Unfortunately I haven’t had the best luck with my thriller pics at netgalley and at the beginning I truly thought this had the potential to be a 5-star read. Oh well…
The Echo Man follows a group of detectives as they investigate a case of someone mimicking famous serial killers. This premise truly intrigued me and was what got me request it in the first place. As the book starts, we follow a bunch of different POVs and it’s always confusing at the beginning for me but with this one it never got better. And to top it off all of the characters had similar names to one another and at many different occasions I thought I was reading about one and it actually was another.
Even though those characters were likeable and not overly complicated in personalities the writing made them all feel way too distant, I couldn’t connect even if I wanted to. And that was my main problem with this book, the whole writing, plot and cast of characters felt unconnected, like there was no passion or emotion behind it. At times it felt like the author was just describing events, making a list and not actually developing a plot and events. There was not ambience to it as well, it was lacking description at a lot of moments and that contributed to the novel feeling lackluster and impersonal. Again, I tried but had nothing that got me to connect to it all.
The size of it didn’t help as well, the book was way longer than it needed. It seems like the author tried to create a sense of something fast paced with small chapters but they only dragged that feeling of something needing to end but never actually getting there. To finish it, I wasn’t gonna mention the huge plot twist at the end, but I feel like I need to since the discovery of the killer was something I actually enjoyed even thought it was quite obvious. But the last main twist was just unnecessary as it was so freaking obvious, to me, it was like the author didn’t trust its reader to make that connection.

Loved this book, serial killer thrillers are always my favourite. This had so many twists and turns, constantly had me on the edge of my seat waiting to know what happens next. Maybe a bit too gory for me and not sure on the ending bit overall this was an amazing debut book, I would definitely love to see more from this author.
Thank you to net galley, the author and to crooked lane books for the ARC.

A good debut by Ms Holland on serial killer. The details are quite gory, but the suspense is good and well maintained. The relationship that develops between Jessica and Nate is artificial and remains unconnected with the main plot. The whole plot seems improbable but the book could be appreciated for the debut effort.

A brilliant debt novel the best book I've read in ages.
Thrilling,brutal and dark sure to get your pulse racing.I loved all the characters, yes even the ones I shouldn't.
I was sure I'd solved it but was wrong so many times.
I will be looking out for more from this author in the future they will definitely have to pull it out of the bag to top this one but from what I've read I'm sure they can do it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

Whoa! This is gruesome, graphic, intense, dark, disturbing, eerie! I’m sold! As darker and smarter the story gets, faster I jump in!

The plot line was calling me and of course there would be digital reviewer copy that my name on it to devour and share my opinions!

A vicious serial killer lurking around by creating crime scenes based on the most notorious serial killers’ works including Mason, Dahmer, Kemper. The copy cat killer has a really twisted and sick way to show his tribute to past murders. And now detectives Elliott and Deakin try to connect the dots between these brutal killings which are pure echoes of the murders of the past!

I mostly hooked by suspended detective Nate Griffin’s storyline. He’s determined, obsessed, unconventional, smart, edgy: a troubled, complex character makes you drawn into the story a little more and keep your focus intact.

His path crosses with Jessica Ambrose who is on the run because she’s presumed to kill her husband, hurt her young daughter and burn the place down. She teams up with the detective to connect the links between her case and brutal serial murders.

Was intimacy between Jessica and Nate necessary? I’m not so sure. It was a little far fetched just like jaw dropping and surprising conclusion of the story. Of course not so foreseeable revelations were well executed but some events were a little exaggerated.

It was still riveting, interesting, breathtaking reading experience for me. I truly got so nervous, disturbed, agitated. I carried all side effects of mind bending thriller reading journey!

This is really impressive start for Sam Holland! Im looking forward to read his future works!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

The Echo Man, was absolutely mind blowing. Sam Holland, is going to instantly be an overnight sensation . This debut novel has all key components to break the internet. This is a chilling thriller that will easily keep you looking over your shoulder long after concluding the book.

I absolutely loved how Sam Holland incorporated past serial killers into his story line.

Cara and Noah are detectives and partners. There has been a series of murders and although they seem unconnected they are each very brutal. Each of the cases seem to take on famous cases from the past including Dahmer, Manson and Kemper. Is this how the cases are tied together?

There was also a second storyline following Jessica. Jessica was accused of being an arsonist who not only killed her husband but also injured her daughter. Jessica enlists the help of Nate. Nate is currently a suspended detective. What Jessica soon finds out is there is a link between her case and also the serial killer who is coming closer and closer to home.

