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Echo Lake
A compulsive debut thriller that will haunt you long after you've turned the final page.
In the sleepy, scenic Southern Highlands of New South Wales, a beautiful young woman goes missing.
Six years later, recently divorced historian Rose McHugh leaves the city to start a new life in the Highlands and finds a roll of film buried in her back garden. On it are photos of the missing woman.
Against the advice of an enigmatic detective, she uses her powers of persuasion and her knack for deciphering clues to pursue the case. As Rose searches through tangled secrets and hidden places haunted by the past, she realises there is a killer at large.
As she makes new friends, and dangerous enemies, Rose closes in on a suspect-but will she solve the mystery too late to save herself?
Set in the atmospheric villages and forests of the Southern Highlands, Echo Lake is a compulsive read that will keep you guessing until the very end.
In the sleepy, scenic Southern Highlands of New South Wales, a beautiful young woman goes missing.
Six years later, recently divorced historian Rose McHugh leaves the city to start a new life in the Highlands and finds a roll of film buried in her back garden. On it are photos of the missing woman.
Against the advice of an enigmatic detective, she uses her powers of persuasion and her knack for deciphering clues to pursue the case. As Rose searches through tangled secrets and hidden places haunted by the past, she realises there is a killer at large.
As she makes new friends, and dangerous enemies, Rose closes in on a suspect-but will she solve the mystery too late to save herself?
Set in the atmospheric villages and forests of the Southern Highlands, Echo Lake is a compulsive read that will keep you guessing until the very end.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2023
47 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
About the author
Joan Sauers
18 books45 followersBorn in New York and working in film and television in NY, London and Los Angeles, Sauers has lived in Australia for the last twenty-five years. She is the author of twelve books including Mothers & Daughters, Ageing Disgracefully, and Sex Lives of Australian Women. She is a consultant and lecturer in screenwriting in Australia, Europe and Morocco, and lives in Sydney with her talented cat, Blossom.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
May 22, 2023
EXCERPT: Rose runs deeper into the forest as the fierce wind makes the leaves shudder in the trees. She's never run so fast, zigzagging around trunks and fallen branches, slipping on moss-covered rocks.
Her coat gets snagged on a branch, so she peels out of it. There's barely any light and she gets tangled in vines, stumbling in her high-heeled boots. She stops, looks behind her. She can't hear anything over the trees groaning in the wind. She pulls off her boots and keeps running.
Branches rake her face, tear at her silk shirt as she trembles with adrenaline and the cold. Behind a broad gum tree, she slows to catch her breath. She touches a hand to her cheek and finds it wet with tears and blood. She stumbles on.
She fights through scrub, a tight cluster of banksia, and suddenly the ground drops away beneath her and she is falling.
She hits the ground hard.
Dragging air into her lungs, her knees throbbing, she gets to her feet and looks around. The light is nearly gone now but she recognises this place. She's been here before. Echo Lake.
The shadow descends, the sick feeling.
Then, behind her, his voice.
ABOUT 'ECHO LAKE': In the sleepy, scenic Southern Highlands of New South Wales, a beautiful young woman goes missing.
Six years later, recently divorced historian Rose McHugh leaves the city to start a new life in the Highlands and finds a roll of film buried in her back garden. On it are photos of the missing woman.
Against the advice of an enigmatic detective, she uses her powers of persuasion and her knack for deciphering clues to pursue the case. As Rose searches through tangled secrets and hidden places haunted by the past, she realises there is a killer at large.
As she makes new friends, and dangerous enemies, Rose closes in on a suspect—but will she solve the mystery too late to save herself?
MY THOUGHTS: There are so many things I loved about this book! It's packed full of atmosphere, compellingly realistic characters, and has an intriguing mix of cosy-mystery, paranormal and thriller. Best of all, it works - brilliantly!
I love Rose's character. She's intelligent and witty, but not always the best judge of character. She doubts her own judgement about just about everything, but she is kind and inquisitive. She makes friends easily, but isn't above sometimes doubting their motives.
George is another wonderful character Rose meets at the dog park. He is elderly, charming with a self-deprecating wit and enjoys the company of women of all ages, finding them far more interesting than other men. But he's no Lothario, just good company.
There are red herrings galore, all of them quite plausible, making this an interesting read. I vacillated over the identity of the killer, suspecting everyone including the eventual culprit, but couldn't really settle on any one person.
An interesting, compelling and perplexing murder mystery that successfully crosses the boundaries of several genres. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Her coat gets snagged on a branch, so she peels out of it. There's barely any light and she gets tangled in vines, stumbling in her high-heeled boots. She stops, looks behind her. She can't hear anything over the trees groaning in the wind. She pulls off her boots and keeps running.
Branches rake her face, tear at her silk shirt as she trembles with adrenaline and the cold. Behind a broad gum tree, she slows to catch her breath. She touches a hand to her cheek and finds it wet with tears and blood. She stumbles on.
She fights through scrub, a tight cluster of banksia, and suddenly the ground drops away beneath her and she is falling.
She hits the ground hard.
Dragging air into her lungs, her knees throbbing, she gets to her feet and looks around. The light is nearly gone now but she recognises this place. She's been here before. Echo Lake.
The shadow descends, the sick feeling.
Then, behind her, his voice.
ABOUT 'ECHO LAKE': In the sleepy, scenic Southern Highlands of New South Wales, a beautiful young woman goes missing.
Six years later, recently divorced historian Rose McHugh leaves the city to start a new life in the Highlands and finds a roll of film buried in her back garden. On it are photos of the missing woman.
Against the advice of an enigmatic detective, she uses her powers of persuasion and her knack for deciphering clues to pursue the case. As Rose searches through tangled secrets and hidden places haunted by the past, she realises there is a killer at large.
As she makes new friends, and dangerous enemies, Rose closes in on a suspect—but will she solve the mystery too late to save herself?
MY THOUGHTS: There are so many things I loved about this book! It's packed full of atmosphere, compellingly realistic characters, and has an intriguing mix of cosy-mystery, paranormal and thriller. Best of all, it works - brilliantly!
I love Rose's character. She's intelligent and witty, but not always the best judge of character. She doubts her own judgement about just about everything, but she is kind and inquisitive. She makes friends easily, but isn't above sometimes doubting their motives.
George is another wonderful character Rose meets at the dog park. He is elderly, charming with a self-deprecating wit and enjoys the company of women of all ages, finding them far more interesting than other men. But he's no Lothario, just good company.
There are red herrings galore, all of them quite plausible, making this an interesting read. I vacillated over the identity of the killer, suspecting everyone including the eventual culprit, but couldn't really settle on any one person.
An interesting, compelling and perplexing murder mystery that successfully crosses the boundaries of several genres. I look forward to reading more from this author.
July 29, 2023
There’s a little bit of everything to enjoy in this first mystery novel by Joan Sauers. Echo Lake is a predominantly feel good story set in some of New South Wales’ most picturesque countryside. There’s a couple of murders to deal with - one old, one new, a haunting to come to terms with, maybe a little bit of romance not to mention the occasional sense of menace coming from a local hooligan.
Rose McHugh has just moved to the Southern Highlands, a place she always loved to visit when she was younger. Almost immediately she crosses paths with a man who’s less than welcoming, souring the excitement of living the quiet life surrounded by glorious panoramic scenery. From this encounter comes the discovery of a roll of film in her garden and this slides effortlessly into learning about the disappearance of a local woman.
The mysteries soon begin to ramp up and it seems that Rose spends a lot of time talking to the local (hunky…oh yeah, and married) police detective. She believes she’s the unfortunate recipient of unwanted clues that leads to uncovering even more mysteries and takes real offense at being accused of “going all Miss Marple-ish”. Nevertheless, she appears to have a real knack of solving or at least, playing an integral part in solving, some major crimes in the area.
Everything appears to be water off a duck’s back to Rose. She has a few tricky moments, possibly encounters a ghost, embarrasses herself at a party, stumbles onto the remains of a body, yet appears to remain outwardly unaffected.
This is a delightful cosy mystery that depends heavily on the friendships that Rose forms within her new Southern Highlands community. It also features some of the most glorious locations in New South Wales as the backdrop for many of the more dramatic moments.
The mystery side of the story is nicely plotted and holds up well in terms of plausibility, complete with nicely disguised red herrings and a well concealed twist. Add to that the strength of the relationships Rose builds with some of the locals she meets. It’s this attention to detail in the character development where the real strength of Echo Lake lies.
I enjoyed this book, even with the inclusion of the paranormal aspects that merely provides a weird, slightly spooky aside to the main story. Perhaps it’s in keeping with the spiritual nature of some of the older grand houses found in Australia’s rural areas. Be that as it may, there are many humorous moments to be found amid the more tension-filled scenes.
Rose McHugh has just moved to the Southern Highlands, a place she always loved to visit when she was younger. Almost immediately she crosses paths with a man who’s less than welcoming, souring the excitement of living the quiet life surrounded by glorious panoramic scenery. From this encounter comes the discovery of a roll of film in her garden and this slides effortlessly into learning about the disappearance of a local woman.
The mysteries soon begin to ramp up and it seems that Rose spends a lot of time talking to the local (hunky…oh yeah, and married) police detective. She believes she’s the unfortunate recipient of unwanted clues that leads to uncovering even more mysteries and takes real offense at being accused of “going all Miss Marple-ish”. Nevertheless, she appears to have a real knack of solving or at least, playing an integral part in solving, some major crimes in the area.
