The Echo Killing

This story follows Savannah Crime Reporter, Harper McClain who is determined to discover the truth about the ties between a cold case, and a new murder. With one distinction, the cold case was her own mother's murder. Her obsession with her mother's killer, who was never found, has led to her becoming one of Georgia's best crime reporters, as she spends all of her free time searching for criminals.

The highlights of this book for me were definitely the rich backstory, the description of the setting and the strong characterisation. The pacing was also fantastic. For a debut author, this is a fantastic novel.

The character of Harper, is a strong female-lead, ambitious and fearless - the perfect character depicting a journalist, probably due to Daugherty's own experience in the field. However, strong male characters are also present in Luke and Miles, love-interest and camera-man respectively. That being said, although hints of romance are present, this is far from the focus. All of Daugherty's characters are intertwined into the plot expertly, they are likeable, but are also interesting and well fleshed out.

Overall, I really enjoyed the first in the series of Harper McClain, and I will definitely be picking up the next one! This was just the right focus on characterisation vs plot for a well-paced thriller, with a captivating plot! The suspense was kept throughout, although it was definitely built-upon throughout the book, with a FANTASTIC ending, which actually wrapped up the plot, unlike a lot of current thrillers - which hold a good story, but a quick, unclear ending - Daugherty wrote a well thought-through thrilling ending, which posed many a moral dilemma. I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys a suspenseful read, from the perspective of a detective or journalist, I'm sure you'll be hooked by this page-turner.

Excellent story line and great main characters. I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend.

What a brilliant start to the Harper McClain series - I loved it!
This book had me hooked from the start and I raced through it, desperate to know if Harper was right about the killer.
Part of the blurb says:
“As top Savannah crime reporter Harper McClain stares at the horrific scene before her, one thought screams through her mind. This murder is identical to another murder she has witnessed. Her mother’s murder…”
I loved the relationship Harper has built with the local detectives and as she was a child when her mother was murdered, she’s grown up as part of the Police as the Lieutenant took her under his wing.
Harper is not shy when it comes to taking risks but it’s always for the right reason, however, others don’t always see it that way.
I really liked the character of Harper and can’t wait to read more of this series - just a shame we have to wait until 2019.
I give this book five HUGE stars and would highly recommend this for all crime fiction fans.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this fantastic book.

Fifteen years ago, twelve-year-old Harper McClain came home from school to find her mother brutally murdered.

Now, Harper is the top crime reporter of Savannah’s newspaper and she spends her nights chasing crimes along with her photographer friend Miles. One afternoon, the body of a woman is found in her home by her young daughter and when Harper arrives on the crime scene she can’t help but notice the many similarities to her mother’s murder. Harper quickly becomes obsessed with this murder and, as the police seems to get nowhere, she starts investigating on her own. The more she investigates, the more she finds obstacles along the way, even from people very close to her. As the obsession takes over her life and threatens to destroy everything she’s worked for, Harper needs to find the killer before it is too late.

I was first drawn to THE ECHO KILLING from the blurb, which I found intriguing and captivating, and then when I read the first page I was completely hooked. I liked the character of Harper, she is smart, sharp, and determined. I liked the setting of Savannah, in Georgia, which is very well described with its evocative streets and tourist areas. I loved the plot which is dark, twisty, and fast-paced. And I liked that there is some romance as Harper starts a relationship with her long-time friend, detective Luke Walker, which is complicated by the fact that police and journalists shouldn’t be personally involved.

If all of the above isn’t enough, I will add that the author’s writing is brilliant and absorbing.

THE ECHO KILLING novel ends with a few unanswered questions but it is the first book in a series, so I am really looking forward to reading more about Harper.

After Harper's mother is murdered and a copy cat murder happens, Harper becomes focused on connecting and solving both crimes. She gets herself into difficult situations. What a brilliant read, compelling story but easy to read and keeps you guessing, one for the book shelf.

I loved it, right until the very end when I felt that it was rushed and not particularly well explained why it had to have been an "echo" killing. Overall though it was well constructed and you felt really engaged with Harper. There is a love interest who appears and disappears into the ether only to return like a modern day John Wayne and a truly bizarre (and downright creepy) section where Harper dresses up as a child phycologist to get her mits on a traumatised child - made my flesh crawl !

Looking forward to seeing what happens next as there is clearly a follow up - if there isn't then the ending just fails . Worth a read

I really enjoyed The Echo Killing. I blasted through it over the weekend. I can't say I didn't have my suspicions with parts of it, but generally, I was hooked.
I really liked Harper as a character, and I can't wait to read more in the next book. I thought the plot was clever, the characters were good, but it left me with more questions that answers.
Still though, it sucked me in. Kept me up late reading and I couldn't tear myself away until the end!

