Wow, what a ride of a book. I was hooked from the start, drawn into the world of Jess Ambrose who feels no physical pain. With her husband killed in a fire that she has escaped from she finds herself accused of his murder and running from the police. They are investigating a serial killer and the hunt is on as an earring ties a murder into the fire. Dark, violent in its descriptions of rape and murder at times, this is a gripping read and towards the end I couldn’t read fast enough.

We all know at least one person obsessed with serial killers (I know several but then I do work in customer services). But imagine if one of them decided to make it their life's work to design a tribute of sorts to them? But not for this person podcasts or ropey Netflix documentaries. No. Instead, over time they commit their own murders. Lots of them. Each one a copycat of a notorious killers crime. Hmm...Jackie in accounts doesn't seem so harmless now does she?

But this exactly what faces DCI Cara Elliott and DS Noah Deakin (the serial killer, not Jackie). Bodies are stacking up and its taken an outsider to spot the link. The killer is always one step ahead. With the not always helpful assistance of Nate Griffin, a disgraced fellow detective and Cass's brother they strive to stop The Echo Man before he kills again. But he's no where near finished yet.

Well positives first. Once this book gets it claws into you it ain't letting go. It took me late into the night a few times. The characters are relatable if not that likeable. If you like a high body count you will love this. There's absolutely loads going on.

Negatives? There's possibly a bit too much going on. I usually have no problems keeping track of characters but I found myself forgetting who Cass was married to so when his name was mentioned and her kids I was stumped for a moment. Also (and this may just be me) but Nate and Noah are just too similar in name. A few times I got them mixed up. Then I realised I was stupid. Also it's far too obvious what's going on. A humongous clue was dropped in about half way - I like the clues but not one that are like been slapped with a wet fish!

However this is just too good to dislike for those minor reasons. This is a great story well executed (no pun intended...that's a lie) by a new writer with great promise. However if you're bothered by gore and gruesome details you should know better than to read a serial killer story. I have no sympathy..

An easy 4 stars, would have been 5 except for the clues making this too predictable.

WoW! The Echo Man by Sam Holland was just.......I'm lost for words!!! One of the best books I have read in a long time! It was a superb read from the beginning till the end and I loved it. The Echo man has brilliant twists and turns throughout and was so cleverly written..........it had me on the edge of my seat and up all night. Glad I did not have any plans the next day. So be warned...........Once you open you kindle and start you will not be able to put it down!

The audio book was excellent as well with the Narrators: Sarah Lambie, and Leighton Pugh were excellent together, they gave a great feeling from the book from the very beginning. You will not be "Bored" with this book! You will be gripped!!!!

I highly recommend this book as well as the audiobook - Just superb! I loved it.

Big Thank you to Harper Collins Uk and NetGalley for my advanced copy to read.

I have just spent about a week with Jess and Cara. Jess is wanted by the Police, prime suspect in the murder of her husband, and attempted murder of their daughter.
Cara is a police officer. Senior officer in charge on a serial killer case...Is Jess guilty? Is there a link between the cases?..
Well crafted tale with relatable, emotional characters.
A proper page turner, that keeps you gripped to the end.
For me, it felt like not all of the loose ends were tied up at the end, however, I also think that maybe the teader is being left to tie up ends for themselves.

3.5 I read a lot of crime fiction. I mean a LOT. Everything from Christie to Nesbo and lots in between, so not wedded to a specific type or setting but I have very mixed feelings about this one.

The good:

- Good characterisation with an interesting backstory for each of the protagonists.
- Great pace and tension.
- Unexpected twists aplenty that kept me reading.
- A definite angle that made it interesting.

The less good:

- There is far too much relish in the horrific acts being carried out by the perpetrator.
- The body count and timeframe became ludicrous.
- The behaviour of some professionals in this story simply beggared belief.
- The ending. What? 😱😖 I wanted an editor to just go in there with a red pen and a raised eyebrow and say “No, Sam. Just, no.”

