This was everything you need for a thriller and crime story. It is not as black and white as you first think and like most typical thrillers, is full of twists. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Detective Cara Elliott and her team are investigating a series of seemingly unrelated, yet equally brutal murders.

It’s not until her brother, suspended detective Nate Griffin, and his companion Jess, a recent victim of a house fire that killed her husband, become more closely involved that the team begin to realise the similarities between the murders and those of infamous serial killers from the past – Manson, Dahmer, etc.

I was completely hooked throughout this story – the relatively short chapters kept it fast-paced and, although I had an idea who the culprit was, there were so many twists that the reader is left endlessly second guessing themselves.

The murders themselves are not for the faint-hearted, the descriptions are gruesome and this is definitely one of the more disturbing crime thrillers I’ve ever read.

The only downside was the ending. I just wasn’t a big fan of how the story concluded – perhaps the author is setting up for another novel starring Griffin, Elliott et al.

There is a killer on the loose! It's only when Jess is accused of murdering her husband ( in a fire that she escapes with her daughter) that a suspended cop Griffin helps her as he believes she is innocent, he's able to get back into the police station as his sister Cara is leading the investigation and he knows he can help but why? They begin to look at murders in and around the area and discover that they all somehow connected! Someone is copying serial killers... But the closer they think they get to finding out who's done it the more twists that come into the plot. Could it be someone on the inside? How are they getting away with it and why are they doing it?

If you like a gory thriller then this one's for you. However, it's not altogether original. Copycat killings abound aplenty in detective novels, perhaps though not on the scale of The Echo Man. So too does the perpetrator hiding in plain sight seem a common theme.
I think for me, less would be more. The inability of the police to conceive that this level of murder most foul could be undertaken by one individual beggars belief. The scale of the slaughter too, seemingly flawless in execution, virtually impossible.
Taking in to account my remarks, I would normally have given this novel three stars, however, it was a riproaring read so I will add another star.

The Echo Man is the perfect title for the book. It is a bit of a slow starter but then the handbrake comes off and their world goes bonkers!

If you have vivid nightmares, this is likely not a book for you BUT if you like things macabre and feasible and filled with folk who see what they expect to see rather than what is there, you will enjoy this book.

If you rate a book by the body count and gruesome, explicit descriptions - this is the book for you! I suppose the extensive blurb on this title should have prepared the reader for this.
This was well written and certainly the plot moved with great speed. Much of the action had already been set up and had taken place but for so much of the action to have taken place in 10 days stretches the imagination too far, especially as the profile suggested someone who had a job and fitted into society.
The final twists were just too extreme for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Sam Holland/HarperCollins for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Perhaps you don't need fixing. Perhaps we're all supposed to be broken, just a little"

This book was terrifying! There were gruesome details about the murders commited by the merciless killer that made me feel queasy. Even though it was a long book, it was fast paced and had short chapters which made me feel very anxious to know more!

What I loved most is the ingenious way the chapters are divided. It makes the book simply 'unputdownable'. I finished reading it in one day! The characters are also brilliantly written. Unfortunate for me, I foresaw the end twists so that wasn't much of a shocker for me. But I can say with surety that this was one great read!

If you love thrillers, you should DEFINITELY check this one out!!

I really loved the premise of this book. The idea of a serial killer emulating the MO of previous serial killers was fresh and interesting. Added to that, I very quickly came to empathise with two of the main characters, Jess and Nate. Both were fully fleshed out and the motives for their actions believable The police officers investigating the car were also presented as intelligent, thinking people (a nice surprise for this genre). So far, so good.
As the story progressed and the bodies piled up, I lost the ability to stay grounded in the story. The murders, each of which would have required intricate planning were just happening too fast. At one point, I thought the murderer had carried out two atrocities in one day and had to go back to re-read. The false leads to a purported suspect were a bit on the heavy-handed side but I didn’t mind that as the writing, all through the book, was lively and well=paced.
The biggest disappointment for me was the ending. Without spoilers, I can’t say much about it but the last chapter left me incredulous and feeling as though I had been robbed of a much better climax. All in all, a book of two parts and, in spite of my reservations, I would still recommend it to readers of this genre.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm really glad I got the chance to read this. If you like Chris Carter, Chelsea Cain or M.W Craven then I think Holland will be right up your street

Murder mystery with a serial killer copying previous serial killers. Surprisingly this book really helped me out of a reading slump. It's engaging, with short chapters that keep you wanting to read more. Lots of thougjt provoking theories and we'll developed characters. Really good read. Thank you Netgally

This is a thriller / horror / romance and the mix of all 3 didn't really work for me, although, it's an original concept.

The storyline follows 2 detectives who are on the case of seemingly unconnected murders. As the cases build, they notice a distinct similarity to previous serial killer cases. Alongside this is the tale of a woman accused of murdering her husband, by arson, and in doing so, maim her daughter. It's an unusual book as it mixes extreme violence with romance and for me it didn't really work.

2* OK read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Bloody hell, that is one hell of a debut novel!

I'm still wrapping my head around it. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it. I'm a fan of serial killers in books and this one was very well written.

I thought I knew who did it around half way through but with every reveal, I kept changing my mind.

That ending was fantastic! I completely did not see that coming!

I must warn potential readers that this is quite a graphic book - mostly with the details of the murders but there are also some graphic sex scenes.

I read the kindle version of this e-arc and the format isn't quite right. It feels like it jumps too much as it's not obvious where the breaks should be.

Oscar Wilde is quoted as saying “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” Is a copycat killer flattering the original or just lacking in their own creativity? But if you aspire to be as notorious as Ted Bundy or Ian Brady, who cares? The Echo Man has a lot to live up to if he is to make the history books like those he is imitating!!

But then again he’s got people determined to stop him, people who have been hurt by his killings. Will they stop him or will he keep killing til he chooses to stop, if that’s possible!!

I really liked the rapport that built between Jess and Griffin. They were prickly to start with and I didn’t know whether to trust Griffin. But as their relationship developed so di a wee bit of chemistry, would they or wouldn’t they… or would the Echo Man put pay to anything happening?!

The excerpts from the mid-nineties are intriguing but unnerving given they involve a child just hitting double figures, a similar age to my own. This individual is in a disturbing situation but I didn’t know who this youngster would grow up to be.

This is one full on read that is not for the faint hearted. It goes in hard and shocking. It’s intense, brutal and pacey. I was addicted to this read, my kindle was an extension of my hands for two engrossing sittings. When I finished this brilliant debut, I felt numb. Stunned by the grand finale. Just bloody brilliant!! Come on then Holland, what’s next?!

Excellent thriller not for the faint hearted!

I really enjoyed it because it’s grisly and really well written with graphic descriptions.

I like the combination of police procedural and crime thriller, it gives both sides of a story.

Wow what a book! It started off really gory and the theme continued throughout. I couldn’t put it down.
Jess gets caught in a house fire one night which sparks off a chain reaction of events that leads her to run and hide. But she then gets caught up in a wider circle of vicious murders and has to fight to keep herself from being arrested and seeing those around her get hurt.
The characters were well built up and the story had such great pace. The murders got worse and worse as the book went on and it left me guessing and changing my mind until the very end. Such a rollercoaster ride and highly recommended, although not for the feint hearted!

The echo man by Sam Holland.
Jess Ambrose is plunged into the investigation when her house is set ablaze. With her husband dead and the police pointing at her, she runs. Her only hope is disgraced detective Nate Griffin, who is convinced Jess is innocent
I really enjoyed this book. Couldn't put it down. Loved it. 5*.