Everything appears to be water off a duck’s back to Rose. She has a few tricky moments, possibly encounters a ghost, embarrasses herself at a party, stumbles onto the remains of a body, yet appears to remain outwardly unaffected.
This is a delightful cosy mystery that depends heavily on the friendships that Rose forms within her new Southern Highlands community. It also features some of the most glorious locations in New South Wales as the backdrop for many of the more dramatic moments.
The mystery side of the story is nicely plotted and holds up well in terms of plausibility, complete with nicely disguised red herrings and a well concealed twist. Add to that the strength of the relationships Rose builds with some of the locals she meets. It’s this attention to detail in the character development where the real strength of Echo Lake lies.
I enjoyed this book, even with the inclusion of the paranormal aspects that merely provides a weird, slightly spooky aside to the main story. Perhaps it’s in keeping with the spiritual nature of some of the older grand houses found in Australia’s rural areas. Be that as it may, there are many humorous moments to be found amid the more tension-filled scenes.
May 3, 2023
Thank you Allen and Unwin Australia for sending me a copy of this book for review.
This book will be one of my top ten books of 2023. I cant stop thinking about it and recommending it to everyone ( even non-readers) .
What I loved about it was :
* Setting - Southern Highlands. I was transported there.
* Map - the map at the start of the book to give you an idea of where she lived and the surroundings.
* My connection with Rose- I loved how she turned detective and got herself involved in finding out the truth . I could relate to Rose having moved to a country town not knowing anyone. Rose loves her history. Rose is also a booklover.
* The characters - I loved them all. This was very much a character driven story, but it still had enough mystery in it so perfect combination.
* How it was a mixed bag of romance, unsolved murders, a police procedural, and a ghost story.
* Slow burn mystery.
* The true crime reference of Ivan Milat.
Outstanding book, highly recommend.
This book will be one of my top ten books of 2023. I cant stop thinking about it and recommending it to everyone ( even non-readers) .
What I loved about it was :
* Setting - Southern Highlands. I was transported there.
* Map - the map at the start of the book to give you an idea of where she lived and the surroundings.
* My connection with Rose- I loved how she turned detective and got herself involved in finding out the truth . I could relate to Rose having moved to a country town not knowing anyone. Rose loves her history. Rose is also a booklover.
* The characters - I loved them all. This was very much a character driven story, but it still had enough mystery in it so perfect combination.
* How it was a mixed bag of romance, unsolved murders, a police procedural, and a ghost story.
* Slow burn mystery.
* The true crime reference of Ivan Milat.
Outstanding book, highly recommend.
June 20, 2023
Another fabulous Australian crime book! Joan Sauers transports her readers to the beautiful Southern Highlands in New South Wales. The location, just an hour and half away from where I live, is the perfect setting for the murder mystery, full of suspense and intrigue.
Rose moves into her dream home in the highlands with her trusty dog Bob. When she finds a roll of film buried in the backyard, her curiosity gets the better of her and she has the film developed. What she finds on the photos gives police a new lead on a 6 year old missing persons case. And Rose is right in the middle of it.
I couldn’t get enough of this story. The setting of the highlands in winter made me want to jump in the car for a drive down. It is such a beautiful part of the world. I loved Rose and her new friends. I hope that she will be back with Bob in another mystery.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for sending me this copy to read. Highly recommend
Rose moves into her dream home in the highlands with her trusty dog Bob. When she finds a roll of film buried in the backyard, her curiosity gets the better of her and she has the film developed. What she finds on the photos gives police a new lead on a 6 year old missing persons case. And Rose is right in the middle of it.
I couldn’t get enough of this story. The setting of the highlands in winter made me want to jump in the car for a drive down. It is such a beautiful part of the world. I loved Rose and her new friends. I hope that she will be back with Bob in another mystery.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for sending me this copy to read. Highly recommend
June 17, 2024
This is a good example for the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" because to look at, the cover indicates a dark and gritty thriller. But in fact I would describe it as more of a cosy crime. Lead character Rose is an intelligent and likeable middle-aged woman who has just moved to the Southern Highlands in New South Wales, Australia. The descriptions of the location kind of made me want to move there as well. I had a definite feel that this could be the beginning of a series - time will tell. While I normally get a bit irritated with the notion of an average person somehow solving crimes by finding evidence etc, in this context it made sense as Rose's career background lent to skills that meant she would notice things that others may not and be a detailed researcher into this.
Overall: an enjoyable Australian crime mystery novel.
Overall: an enjoyable Australian crime mystery novel.
May 4, 2023
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Echo Lake by Joan Sauers
I couldn’t put this book down, absolutely loved it! It’s a fast paced read and I adored the main character of Rose McHugh.
The book is set in the Southern Highlands a couple of hours from Sydney which makes for such an atmospheric setting, the landscape was fascinating.
