Title: The Echo Man
Author: Sam Holland
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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 Elliott and Deakin get closer to unmasking the killer, the murders are moving closer to home.

Meanwhile, Jessica 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.

In the name of transparency, I’ll tell you I almost put this down at 10%. I didn’t find Jessica very likable at all to start with, and that trait in an MC is an almost guaranteed DNF for me. But I’m glad I persevered. Jessica improved a lot, and it was fascinating trying to figure out who the killer was. This is a very bloody and dark novel, so if you have a weak stomach, you might want to pass, but it ended up being pretty riveting as things progressed.

Sam Holland loves the dark and macabre. The Echo Man is his debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 4/8.)

OMG this was an awesome one. I would have never known this was a debut author. This story was so twisted and sick. Sam Holland is going to be a new favorite Crime writer of mine.

Lots of gore, guts, serial killer as you follow through the killings. Not for the faint of heart.
A great debut book can't wait to see more from this author.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

So so so many murders. This is not for the faint of heart- even in the serial killer genre, this one stands out for the number of and gruesomeness of the killings. Someone, a vile villain, is replicating the horror of earlier murderers, such as Manson and Jeffrey Dahmer, DCI Cara Elliot and Noah Deakin are in a race to find the connections and the bad guy. At the same time, Nate Griffin, who has been suspended, finds himself helping Jess, who is the prime suspect in an arson. The two threads do pull together. This benefits from short chapters, which keep the reader going. There's good tension. If I have a quibble - and its a big one- it's that this was just over the top in terms of the murders. Too much for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'd like to see more of these detectives.

The Echo Man
By Sam Holland

Hands down, 5 fabulous stars!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Out 14th April 2022

Wow! What a brilliant debut!! I honestly can’t wait to see what Sam Holland comes up with next.

This is definitely not a book for the faint hearted. It’s dark, gruesome, gory depictions of very detailed and heinous murders made me have to put the book down several times to quieten the sickening feeling in my gut.

I loved all the well thought out and cleverly crafted characters, each with their own major flaws, evident right from the prologue and first chapter. I loved the fast pace of the story and was gripped from start to finish. The twists and body counts just kept on climbing right up to the dramatic conclusion.

I’m a big note taker while reading and had guessed the perpetrator at one point. However the excellent execution of the authors writing had me second guessing everyone. Going back I had a long list of “red circled” characters I had thought to be The Echo Man - suffice to say, I absolutely did not see that ending coming!!

Y’all know I love reading the acknowledgments and author bio, and reading Sam Hollands made me understand how incredibly well researched this book is. Sam’s bio states she is a “self-confessed serial killer geek”. That is evident in her writing. I highly recommend this book for lovers of true crime, psychological crime … actually everyone who can stomach reading about serial killers!
This is one of the best books I’ve read!

Many kind thanks to @crookedlanebooks @netgally and the author for my advanced reading copy. 🙏😍

The Echo Man by Sam Holland is a British police procedural. Detectives Cara Elliott and Noah Deakin are stymied by the investigations of several vicious murders. What makes these murders puzzling is the fact that the crimes are all committed what different modi operandi. Who could be doing this? Who will be next? How are the victims selected? What is the reason for all this viciousness? The detectives soon discover that the murders are copycat killings: the perpetrator is mimicking the killings of famous serial killers, which explained why each murder was different. I found The Echo Man to be tense and suspenseful and the characters flawed and varied. What kept me from rating this novel with five stars was the brutal, excessively violent plot and the sometimes unrealistic storyline. What started out as a mystery soon devolved into the horror genre. This is Sam Holland’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A vicious killer is on the loose who seems to be copying serial killers. He is ruthless and depraved and no one is safe. As the police conduct an extensive investigation into finding the suspect there is also another investigation going on. A suspected arsonist and murderer is working with a suspended detective who was once a victim of the killer to find him and prove her innocent. It's a rush against the clock as the killings are increasing in frequency and this person seems to be obsessed with more than just murder. This was really well written and I loved the premise. I could not put i down. I did feel the ending was a little lackluster and would have appreciated just a little bit more closure. This however did not detract from the overall story!

Thank you @netgalley and @crookedlanebooks for this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! This was such a surprise! I can hardly believe this is a debut. Everything about it bespoke of a seasoned writer who knows how to shock, thrill and write some awesome characters!

The setting is England and our main character, DCI Cara Elliott, is increasingly worried about some horrific murders of random people in her home town. Her brother, a suspended cop, might just be right in assuming that the murder scenes are staged to look exactly like some of the most nefarious crime scenes of our history. Such as Manson’s massacre, Dahmer’s hideous killings and the famous Golden State Killer!

I loved everything about this book, the characters, plot, nail-biting pace and the shocking revelation at the end!
I highly recommend this to any crime thriller lovers, especially if you love reading about serial killers and enjoy being blindsided by red herrings!
This is certainly an author I’ll be following very closely!

