Blood Echo is the second installment in author Christopher Rice's Burning Girl series. The story takes place 5 months after the events of Blood Music and absolutely should be read as the books are released. The series follows Charlotte Rowe aka Trina Pierce who spent 7 years being raised by serial killers Daniel and Abigail Banning. It has been 18 years since her rescue, and Charlotte's life has turned in so many different directions, that you just have to hold on to your seat and watch what happens next.

The usual suspects are back again for this sequel to Blood Music. Charlotte, Cole Graydon the CEO of Graydon Pharmaceuticals and for all technical reasons, Charlotte's boss. There's also Luke & Bailey Prescott, brothers who have in their own way helped Charlotte through difficult issues. The last two are Noah Turlington and Marty Cahill who were also deeply involved in where Charlotte is today.

After Cole decided to bring commerce to Altamira, he thought he had enough security to protect his investment. Charlotte is on the forefront of Cole's aspirations to create a drug called Zypraxon that gives Charlotte super human strength once she is triggered by certain emotions. He's hoping that he can mass produce the drug so that others who fell to rapists, serial killers, and human traffickers can fight back and take down their abusers.

Charlotte goes after the worst of the worst from rapists, to serial killers. But, when things at her hometown go off the rail, Charlotte and her crew will need to dig a bit deeper if they are to survive the events that will lead to all sorts of twists and revelations. When Luke comes into a strange case of a woman who appears to have been beaten, he starts to be curious as to what else he can dig up. One could say that life in Altamira is easy peasy and not a care in the world. Just don't look too closely at the people who have moved into the area, and are planning some massive protest events with mass casualties.

I have to say that I liked the final parts of this story better than I did the first book. Charlotte has got her hands full with both Cole, and the dark that seems to have followed her home. How far can Charlotte really trust Cole to protect her? How far will Charlotte go to protect the ones she loves? This book involves Cole and Luke more than it did the previous book. Luke feels a bit left out since he can't be on Charlotte's team any more while working as a Deputy Sheriff. Meanwhile, Cole is being twisted in many different directions knowing that he has the future in his hands if she doesn't suddenly disappear or turn against him. Will be interested to see what path the author follows next.

You happen to see a brown pickup truck in a particular town of his tale and you live in this story and are character, then maybe good idea to steer clear of it.
There is a killer that drives one, a killer of the constant and methodical kind, one after the other, praying on innocent victims and vulnerable sex workers.
A one Richard Davies a heartless kind of species.
There was one woman one would think she was another kind of species, when she’s in her realm with all the rage.
There is a kingpin money man behind revolutionary research into and creating breakthroughs in human abilities and capabilities pushing that human ability further, with top-secret operations and billion-dollar fortress, that had a captivating element to the narrative.
The seek and destroy of one serial killer to another potential killer on a different scale entertain the reader, and the whole why of it all and why the seed behind this undertaking of one mans version of doing good in the world.
A killing machine had been built and progressing further in development, one that can systematically take out an individual, built to take down these monsters in the tale, all in the ideal of protecting the innocent and doing some good in the world.

It seems there’s more to be learned of this female protagonist one that has many good things going for her.
I have not read her first step into a story in the first book of this series with Bone Music, maybe worth a read, so many books not enough time. This does come free under Kindle unlimited package and well worth a peak if you already paying monthly.

Memorable nicely crafted characters with hidden stark truths that will be revealed in this immersive tale.
I liked the crime and techno thriller vein of story with a special drug.
Nicely put together easy flowing reading with an evolved thriller narrative with mystery, love, death, past and future in the balance.

I remember that you read the first book in the series before you read this novel. . The reason is this book will make alot more sense because it's a continuation of the first book.

Following on from Bone Music, Blood Echo wastes no time and dives straight into the action, giving an insight into the psyche of a serial killer who is on the hunt for his next victim. Little does he know he’s the one being hunted.

Despite not completely trusting him, Charlotte Rowe has formed an alliance with Cole Graydon, owner of the pharmaceutical company responsible for the production of Zypraxon, the drug that gives Charlotte super human abilities and the power to regenerate. Between them, for horrifically personal reasons, they are committed to hunting down serial killers and other predators before they have chance to harm any more women. When a test mission goes drastically wrong it leaves Charlotte unnerved by the power she wields when Zypraxon triggers in her system.

Charlotte was abducted and raised by the serial killers who numbered her mother in their list of victims. Exploited by her father after her rescue, she has no intention of letting anyone take advantage of her or her story ever again.

Taking time out with her partner, Luke, at home in Altamira isn’t quite the respite she was hoping for. Altamira is a quiet out of the way town, or it was until the developers landed. When Lacey Shannon, badly beaten, walks into the station wanting Luke to arrest the project manager it soon becomes apparent this isn’t the simple case Luke believed it to be but something much more sinister. Lacey’s request and what Luke finds are just the tip of a very large and deadly iceberg.

