Echo, the third and newly released book ( December 3, 2024) in Tracy Clark's Detective Harriet Foster series is an excellent and captivating read. I read the previous books in the series, and each one is intriguing and more than satisfying. Each may be read as a stand-alone, however reading them in order does provide the background and more insights into the motivation and actions of Harri. She is a Chicago detective, still struggling to understand the deaths of her beloved son Reg, and her former partner's suicide, separated, and overly focused on her work, thinking it will drive her emptiness and sadness away.
In Echo Harri and her team are investigating the death of a young and very wealthy student, Brice Collier, at Belverton College. Was the death a suicide or was it murder? Ironically Brice's father, the very powerful Sebastian Collier, an alumni of Belverton, appeared to be involved in a similar death of a scholarship student, Michael Paget, 30 years prior to Brice' death, although he was never charged. Coincidence?
At the same time Harri is extremely upset that the Chicago PD did not conduct a full and intensive investigation into the suicide of Glynnis Thompson, her partner and friend. Despite being told to stand down, Harri is determined to uncover what really happened. This investigation opens a kettle of worms that puts Harri, her team and her family in danger. Echo is definitely a page turner! Harri and her team represent to me what and how police work in spite of personal challenges; they come alive on the pages. In closing, and with no spoilers, I think and hope that there may well be another book forthcoming. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer Publishing and Tracy Clark for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Echo; my review reflects my honest opinion. 4.5 stars.

I’m really glad that I have been introduced to the character of Detective Harriet “Harri” Foster. Echo is Book 3 in Tracy Clark’s series featuring the detective and her partner, Detective Vera Li, tough Chicago police officers in this novel working a murder case with revenge as the motive. The setting is a mansion, Hardwicke House, exclusive home to the Minotaur Society, on the grounds of Belverton College. The body of a student is discovered in the field outside the mansion, the son of a billionaire who is owner of the house and whose family members were major contributors to the college and were members of the society. It was thirty years ago when another body of a student was found in the same field and whose death was attributed to alcohol and hazing. The two detectives must determine if there is a connection to the two deaths and find the killer, or possibly, the killers.
Detective Foster, Detective Li, Sergeant Sharon Griffin, and Detectives Lonergan, Bigelow, Kelley and Symansky make up a strong team with affection and loyalty toward each other. Chicago serves well as the backdrop with its tough streets as well as its affluent neighborhoods. Li is forthright, often telling her partner what she really doesn’t want to be told but always caring for her. Harri, with 15 years as a cop starting as a patrol officer, is strong willed with an ex-husband who is also a detective and the haunting memory of a former police partner whose death was determined a suicide. Her past also includes a 14 year old son who was murdered.
A second storyline develops around Foster’s stalker and the connection that she is able to make between him and her deceased father, also a cop, her deceased son and the death of her former partner.
Tracy Clark delivers a suspenseful, interesting plot that deals with the elite and privileged, settling old scores, family loyalty, and the question of how justice should be meted out. I always enjoy reading books with a complex female protagonist, especially in a police procedural and Detective Foster fits the bill. It was a good read even though I was disappointed and let down by not having the murderer in the subplot named. I do not know if that storyline will be continued in the next book in the series but I am not the detective in the story and would have appreciated closure.
I would like to thank Thomas & Mercer, Publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy of Echo. This is my honest review of the book.

A secret society that opens doors unatainable for the majority of people who were not born with money and therefore is one of the most coveted fraternities on campus. A crime in the past that comes back to haunt them in the present. A detective apparently commits suicide but her partner, Harri, does not accept it and as she starts to dig into the case she realizes that the motive is rather unexpected and she is one of the targets. Echo is an engaging and entertaining story that had all my attention from the beginning. It's well-written, fast-paced, and explores well how greed, desire for power, avarice takes hold of people.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Echo is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Foster series by Tracy Clark.
I’m a big fan of detective Harriet Foster. And this title was just as great as the previous two.
A tense and engrossing police procedural that had me hooked from the very beginning.
Excellent book with plenty of twists and turns. Characters, all have depth and add to the story and this book will keep you guessing as to who is the murderer.