Wow. Just wow. This book is what a serial killer thriller should be. It was dark, twisted and gritty. This book had me at hello. It just pulled you in and wouldn't let go. I loved how everything weaved together and I just didn't see it until the end. It was a unique premise with great characters you bonded with. This book will honestly be the book I hold all other books up to. I seriously think if you don't read it, you are missing probably the best book of the year.

I love a good serial killer story and this hit all the right marks! I really enjoyed the characters and how their storylines were interconnected. I loved the ending and didn’t feel like anything was too rushed which has been a problem in recent books for me. My only issue with this was that the killer was too good/smart for too long - I need more realism in my serial killers. Even with that it was a great story and if there is a sequel sign me up!

What It's About: DCI Elliott and DS Deakin are investigating the case of a serial killer whose MO seems to be echoing the murders of famous serial killers. Meanwhile, Jessica is implicated for her husband's death in their house fire and she is on the run. The only person who can help her now is the disgraced and suspended Detective Griffin.

My thoughts: Friends! Look no further! If you want a fast-paced, intriguing, different and at the edge of your seat kind of a book, this is THE ONE! And this is a must read for all true crime readers! You will love it! I cannot stop thinking about this book and can't believe that this is a debut! What a brilliant debut!

The writing is so engaging and addicting, and I flew through this book in less than two sittings! I loved following the clues in the investigations, and of course the profiling was the cherry on the cake. This book is everything I wanted in a crime fiction to be honest. Heads up though, the crimes in this book are brutal with graphic details of the murders.

As far as characters go, I think they are well-written too. I love flawed characters and naturally I liked Griffin character the most! Although this was more of plot driven story, I could still connect with the characters here.

In a nutshell, this is solid 5-star read for me. It is a book you do not want to miss out if you enjoy crime fiction/profiling!


Pub Date: April 5th, 2022

***Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this gifted review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.***

This is not for the weak of heart. If you like your serial killer stories to be dark, graphic, terrifying and brutal while also preying on your fears: this is the book for you! It's a lot; compulsively readable but may require a nice mug of tea to calm your racing heart (so herbal not caffeinated!) Decent debut novel even if I did have to put it in the freezer a few times (I'm joking it's an ebook so I hid my kindle in the closet and saged it). 3.5 stars

“Don’t imagine psychopaths to be monsters with horns. They’re not…they’re well camouflaged most of the time…that’s why they fool you so easily.”—Michael Faust, Crapitalism

Detectives Cora Elliott and Noah Deakin begin their grisly search for the serial killer given the moniker The Echo Man. Named so for having echoing the MO of past infamous killers such as Manson, Kemper and Dahmer. Will Elliott and Deakin discover who is behind the murders or will the body count continue to rise as The Echo Man pays tribute killer by killer…

WOOOOWZA! If fast paced, gruesome kills and high body counts are your MO for thrillers, you’ll not be disappointed in Sam Holland’s debut novel! Not for the faint of heart and will most likely keep you looking over your shoulder and sleeping with the lights on after reading! Would recommend to fans of this genre!



**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

The Echo Man is Sam Holland’s debut thriller.
In short, brutal murders are taking place across England and it will soon become clear that each murder is a copycat murder replicating MO’s of infamous serial killers.
If you like a great big dollop of dark, grisly murders with plenty of gore and guts then this is a treat for you. However, for me the story is written in the present tense which isn’t my favourite style so I did struggle with that along with the story being just too far fetched for me. I note that I am in the minority as other readers have left great reviews.
Big thanks to Sam Holland, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

This is a very dark and explicit read, not suitable for impressionable readers. Serial killer fans get not one, two, three or even four famous baddies. The Echo Man is besting them all, from Manson to the Zodiac Killer. The logistics of the plot require some suspension of disbelief but it was well plotted and easy to follow. Extreme as they are, I liked the characters, and I didn’t figure out who the culprit was. That said, the explicit descriptions of murder and torture will not be everyone’s cup of tea. As it is, I feel bad saying I “enjoyed” this one, since it made me cringe and gave me gooseflesh. There is some room for improvement at the end, because it seems like the author doesn’t know where to stop. Being a debut novel, I’d say that this is a very promising author.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Crooked Lane Books!

A Perfect and Disturbing Psycho Thriller................................

A wonderful thriller by Sam Holland in The Echo Man which is going to shatter you with every page. Right from the beginning the plot is going to capture your attention. Although, the book has some disturbing and gory details, but they are going to add more interest in the plot. And when the climax comes, the author drops it off as a nuclear bomb. You are definitely going to think about the book for a long time.

I am, definitely going to give the book 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.

After reading a few friend reviews I was really looking forward to this one and boy, did it deliver! If you are at all squeamish - do not read this book! It is very violent, raw and brutal.