This is a writer with definite talent, they just need to rein in their instinct to tip over into horror and please don’t overthink those endings.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Sam Holland for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

When Jess Ambrose's husband dies in a house fire she is drawn into the investigation into a serial killer. Teaming up with disgraced detective Nate Griffin, can she prove her innocence ? I was attracted to the synopsis of this novel and it started off well. It is a fairly well paced novel and has a promising plot. However I feel that it was let down by the paring of Jess and Nate. This relationship felt so forced and unlikely that I increasingly lost interest in the novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I was hooked right fron the start found the story really fast paced and Dark Thriller.
Did not see the twists coming at all and the ending had me shocked! This book was really well written and a look forward to more from this Author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Police procedural come psychological thriller, The Echo Man worried me at first because it's title has been used before elsewhere for... you guessed it, a police procedural come psychological thriller (on that occassion by Richard Montanari). The difference here is that Sam Holland's serial killer is taking inspiration from real-life murder cases, which adds an interested extra dimension to the story.

There are a lot of content warnings to consider before diving into The Echo Man, so make sure you have a look through other reviews and that you're in the 'right place' before starting. There's plenty of gore, a lot of victims and that pervasive unease that'll stick with you when you've not got your nose buried in it.

The characters we follow in the book have their own share of dysfunction and issues, as most do in this sort of tale, with one of our police heroes going on the lam briefly as she is considered a suspect. The killer ties the police in knots as he mounts up the violence, getting closer to the detectives than they would like.

Some parts feel a little formulaic, but that is more of a genre-wide issue with the police procedural than a critique on this specific offering. If you're a fan of the genre though, this should be well worth a look.

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me Criminal Minds vibes I was hooked from the first few chapters. The characters were likeable which made the book easier to read the story was like nothing I'd really read before it was everything I love and feel a good thriller needs!

I truly cannot believe that this book is a debut!
The book is so hard to put down. I literally read it in two sittings, racing through the short chapters (which make it so much easier to just read one more chapter!)
The book is based on a serial killer who is impersonating and copying famous serial killers in the methods he is using to kill his victim
I well and truly had my detective hat on when reading this book, trying to figure out who it was
The book is gruesome, fast paced, tense and has loveable characters
I half guessed the ending, which I was pretty proud of, but the huge twist at the end, ended the novel perfect!
I cannot wait to read more by this author and I’m really hoping that this is a new detective series that we have to look forward to.
Highly recommended for any crime fans out there.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because this was a racy read over a bank holiday weekend that kept my interest. But not for the faint hearted. The Echo Man is reenacting a succession of brutal crimes as a kind of tribute act to mass murderers of recent times. The body count is unbelievably high and one wonders how anyone would have sufficient time to hold down a day job, prepare meticulously for these multiple crimes yet barely leave a clue behind. Cara is the detective struggling to find the criminal. Jess moves from school toilets to house fire to dating Cara’s brother somehow staying alive as all around are slaughtered.

Bloody hell! So much happening in this book. The idea of a copycat killer copying numerous murders is great. It was gruesome, gory, graphic and not for the faint hearted. Reading this when you can’t sleep at 2am is more than a little bit scary.

About a third of the way in I suspected who was behind the murders. By two thirds I was sure of who it was and this is where this book fell down for me. The idea of it being that person was ridiculous and I started to lose interest. By the end when I discovered I was right I felt really disappointed. I really disliked the ending which seemed incredibly far fetched. It was almost as though the author was on a roll with all the violence and ran out of time so went for a “tidy” ending.

I’d like to know what happens next with these characters so would read a follow up out of curiosity.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

The murders have begun…
But the killer is just getting started…
And he’s going to shock the world

Across England, a string of murders are taking place at a terrifying pace. Every murder has a different method, but all are brutal. Jess loses her husband in a house fire and becomes the prime suspect in the case. Terrified, she runs, and her only hope is Nate Griffin, a disgraced detective who is determined that she’s innocent. They soon realise that the murders are connected and the killer is copying the most infamous serial killers in history. Nicknamed The Echo Man by the press, the killer is ready to create his own masterpiece that will shock the world.

Holland’s debut novel is an absolute page-turner and this is an author that thriller fans will need to watch out for in the future!

Holland has created one of the darkest and most disturbing serial killers that I’ve read. The pace of the story and the revelations held within are relentless; the reader is constantly confronted by the gruesome acts of the killer at every turn. This book is not for the faint-hearted but it is the perfect read for thriller addicts. Be prepared to be shocked to your core!

Holland’s self-confessed love of all things relating to serial killers shines through in this novel. The attention to the macabre details and the picking apart of the signatures of the infamous serial killers chosen are superbly written.

The characters are perfectly imperfect and the inclusion of their back stories really adds to the story. Griffin is my favourite character- a disgraced detective determined to apprehend the killer who is battling his own demons.

