Echoes of the Fall is about Earl losing the race for sheriff and then finding a body on his front lawn accompanied by a cryptic letter. As he digs into who the dead man is, As Earl starts digging for the truth he finds himself knee deep in corruption and something he never expected.

Great read.

I didn't realize that Echoes of the Fall was part of a series when I requested it. Apparently it's the 3rd book. Oh, how I wish that the descriptions of books included that they belong to a series! I still enjoyed reading the book, but suspect I may have been even more appreciative if I had detailed background. I don't really care for books that make Southerners into bumbling, mumbling, long drawling, letter G dropping Jesus freaks, but I think those things are used to effect in this book. (Can you tell that I'm also from the South?) The plot here requires a little suspension of disbelief, and I would certainly recommend that you read the first two books in the series before this. Otherwise, Echoes of the Fall is an interesting book. 3 stars.

*I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley.*

This is a very good series. I love the author’s gritty writing style and the faulted characters. There is plenty of action and a fast paced plot.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Echoes of the Fall is the third in the Earl Marcus series of mysteries set in a mountainous and rural area of North Georgia.

What a way to wake up from a whiskey bender! Dunked headfirst unceremoniously into the river several times. After the third time, Earl Marcus remembered why he was so drunk. He had run over a young man lying in his yard last night when driving buzzed home from the local gin joint.

Earl quickly realizes that the man was already dead before being run over. Earl decides to bury the body and hide the man’s truck rather than call the corrupt sheriff’s office. But he is haunted by the man. Why was he waiting in Earl’s yard? Before hiding the man’s body and truck, Earl found only the man’s phone, a bookmark, and a letter addressed to Joe. Those items lead Earl and his two friends, Ronnie and Rufus, to investigate the mysterious boy’s reform school, Harden School.

Echoes of the Fall is another enthralling mystery in this series. It can be read as a standalone too. The lush descriptions of the locale make you feel like you are riding shotgun in Earl’s truck. Earl’s friendships with Ronnie and blind Rufus feel genuine as does the animosity between Rufus and Ronnie. Earl’s relationship with Mary, so prominent in the last series entry, is now sidelined by her being away from town. Instead, Rufus’ history is revealed including how he went blind. This book is a great atmospheric almost noir-like thriller. It is highly recommended. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

It's never a good thing to find a dead body on your front lawn, whether you are hung over or not. Earl Marcus makes the rather astounding decision to disappear it in order not to be a suspect by the newly elected sheriff. He then sets out to find out what happened, especially the nature of the connection to the Harden School, which is tied into his arch enemy Jeb Walsh. This is Georgia noir, complete with some philosophizing, and a damaged protagonist who is mercifully assisted by his friends and his girlfriend Mary. Told alternately from the point of view of Earl and his friend Rufus, this one has some good twists. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is part of the series but it should be fine as a standalone because Early give you enough back story (but not too much for those who have read the earlier installments.)

This is book 3 in the Earl Marcus series set in the Georgia mountains. It can easily be read as a standalone.

While it took me a while to warm up to Echoes of the Fall, once engaged in the story, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Earl Marcus is a man who can’t outrun his past. But boy, does he try.

Earl, as narrator, as a terrific voice. He often sounds homey and backwoods: not in the “uneducated hick” sense, but in the sense of the old spirituals, with their aching sadness and longing for something beyond this temporal life on earth. Religious ideology (or in some cases, idolatry!) imbues the narrative.

This may be a turn-off for some. But I live in a nearby area of the South and I can tell you, you don’t understand the rural U.S. Bible Belt if you don’t understand that religion and culture are woven together. It’s not necessarily good or bad; it just is what it is.

Every character in this book grapples with faith. What is it? Who or what is it placed in?

A religious system or cult-like figure like what Earl and his blind friend Rufus have rejected when they rejected Earl’s father’s version of Christianity?
A legend, like the one told about two Indians leaping across an impossible chasm?
A system of rules that distorts sexuality and conflates it with power rather than love, like the authorities at the Harden School have?
An absolute nothingness and faith only in unending despair and meaninglessness like the mysterious Hill brothers?
Or even just faith that being oneself is possible . . . to watch the moon as myself, as one character puts it?
This wrestling strengthens and deepens the narrative. This book could be merely a backwoods P.I. tale with local color. But this spiritual aspect adds dimension and depth to it.

Rufus and Ronnie, as Earl’s buddies, show what true friendship is. They are loyal, tough love type of guys who join together to kick Earl out of his self-imposed drunken stupor/stupidity. They do this despite their differences and alleged “hatred” for each other. Both are interesting individuals that feel complex and deep. Rufus is blind (we find out why late in the book) but manages to get around the mountain. Ronnie is a former inmate who went to jail for Earl in a previous novel. I see a lot of future stories developing from both men’s characters as they interact.

There are a few things that detracted from the tale.

1. The main female antagonist came across as a bit flat. I never found a compelling motivation for her evil doing. She seemed like a backwoods femme fatale.