The book opens with the brutal murder of two women who are left in the boot (trunk) of a car after being decapitated. Next we meet Jess. Let’s face it Jess has serious issues but she loves her daughter, Alice, fiercely. Her husband, Patrick is sleeping in the guest room downstairs as he has an early start in the morning. Jess wakes up smelling smoke. She races to Alice’s room but there is no saving Patrick - downstairs is fully ablaze. With no alternative Jess gathers Alice in her arms and jumps out of the upper floor window, saving their lives.

DS Taylor who catches this case thinks Jess is good for the murder as her fingerprints are found on a watering can that had contained the paraffin that started the fire. But she is an idiot so I always felt that Jess would be easily cleared. DCI Cara Elliott and her offsider DS Noah Deakin are working the other murders which keep on coming. Jess realises she is a suspect and ‘escapes from the hospital. She finds refuge with suspended police officer, DS Nate Griffin (actually Cara’s brother) who is still getting over the brutal murder of his wife a year ago in a home invasion that left him for dead. Jess has a stunning insight when she looks through Griffin’s files on a whole bunch of murders. Yes, they are all different, but the link is that the killer is copying famous serial killers from the past - Manson, Kemper, the zodiac killer and so on.

That is all well and good but the police are no closer to catching this elusive and brutal killer and he is escalating. Make no mistake, this book is very dark and brutal. The killer has absolutely no compassion, he is relentless. Cara and Deakin are run ragged trying to keep up. Forensics gives them nothing. What they do find is only what the killer, by now dubbed the Echo Killer, wants them to find and it’s generally misdirection. The pace is relentless, the characters are really well portrayed and they are nearly destroyed by this awful case.

Interestingly I had a suspicion at about the 60% mark and it did turn out to be right but there were still jaw dropping twists to come. The final scenes were gut wrenching and awful. It even made me a little queasy at times. Because the shocking thing is that these sort of killings did actually occur, which is what the Echo Killer was copying. Lock your doors before you go bed after reading this. If this is Holland’s debut, I can’t wait to see what is next! Many thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

This drew me in right from the start - it's dark, disturbing & twisted, and I loved it! I found it really intriguing to have a serial killer who killed by copying some of the most notorious serial killers in history. As the story progressed, I flew through the book, wanting to know how the investigation into the serial killer and the arson that killed Jess' husband were linked. Just when I thought I had something figured out, I was proven wrong, again & again. The twists kept coming, right until the end, which left me shocked. This was a fantastic debut & I can't wait to see what Sam Holland does next!

Thank you so much Netgalley, Sam Holland, and Crooked Lane Books for my gifted copy!

Synopsis:
This is not Detective Cara Elliott's usual case: A serial killer is copying others before him - there are murders like the ones of Manson, Dahmer, and many more. Meanwhile, Jessica is on the run - because the police suspect her of arson and killing her husband. Only the suspended detective Griffin believes her. Because she knows that her husband is yet another victim of the Echo Man...

My thoughts:
OH MY GOSH! This one was WILD! Three or so chapters in, there was a pretty detailed mention of animal killing, and, as some of you might know, this is my main trigger, so honestly I was ready to DNF. I'm glad I didn't, though, because there are no more mentions of this kind whereas the details stay gruesome from time to time. By the second half of the book, I was glued to the pages. I really appreciate the mentions of famous serial killers which made the book utterly realistic. I really liked Jessica and Griffin as main characters, in their own, troubled ways. While I did guess the first and second major twist (so satisfying to know that I was partially right) I had NO CLUE the third one was coming!

I can't wait to find out what the author comes up with next!

Detectives Cara Elliott and Noah Deakin are on the case of a series of brutal murders, each an exact copy of a famous serial killer from the UK and the US.

Men, women, and children are killed in the likes of Charles Manson, Kemper, Dahmer, Bundy, Sutcliffe, The Hillside Strangler, and others. Almost more bodies than the mind can comprehend.

This is the debut novel from Sam Holland and wow, what a debut it is! Each murder is more bloody than the one before. More twists and turns than any thriller I can think of in my recent readings. I’m already wondering what Holland is writing next because I want it! I'm jumping right to her Author age to click follow or friend or whatever so I am sure to not miss a thing.

Holland does not let up on the reader for one moment. The deaths just keep coming, the mystery getting harder to solve, the killings darker and darker, but no matter what she throws at you, you do not want to stop reading. You want to follow her on every step of this sick journey until you find out who, how?

Have a mentioned how much I love a British mystery? This has got to be made into a television series or a movie by the BBC. Has to BE!

I thought I knew who the killer was mid-way through the book but I had to wait to find I was wrong—and I was right. Lying in bed at 3 am, screaming “NO WAY!” at the pages as I furiously read, only to yell “HOLY SHIT!” a few chapters later as Holland lays waste to my assumptions.

The Echo Man is set to be released on April 5, 2022. Pre-order now so you can read it the moment it comes out. Put this at the top of your to-read pile, better yet, put down whatever you’re reading when it comes out and just start this one instead. You won’t be sorry.

Thanks to @netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Sam Holland for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.