Jessica Ambrose wakes to a house in flames. She manages to get her daughter and herself out, but her husband is killed. In the hospital, she finds that the police are planning to charge her with the murder and arson as she and Patrick had been fighting that night and that her daughter will be taken away from her. Jessica runs from the hospital and ends up at the house of Nate Griffin. Nate is a suspended police detective. He has also had tragedy as he and his wife awoke one night to a man with a gun. Nate was beaten unconscious and his wife killed. Both wounded, they try to find solace with each other.

Nate's sister, Cara, is the head of the police squad looking into the murders. But when Griffin realizes that his and Jess's cases are part of a series mimicking famous serial killers, Cara and her team start to find more cases that fit the pattern. Killers such as Jeffery Dahmer, Charles Manson and the Golden State Killer are providing the blueprint for a horrific series of murderers. Can the man behind the killings be found?

This is a debut novel for the author writing as Sam Holland. It is the first book in the Major Crimes series. She also has a series under the name Louisa Scarr. The crimes are very violent and gory and some readers may be put off by this, although others will take it as the major crime investigators are exposed to. There are many twists and turns as Cata and her team race to find the killer before he strikes again, while Jessica and Griffin come together due to their shared trauma inflicted by the killer. This book is recommended for mystery readers.

DNF'd at 43%. The idea of a serial killer copying existing serial killer murders sounded like it would be really appealing, but the writing in this is terrible. I'd maybe go as far as saying lazy. There was no atmosphere or tension which are the two prerequisites for thrillers. The characters were one dimensional and there were certain things forced into the narrative to which could have given depth to them, but they were unexplored and seemed like the author felt that they needed to shoehorn these details on to make them more rounded.

Holy shite 😳 This may very well be one of THE BEST serial killer fiction reads I’ve ever read 🙌🏼 I’m literally lost for words 😂 I finished this over a few day (ya know, life and adulting 🙄😂) but I was desperate to get to it any chance I could get! Even though I had disruptions, the pace was out of control! Every pages turned, I couldn’t read or turn fast enough! I loved the short chapters which helped with the on-the-go scenes. I loved every character 😍 their personalities were so richly developed, I even really enjoyed the ‘bad guy’ 👌🏽 Generally in a fictional story I despise the use of true life serial killers, but the way Sam did it was executed (excuse the pun) to absolute perfection. Did I mention how much I freakin loved this?! It’s a definite contender for my pick of 2023 🥳

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

This book kept you guessing the entire time. The writer did a wonderful job of keeping the tempo with their sentence and dialog pace and by using that to help build tense moments. This book had me feeling like I was reading something with a bit of Jo Nesbo or Ted Dekker flavor.

I just finished reading this less than 5 minutes ago, and I am shell-shocked. This had to be one of the most graphic, dark, disturbing books I have ever read. It is in no way for the faint of heart. Regardless, it kept me glued to the pages, and was hard to put down. I loved the true crime documentary feel of the book. I also enjoyed how the author interwove an emotional story line amongst the crime details. Holland had a way to make you feel empathy for the main characters, and made them damaged people that you could only feel you wanted to care/fight for. The final chapter totally throws the reader onto a different track than the conclusion you thought the author had already come to. There is a nice cliffhanger for the sequel, which I will definitely read. 4.5 stars.

Great debut and an author I will continue to keep an eye out for! I loved this book, but it's not for the faint at heart.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers.

When a serial killer starts mimicking the famous serial killers of the past, it leaves the police baffled. The murders go unlinked for a long while until Nate Griffin, a past victim and an ex-cop, starts to put them together. When he is thrown into the path of another victim, Jessica Ambrose, sparks start flying, and they get entangled in a chain of gruesome murders, that somehow endangers their lives again. Will their clocks tick out before the psycho is caught?

This book hooked me in from its first chapter, and kept me at the edge of my seat. Although many people might be repelled by the explicit and gory descriptions of the murders,for me this darkness added to the depth of the story. The characters were developed and portrayed extremely professionally, the penmanship was fluid, and the storyline was immersive. I loved the twists and turns this book provided. I also loved the twists at the end, although the identity of the murderer was one I was mostly sure of. In simple words, I absolutely loved this book.