The other antagonists (such as the authorities at the Harden School) also feel like by-the-book villains. Given that Early developed such interesting and complex “good guys,” it’s a shame that the antagonists fell flat.

(In Echoes of the Fall, Jeb Walsh didn’t make an appearance enough for me to see how much his character is developed. I think previous books may have had more Jeb-moments. I was intrigued by his ex-wife, though, as she’s definitely not what I–or Earl, apparently–expected. I’d really like to see her and their son make appearances in future Earl Marcus novels.)

2. There were also moments that didn’t feel believable. For example, Earl often muses about spiritual things, which I enjoy, but I find it hard to believe that he would be doing so during moments of physical peril. Once, I might believe. But it seemed to happen multiple times throughout one particularly harrowing scene on the face of a cliff, which seemed a bit much.

There was also a lengthy conversation between Earl and an antagonist when both are in immediate danger of death. This, too, seemed a bit hard to believe.

But there are plenty of terrific twists, including a few that I didn’t see coming. When I realized I’d fallen for one of the main red herrings, I was kicking myself and mentally congratulating Early for effectively fooling me.

Read this? Yes. It’s enjoyable and thought-provoking.

(I received a copy of Echoes of the Fall from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.)

This book had amazing writing I did not expect. The plot was interesting, it kept me guessing until the end. While I did not read the first two books, I still enjoyed this immensely, it reads well as a standalone.

I enjoyed the first two books of this gritty, Hank Early crime series, and the third book called to mind all the action of the first two, the continuity of the protagonist we have been following across these tomes so far.

I feel like the first book was the strongest for me, but this book also offers the same quality of writing, page-turning action, cliffhangers at the end of chapters, mysteries to be figured out, and more.

I encourage readers to pick up books one and two, which are really excellent, and it was nice to see the thread of continuity with this third volume.

Echoes of the Fall is Hank Early’s outstanding latest edition to the Earl Marcus mystery series. Marcus has lost an election for sheriff and is in a dark place. His girlfriend is far away, he’s drinking too much and he makes the disturbing discovery of a dead body in his yard. As Earl seeks to learn who the dead man is and why he was killed, clues take him on a dangerous scavenger hunt all over the county and he finds that his life, and the lives of those he is close to, are in jeopardy.

What I love most about Early’s writing are his very vivid descriptions of the Georgia wilderness. Without giving too much away, there are two scenes in particular that brought me right to the gorges where they took place and had me gripping the edge of my seat in anxious anticipation. In addition, Early is a master of using metaphor to enable readers a glimpse inside his characters’ minds. At this he is a master and his writing has me wanting to come back for more and more. If you haven’t had a chance to read this series yet, put it at the top of your list!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Hank Early for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was a big fan of the first two books in this series. So, I was pleased to get a chance to read the third prior to its release. Early’s writing remains just as good as always. When he starts the book writing about Earl’s hangover, I swear I could feel the pounding in my own head.

The book begins not only with the hangover, but with Earl’s discovery of a dead body in his front yard. Aware that the body would be the perfect excuse for the sheriff to accuse Earl of murder, he makes the body disappear. Then he starts trying to find out the identity of the murdered man. It leads him to a private boy’s school, one that has a hard and troubled history.

Earl is a great character. He knows he should let sleeping dogs lie and not investigate the school. But as someone says “He said you were the kind of man who couldn’t hear a sound in the middle of the night without getting up to see what caused it. He said you were broken, that you’re weren't the kind of man to let other men live their lives.” And yes, Earl is broken. He’s got a real fondness for whiskey. He can’t help but hurt the ones he loves the most.

These aren’t just your normal mysteries. The writing is dark but engrossing. There’s a lot of philosophy wrapped up in these pages. “The past isn’t set in stone even if we want it to be, because it’s a living, fluid thing, open to a thousand interpretations and evaluations, influenced by the present as much as the other way around. Destiny and the past are intertwined because they can both be manipulated by the present.”

The characters are well formed, each damaged in their own way. We get more of Rufus’ backstory this time around which really helped round out the story. I hope Early finds a way to create #4 for the series.

Being my first read by the author I didn’t knew what to expect. I have mixed feelings though because I have questions that I think I will find the answer in the first two books in the series and also I loved a lot of moments in this book just because I went blind and tried to see if I can predict something. Some turns I got it right, some I didn’t and that’s a bonus for me.
I liked that the characters are depicted very real and relatable with real person as in greedy, traitors and hungry for power and success with no conscience. The main character is struggling with real life problems that only a few authors are writing about it and again another bonus for me.
There are fast paced moments, there are slow downs ones as there are many other questions that I need answers to and hopefully will get them in the next books.

This was a first book for me by this author.

This story follows PI Earl Marcus and his quest to find out how a dead body found outside his home has a connection with The Harden School. An isolated school with a big fence and barb wire.

With the help of his friends Ronnie and Rufus, Earl wants to get to the
bottom of things.

This story did have some action and mystery to it,but I neededicated a little bit more. I felt the ending did left me with many questions. We're Rufus and Harriet able to meet again. Did the town ever find out what a corrupt person Jeb Walsh was?.

Thank you Net galley and Crooked Lane Books for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyed all the characters in this book.
Early's writing is clear, with consistent pacing and enjoyable storyline.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This was the third in a series featuring PI Earl Marcus. Though I think it might me best to have read the first two, this held up fairly well as a stand-alone. The mystery was decent and I kind of enjoyed the noir feel.

Mr. Early's dark, Southern/Appalachian work is new to me. I didn't know what to expect but found parts of this novel to be gritty, parts poetic, and all of it believable. The opening chapter grabbed me from the get-go. True friends; selfish, evil people; backward beliefs; stunted emotions; and hard won salvation. This book should appeal to anyone looking for a great story and especially to lovers of Southern noir.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of Echoes of the Fall, the third novel to feature Georgia based PI Earl Marcus.

When Earl finds a murdered body in his yard he knows that he has to get rid of it or the corrupt sheriff who beat him to the job several months earlier will arrest him. Not knowing who the dead man is Earl finds a letter linking him to the Harden School, a shadowy enterprise with links to his nemesis, Jen Walsh.

I enjoyed Echoes of the Fall which is an action packed slice of rural noir. It is told from two points of view, Earl’s first person experience and a third person narrative his friend Rufus’s adventures and history. At first I found the style a bit jerky and it didn’t really capture my attention but as the novel progresses I found myself more involved. It very much reminds me of James Lee Burke’s writing with the evocative description of both the location and its inhabitants, the idea of rampant corruption in high places, the high octane action and the constant self analysis and homilies on life although Earl Marcus is more self accepting than the rather self righteous Dave Robicheaux. Mr Early skilfully blends past and present to bring a very readable plot to life with a mystery, plenty of twists and a fair amount of tragedy.

I have read the first novel in the series, Heaven’s Crooked Finger, so I was interested to see where Mr Early would take his character after those cataclysmic events. I like that he has tackled another subject, suitable to his setting. I’m not going to issue spoilers and say what it is but it is apt for both the settings and the times and something entirely alien to my life experience. I like learning new things.

Earl Marcus is a flawed protagonist with his difficult and, for me, exotic childhood casting a long shadow into his present. It is not mentioned much in this novel so perhaps reading the novels in order would give the reader a deeper understanding. As it is he struggles with alcohol and seems to depend on his girlfriend, Mary, to validate him or, as he sees it, “save” him. I must admit that much of his navel gazing washed over me as I don’t really get it. It is, nevertheless, a powerful study of a conflicted man.

Echoes of the Fall is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Troubled characters, strange holier than thou attitudes, and a backwoods police force has introduced this book as a very intriguing read.

The Harden School, an old, isolated campus surrounded by barbed wire and locked gates, and a outdated philosophy. The school has become a reform school for homosexuals that old powers believe can be “changed” into heterosexuals. Politics and old judge mental “rulers” have caused murders, suicide, and twisted outcomes.
Thank you netgalley for a preview copy.

Loved this book. It was a mystery comparable to Hillerman ‘s work.
It has wonderfully imperfect characters and beautiful set with fast paced plots.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

After losing a hotly contested sheriff's race to the lackey of corrupt politician Jeb Walsh, Earl Marcus has had the worst summer of his life. But worst turns deadly when a body turns up on Earl's front lawn, accompanied by a cryptic letter.

Earl finds a cell phone in the victim's car and tracks it to The Harden School, an old, isolated campus surrounded by barbed wire and locked gates, and catches a sneak peek at a file labeled complaints, where he finds a familiar name: Jeb Walsh. Jeb's ex-wife Eleanor had lodged multiple complaints against the school on behalf of her son, and when he contacts Eleanor, the horrifying truth begins to emerge.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was a great experience first time reading anything from this author

"Echoes of the Fall" is the third Earl Marcus mystery, and I can find myself falling into the rhythm of reading the latest installment of an excellent mystery/crime writer. I hope Hank Early can keep this up and deliver us a new mystery once a year! I'd recommend you start at book one as there are numerous references to what has gone before, even though this is a standalone mystery concerning private detective Earl Marcus investigating dodgy goings on in a private boy's school for troubled teenagers. Previous characters from the other two novels turn up and although the mystery does not grip quite as much as the previous two books it was a highly entertaining read which I read over three nights. Although it's a detective novel, you can also call "Echoes of the Fall" 'Hillbilly Noir' as they are set in the mountainous regions of Georgia, with old time religion, and their own rules for living. The first book in the series is a superb introduction to Hillbilly Noir. If the series is to continue I hope it branches away from religion as a major theme, as reviewing this from the UK, the theme was somewhat distant. However, I really love Earl Marcus as a character and hope he returns for book four!