committed the crime as a youngster, but the fuzzy nature of his dreams is not providing him with a determinate answer. After several unsuccessful attempts to control his dreams with medication, David’s specialist, Dr Albert Garland, suggests he attend the Dream State clinic, headed by Dr Anna Frankel, who specializes in music therapy to assist patients with their emotional problems. With great hesitation David undergoes the therapy, as he wants to know if he indeed committed a heinous crime, and get to the bottom of this quandary once and for all. Will David’s time at the Dream State clinic solve his problem, or make matters even worse than they already are?

ebook

Published December 5, 2019

About the author

Marcia Carrington writes about the human condition, exploring what makes people tick, but in an upbeat and optimistic tone. She writes in a variety of genres, mainly romance but also, comedy, suspense, crime, paranormal, mystery, YA and NA. Her collection of thirty-four books vary in length from full-length works to novellas, novelettes to short stories.

Marcia's latest book is short story romance THE FUNERAL, released in September 2019, and will be venturing again into science fiction/paranormal territory with DREAM STATE, a novelette slated for release in December 2019.

Apart from writing and reading, Marcia also has a great love for coffee. The morning coffee has always been a staple for Marcia, and something which she cannot do without. There is just something about the fresh aroma of coffee early in the morning, and anytime for that fact, which proves irresistible to her.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Calloway has lost his job and his relationship with a woman who cheated on him. Now he's experiencing a form of sleep terror.

He wakes each night screaming after seeing himself with bloody hands, sometimes holding a knife, and the body of a girl covered in blood.

Has he really killed someone?

After unsuccessfully treating David with pills, he suggests the Dream State clinic.

What happens from there surprises them all ....

This is a short story/novelette of approximately 50 pages ... a fast, easy read. The characters are as fully formed as they can be within a short amount of pages. The ending was an unseen surprise.

Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this short story. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Erin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Review of Dream State by Marcia Carrington
 This was a book with a difference. David Calloway has been having reoccurring nightmares about the murder of a young girl. In face he believes that he way even be the killer.

After trying medication to help him, David decides to attend the Dream State clinic, in hopes of getting some answers.

Can Dr Anna Frankel help David regain his memories and finally get the truth he seeks? Or will things get even more complicated?
 
 Although not a long book the author manages to pack a lot into the story.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

ooo very nice and interesting story... good and complex characters... interesting emotional feelings going on.. interesting plot and very good writing. i enjoyed it a lot

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I read a book by Marcia, I always expect a surprise because even if her books are short, her stories always get to the point. There are no exceptions in this brief story too that begins in a certain way then surprisingly follows another path. A short and very fast paced read that I really recommend. I’m voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a courtesy copy of the book.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘You know, emotional trauma can exacerbate negative thoughts and dreams…’

Author Marcia Carrington has published many books about the human condition, exploring what makes people tick, but in an upbeat and optimistic tone. Marcia’s books are novellas cum short stories and that is one reason they are such a pleasure to read: she has an idea, develops it rapidly, lets us know the characters it affects, and ties it all up with a bow a the end. Stories of loss of loved ones traumas exist but few authors can present the aftermath of such a loss as well as Marcia - and in so few pages.

Establishing the ‘incident’ that marks the direction a story will proceed is an art and one that Marcia practices well. She opens her story with a telling doctor/patient visit in which the primary character David confides in his doctor about a serious and terrifying nightmare he continues to have - a dream that visits the murder of a young girl. The sensitive physician, Doctor Garland, seeing that medication is not helping David’s problem, encourages him to attend the Dream State clinic to cope with the nightmare and hopefully analyze its source. David takes the doctor’s advice, and the events and parameters of the Dream Clinic experience fill the pages with a strange discovery….

To say more about the plot would destroy the fine dénouement, but in Marcia’s skilled hands this story comes vividly to life. Sensitivity of this nature comes naturally to Marcia. Her books may make a fast read, but the impact is lasting!

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE JAW DROPPING THRILL RIDE!!!
Wildly intense! Marcia dredged up every shadow, crack, line, crease, mold and translucent images, riding this gem through the forbidden darkness with a vengeance in this jaw dropping bombshell. No holds barred, take no prisoners and no turning back sets the pace for this thrilling whirlwind, propelling this bad boy to new heights. Chaotic events and mayhem spins this top notch, mind blowing, page flipping bombshell into a deep and riveting block busting culmination. Amazing scenario's that punch dead center with such intensity and precision, wielding this gem together flawlessly. Carefully traversing the trials and tribulations struggling with the drama, turmoil, distress, intrigue, danger and suspense mounts as tension spirals, blasting this baby into tailspin with shocking results. The characters and scenes are so colorfully descriptive it gives the illusion you were right there in the middle of ground zero with them. Remarkable job Marcia, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.

[Debbie Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another short sharp read from an author that really understand the human psyche. Her books while only short really draw you in and like a lot of her books this book leads one way and then drags you another

David Calloway keeps dreaming of a murder and awakens screaming imagining blood ion his hands and a knife clutched in it. He is beginning to wonder if his psyche his blocking a murder a murder he committed at some time when drugs don't solve the problem he is sent to the dream clinic run by Dr Anna Frankel. Can she help him or will the situation become even worse You will have to read to see

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting book with strong characters and a unique story line. The author does a great job building the story and pulling you in with all the anxiety,danger,fear and suspense. It's an intriguing story that had me glued to the pages from start to finish. The story is brought to life with the descriptive writing and vividly painted scenes. I enjoyed and would recommend this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review For honest review. This is a short story of a dream that David Callaway is having that portrays a murder that's driving him Indian that he goes for help to find out why he's having it . This is different but good.

[Dani Readsalot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started really good with great promise but I kinda lost interest quarter way in.
Short read and quite an unusual storyline and I can see why people have enjoyed this but it just didn’t capture my attention like I’d hoped it would.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although short, this is an intense read and a look into the mind. David Calloway has to find out if his nightmares mean something, like who may have committed murder, even if he finds it is himself. The author always writes amazing books and wraps a lot of punch in between the covers of her books.

[Tracy Fritts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this story was intense and a interesting read. It was well written and a good storyline. I enjoyed reading about the characters. It kept my interest throughout the story.
I read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

[LORRIE · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sad, frustrating and hopeful book

[Simera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. The characters were likable and complex.
I enjoyed this story.