I cant even begin to describe the feelings I had while reading this novel. One, I no longer have nails as I have chewed them down to the beds, two, I will be looking over my shoulder for a long time, three, I might as well start checking under the bed too.

Do yourself a favor and add this to your pre-order list. Due on April 5, 2022, you do not want to miss this 5 star read.

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.
Recommended.

There Will be Blood.

A while back I grumbled about a serial killer book with minimal body counts. No so this one.

In fact, there were twenty murders prior to the fifty percent mark so if corpses are your thing, look no further. In addition, you’ll be served well if you have a steely stomach because of explicit descriptions.

Several seemingly unconnected homicides have DCI Cara Elliot leading a team of detectives attempting to solve the cases. She, along with right hand man Noah Deakin and several others in the department had me pulling for them. I was really taken with the entire team.

The book stayed with me when I had to put it down. I’m always impressed when a writer draws me in so that I think about the story when separated from it. I was so invested, I’d hoped this would be the first in a series with these unique characters.

I loved ninety percent of the book, however I’m not sure how I feel about the conclusion. Beginning as an excellent police procedural, it morphed into a psychological thriller during the twilight stages and went over the top. I also didn’t care much for the ending.

I would recommend this to those liking police procedure, serial killers, and tough intriguing characters.

A specific trigger warning for animal lovers depicting pet murders in a brief newspaper article.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, the author Sam Holland, and NetGalley for my electronic copy.

A fast paced, brutal, harrowing yet thrilling novel!
I loved the originality and references to famous serial killers - this book is a gripping read!
A great crime/psychological thriller.
Easily worthy of 4 stars ⭐️

This is a serial killer book with some unique twists. I have read a LOT of serial killer books (not sure what that says about me) and I really enjoyed this one.

It was a little darker than the usual, with some damaged characters. However, I thought this added to the atmosphere and made the book more enjoyable. And the main characters, with all of the issues, were actually sympathetic.

I kept the pages turning and needed to know what happened next. Every time I though I saw what was coming, I was wrong.

The only thing I didn't really love was the ending - well, the almost ending. I thought it felt a little over the top and "made for tv"-ish. But the actual ending was really interesting. I think you have to read it to understand what I am talking about.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this book

For the most part, The Echo Man was an incredible serial killer novel the likes of which I haven't seen since Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs. It was finely layered, carefully plotted and brutal in its descriptions. While the book was reminiscent of the film Copycat - a modern day killer is mimicking the crimes of infamous serial killers of yore, leaving his victims in similar tableaus for the police to find - it did manage to do so in some unique and original ways. The story did keep me guessing until near the end, especially with a couple of red herrings thrown in. There were two issues I did have with the plot. While the whole element of Jess being on the run after her husband is killed and shacking up with Griffin made for an interesting element, the extent to which it bore out did strain credulity, as their relationship and the fact that no one would turn her in got very unrealistic. The other problem I had was the resolution. Was it surprising? Maybe. But it also felt a bit too Hollywood-ized, going for shock value over credibility. Considering most of the novel was so carefully crafted, the schlocky ending just felt like it didn't belong. But overall it was a thrilling, gruesome, entertaining book.

Amazing, twisting plot.

A copycat serial killer is murdering people, each different in method but all famous cases from the past. Detectives Cara Elliott and Noah Deakin are trying to hunt down the true killer. At the same time Jessica Ambrose is on the run after being accused of being the arsonist who set the fire killing her husband. With the help of suspended detective Nate Griffin, she discovers a shocking connection to the copycat killer and the arson.

A culmination of crimes committed all leading up to one tantalizing finale. This is apparently Sam Holland’s debut novel, and it was a very thought out plot. There are murders, plot twists, darkness, suspicion, shifting tension, and all of the things that make a great thriller. I was definitely glued to this book— I had to know who did it!

One of my favorite things about a book is when they have amazing, well rounded, flawed characters. The one things that dragged for me about this book was that some of the main characters started off hard to empathize with and/or were borderline unlikable. After dipping into the plot more, this didn’t matter as much, but I do find that liking the characters and rooting them makes a book SO much better, because then you’re rooting for them to win, you’re hurting when they hurt, you’re overall getting all of the emotions that a great book makes you feel. I think that would have put this book over the top.

Thank you to Sam Holland, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the pleasure of getting to read an arc of this book.

Great book!! This one had me all kind of chilled! This book had some crazy monsters! It had suspense, intrigue, murder and mystery, it had a bit of gore to it! My heart was pounding throughout most of the book! It definitely was a thrilling book! I recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading!