Book Review - The Echo Man

Title: The Echo Man
Series: -
Author: Sam Holland
 
Description: Detectives Cara Elliott and Noah Deakin are on the case of a series of seemingly unconnected murders, each different in method, but each shocking and brutal. As the body count increases, they can’t ignore the details that echo famous cases of the past – Manson, Kemper, Dahmer, and more. As Elliot and Deakin get closer to unmasking the killer, the murders are moving closer to home.
 
Meanwhile, Jessice Ambrose is on the run. She’s been implicated as the arsonist who killed her neglectful husband and injured her young daughter. With the help of disgraced and suspended detective Nate Griffin, Jess discovers a shocking link between her case and that of the ultimate copycat killer working on his horrifying masterpiece.
 
Review: “The Echo Man” is the debut novel of Sam Holland. Holland is a fan of true crime and from this fascination her first thriller was born. The book starts right away, the way I love it in a thriller. A prologue that doesn’t only tease your senses, but also grabs your attention immediately. It sets the tone: dark, twisted and gruesome.
 
The story is split in three parts and they create a structure in the story and the nerve wrecking investigation. The serial killer that is hunted for, uses famous serial killers as inspiration.
 
With such a great prologue, it starts promising. In my opinion, the tension isn’t constant. It has its ups and downs and there were moments that really didn’t interest me that much. I’m never interested in any love interests or blooming romances in thrillers like this. Although not too present, I didn’t enjoy that part of the story. I did love the investigation itself and the short chapter from the perspective of the killer. It’s always interesting to get into the mind of a murderer.
 
We follow several characters in “The Echo Man”. All complex, interesting and mysterious characters. Holland really knows how to write a good, strong character.
 
That Holland is a true crime fanatic is very clear in her writing. She is very detailed, knows what she is talking about and it’s very explicit, dark and disturbing at times. It’s easy to picture everything in your head the way Holland describes it, which makes this book chilling. So some trigger warnings for themes like abuse, torture, rape, cannibalism and murder.  
 
Even though the book has an amazing start, the book felt a bit so-so for me overall. But it has a great twist and a fantastic ending, that felt believable. So, for that alone, I think “The Echo Man” is worth your time.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5