Even though Charlotte is irrevocably tied in with Graydon, she has no intention of letting things slide in Altamira and takes matters into her own hands. The multi layered plot is a good mix of action and character development. With an explosive beginning and ending, the middle section is slightly slower paced as we’re given more insight into the pharmaceutical side of things. Graydon’s past is explored in more detail, fleshing out his character and adding depth and emotion to the story. Dylan (Charlotte’s ex therapist), Marty (a close family friend who always has her back) and Bailey (Luke’s tech wizard brother) are excellently developed secondary characters, filling in more of the back history.

This is a complex storyline with several threads all eventually merging together. Christopher Rice has created a cast of well defined characters and taken a different slant on the definition of a thriller, giving it a suggestion of possible future scientific advances. After this ending, I’m looking forward to the third book.

I chose to read and review Blood Echo courtesy of Katie Olsen at Little Bird Publicity and NetGalley.

Let me start off by saying, this series has a lot going on. Both books are books that you need to read at a comfortable pace, absorb every last detail. There is no insignificant detail.

This book picks up not long after where the first book left off. The first book set this one up perfectly. This one hit the ground running from the start. The author wasted no time dilly-dallying, he dove right into this story from the very beginning. I need to thank him for that.

I couldn't put this one down. It was great. The band of characters really do help make this series a series I highly recommend. From the plot to the characters' unique personalities, I am definitely looking forward to more books in this series.

Like I said, there is a lot going on. Aside from the main plot, there are a lot of ethical questions that arise for the characters. Morality is tested. Limits are tested. Trust is tested. I think these elements add some serious points to the plot itself.

If you haven't started this series, I am not sure what you are waiting for. This is definitely one of those series you will wish you had started sooner once more books come out.

I’ve been a fan of Christopher Rice since 1999 when he released A Density of Souls. And yes, I’ll be honest, I did check him out solely because I am a huge fan of his mother Anne Rice (the brilliant mind behind The Vampire Chronicles & The Mayfair Witches sagas), but what has kept me picking up his books time and time again (I’ve read all of his, even his venture into erotica), is the fact that Christopher is a competent writer of his own and that he manages to put together taunt, fast-paced thrillers that you can’t help but speed read through them to try to get to the end.

Now, Blood Echo is the sequel to Bone Music, of the Burning Girl Series, and while I did like book one, there was something about it that it just didn’t make me crazy about it (maybe cause a lot of book one was spent setting up the premise for book two), however, book two is waaaay better, writing-wise and plot-wise. Also, I get the feeling that Rice has gotten to know his characters more, so Charley (aka Burning Girl since she grew up with adopted serial killer parents who tasked her turning on the incinerator that burned said bodies) is way more fleshed out and interesting in this sequel, not to mention that she completely kicks ass (think of The Hulk meets Silence of the Lambs).

This book has everything that a modern audience loves, a compelling mystery/thriller aspect to it, a superhero (or at least a character with superhero qualities, even though they’re drug-induced powers), and a strong female protagonist. With those three ingredients, you can’t possibly go wrong. I recommend this book if you’re into books with third-person omniscient narratives (which I love!) and if love to be taken for a wild ride, cause honestly, you’re gonna need to strap yourself for this high-speed thriller.

Have you read Bone Music - the first book in the Burning Girl series? If not - go read that right away!! It was excellent - and if anything, Blood Echo is even better!

You will definitely want to read Bone Music first - the action in this book picks up soon after the ending in that one and I don’t want to say much about the plot because I think it would be spoilery.

What I will say is that both books are action packed, intense, and filled with lots of twists and turns. Charley is a totally kickass, strong female character and I hope we get to follow her through 15 more books. I absolutely love the dialogue between characters. And the ending!! I won’t give anything away but will say I am sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for book 3!

One final note - if you read the first book a while ago and are worried about whether you remember enough, don’t worry! Blood Echo does a great job of reminding you of all the key details without ever feeling like you’re reading a synopsis - plus Bone Music was so great that as soon as you get the hints it will all come back to you!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the early review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Intriguing story about a young woman raised by serial killers...but now is a weapon thanks to a superpower drug she has been taking. But something goes wrong on a mission and and a vast criminal conspiracy follows her home. This is a thrilling and fast moving page turner. If you enjoy conspiracy stories you will enjoy this. This is the second in the series...I didn't read the first and I feel I would have enjoyed this book more if I would have had.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

I've been looking forward to this follow-up to Christopher Rice's Bone Music and it did not disappoint! Charlotte Rowe might be one of my favorite female characters now. She's so strong and determined and just such a great character. I couldn't wait to see what she would be doing in this sequel. Rice's writing keeps you hooked the whole time and the story was unique and powerful.

I was eagerly awaiting this follow-up to Bone Music. Rice did not disappoint. Charlotte Rowe is still just as captivating as she was in the beginning. I enjoyed stepping back into her terrifying world .of human monsters, safely from my bed! This volume gives us a little more insight into the lives of the people who surround Charlotte and gives this novel a hometown feel. When we look into the dark corners of our own hometowns, what do we see? Charley teaches us to always look out for oneself. Sometimes when we feel the safest, we are in the most peril.

Blood Echo is the second book in the Burning Girl Series and it is phenomenal. Charlotte is hard at work finding serial killers she can bring to justice with the assistance of Cole and his billion dollar corporation. Meanwhile, Luke is bored with performing his duties as a deputy in their small town. They have fallen in love and are trying to find a small slice of happiness together but evil people keep getting in their way. This face-paced and thrilling novel kept me riveted and would make an awesome movie. Blood Echo can be read alone but to enjoy it thoroughly I recommend reading Bone Music, the first book in the series.

I badly want to talk about this book! But I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll tread carefully.

First, I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this series, with Bone Music. While Rice does a great job of scattering details as reminders, this is the kind of series that is more a continuation of a storyline than separate plots with the same main character.

I really love this series. Rice gives us a unique spin on the traditional thriller, with what might feel to some like an element of science fiction. But the science behind it makes sense to me, and I can see it as a possibility, so I have no problem making that leap.

The characters are well developed. We're given a lot of emotional depth that adds layers to the story.

The content offers much to think about on issues such as vigilante justice and our illusion of privacy.

While there are aspects of this series that will be ongoing, we don't have any major cliffhangers. The immediate issues of the plot are resolved, which I appreciate because I really despise cliffhangers.

This is definitely a series I recommend!

Christopher Rice has done it again. I really enjoyed this book and it was great to catch up with the characters from Bone Music. I have to admit it took me a little while to get into this story but after a while the action took off. I highly recommend this book and make sure to read Bone Music first.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book and provide my honest feedback.

Maybe it's just because I am a fan of the genre, but many mystery/thrillers are increasingly boilerplate and predictable. Not so this oustanding Christopher Rice entry into his unique and intriguing Burning Girl series! Increased characterization from Book 1 helped enhance the connection I felt with the characters, and I am looking forward to the next installment.

Ahhhhhhhh.... I LOVE THIS SERIES. This is book 2 in the Burning Girl series and while sometimes these can be "fillers" for a series, this one does not feel that way in the slightest. Rice does what I love best in series and wastes no time, taking off from the ending of Bone Music from page one and never letting up. Because of this, I highly suggest you start with book one and then continue. If not, then you will be doing yourself a disservice as some things won't quite mesh without knowing the full backstory.

Charlotte is now committed to being at the service of men she doesn't trust (and for good reason) in order to keep some semblance of normalcy in her life. Charlotte isn't normal, her life isn't normal but hey, you can dream some right? She's now fully engaged in her romance with Luke (this is high on their commitment and struggles but without all the romantic nosh so don't get the wrong idea), and their connection grows with this book. His instincts about a case propels them both into some interesting conspiracy theories and how they're going to manage this - IF they can. Phew - does this open some doors to a continued story line. CHRISTOPHER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME WITH THAT ENDING?!

It's hard to say too much without giving anything away. I will say that while book one felt fast paced, it really was slower in the sense of learning about Zypraxon, Charlotte's abilities when she's triggered and how everything fell into place. Blood Echo launches forward even faster as this background is already in place and we see just exactly what Charlotte is now capable of... good luck to anyone who lands on her bad side.

Do yourself a favor and pick up both books ASAP and you can thank me later.

This is the first book that I have read by Christopher Rice. Even though this is the second book in the Burning Girl series, I found it still easy to follow without having read the first book first.

Charlotte Rowe is a very intriguing character and truly adds to the story that is unfolding. As the story progresses you learn more about her and her abilities.

The first few chapters of the book was hard to get into but as the story progressed it got better. Eventually I struggled to put the book down.

Christopher Rice does a nice job at creating suspense and intrigue. The characters are well written. I am still unsure about Charlotte Rowe's boss and if he is an antagonist in this series or not.

Blood Echo by Christopher Rice is an action-packed book. The storyline is well-written, very original. The characters are well developed. Christopher Rice does a great job of keeping his readers turning pages with the fast-moving plot in this story. I love the imagination of Christopher Rice. He always tells a fascinating story.

