Eery, unsettling, and threaded with a vein of grief that lingers long after your read the last word.

Where Echoes Die is a study in recovery. A journey through the grieving process that examines the myriad ways people seek to heal themselves and those they love. It is a lesson in letting go and holding tight all at once. Gould is an intoxicating writer, building her world with fully realized characters through an economic authorial style. We feel the pain and regret and fear of the citizens of Backravel so keenly, even those who only inhabit a handful of pages.

A lovely, creepy, unsettling read with similarly disorienting elements as VanDerMeer's Southern Reach Trilogy, and a beating, aching heart at the center.

Where Echoes Die certainly gets a badge for being unique, intriguing, and headache inducing. However - It cannot go without saying the pace of this story made me want to scream. It was like being behind someone driving in the left lane of the highway who just can't pick a speed. we'd slow up and immediately slow back down and crawl for a while, another spike and then right back down again... it was very jarring.

If pace is not something you every notice in a story and are looking for a really neat YA thriller I do recommend giving this a go!

This books kept me captivated all along the way. For this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Beck has been feeling lost in life since her moms death, until she gets a mysterious letter that says ‘Come find me’. Intrigued that it leads to the same town their mother was investigating before her death; both Beck and her sister embark on a life changing trip.

Myself personally would more than likely not followed a creepy letter in the post telling me to com find some complete, mystery person….. but I also watch way too many horror films 😅.

Rating: 3.8
Pub Date: 6/20/23

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Backravel, Arizona has been a part of Beck Birsching for as long as she can remember, even though she’s never actually been there. Her mother, Ellery Birsching, the once accomplished investigative journalist, became consumed with a story on Backravel when Beck and her sister, Riley, were very young, and continued until Ellery died. Ellery made multiple trips over the years, leaving the girls to take care of themselves; even when Ellery was home, she wasn’t really there, leaving Beck, a teenager, to take care of the finances, laundry, and food.
In an effort to figure out why their lives veered so far from normal, to confront her grief, to get answers and closure, and to follow up on a mysterious letter that recently came in the mail in Ellery’s handwriting that says “Come and find me,” Beck and Riley set off to “vacation” in Backravel on their way to their new lives with their dad in Texas.

When they get to Backravel, Beck immediately gets unpleasant vibes. Aside from the fact that there’s a literal humming in the air, but there are no cars, cemeteries, or churches. No one is out and about regularly, either. There are dilapidated military structures mixed in with new buildings and a huge “treatment” center towering over the town. No one seems to remember how long they’ve been in town or where they moved from, and they all seem like they’re in a constant state of confusion. One thing the town’s people agree on though, is that Ricky, and his daughter, Avery, know anything and everything about the town and that he can fix all ailments.

Driven by her mother’s notes, desperation to get back to the way things were, the need for answers and understanding, and by suspicion, Beck digs deeper into this small town where time seems to move differently and affect those living/visiting it. Along the way, long buried emotions surface, a connection between Beck and Avery forms, and memories of happier times become tempting. What will Beck find, and will she lose herself and others she loves in the process?


This was a very anticipated read for me, as I loved Courtney Gould’s first book, The Dead and The Dark, and was looking for similar vibes. However, I was a bit underwhelmed and disappointed. There are different vibes to this one as opposed to her first book, but they are similar in that there’s a mystery, some supernatural phenomena involved, and a sapphic romance.
Where Echoes Die was definitely more sci-fi than I anticipated. The book is marked in the Horror genre (on Goodreads), but I wasn’t feeling the horror elements, per se. There’s more of a mystery/thriller aspect to the novel that leans heavily to the sci-fi genre.
Courtney did an amazing job at making the town a character in and of itself and describing the town so vividly, that I could picture it and feel like I was there. However, the treatment and development of the human characters themselves seemed to be lacking compared to that of the town. And I just didn’t really care about the characters and what happened to them. I was more intrigued by the mystery of the town and what secrets it held.
With that said, Courtney handled the grief and loss that multiple characters in the town have experienced and what lengths they would go to to go back to the “before” and to protect or get back loved ones very well.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and the mystery within, and I am looking forward to what Courtney Gould has in store for us next.

I just could not get into this book for some reason. I would re-read the first few pages but I just couldn't get hooked. But that is just my opinion and I am sure there are others who will love this book, just not me.

I was really excited to read this one. The premise sounded amazing - horror set in the deserts of Arizona, a creepy small town and the secrets of a recently deceased mother.

I found this book to be pretty average though. The twists were easy to see coming, the horror aspects not to scary. The town itself was uncomfortable to read about in parts but I found most of the book to be a bit boring.

Beck and Riley were interesting characters and I loved their dynamic. I wished we had more of them together. I think this could have really been so good had the two sisters had more time on page. Some really good conversations were had on grief, anxiety and moving forward that i did really connect with.

Though I wanted more from this, it was still a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the earc.

I didn’t love this as much as I was hoping. Cool premise but I didn’t vibe with the writing style. The plot was intriguing but it moved a little slow for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! I really enjoyed the atmospheric writing and character work in this one! The setting really worked for me as well, I loved the desert vibes and eeriness of Backravel. The plot twist was a little obvious to me and certain moments weren't as hard hitting as I would have liked, but overall this was a solid read and I'm looking forward to more books from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC!
I loved this authors first book and this new book was no exception; this book was twisty, action packed and fun to read! I ripped through this book in one sitting, highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this!! I liked the first book from this author too but this one was even more my speed with elements relevant to my interests (mystical and otherwise) that kept me curious. There was an element of the fantastical but nothing too far from reality, from things that could actually happen, which made it that much more worrying.

The main character was super unlikeable: however,the story overall was very good. I loved the small town vibes

OH MY GOSH! I am simply convinced I can trust Courtney Gould with any book and I will end up loving it. She's done it again after writing her sapphic ghosty paranormal book The Dead and the Dark, Where Echoes Die is a beautiful story of grief, sisterhood, and obsession that all leads back to a town that just doesn't quite make sense. I can't wait for more people to read this one when it comes out, y'all are NOT ready.

I picked this ARC hoping I’d get an eerie small town mystery and what I got was that and so much more. Where Echoes Die (which is, in my opinion, a genius title) is a mystery sewn together by what it means to grieve and be human. Relationships are the focus in this story, twisting characters’ actions and driving the plot forward.

Beck is instantly drawn to Backravel, Arizona by a curious note left by her deceased mother, piquing her interest (as well as the reader’s). She brings her sister, Riley, to the small, desert town. It’s the perfect setting- secluded, sleepy, and a little too perfect.

She meets several characters while staying in Backravel who add to the mystery even more. Avery is at the center of Beck’s focus which added a little bit of first love and romance to the story. The more Avery shared, the more questions Beck had and I couldn’t help but feel the need to figure out the secrets of Avery’s town alongside Beck.

If you want a story with a lot of heart, one that gives you time to feel the pace of the world it’s set in, some mystery and a little bit of shock value, I highly recommend this book. One of my favorite reads of 2023.

Courtney Gould has done it again. She took a creepy thriller horror (what even is the genre?) and gave it so much heart. Our protagonist, Beck, is unflinchingly relatable in the midst of the greatest loss, searching for meaning. This book is so much more than the story. The message is important and forever timely. Characters I expected not to care about became so important to me and each moment believable. Her words truly make you feel as if you are there, nausea and all.

While I would never want to live in a world with Backravel, it is so compelling. This will be a book that I recommend and reread! Don't miss out on this incredibly delivered second novel! I will be reading absolutely everything she writes forever!!

This book was wonderful. An amazing follow-up to Gould's first novel. I enjoyed every moment of this book and savored every word. Fantastic mystery with a much-needed and impactful message. I also loved the slow-burn, tender romance as well.

Gould is a master at setting and establishing a definitive vibe within her work. While I loved the atmosphere, and unique story, I found the characters uninteresting at times and the plot a little slow overall. I will continue to check out everything the authors writes, but this, sadly, didn't land for me.

Was thrilled to read Gould’s new release before it hits the shelves. Once again I was drawn in by the captivating cover which showed similarities to “The Dead and The Dark”.

Gould’s writing keeps you wanting more. Being drawn into the lives of Beck and her sister Riley was one that kept you on your toes. Two young girls searching for answers to their mothers on going research turns into a compelling story of determination, trust and drop thought. Gould builds strong images that transplant you directly into the background of the story with ease.

This is a great story if you are looking to escape without having to put much thought into what you are reading. I look forward to the next novel by Gould and for the world she builds for her readers in the future.

I really enjoy Courtney’s writing style. It’s kind of horror, mystery and sci fi all rolled into one. I was very intrigued by this story that I just couldn’t put the book down. I disliked how Beck treated Riley so I wasn’t too enthralled with her character even though she was the main character. Overall it was an interesting story.

I made a mistake! I thought this book was written by Courtney Summers! When the publisher reached out asking if I wanted to read it I was so excited. After starting it, I quickly realized, while I have read this author before, I wasn't in love with her other book. I will say, if you enjoyed the Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould then you'll probably like this one too.

Here are my main complaints.

-I found the book boring. Nothing really happens, we just follow two sisters (one mostly) who is sad.
-The book lacked purpose. Yes, we have a reason for these girls to be doing what they're doing, but the plot and story just felt like things happened.
-Why should I care about any of this? The characters weren't intriguing enough for me to care about them, and the setting wasn't interesting enough for me to want more.
-Characters were hard to tell apart. I caught myself rereading so many parts because I got confused about who was talking.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday publishing for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an review.

4/5 Stars

TL;DR - This book is an anomaly of the best kind, so much so that it’s hard to put it into words. Come for the spooky desert mystery, stay for the brilliant and heart-wrenching exploration of grief and trauma - bonus sapphic subplot included!

Big thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

‘Where Echoes Die’ by Courtney Gould is a genre-bending story of loss, regret, and learning to live in the wake of tragedy. The story follows 17 year old Rebecca “Beck” Birsching and her younger sister, Riley, as they journey from the Pacific Northwest to the isolated small town of Backravel, Arizona. Beck wants to see for herself the town that consumed her mother before her death, and she soon finds that something is very wrong there, something that makes the residents forget themselves and their pasts, and soon, Beck finds herself slipping away, as well. It’s a race against time, and through time, to figure out what’s wrong with this town, and ultimately, how to keep herself from going down the same ill-fated path as her mother.

Where to even begin? Normally I take copious notes while reading, but this story consumed me to such an extent that I barely have anything written down. It’s just so engaging, walking a careful and addictive line between the mystery of what the heck is going on in this isolated desert town and why its residents act so strange, and a very earthy, visceral story of a teenage girl dealing with seemingly insurmountable grief and the near-obsessive desire for closure after the traumatic death of her mother. The writing throughout is just gorgeous, and no matter the focus, the author does such a wonderful job if immersing the reader in whatever Beck is focusing on - every line is atmospheric and gripping.

I generally don’t like mystery stories, but this one hooked me from the start. Honestly this whole book reads like an episode of the X-Files, but with a lot more emotional depth - and, seeing as that’s my favorite show of all time, I was absolutely obsessed. Part mystery, part speculative sci-fi, part psychological thriller, part love story, part coming-of-age…all of it adds up to a book that defies the confines of genre but satisfies deeply nonetheless.

The plot is…a wibbly-wobby mess, but I know that's exactly what the author intended. Backravel is a place where the past and present collide, and that’s beautifully mirrored by Beck’s journey and her inner struggles. The story slips between the present and the mystery of Backravel, then back through the past 10 years that Beck’s mother spent obsessed with the small town. We see in gut-wrenching clarity how her mother’s mental illness affected Beck growing up, and how it still affects her today. She feels lost, we feel lost, and it’s one hell of a ride.

Beck is so relatable as a character. She struggles with anxiety and depression, and experiences instances of slipping back into her traumatic past, even before Backravel gets its claws into her. She’s real and she’s wounded, and doing the best she can to stay above water in many respects, and I really enjoyed experiencing this book alongside her. She’s clever and caring but also struggling with her mental illnesses, but through it all, she’s relentless and resilient and I love her.

Everything about Backravel is so creepy and insidious. It seems normal and welcoming at first glance, but the longer you stare, the more you realize that something is very wrong here. I want to say this book is gothic horror, for the isolation and the slowly-creeping dread, and the fact that the town itself almost feels like a character instead of a setting, but I struggle to firmly place it in the genre for some reason. The vibes are certainly there, so I think if that’s your thing, you’ll appreciate this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I do wish that we got a more concrete explanation of The Weird Thing than we do by the end of the book. I was waiting for Scully to come in with some hard facts and creepy 90s music to give me some closure on what the hell just happened, but I also appreciate that the whole point of this book is that in life, we so rarely get the closure we want, and it hurts, but it’s okay. I’m salty I didn’t get a full explanation, but I’m still very happy with everything else this book delivered.

Final Thoughts:

This book is a lot. It hits you hard in the feelings and then tosses you out into the desert with nothing to go on, and I was more than happy to be dragged and thrown and muddled all to hell.