#BookReview ‘The Echo Man’ by Sam Holland

About the book…

Samantha Holland’s chilling debut draws inspiration from infamous serial killer cases, culminating in the ultimate, heart-pounding copycat tale.

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 Elliot 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.

Huge thanks to the lovely team at Harper Collins for letting me read this e-arc of forthcoming thriller, ‘The Echo Man’, via Netgalley. Copies of this debut novel will be hitting the shelves of all good bookstores in April 2022!

This is an absolute corker of a debut, it grabs you by the throat, pulls you in and takes off at full throttle until the very last page.
Forget trying to cheat on this one with another book,it is a one hit wonder and a thrill a minute ride, as you become part of the investigation into some absolutely brutal, and unforgettable murders.
You are completely on edge as you try to work out just what is going on, as one murder after another baffles and enrages public and police alike.
Beginning with a bathroom hookup after a school run for central character, Jessica Ambrose leading straight into a scene from Hell itself as her entire world crumbles thanks to a murderer who has targeted her family. Except, she is the only survivor and as such, is the main focus of the police investigation run by Cara Elliott and Noah Deakin.
There is one person, however, who is on her side and that is disgraced former detective Nate Griffin. He has a very personal connection to Jessica’s case and between them, they work out just what is going on. Someone is emulating the most infamous serial killers of all time. A copycat killer? Or rather, a person showing the police just how incapable they are of meeting out justice in the name of social control.
What the killer ,who the papers label as ‘The Echo Man’ , has in his sights is legendary status-he will take all the tried and tested methods of Dahmer, Bundy and other household names, and will best them all by simply not getting caught.
But with an unexpected survivor gone to ground, a determined detective and an investigating duo leading their first major case, the Echo Man has possibly underestimated just how far those with nothing to lose will go to bring him to ground.
It is electric, and reminded me of the Sigourney Weaver/Holly Hunter film ‘Copycat’ which I absolutely loved,
It is a sign of a fresh new name in crime fiction which promises great things from Sam Holland, and I am very excited to see where they go next. Highly recommended for lovers of police procedurals and thrillers alike, not for the faint hearted, however, as some of the scenes of death are harrowing.

About the author…

Having always been fascinated with the dark and macabre, Sam Holland’s love of reading was forged in the library through Stephen King, Dean Koontz and James Herbert.

A self-confessed serial killer nerd, Holland studied psychology at university then spent the next few years working in HR, before quitting for a full-time career in writing. The Echo Man is the result.

Twitter @SamHollandBooks @HarperCollinsUK