A great second installment to the Bonr Girl series! From the very beginning I was hooked. Couldn't out the book down. Charlottes adventures continue, with lots of twists and turns along the way. Tons of action, and we get to know a lot more about the other players.
When Charlotte is activated, perusing a serial killer things should be nice and simple. However, killers who don't get caught tend to be clever. Charlotte and team are by no means not clever, but can't possibly be prepared for every single scenario- keeping this series from getting stale. Tons of layers to unpeal. Can't wait for more!

Blood Echo is the second book in The Burning Girl series. The first book, Bone Music, set this book up perfectly. It is a slow moving book but the unknown keeps you flipping the pages. I still don't know who Charley should trust after finishing this book but I'm really looking forward to where she goes and definitely what she's going to do!
I really enjoyed getting more of a backstory on some of the other characters too. It helped answer a few lingering questions I had from the first book.
Overall, I'm liking this series and looking forward to more!

Thank You to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advanced copy.

Blood Echo, by Christopher Rice


Short Take: There is a LOT of story here, and all of it is good.

Well, I don’t know about all of you, but I am OVER this cold weather. My shabongas are shivering over here, y’all. Which is why it’s a good thing that I found a tasty treat to get our collective blood pumping & temperature rising.

As I am sure any horror fan knows, Christopher Rice is the son of Anne Rice. I bring that up to shoo the elephant out of the room, because I’ve read & enjoyed a lot of Anne, but Christopher is an entirely different kind of writer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s immensely talented, but if you’re looking for new & improved Vampire Chronicles, this one ain’t it.

Before I dig into my review of Blood Echo, I want to point out that it is the second book in the “Burning Girl” series (and oh man, that name is the best). There are some series in which each book works as a standalone, but THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM. If you haven’t read the first book (Bone Music), well first of all, you really should. It’s excellent. But be warned, if you go any further, there WILL be spoilers from the first book.

Got it? Onward!

Raised by serial killers, and turned into a superpowered weapon by a brilliant but unethical scientist, Charlotte Rowe is Having Some Issues. First off, she’s been recruited by a secretive group of billion-dollar corporations to relieve society of the worst of its predators. Although she likes the idea in theory, when a mission goes terribly wrong, she’s forced to reckon with her own potential for violence.

Then there’s Charlotte’s boyfriend Luke: Altamira sheriff’s deputy, total hunkola, and also Dealing With Some Things. Charlotte does her best to keep him from seeing her Hulk-side, and refuses to talk about the things she does, which puts a bit of strain on their relationship. And when some strange, seedy stuff starts going down in Altamira, well, his career is definitely not helped either. Toss in his master-hacker younger brother who’s on the run from the FBI, and we can say that he’s also having some family issues.

There are a few other great characters rounding out the cast: Cole Graydon, billionaire who inherited his Dad’s company and is probably in over his head, Dylan Thorpe, insane genius, Bailey Prescott, hacker extraordinaire, and Martin Cahill, a longtime family friend and recovering alcoholic who is exactly the kind of grizzled, laconic, blunt fount of wisdom you’d want in this (or any other) situation.

When Charlotte is out of town on a mission, Luke is pulled into a seemingly simple case: a badly battered woman wants Luke to arrest her on-again off-again boyfriend. Now, if you’re reading this review, you know what I like, and do I really need to point out that nothing that follows is even on the same continent as “simple”?

I’m just going to say that there’s a whoooooooole lot of other terrible stuff going on in idyllic-looking Altamira and let it go at that.

But what really makes Blood Echo work isn’t the awesome (but somewhat crowded) plot, or the characters’ interactions with each other. What really grooved for me was the introspection the main characters displayed. When Charlie is triggered, she can literally rip a man to pieces with her bare hands. Which, don’t get me wrong, is ALL KINDS OF AWESOME, and her unbreakable rule about only using her power on bad guys is great, and the fact that she really doesn’t want to KILL them, just make sure they are captured and punished is way admirable, but…. If she does what she does, and somehow uses just a teensy bit too much force totally on accident, is she really any better than the monsters she pursues?

Each character is forced to reconcile their ideals with reality, and to admit to their own blind spots, to own their own baggage. And Cole Graydon’s story at the end… well, I’m obviously not going to spoil it here, but believe me when I say, I’m going to be kicking that one around in my head for years to come.

And oh yeah, there’s a smidge of steamy stuff and a whole bunch of futuristic tech that has me paranoid and side-eyeing my laptop camera right now.

My one gripe is that there’s just SO MUCH, and so many overlapping groups. You have the billionaires pulling the strings, and their underlings, and Luke and his coworkers at the station, and Martin’s gang of AA guardian angels, and the OTHER billionaire who’s running the stuff in town, and his son Jordy & Jordy’s gang of buds, and so on and so forth. It’s all very well done, but my poor sugared-up brain was definitely getting a little cramped by the end.

The Nerd’s Rating: FOUR HAPPY NEURONS (and a big old shot of anything hot - it’s not getting any warmer here!)