A stunning debut that will make you leave the lights on at night. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the arc. The Echo Man is out now!

What can I say? I absolutely loved this and it is one of my favourite reads of 2022 so far. I was hooked from the very first page to the last and completely and utterly devoured it!

With excellent characters, an engrossing story line and a plot with twists that at least one of which I didn't see coming, this is a great read however, be warned, there is a lot of violence and gore from the beginning but, to be honest, that's to be expected given it's about serial killers although it may be a bit much for some.

This is a great debut and I will certainly be looking out for more by this author in the future and I have no hesitation recommending to lovers of this genre.

My thanks go to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 5*
Writing skill : 5*
Plot: 5*
Pace: 4*
Characters: 5*
Twist: 4*

Now first off I can’t stop talking about this book to anyone who’ll listen, if a book could be written just for me and my likes then this is it!
Secondly, how is this a debut?!! This is up there with many of the dark sick and twisted thrillers that I have loved for a long long time. The way the stories of the characters intertwine is very impressive (I think Griffin is my fave) and complex and just so good.
Oh btw that prologue is probably my favourite of all time!!
This is out now and if you’re a fan of serial killers (who bloody isn’t?!) then this is deffo for you!!

What a excellent read,one of the best murder mystery novels I've had the privilege to read.A well written story congratulations to the author.Kept me guessing from start to finish,would have love to have seen the real killer brought to justice,but that's just me.Would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes murder mystery novels.A great storyline.

Oh my days!

What a heart thumping, gut churning, jaw dropper of a read! If dark, violent and gruesome is your jam, then this is one white-knuckle ride you won’t want to get off. Meticulously researched and written with the sleight of hand of a puppet master, this astonishing debut had me at its mercy from start to finish.

There’s a serial killer on the loose. And not just any serial killer, but a copy cat who’s “echoing” the MO’s of infamous serial killers from the past. He’s cold blooded and canny, sick and twisted, and he’s toying with the investigation team like a cat with a mouse.

Conducting their own investigation are suspended maverick detective Nate Griffin and true crime nerd Jess Ambrose, who are thrown together when Jess goes into hiding after becoming a suspect in the murder of her husband. With Nate having his own personal links to the case as well, the two have a vested interest in tracking down the ‘Echo Man’.

What follows is a tense, adrenaline-charged, helter skelter of a ride, as the Echo Man’s killing spree ratchets up to what we know is going to be a humdinger of a finale. And how do we know? Because we hear it straight from the killer’s mouth in a series of chilling first-person interventions.

Holland’s control of the plot is masterful, tugging you this way and that, and piling twist upon twist, and murder scene upon murder scene, until the spectacular double bluff at the end that knocked me for six.

I loved the gruesomeness of this story. I loved the crime procedural element too. But what really elevated this for me were the characters, who completely owned and drove their own narrative. This was very cleverly done and added a whole extra layer of intrigue and investment.

Be warned, this book is not for the squeamish. Holland pulls no punches when it comes to describing the gory work of the ‘Echo Man’. It is graphic in the extreme. Some might say gratuitous. For me, though, the detail is not only horrific but horrifically compelling. And I’m already hungry for more.

Brilliant book, utterly gory, gruesome, sinister and I loved it. C
ara and Griffin I felt were great characters, Jess less so.
But I was completely gripped and blindsided by the twists and turns and usually quite wrong in my suspicions.
Loved the outrageously high body count and the Echo Mans homage to past serial killers was interesting and not something I've seen before despite the amount of books I've read in this genre.
I'd enjoy another book with Cara & Griffin making a return.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my eARC in return for my honest review.

It’s been a while since I’ve read such a bloodthirsty police procedural - not since my last Chris Carter novel!

The echo man is killing people in the style of notorious serial killers and DCI Cara Elliott is the woman who’s trying to catch him, along with her DS brother - Nate Griffin- who’s suspended from duty and has demons of his own.

This was a great debut with some real gusty characters and some gruesome murders - certainly not for the faint hearted.

Each murder was linked and it was so addictive trying to put all the pieces of the macabre puzzle together. Real crime fans will certainly have a field day with the references (the Charles Manson and Ted Bundy were really good and so clever!)

The twists and turns just left me wanting more and the ending had me on tenterhooks- can’t wait for the next instalment (there HAS to be one!)

Wow utterly brilliant. Such a clever plot, loved it! A real page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat.