Cover Image: The Echo Man

The Echo Man

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Oooo I enjoyed this novel by Sam Holland and as a debut there will be a lot to live up too. From the excellent idea to the execution Sam Holland has written a brilliant book with engaging characters and a convoluted plot that begs for a sequel. I can’t wait to see what will come next from Sam.

Was this review helpful?

Three and a half stars rounded up to four.

A hugely enjoyable read overall slightly let down by the ending.

The story of The Echo Man, a serial killer who is copying the m.o. of previous serial killers in history as he outfoxes the police time and time again.

A great premise and this one had a real cinematic feel to it. It reminded me in large parts of the file Se7en and I had to keep reminding myself this was set in the UK not the US.

The author is spinning many plates throughout here as the many story arcs take place and are told from multiple viewpoints. There are times where you really have to suspend disbelief to go along with the story but I was happy to for the most part.

The ending I found a step too far, perhaps the author indulging himself a bit and it did take away from the overall book for me.

Still a hugely enjoyable read. This author can really tell a story and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

Certainly no holds barred in this book. Gruesome from the outset it cracks along. The characters are well developed. The writing style designed to be fast paced. A serial killer is emulating his/her heroes ie past serial killers so each murder scene has a different MO and the link only realised about a third of the way in. I think this is actually a spoiler but is mentioned in so many reviews that I feel OK about its inclusion in my review. The relationship between Jess and Griffin was well done and I really liked it. The interaction with all the characters I enjoyed. The book kept me interested enough to know who the culprit was in the end and how he/she/they would be caught
On the minus side I felt the book was trying to be too populist and was also very formulaic. Let's try and appeal to everyone. Facts? Well they can be stretched, in some cases extremely elastic and in a few cases changed altogether. Why let facts get in the way of a good story. There is a page that mentions animal torture and that is the biggest no no for me and a book will automatically drop a star as a result. It did not need to be so explicit being used. as it was to convey what we already know, that serial killers (often) attack animals first. Sadly towards the end the book strayed into the realms of unbelievability and I found myself saying really? far too often. Everything has been thrown into this book in an attempt to create a first class thriller but it just serves to increase scepticism that police officers wouldn't twig and muddy the already murky waters so everything becomes slightly confusing. The police officer- blindingly stupid, killer-omniscient and omnipotent is unrealistic (no I am not a police officer nor related to any) . Griffin's role as Rasputin I wasn't keen on either. I felt extremely sorry for Nav and was unhappy at his storyline. The ending was dreadful, frankly. Not a fan of these serial killer forever books often beloved of US TV so I would not want to read a sequel because in essence it would be the same story again. Besides there are supposed to be protocols and recordings concerning police interviews. The earlier clue gives the reader an idea that everything will conclude correctly and if that's the case, a hint to all resolved then that's fine but as a cliff hanger for a sequel absolutely not . More books featuring Griffin and Jess would be OK (but give Rasputin a break- even he died in the end) although it's difficult to see how this would work well. Quite good for a debut novel. Having dropped 1 star for animal cruelty and 1 star for some unrealistic chunks especially towards the end I give this book 3 stars

Was this review helpful?

There are murderers on the prowl and it’s DCI Cara Elliott and her team’s job to catch them. As events unfurl, it is realised that what was thought to be individual cases is actually someone echoing the famous serial killers, so all the many murders, rapes and attacks are by the same person using the MO of other killers.

This book should really come with a warning! To say it’s dark is a complete understatement and the despicable acts are relentless. The speed at which the story moves is at times breathtaking, and the twists and turns of the plot ensure that the reader is definitely kept on their toes. The ending is sublime.

I have been on the lookout for a good thriller for a while now, as some of my recent reads have been disappointing. Needless to say that this one is a sure fire winner and is one of the best books I have read in a while. Thoroughly deserves 5*+, and I couldn’t recommend it more.

Thank you NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

The Echo Man by Sam Holland
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How do you tell if a book is merely ‘good’ or ‘great’? I read this weeks ago and have read several books in between, yet I cannot stop thinking about this one. That is how you know. This book is lasting, impactful and oh-so-clever.

This is a pulpy, tense and brooding Thriller that is addictive. The prose are intense, a range of short and complex sentences that leave you guessing, predicting and theorising. WHO. IS. IT?

An exceptional thriller debut novel and an author that is now officially on my ‘auto-buy’ list. If you have a penchant for crime/ detective novels that is laced with graphic and gruesome murders, then this one is for you!

Was this review helpful?

Wow, what a debut! I usually write my reviews immediately after finishing a book, in this case, I had to sit and gather my thoughts for a day or two. The ending was playing on my mind so much, I struggled to put my words together. This might be a good time to mention that if you are a fan of The Midsomer Murders and Murder She wrote, this is probably not the book for you. The Echo Man by Sam Holland is very high on the gore score scale. So much so, I would struggle to give you the final body count. Having said that, if, like me, you love a gritty, intense, occasionally stomach churning read, then you must read this book.

DCI Elliott and her team have the unenviable job of pitting their wits against The Echo Man. A murderer so hard to understand and predict, because his crimes are not his own. We start with Jess, a seemingly troubled soul, who is involved in a house fire, resulting in the Police suspecting her being the arsonist. Luckily for Jess, Griffin, an even more troubled soul, doesn’t agree.

I’m not sure whether I should be proud, or horrified, that I recognised the Dahmer crime scene before the Police did. Living not too far away from Gloucester, the mention of Fred West still puts a shiver down my spine to this day. In linking this fictional work to real crime, Sam has really brought this story to life. It feels so chilling because, while reading, you know these crimes are real, there were real victims of these horrific events. I think this is why I had to sit quietly for a while, just to think of what I had read.

Sam Holland has definitely announced himself in the Crime Thriller genre, The Echo Man is certainly an unforgettable 5* debut. After I had finished reading, I tweeted Sam, to see if we would see some of these characters again. The answer is that one character will make a brief appearance in his next book.
I would love to have another book in this series, as I really want to know more of these characters lives.

Was this review helpful?

The Echo Man is an excellent Police Procedural, dark and gritty ,not for the feint hearted .DCI Cara Elliot and her Team are investigating a violent killer who seems to be on a quest with many multiple, gruesome killings The characters are interesting the story is fast paced and sometime downright disturbing but what a book !!!The ending was mind blowing a complete surprise ,just brilliant for a debut book I can't wait to read more from this Author .Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I finished this book within a day. A new author for me, but the book drew me in and i discovered I couldn't sleep until I knew the ending. I don't want to give anything away, but once you think you know what's what, there's another twist to the plot. I definitely didn't predict the ending.

Was this review helpful?

Love this book! Raced through it and couldn't wait to get to then end
Dark, twisty and gorey with amazing characters and plot- this had me hooked from beginning to end

Was this review helpful?

Wow, what a debut.

This is without a doubt the best thriller I have read for several years. The characters are excellently crafted, and the killings and police procedural are, as far as I can tell, plausible. With some fairly graphic descriptions of copycat brutalities and murders, this is not for the faint-hearted, but these descriptions are perfectly pitched and necessary to build up a picture of our serial killer. The twists were satisfyingly surprising; at several points I thought I had been clever and worked out who the killer was, and each time, thanks to a further twist, I was proved wrong.

I devoured this and would undoubtedly have read it in one sitting had it not been for those pesky work and life commitments getting in the way! I also suspect it will stay in my mind for a long time - much as I wish it wouldn't...

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the arc.

Was this review helpful?

Sam Holland's debut is a blend of horror and crime fiction featuring a unidentified serial killer without an iota of humanity as a unheard of bodycount builds to unheard of levels and he is far from finished. It begins with DCI Cara Elliot and her right hand man, DS Noah Deakin finding themselves at the scene of a car with macabre contents, the bodies of 2 young women with their decapitated heads, and so begins a nightmare investigation by Elliot's Major Crimes Team that includes DC Toby Shenton. Jess Ambrose is woken up in the middle of night with her home on fire, unable to help her husband, Philip, Jess is forced to jump with her daughter, Alice, injuring both of them. In hospital, Jess overhears a conversation that tells her that she is the chief suspect for the arson, with DS Taylor wanting to arrest her.

This leads to Jess escaping and finding herself connecting with suspended police officer, Nate Griffins, who is certain that she is innocent. What gels their relationship with each other is that both are deeply damaged and broken people with traumatic personal histories. It is Jess who makes a major breakthrough that has the police shocked as to what they are up against as other horrifying murder scenes across the country are linked as the work of a deranged murderer set on estabishing himself as the ultimate serial killer as he copies the horrors of well known serial killers from the past, including Peter Sutcliffe, Dahmer, the Zodiac Killer, Bundy, and the Golden State Killer (GSK). This leads to the media and the police referring to him as The Echo Man, as he steps up his gory and gruesome activities. The volatile Nate is Cara's brother and returns to work despite the animosity between him and Deakin. Under unrelenting pressure, Cara and her team find themselves working all the hours struggling to find a single lead whilst the killer gets closer and closer to them.

What is turning out to be my least favourite type of crime fiction is the omniscient serial killer who is so super 'intelligent' that they easily run rings around the police who have no hope of getting anywhere close to them, whilst they create maximum mayhem, chaos and terror amongst the public. Such crime fiction often requires weaknesses within the plotlines and the characters that investigate to ensure the serial killer rules supreme, and this is the case in Holland's debut, which for me includes twists that beggar belief. Don't get me wrong, this is a readable novel with its short chapters, and I have no doubt that many readers do and will love it, but for me the storylines failed to grip and on occasions left me indifferent for the reasons I have outlined. Additionally, it felt as if everything, including the kitchen sink was thrown in, and I noted that this was indeed correct as at the end the author relates that this is the advice he is given by his agent. I would suggest readers look at other more positive reviews of this book prior to making the decision to read this. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

This book has it all and the kitchen sink included. I promise you that you won't be bored reading this book. It throws the drama at you left right and centre as you try and piece together what on earth is happening at who is doing the killings and why. Really well written and engaging. Great job.

Was this review helpful?

What a rollercoaster of a ride this read was! The body count reached 20 and then I lost count. it's a police procedural, thriller and psychological tale all rolled into one. Plenty tension, great characters and enough red herrings to keep me reading as I tried to work out the killer...but failed. A cracking good read which i would recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Was this review helpful?

When Jess Ambrose goes to bed one night, she doesn’t realise her life is about to change. She is woken to find her house ablaze. She is lucky she escapes the fire with her daughter. But her husband Patrick is less fortunate dies in the fire, and she is accused of his murder. Instead of staying and arguing her innocence she runs. only suspended detective Nate Griffins thinks she is innocent and lets her hide at his flat. While they both get involved in the investigation with Nate’s sister DI Cara Elliot as SIO. They discover there is a serial killer on the loose. Who is copying other killers like Peter Sutcliffe and Ted Bundy?
Wow The Echo Man by Sam Holland is the most graphic, sadistic story I have read in a long time. This is not for the faint hearted. But I couldn’t help but keep on reading. This story was dark and disturbing multi layered story full of twists and kept me guessing. I hope there is another book in this series. I would love to see another story with Nate Griffin and Cara Elliot in it as I think they make a great team. I thought this is a brilliant debut novel from the author. 5 stars from me.

Was this review helpful?

I so wanted to love this book, but unfortunately for me I just could not get on with it and I'm ashamed to admit that I did not finish this novel.

We meet some very mixed up characters in this novel, the two main characters are holding deep and dark secrets that was just not pleasant to read about. We meet Jess who is married and has a daughter but she is on the run for an arson attack that killed her husband and put her daughter in hospital and we meet Griffin who has an awful and upsetting past. Their worlds collide and they help each other.

For me, and I know these are stories made up by creative minds, but as a mother myself I just could not see how a mother would leave her daughter in the hospital and go on the run from the police - it just did not ring true in the least and I find it super hard to concentrate on a novel like this.

The main story line is a vicious killer is re-enacting famous murderers and bringing them to life and the police, along with Jess and Griffin are trying their upmost to solve it.

For me, I did not finish it and this is utterly my opinion and I am sure many others will love this novel and hence complete it.

Thanks to Sam Holland, NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel.

Was this review helpful?

I was really looking forward to reading this book, I usually enjoy books like this. However I struggled to connect with this one, the characters didn't grab me, and I found the plot was unbelievable in places. I just didn't feel involved and couldn't just relax and enjoy reading the book. I don't want to put other readers off, but it wasn't a good read for me.

Was this review helpful?

This is such a hard one for me to review. While I enjoyed it, it was engaging, gruesome and creepy. I thought it was going to throw a curve ball at the end but then it reverted back to who I originally suspected throughout with a bit of a disappointing twist. It just wasn’t a satisfying ending for me.

Was this review helpful?

A debut book in a crime thriller that was well depicted. The description of a serial killer who carries out ghastly crimes is well narrated. This is a very dark story and not really my kind of book. Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to try this author.

Was this review helpful?

wow! What a book! introducing one of the most twisted, deprived, evil characters I’ve ever read. yes it has a few cliches but for a first novel it was absolutely brilliant. and I only hope there is more to come. My thanks to the publisher and net galley to read and review..

Was this review helpful?

Wow, this is a page turner!

The story begins with a house fire in which Jess Ambrose's husband is killed - an arson attack which the police blame on Jess, causing her to go on the run from hospital. Disgraced detective Nate Griffin believes that Jess is innocent and tries to help her. Together, Jess and Griffin spot a horrific link between some gruesome and brutal murders. It seems that someone is copying famous serial killer murders from the past...and they aren't about to stop their reign of terror.

It sounds strange to say I loved this book because it is so shocking - but I absolutely found it compelling and totally immersive. I literally could not put it down and read it in one sitting - on reflection, not the best idea as it contains some very disturbing rapes and murders. This is not one for the faint-hearted or with certain triggers, especially around gendered violence. However, I felt like the pages were turning themselves as I held my breath!

For fans of true crime, there is a lot of familiar ground here as (along with Jess and Griffin) you begin to spot the connections between the crimes in the book and the real life brutalities. The body count in the novel is extremely high and this keeps the pace going at full tilt throughout - added to by the fact that Jess is on the run and the police are not far behind.

Alongside the Jess strand of the story is a much more traditional police procedural element with investigations being led by DCI Cara Elliott and DS Noah Deakin. This was much more comfortable ground for me and the reason I wanted to read this book - it's my genre of choice. I loved the depth of characterisation in Cara in particular as she struggled with her family commitments and her need to bring a savage killer to justice. Her relationships with Deakin and maverick Griffin are also well managed.

I actually cannot believe that this is a debut novel as the confidence with which the story strands are managed is incredible. It's also clearly meticulously researched, both in regards to the real life murders and the police procedures - although the police are a bit lax in the way that Jess gets so close to the investigation! There are maybe a few implausible moments, but the pace and the twists mean that it is impossible to dwell on them for long and they never detract from the story.

I'd recommend this highly to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced and terrifying thriller. It is incredibly gruesome and disturbing so read with caution if you are of a nervous disposition - you may well never sleep again! It is, however, also genuinely surprising and (especially the ending) totally shocking for so many reasons.

Thanks to NetGalley for my chance to read this book ahead of the April publication date. Opinions, as always, are entirely my own.

Was this review helpful?