The first novel where we get to meet Harper McClain a Savannah crime reporter and her side kick Miles, the photographer. They arrive to find a 12 year old that had discovered her mother’s body in the kitchen. Only 15 years ago Harper was the 12 year old finding her mothers body and the killer has never been found.
So starts Harper’s obsession to find her mothers killer.
The story kept me gripped and, although I did guess the killer, it did not detract from my interest on how the case was going to be resolved. I will definately be reading the next instalment featuring Harper when it’s published next year as there are unresolved storylines that will continue in book two.
Thanks to NetGalley, Christi Daugherty and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hold The Front Page! There's a new crime series in town, and this is one you will not want to miss! 

When Crime reporter,  Harper McClain, takes a sneaky look at a murder scene, she's suddenly hurtled back fifteen years to her own mother's murder. Everything about it tells Harper that the similarities between the two murders, over a decade apart, are far from coincidental. But the police disagree, dismissing her suspicions outright. Taking it upon herself to prove them wrong, Harper begins her own investigation. But what connects the two murder victims and why has the killer struck again after fifteen years? In a desperate bid to get to the truth, Harper must cross professional boundaries, test friendships to the limit and reconsider everything and everyone she's close to.  And with someone desperate to stop Harper revealing the truth, put her own safety in jeopardy too.  

Wow! what an absolute gripper of a book this was! Right from the first page I was hooked by the snappy, clean writing and the twisty, fast paced plot. It's an intriguing premise - a murder which appears to be identical to one committed years ago, giving two mysteries for the price of one as past and present collide and overlap, and we join Harper as she aims to solve the complex case. Add in the personal and emotional involvement of the crime reporter turned sleuth, and The Echo Killing becomes an even more intense and fascinating roller-coaster of a read.   



The plotting and pace of this book is immaculate. At just over 440 pages, it's not short and I wondered if Daugherty could maintain the momentum set in the early chapters. I needn't have worried though, there's no dips or fillers - the plot is constantly moving forward, with many twists and turns. As Harper digs deeper, more and more unanswered questions are thrown up and I was desperate to know the answers. I was compelled to keep on reading as "one more chapter" quickly turned into me devouring the entire book in a few hours.  

But what really made this book for me was the character of Harper herself. Fresh, feisty, smart, impulsive, brave, flawed and determined, I absolutely loved her. Part of me was in awe, while the other part wanted to put my arms around her as both her ferocity and vulnerability shines from the page. Giving Harper a deeply emotional involvement in the case worked so well, allowing extra layers of her personality to show and develope and ensuring I was right on side with her throughout the book. There's also a nice dose of romance too in the form of Detective Luke Walker, which is both passionate and captivatingly tender - the chemistry between them is sparking! yet it never becomes slushy or out of place in the story, adding to rather than detracting from the atmosphere of this suspenseful book.

So, as you can tell, I pretty much loved this book. There's one aspect that remained unsolved, and I'd have loved to have had that wrapped up, but as The Echo Killing is book one in a series, I'm assuming it's still to come. One thing's for certain, I'll be looking forward to more from Harper McClain in the future.  A brilliant start to a fresh new crime series which I'm happy to recommend!

I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting debut crime novel.
Harper is a crime journalist who gets in over her head whilst investigating a murder that has similarities to that of her mother's.
The book is really well written, with short, gripping chapters and in a style that really hooks you.
Unlike some of the other reviewers, I did guess the murderer early on, however this didn't negatively affect my enjoyment. I questioned myself throughout the book and it has some great twists and turns. It's one of those books that you wake up in the night wanting to pick up and keep reading!
Many thanks to HarperCollins publishing, NetGalley and Christi Daugherty for the opportunity to preview this book and I look forward to your next!

I enjoyed this book the more I got into it. It merged the past and the present very well and left us with a view about what the next one would be about. I look forward to reading this author again. I would recommend this book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review this book.

I loved this - was not sure at first as the 'heroine' was just a tad too gung ho to be immediately realistic, but she and the other characters grew on me and the story raised suspicions a-plenty and the conclusion was sad but also set the scene well for the planned sequel. Good stuff.

I really enjoyed this book. A brilliant crime mystery with a gripping plot and fantastic characters. Highly recommended.

I liked everything about this book. It is well thought out and well put together. The plot is really good and full of surprises. There are a lot of twists and a feeling of wondering who you can trust. There are a lot of strong characters in this book. I am looking forward to reading the next instalment in this series. I want to read more about Harper and the other characters in her world.

