An incredible new thriller from an exciting new talent!
The murders have begun…
Across England, a string of murders is taking place. Each different in method, but each horrifying and brutal.
But the killer is just getting started…
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.
And he's going to shock the world…
Soon, Jess and Griffin discover the unthinkable; this murderer is copying the world's most notorious serial killers. And now, imitation isn't enough. The killer dubbed The Echo Man is ready to create his own masterpiece, and it will be more terrifying than anything that has come before…
A dark and engrossing mystery-thriller
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.
Sarah, 14/04/2022