Tracy Clark’s Echo is a gritty and intense addition to the Detective Harriet Foster series, delivering a powerful narrative packed with suspense, action, and emotional depth. From the very first page, Clark grips the reader with a fast-paced plot that doesn’t let up until the final chapter.

At the heart of the novel is Detective Harriet Foster, a complex and compelling protagonist who continues to grow stronger with each installment. Foster’s determination, sharp instincts, and resilience in the face of danger make her a standout in the world of crime fiction. In Echo, she faces not only the physical and psychological demands of solving a chilling case but also navigates the personal challenges that make her such a relatable and well-rounded character.

The story is brimming with action and tension, keeping readers on edge as the stakes rise. Clark’s vivid descriptions and tight pacing immerse you in the dark and dangerous world Foster inhabits. The high body count and unrelenting danger add a sense of urgency that propels the narrative forward, ensuring there’s never a dull moment.

Clark also excels at crafting a vivid, atmospheric setting that enhances the gritty tone of the story. The city’s underbelly comes to life, providing a fitting backdrop for the intense action and complex investigation.

Verdict:

Echo is a gripping and action-packed detective thriller that showcases Tracy Clark’s mastery of the genre. With a strong, nuanced lead in Detective Harriet Foster and a relentless pace, this installment will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next chapter in her story. Fans of gritty crime fiction and complex female protagonists won’t want to miss this one.

Harriet Foster is back for the third time in Tracy Clark’s Chicago-based thriller Echo. The Chicago PD homicide detective is still dealing with the loss of her son and her work partner while also out solving the murders of people she doesn’t know.

Echo presents us with a two-pronged murder mystery. The first is a very measured, very well planned revenge killing. The second is far more personal to Harri and revolves around the suicide of Glynnis, her former partner.

Brice Collier is the son of a billionaire, living it up as the huge man on campus at the school mostly funded by his father. But 4 robed figures, calling themselves Justice, have a plan for his imminent death. And it’s all in retaliation for another man’s murder 30 years earlier. The case tends to tie in nicely with the issue of vigilante justice, its application and the question over the effectiveness of the legal system. It’s an issue that raises its head a number of times as the story unfolds.

From the first book in the series (Hide) we’ve witnessed Harriet working her way through the mental anguish and feelings of guilt over the death of her partner. In particular the circumstances surrounding the events leading up to it. Echo provides answers and something of a resolution and does so in dramatic fashion.

As with the earlier books, Echo also highlights the necessity of teamwork between fellow officers and this, more than the earlier books, reads as more of an ensemble effort. The characters introduced earlier in the series return and we’re provided with more of an insight into each, helping them become more 3-dimensional. The result is a richer and more coherent perspective from which the story is told.

I found Echo to be another enjoyable murder mystery that tackles real issues in a thoughtful and pragmatic way. The camaraderie between cops was engaging, the bad guys are suitably provocative and the ending, while not exactly satisfying, was entirely in keeping with the tone of the book.

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC which enabled me to read, enjoy and review this book.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Detective Harriet Foster series is set in Chicago. Harri who has been on the force 17 years is adjusting to her new partner and team. She still struggles with the recent death of her partner, and her son five years ago. She has been getting phone calls from a man taunting her about them.

Harri and her new partner Vera Li, get a case where a billionaire donor's son has died at a mansion near the college campus. It becomes clear the incident is similar to one 30 years ago when the billionaire himself was there at the college. Harri and her team have a difficult time interviewing witnesses or suspects as many are wealthy and do what they can to avoid them. Eventually, information is collected and evidence to help them. But more bodies pile up first.

The taunts continue and finally based on the clues in the threats, Harri has a discussion with her mother. She learns about some things in her father's law enforcement career. The new information assists in narrowing down the suspects. Even after she is certain of the culprit, she has to follow the rules and evidence to stop him.

I found this a very satisfying conclusion to the series, although I would happily read more. It seemed very realistic that some evidence was hard to obtain or that it wasn't enough. The team had to keep working and also protect those being threatened. It was heartwarming to see Harri moving forward with her life as these cases were solved.

Echo: A Harriet Foster Thriller by Tracy Clark is a gripping police procedural that keeps you hooked from the first page. Set in an icy Chicago winter, the story begins with Detective Harriet Foster investigating the death of Bruce Collier, the son of a wealthy billionaire, found frozen in a field. What appears to be an unfortunate accident quickly turns into a complex murder investigation.
This third installment in the series delves deeper into Harriet’s character, showcasing her growth and resilience while tying up lingering questions from earlier books. The intricate plot weaves together college hazing, the shadowy Minotaur Society, and Harriet’s own personal challenges, creating a multilayered and suspenseful narrative.
The twists are unexpected, and the conclusion left me impressed. Tracy Clark masterfully balances character development with a compelling mystery. While it’s best to start the series from the beginning, Echo is a standout read for thriller fans. Highly recommended!

It is late February in a very cold and icy Chicago as Echo: A Harriet Foster Thriller by Tracy Clark begins. Ice pellets are failing hard this morning and Detective Foster’s day has already been nasty before she gets inside the station and to her desk. She doesn’t even have a chance to take off her coat before her and Detective Symansky are out the door and on the way to a frozen field outside Belverton College.

The field, located outside of Hardwicke House has a dead body. The Hardwick House, that goes back to the Gilded Age, is owned by the well-known billionaire, Sebestian Coller. As it happens, the body out in the frozen icy wasteland of a field is his young son, Bruce Collier. He is shirtless, reeking of alcohol and vomit, and clearly has been out in the field for hours.

Was it a party gone wrong? Did he get drunk and disoriented, wandered outside into the field, collapse, and freeze to death?

Or was it murder?

Before long, as readers already know from the first chapter, it most assuredly was murder. Not only was it murder, the people behind it are not done yet as they have a score to settle. Detective Harriet Foster and others have a complicated case to work while at the same time Foster is the target of another killer.

A complicated and very good police procedural, Echo is the latest installment of an excellent series that started with Hide, followed by Fall. Readers are encouraged to read in order, starting with Hide, as previous events are discussed.

My reading copy came from the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, by way of NetGalley, with no expectation of a review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2024

This is book 3 of the Harriet Foster series and you definitely need to have read the previous books in order to really grasp the significance of the sub plot regarding Harri’s former police partners death.
The significant character growth Harri has shown since book 1 is really evident in ‘Echo’. She is a very complex cop heroine, you can understand why she is who she is, but it was nice to see some of her heavy, self inflicted wounds begin to heal.
I thought ‘Echo’ was a deftly crafted police procedural. The plot was a little different which made it intriguing. And the conclusion to the storyline regarding Harri’s deceased police partner completely caught me by surprise. 4 stars.
** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher**

Echo
Tracy Clark
December 03, 2024

Colleges are notorious for their fraternities and sororities. In Clarks latest book we are introduced to the Minotaur Society. Once becoming a member, the men are tattooed and live at Hardwicke House. Belverton College is in Chicago. It is renowned for itś wealthy students. The book opens with the planning of another party but in this case there will be a hazing of the house ownerś son. Things go from bad to worse and a need for police intervention. Detectives Harri (Harriet) Foster and Vera LI work with the department to investigate.
Echo will be published by Thomas & Mercer on December 03, 2024. I was able to read Clarkś latest publication via NetGalley. This is my first time reading her novels. It is definitely a well written suspense story. It is also a challenge to keep track of the complexity of each and every detail. Really an excellent read. Do enjoy!

📖 Book Review: Echo by Tracy Clark 📖

Thank you to Thomas Mercer for granting me access to the ebook and Brilliance Publishing for the audiobook via NetGalley! Tracy Clark has absolutely outdone herself with Echo, a gripping mystery set against the chilling backdrop of Hardwicke House and Belverton College. This story had me hooked from the first page to its brilliantly unresolved ending. I’m already counting down the days until Clark’s next book!

Detective Harriet “Harri” Foster is a force to be reckoned with, bringing determination and grit to a complex case filled with privilege, secrets, and tragedy. The dual threads of past and present crimes surrounding the elite Minotaur Society kept me guessing at every turn, while Harri’s personal struggles added depth to her character.

The narration brought the tension and atmosphere to life in a way that made me feel like I was right there in the eerie halls of Hardwicke. The exploration of wealth, power, and justice was thought-provoking, and I loved how the unresolved ending left room for speculation and a craving for more.

If you’re into mysteries with strong female detectives, morally complex characters, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, Echo is an absolute must-read.

💭 Do you love or hate unresolved endings in mysteries? Let’s chat in the comments!

✨ #Echo #TracyClark #ThomasMercer #BrilliancePublishing #NetGalley #AudiobookReview #MysteryReads #DetectiveFiction #CrimeThriller #SuspenseReads #GrippingMysteries #EdgeOfYourSeatReads #BookishLife #CurrentlyReading #BookLovers #BookstagramCommunity #MysteryBooks #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagrammer #WanderlustForBooks

Both a procedural and a mystery. Detectives Harri Foster and Vera Li have an intriguing one on their hands when the son of a billionaire is found murdered in the same field where another student was killed 30 years ago. At the same time someone is stalking Harri, leaving messages. While whodunnit is quickly apparent in the murder, they still have to prove it. it's not clear at all who is harassing Harri. This is the third in a series and will work fine as a standalone. The Chicago atmospherics continues to be good (even if they weren't as key to the story as in the second book) and Harri is a strong character. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I started reading this trilogy last year and I enjoyed my first introduction to Harriet Foster and the rest of the team. While the second book wasn't quite as strong, I was still looking forward to see how everything would end... Especially after certain events in book two. Echo takes on a different angle though with it's vigilante/vengeance angle and there is again a lot of focus on politics and corruption; not a bad thing of course, but they are not exactly my favorite topics and as a result Echo didn't quite work as well for me personally.

Technically you could read Echo as a stand-alone, but I personally wouldn't recommend it. Not only will you be missing out on substantial character background as well as the dynamics between Foster and the rest of her team, but there is also a case personal to her that is spans all three books. Echo is in part quite similar to the second book with its focus on politics and corruption, and the pace was considerably slower than expected in certain parts. I wasn't a fan of how the vigilante/vengeance trope was incorporated into the plot... It just all sounded too political, which never works too well for me in stories.

Echo focuses on two cases: the official one with the vengeance/justice angle and the unofficial investigation into the apparent suicide of Harriet Foster's previous partner. Like I mentioned before, the second spans all three books, so read the books in order to avoid spoilers! The first I had mixed thoughts about... It's an intriguing topic, but I wasn't a fan of how it was developed. I never did warm up to any of the characters in play; the victims kind of had it coming, and the killers didn't really inspire empathy either. I think this was part of the reason why it took me longer than expected to read this story, because I simply didn't care about what happened to any of the players involved in the official case.

I can't deny that I was intrigued by the unofficial case though, and it is probably the stronger of the two in this book. Was I frustrated by certain actions? Most definitely. Did some twists lack credibility and were they too convenient? Also yes. But at least this final book gives some answers, although I can't deny that I was VERY frustrated by how Echo ended. Was it really necessary to conceal who actually killed the person behind the unofficial case? Maybe I missed a clue that revealed that identity, but I read the final chapters twice and I still don't know who did it.

All in all I ended up having mixed thoughts about this third and final Detective Harriet Foster book. On one hand, it finally gave some answers about the case involving Harriet's former partner, but I wasn't a fan of the official investigation. I also hate it when endings are ambiguous... It made finishing this series rather unsatisfying.

Harriet Foster is flawed as we all are. She tries to be the best police office she can. Her past includes losing her husband, son, and father which has affected her tremendously. This story begins with a death at a university. A billionaire's son is found dead in a field. Is it just an accident or was it murder? This death looks like one that happened years ago. Are they related? Harriet also has been receiving phone calls and receiving message from someone unknown. Who is sending the messages and what do they want from her? These two cases run simultaneously throughout the book.
You will walk the tightrope with Harriet. The reader will feel the tension she feels on every page. This is an excellent mystery. I would recommend this series and look forward to the next installment.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #TracyClark and #ThomasandMercer for a copy of this book.
#Echo

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed the previous book in this series, Fall by Tracy Clark so was excited for this one. The book takes place fairly soon after the last one, with the main character Harriet (Harri) Foster still investigating the mysterious calls and photos she was receiving and had handed over to Internal Affairs but we see some growth as she actually loops in her partner and team as things progress.

The theme for the murder in this book? The sins of our father. This is very much a police procedural rather than a mystery. The reasons for the murders are explained as they happen and we know who is behind them fairly quickly. It is just a matter of investigating and seeing how far they will go in their quest for vengeance and justice before they are caught.

Harri is not only dealing with The Voice but with a billionaire’s son dead, pressure from above, the media and the wishes of those who want the past to stay there.

This was an enjoyable read, but while the actual plot is more interesting to me than the one in Fall, it didn’t grip me quite as much. You are left with a few niggling questions (maybe they get tied up in the next book but the crimes seem to be standalone). Clark does a great job of covering the stuff you need to know from the previous books though so you can definitely read this as a standalone book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advance copy for review.

It's February in Chicago and Detectives Harri Foster & Vera Li are investigating the strange death of Belverton student Brice Collier during a party at the private Hardwicke House. His billionaire father Sebastian owns the property and is a major school donor. Sebastian is also linked with another student's death 30 years ago. Are the 2 deaths connected?

Meanwhile, Harri is also dealing with a menacing figure linked with her late partner and her own family. Both storylines deal with justice, vengeance and past actions. This is the third book in the Harriet Foster trilogy and neatly ties the previous plot threads together.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer. All opinions are my own.

This book follows Detective Harriet ‘Harri’ Foster and her colleagues on the quest to discover the murderer of Billionaire’s son, Brice Collier. It is a copycat murder of an earlier crime, the death of Michael James Paget some thirty years ago. The running thread through this series appears to be the case of G, Harri’s ex partner who killed herself.

This is the first book by this author, and I won’t be rushing to read another. Whilst there is nothing wrong with the plot, the style of writing and characterisation is not for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

The body of Brice Collier was found in a field near Hardwicke House and Belverton College where the exclusive Minotaur Society reigns supreme.

Coincidentally, or maybe not so, that it “echoed” somewhat an unsolved death from thirty years before. Detective Harriet “Harri” Foster and her partner Detective Vera Li land the case. Harri is a strong protagonist, but I really appreciated Vera’s wise backup support. I loved the way they bounced off each other.

The author builds the suspense slowly, dropping bits and pieces, supplying twists and turns for misdirection. It works. Interwoven with the main storyline is an unresolved plot line from a previous series installment. Essentially kept in the background, it doesn’t over-power the current storyline.

This is the third in the trilogy and apparently the end of the series although could be read as a standalone. The author writes strong but not infallible women within law enforcement. If you enjoy crime fiction, PI investigators, or women sleuths, you may very well enjoy her soft palate style of writing.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Harri Foster is back investigating a death at an old mansion on a college campus that appears to have happened 30 years after another strange death in the same location. She is also being threatened by the dirty cop her late father blew the whistle on.

I like this series. I think this was a good police procedural. I am getting more acquainted with the characters and more invested in the series overall. I will certainly read more.