Detectives cara Elliott and Noah dealing are on the case of a series of murders each different but each shocking and brutal and Cara’s brother Nate griffin who is suspended detective helping them find the killer and solve the case and Jess who is on the run from the police for suspected arson and murder of her husband but Nate and Jess discover a shocking link to her case and that of the copycat killer
I absolutely enjoyed this book I couldn’t put it down
Thank you Sam Holland for a truly gripping story that keeps you guessing all the way

Jess Ambrose is bored in her marriage to Patrick, & they are both cheating on each other, Jess via mindless sex with strangers. So their marriage is rocky & has been plagued with troubles so when their house is burned down & Patrick killed in an arson attack, the police immediately seize upon Jess as someone with a motive for wanting her husband dead. Only one person seems to think she may be innocent, Nate Griffin, a cop who is on leave following the death of his wife in a traumatic home invasion. Nate's sister, DCI Cara Elliott, is investigating a series of grisly murders which seem unrelated, but Jess realises that they are copies of murders committed by infamous murders such as the Yorkshire Ripper, & the Zodiac Killer. The media soon nickname the killer 'The Echo Man'.

First of all, warning to anyone who is of a sensitive disposition - this book is extremely graphic in respect of death, gore, & sexual violence. The plot itself is rather good & the fast pace & body count is maintained throughout. I really liked Cara & Griffin, but Jess was just an annoying plot device. I was hoping she would be killed off but no such luck. There are some clichés, especially that the killer that is always a couple of steps ahead of the police etc, but it maintained my interest well enough. The ending made me go "WTH?!" or something every similar. 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 stars on sites where half star ratings are not available).

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, HarperCollins UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

This story is the ultimate,gold standard story. It read just like a TV drama and I could visualise it all in great detail!!. This is my favourite genre and when written like this amazing book was, I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish!!
Sam Holland is a clever, clever man. From the police and how they would lead an investigation to the killer and everything that he would and could do to his victims,this story must have been soo well researched that I'm in awe of him!!! A debut novel?!, No way!! He writes like he's been doing it for years!!.
The storyline follows a killer who is brutal. Cara Elliott, the detective in charge of this investigation,has a lot of work to do to follow and work out what and who this monster is. She has a great team who can get results, including her brother who is also a police detective but has real issues due to an event which left him half the person he was before .
I love this book!! You MUST buy it!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free arc book for an honest review.
#THEECHOMAN #Netgalley,

A devious and brutal psychopath stages a series of murders to emulate well-known serial killings from the annals of true crime: Edmund Kemper, The Manson Murders, The Golden State Killer, The Hillside Strangler, the list goes on...

A total of 28 murders are documented in the pages of The Echo Man. To say that it's not for the faint-hearted is an understatement.

The book opens with the horrific scene of a killer setting up a crime scene tableau evoking the murders of Mary Ann Pesce and Anita Luchessa by deranged 1970s serial killer Edmund Kemper.

Young mother Jess Ambrose and disgraced DS Nate Griffin are both seriously damaged individuals, with traumatic events in each of their pasts and significant psychological demons haunting them in the present. Together they form an unlikely investigative duo, chasing the dangerous perpetrator in parallel to the official police investigation run by DCI Cara Elliott, providing a sort of mutual redemptive comfort to each other in the process. As a remorseless killer approaches ever closer, will they be able to solve the crimes and expose the perpetrator before one or both of them are caught in the killer’s deadly web?

The Echo Man is a high-octane suspense-thriller, depicting a series of blood-curdling homage crime scenes and confronting themes around child sexual abuse, internalised trauma and damaged personalities. It's not an easy read, by any means, but it is engrossing and its conclusion fitting, if not entirely satisfying.

I'd recommend The Echo Man to readers who seek a level of darkness in their crime fiction, flawed and complex characters and lots of unexpected twists. While the "true crime" aspect might attract some readers to the story, I wouldn't think that an existing knowledge or interest in this subject is necessary for a rewarding reading experience.

My thanks to the author, Sam Holland, publisher HarperCollins UK and NetGalley (UK) for the opportunity to read and review and fellow reader-reviewer Carolyn, whose intriguing review first led me to this title.

Couldn’t recommend this more. Don’t wanna say too much about it, but a copy cat killer using some of the most well known murderers calling cards and methods. Such a clever idea and one that is truly engrossing to read! Highly highly recommend to any crime lover!!