I am taking away a star because of two reasons. Firstly, the romance between Griffin and Jessica seemed really forced and unnecessary. Secondly, the end was a bit of a cliffhanger. I am guessing that since this is the first book in a series, we are going to get more about what happens next in the next books.

I am so looking forward to reading the stories to follow. I would highly recommend this one to all lovers of crime thrillers.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the author for this gifted copy.

This was definitely not for the faint hearted so really dont want to say much due to the risk of spoilers. There are also so many triggers in it. So if you go into it on aware of that basis you will enjoy it, the narrator adds such a unique element to it. So all in all very enjoyable.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is all my own. Will definitely read/listen to more by this author

i loooved this book so much!! it’s been a long while since i’ve read it so i apologise for the rubbish review, but i remember adoring it and forcing a lot of my friends to read it so it must’ve been incredible. the murders were gruesome which always makes the best thrillers! just read it , i’m not ruining the twists! 🤪

Detectives Cara Elliott and Noah Deakin are investigating a string of gruesome and frightening deaths that appear to have nothing in common. They are unable to ignore the specifics, which are similar to well-known historical incidents including Manson, Kemper, Dahmer, and others, as the corpse count rises. The killings are occurring closer to home as Elliott and Deakin near the identification of the murderer. Jessica Ambrose is running away in the meantime. She has been charged with setting her husband’s house on fire, killing him, and harming her little daughter. Jess finds a startling connection between her case and that of the ultimate copycat murderer hard at work on his horrible masterpiece with the assistance of disgraced and suspended officer Nate Griffin.

Those who enjoy thrillers with serial killers will adore this dark and unsettling book. It is hard for the faint of heart since the murderer is relentless in reproducing famous murder scenes, resulting in some extremely graphic and gory representations of terrible killings. With twenty-eight murders throughout the book and practically every method of killing or dismembering a body portrayed, it occasionally seemed almost like an overload. The action moves quickly and is full of tension. Even though there is a lot of bloodsheds, we end up caring about the characters even if many of them are disturbed or in unhealthy relationships. Reports of a troubled boy from decades ago that are interspersed between chapters help explain how and why the “Echo Man” got to be who he is. There were a few people I suspected were the murderer, who is not identified until late in the novel.

One of those spine-tingling, hair-raising, jaw-dropping, and eye-popping books that had me hooked from start to finish. The detectives are searching for someone so nasty and barbaric but so cunning that your heart sinks at the seeming futility of the endeavor. It is pitch black gloomy and not for the faint of heart as there is cruelty that shocks to the core. The characterization is superb; there is a fine balance between Cara, divided between the demands of her career and those of her family, and some broken people determined to destroy themselves, some of whom are so devastating as to take your breath away. I still found reading it to be engrossing, fascinating, and unique. I became anxious, upset, and agitated. The aftereffects of my mind-bending thriller reading excursion followed me everywhere! Sam Holland’s debut book is excellent, and I want to read more of her writing in the future.

My thanks to Crooked Lane books, Sam Holland and Netgalley. This book was a fantastic read. The murders are somewhat copy catted. There are way too many of them. Which I will never complain about! What was most striking for me were the characters. Sometimes just saying "The character's" really doesn't explain the feelings. I had the feels for some of these people. Stupid, pitiful me. This is a fantastic book. I was shocked 😲 and saddened by the reveal

The Echo Man is one of the few books I’ve read this year that’s marketed as a thriller and actually reads like a thriller. No dawdling along or melodramatic squabbles here. This is all high-octane serial killer mania.

Squeamish and easily offended readers should take a hard pass, and move along quickly with their eyes squeezed shut. Content leans heavily into graphic territory. This story is dark and twisted, and the author is unapologetic in his depiction of depravity.

So, yes, the serial killer here is a little too genius, know-it-all, all-powerful supervillain. But it worked for me in this instance. No shades of gray to ponder, just outright evil bleeding from the pores.

