Book Review: The Echo Man by Sam Holland

“The murders have begun… But the killer is just getting started… And he’s going to shock the world…”

Set to be released on 14th April, The Echo Man by Sam Holland sees a string of murders take place across England. Each is different in method, but each is horrifying and brutal. Jess Ambrose is plunged into the investigation when her house is set ablaze. With her husband dead and the police pointing at her, she runs. Her only hope is disgraced detective Nate Griffin, who is convinced Jess is innocent. Soon, Jess and Griffin discover the unthinkable; this murderer is copying the world’s most notorious serial killers. And now, imitation isn’t enough. The killer dubbed The Echo Man is ready to create his own masterpiece, and it will be more terrifying than anything that has come before.

Rating:

Thank you to NetGalley for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Dark, gruesome, and twisted, The Echo Man is a fresh take on a popular genre, and a must-read for any true-crime fan or “serial killer nerd”, as the author has dubbed herself.

I love learning about serial killers and will always binge the latest true-crime documentary, eager to learn more about their crimes and to try to understand why they did what they did. And with a serial killer copying the most famous of his inspirations (including Bundy, Dahmer, the Zodiac, the GSK, and the Yorkshire Ripper), I loved trying to guess which serial killer The Echo Man was mimicking next.

The Echo Man is everything I love about a dark thriller. It’s gory, fast-paced, and addictive, the characters are flawed but compelling, the crimes are horrifying, and the chase is exciting.

And of course, it’s not all about the violence. There’s also Jess and Nate’s troubled relationship, Cara’s desperate investigation, and the complete unpredictability of who’s behind these terrible crimes, which all grab your attention with a tight fist, relentless to let go.

Sam Holland has a very disturbing imagination, one obviously conjured from plenty of research, and I love her for it! It’s definitely not a read for anyone who doesn’t like a bit of blood-shed, but if you don’t mind a high body count, then this is definitely a book that you don’t want to miss out on!