Title: THE ECHO MAN
Author: Sam Holland
ISBN: 9780008461614
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 456
Source: Private Copy
The murders have begun…
Across England, a string of murders is taking place. Each different in method, but each horrifying and brutal.
But the killer is just getting started…
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.
And he’s going to shock the world…
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…
Official Summary
20 May 2025
Brace yourself—The Echo Man is not for the faint of heart. Sam Holland delivers a dark, gripping, and chillingly twisted thriller that plunges readers into the grotesque mind of a killer who isn’t just mimicking history’s worst murderers—he’s determined to outdo them.
I reviewed book four in this series on the 29th of April, which means I have been reading the books in the incorrect order yet again. After reading The Countdown Killer, I simply had to add the previous three books to my TBR. Despite having an idea of where the story was going to go, I was completely engrossed in The Echo Man.
From the very first pages, the tension is dialled up to eleven. Jess Ambrose’s life explodes—literally—when her house goes up in flames, leaving her husband dead and suspicion pointing firmly at her. What unfolds from there is a terrifying cat-and-mouse chase that pairs her with Nate Griffin, a disgraced detective battling his own demons. Their uneasy alliance is compelling, with both characters written in a raw, realistic way that made me care deeply about their survival.
The true horror of The Echo Man lies in the killer’s methodical homage to infamous real-life serial killers. Holland doesn’t hold back on the gore or psychological trauma, and while it’s incredibly disturbing at times, it also feels deliberately crafted to echo (pun intended) the depravity of those who inspired the murders. The procedural elements are detailed and fascinating, and the way the investigation unfolds had me flipping pages late into the night.
What I appreciated most was the way Holland balanced the terror with human emotion. Jess is more than just a woman on the run—she’s grieving, traumatised, and trying to hold it together. Nate is deeply flawed but not hopeless, and their dynamic brings moments of vulnerability that ground the story.
This book is unrelentingly dark, but it’s also smart, well-paced, and utterly absorbing. Fans of gritty crime thrillers and true crime-inspired fiction will be hooked. Think Silence of the Lambs meets Seven—and then take it up a notch.
Trigger warnings are a must here: graphic violence, gore, and references to real-life serial killings. But if you’re brave enough, The Echo Man is a terrifying thrill ride you won’t forget.
Also By Sam Holland
THE COUNTDOWN KILLER
A MAN MURDERED, LIVE ON CAMERA
When a DVD is delivered in the dead of night, DCI Cara Elliott hits play on a horrifying showreel of violence… This is death, on demand.
A KILLER COUNTING DOWN
Avid viewers are paying for the killings, with twisted specifications. A request, an abduction, a murder. And always in a forty-eight-hour pattern.
A MISSING DETECTIVE
But when the killer finds out they’re being investigated, they reveal their next target. In forty-eight hours, a police officer will be the one in front of the camera. The hunters have become the hunted, and the clock is ticking…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Having always been fascinated with the dark and macabre, Sam Holland exploded onto the crime thriller world in 2022 with her debut novel, The Echo Man, shocking and enthralling readers and reviewers alike with its sinister depiction of a serial killer copying notorious real-life murderers of the past. The Twenty followed the year after, garnering reviews such as ‘riveting reading… packed with suspense’ from the Daily Mail and ‘smart and brooding’ from bestselling author, AJ Finn.
Her books have been published in 15 countries worldwide, including the US, Germany and the Netherlands, where she became the first author to win the Bronze Bat for her debut and the Silver Bat for best thriller in consecutive years at the Nederland’s Thriller festival. She also writes as Louisa Scarr.
Once again, I find myself hooked and cannot wait to read all the books in this series. I have found hard copies of The Twenty and The Puppet Master, which are waiting on my TBR pile. I will share my reviews as soon as possible. Thank you for visiting the blog once again. Have you read all the books in this series? Which is your favourite? I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