Cara Elliott and Noah Deakin are inundated with violent cases that seem to have no connection at all, but someone is out there ultimately copying killings by other infamous serial killers. When Jessica Ambrose’s house burns down and she is suspected of arson, she goes on the run and ends up with Griffin, Cara’s brother. Griffin, also a detective, is on leave after a brutal attack. Both broken, they put their heads together to help solve the case, but not before more bodies pile up.

While this book was well written, it was extremely dark and quite graphic. Definitely not for the weak of heart or stomach and had me cringing in more than one place. I would have liked it much better if it had been toned way down and relied on what was not seen and heard, but instead more on the suspense aspect.

I'm giving this book 3 stars for a few reasons. One, I have read a book like this before, The Echo Killings by CJ Daugherty. It's not exactly the same but it was close enough that I kept flashing back to when I read it. No, this doesn't make a book inherently bad, lots of other books have similar plots/themes and I have enjoyed them. What did push me to rate this book lower is the ending. Sure, there could be a second book that helps tie things up but I felt like there were too many 'reveals' but truly, nothing was wrapped up. This is a great debut and I will definitely check out more from the author in the future.

A book with a pair of unlikable character: Jess Ambrose and Nate Griffin, A serial killer who echoes other serial killers is being investigated by the police and Cara Elliot and Noah Deakin are in the case. Apart Jess Ambrose`s house is burned and she escapes from the police by being suspect of arson and Nate Griffin keeps her in his house because he is the only one who think she is innocent. Later we know the relation between these cases. I did not mind the cruelty in the book, just did not like the characters.

Sam Holland is someone to keep an eye on. The Echo Man is a very dark, impressive debut about a copycat serial killer who is escalating the gruesome violence with each kill. Highly recommend!

Around 10 years ago, there was a show on network television called The Following. The premise was this: an extremely charismatic serial killer breaks out of jail and embarks on a killing spree with the help of his indoctrinated followers. The cop who originally locked him up is back on the case and there is a personal relationship between them that is at the heart of the show. Every time the killer takes another life, the cop feels it as a personal failing. I loved that show even though the premise was outrageous and you had to suspend disbelief. This book was a bit like that show in that we have an incredibly over active killer whose crimes are so deranged and plentiful, it begs credulity. I read this book pretty quickly and found the story to be fast paced.

If you like dark serial killer stories (like Jennifer Hillier’s books or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), tv shows like Law and Order SVU, and true crime classics such as Anne Rule’s The Stranger Beside Me and Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, you will like this book. It references a bunch of famous cases and has both the disgraced cop/suspect romance trope and a pair of dynamic partners on the force for the reader to follow. I think this is a debut that has some issues (the plot is quite far fetched; one of the main characters seems pretty thinly drawn) but holds a lot of promise. And I enjoyed it after buying into the premise. CW for violence of all kinds, gore, assault, mentions of animal cruelty.

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

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was super excited when I read about this one - hence my requesting of the ARC. This excitement was dampered after reading the reviews before reading since I had more of an idea of what I was getting myself into. Almost skipped it because I wasn't sure that I could handle it. However, I love a good forensic science mystery, especially when compelling detectives are on the case, but I have to admit that this one was a little too much for me. Much, much prefer when the focus is on the solving end of things and you learn what happens after the fact (the Harry Holes and Flora Dane series being a few of the rare exceptions to the hardcore.) I do not enjoy reading about the murders as they are happening, especially when so gruesome and cruel as this. Had to skip some sections in order to finish this one. Definitely not for everyone. It's good though and I'll definitely read what Holland reads next. I just may have to flip through a few pages now and then, but I'll know it going in.

How is this a debut book?! This book is about a serial killer and it is dark and twisted! It’s gripping from start to finish, has the perfect amount of tension, and had me guessing until the very end! @samhollandbooks you have amazed me with this one and I am looking forward to what you have in store for us next!

If you enjoy dark, twisted, graphic serial killers books then this one is for you!!!