Be prepared to meet your new favourite heroine. Harper McClain is a loveable, fearless journalist determined to find out who killed a mother in very similar circumstances to her own mother 15 years before.
It took me all of three pages to realise that Harper is my new girl-crush. She is the perfect lead character: dark back story, intriguing friends, a sexy love interest. The mystery element of the story made it so appealing to me, and I flew through the pages of this book. I can't wait to be reading the tenth instalment of this series in ten years time! (Please, say there will be a second at least?!) Five well-earned stars for my new best book friend, Harper McClain.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book was a thrilling read, and I hope that this kick-arse reporter will really be seen in more novels by a talented author. Recommended.

Despite the fact that I guessed very early on whodunnit (it wasn’t hard to guess), I found this book compelling, notwithstanding the irritation of the author’s (and, I guess, her editor’s) ignorance of how to say, ‘I better *do something*' (The phrase has a verb, dear both; it’s: 'I had better *do something*'). At the back of my mind, I kept thinking, yep, this is going to get a good review from me. But then it all went to pot at the end. One fairly major thread was left hanging, along with one minor one. One of my pet hates. Our heroine, Harper McClain, has a lot more story in her, without doubt…and I do like characters with mileage: I can quite happily read half a dozen plus in a series. But: the stories must stand alone. I consider the ‘to be continued’ ending a tad arrogant of an author, who obviously assumes you will have enjoyed his/her book so much, you will undoubtedly pick up the sequel. That very attitude will probably make me jump off the wagon trail.

Harper is a difficult character to like. Finding the body of her viciously murdered mother when she was only twelve has, naturally, had a profound effect on her. She’s very guarded, insular almost and stubborn. But she has grit, determination, stamina and does her job as a crime reporter very well…even if she does blur the lines a little. However, when, fifteen years later, a twelve-year-old is walked out of the house after finding her brutally murdered mother, Harper is on a mission. This has to be the same killer. Her conviction of this threatens her entire future. And her discovery is almost sure to make her question everything she’s trusted.

Despite the aforementioned editorial faux pas, this really was very well written and riveting. Even realising at an early stage who the perpetrator was, I was totally committed and gripped to find out how it all panned out.

Will I read the next book? Probably…I think I’ll have forgotten my annoyance of the untidy ending by the time I get round it.

I really enjoyed this 5 star modern thriller. Harper is a crime reporter for a Savannah newspaper. She loves her job. 15 years ago Savannah's mother, Bonnie, was brutally murdered and the killer never found. Savannah was the one to find her mothers body. Another woman has been murdered in the same way. Harper begins to investigate the new killing but becomes to close to finding out the truth. Her life is now in danger! Read on!

What a brilliant read. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Loved the character of Harper she has so many layers that have to be uncovered and she was so likeable. I hope we get more Luke! Bonnie was a great character as well. I will definetly be reading more by this author and counting down the days until the next book is released.

I love when I start a new series and I know right away that I want to follow the main character forever… The Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty gave me all the right feelings, and I know Harper McClain and I will go on many adventures together.

This is a rather classic mystery, but instead of being a police detective or a private investigator, the main character is actually a crime reporter. I loved the premise right from the start: Harper discovers that a recent crime she’s supposed to write about is rather similar to her mother’s murder fifteen years ago. Harper can’t let it go, and she will put everything and everyone she loves at risk… As you could expect from a crime thriller, of course 🧐

This is the kind of novel that always keeps me on the edge of my seat and The Echo Killing was no different. I watched Harper make questionable decisions while rooting for her to find out what had really happened. I grew to love some of her partners and friends, and while I was sure of who the killer was from the very start, that didn’t prevent me from enjoying the story.

My only complaint is, precisely, that I wasn’t wrong in my suspicions and the reveal didn’t come as a surprise, but rather a confirmation. However, I did appreciate how the author didn’t tie everything up with a neat little bow, as she actually left me with more questions than answers.

One of the reasons why I want to keep reading this series is that The Echo Killing was a truly atmospheric book: I felt like I was in Savannah with Harper, looking into old cases and questioning suspects with her. Christi Daugherty made me feel like I was part of the story, and I always admire that. The other reason, well… how can you not want to keep reading after such a cliffhanger?

Are two Murders 15 years apart connected?

Crime reporter Harper McClain has convinced the murder of a woman was committed by the same person who killed her mother 15 years previously. She puts her career and life on the line to prove she is right and will do anything to achieve this even if it means alienating her lifelong friends.

There is not a lot I can say about this book. It is a run-of-the-mill reporter cum investigator story where the said reporter gets away with all sorts of mischief and manages to solve the crime single-handedly while the cops chase their own tails. I guessed the murderer by the 4th chapter.

However, I cannot fault the way the book is written; the grammar is good; chapters not too long but it just didn’t have any pizazz!

I recommend you make up your own mind. It is worth reading, just not original.

Shesat.

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.