Rose is a historian (love) and when her twenty plus year marriage ends in divorce she moves into a 1930’s cottage in the countryside where she finds an old roll of film buried in her backyard. This finding sparks a chain of events pulling Rose into a murder case and almost becoming a prime suspect.
I loved her friendship with George who is in his late seventies and her crush on Blackmore the detective, I also was thrilled by the ghost vibes. There is so much to enjoy about this ‘cosy’ thriller!
If you enjoy an amateur sleuth and a murder mystery with a wonderful cast of characters you’ll love this fast moving tale!
Publication Date 02 May 2023
Publisher Allen & Unwin
Thank you so much Allen & Unwin for bringing this awesome book to my attention! 🙏🏻
Echo Lake by Joan Sauers
I couldn’t put this book down, absolutely loved it! It’s a fast paced read and I adored the main character of Rose McHugh.
The book is set in the Southern Highlands a couple of hours from Sydney which makes for such an atmospheric setting, the landscape was fascinating.
Rose is a historian (love) and when her twenty plus year marriage ends in divorce she moves into a 1930’s cottage in the countryside where she finds an old roll of film buried in her backyard. This finding sparks a chain of events pulling Rose into a murder case and almost becoming a prime suspect.
I loved her friendship with George who is in his late seventies and her crush on Blackmore the detective, I also was thrilled by the ghost vibes. There is so much to enjoy about this ‘cosy’ thriller!
If you enjoy an amateur sleuth and a murder mystery with a wonderful cast of characters you’ll love this fast moving tale!
Publication Date 02 May 2023
Publisher Allen & Unwin
Thank you so much Allen & Unwin for bringing this awesome book to my attention! 🙏🏻
June 1, 2023
Think Miss Marple comes to small town NSW. I absolutely loved this cosy murder mystery. Filled with a wonderful cast of diverse characters, I found myself second guessing each of them. It’s unique, atmospheric and utterly unputdownable - peppered with a wonderful array of (my fave) dogs.
While Rose settles herself in her new town, making new friends, she uses her investigative skills and a little magical realism, to try and uncover the mystery behind the photo of the missing woman. We are taken around the scenic area of the sleepy village and the surrounding, magnificent forests; often referring to the truth and horrors behind colonisation and paying homage to our original land owners.
While its a strong murder mystery, it’s also a tale of family, friendships, new beginnings and self discovery. Loved it! Can’t wait to read more from Ms Sauers and hope to see Rose and Bob 🐕 again.
Brilliant 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to the wonderful team @allenandunwin for #gifted advanced reading copy 🥰
Out now.
While Rose settles herself in her new town, making new friends, she uses her investigative skills and a little magical realism, to try and uncover the mystery behind the photo of the missing woman. We are taken around the scenic area of the sleepy village and the surrounding, magnificent forests; often referring to the truth and horrors behind colonisation and paying homage to our original land owners.
While its a strong murder mystery, it’s also a tale of family, friendships, new beginnings and self discovery. Loved it! Can’t wait to read more from Ms Sauers and hope to see Rose and Bob 🐕 again.
Brilliant 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to the wonderful team @allenandunwin for #gifted advanced reading copy 🥰
Out now.
October 24, 2025
I was interested to read this book because of where it is set, in the Southern Highlands of NSW. However, I found that the location wasn’t really relevant, although I did like the descriptions of the bush. But mostly it was cold and foggy, no different from the Victorian Highlands, which is where I was when I read the book.
I thought the story was really flat. The protagonist is supposed to be intensely intuitive but I found her to be rather insensitive and although the book revolves around her and her idle fancies about the men she encounters, nothing really happens to her, apart from being in the wrong place every time — until the end.
I thought the story was really flat. The protagonist is supposed to be intensely intuitive but I found her to be rather insensitive and although the book revolves around her and her idle fancies about the men she encounters, nothing really happens to her, apart from being in the wrong place every time — until the end.
July 8, 2023
Really enjoyed this debut, the setting in the highlands in winter, roses friendships and the mystery it was a fun read, there were some key significant points in the book that were not resolved,
I’m thinking there will be a second book. As these took up a lot of
Space in the book and lead to nothing. Hopefully this will be the case. 3.5 stars
I’m thinking there will be a second book. As these took up a lot of
Space in the book and lead to nothing. Hopefully this will be the case. 3.5 stars
December 19, 2023
Echo Lake was a good read, fitting somewhere in the continuum between the Aussie rural mystery and cosy mystery sub-genres.
While I felt the narrative moved a little slowly at times, the setting in NSW's southern highlands was very well drawn, featuring the towns of Berrima, Mittagong, Moss Vale and Bowral, with sections set in the bushland in the northern end of the Morton National Park near Fitzroy Falls to the Kangaroo Valley escarpment. Author Joan Sauers really captures the "feel" of the area, especially in winter months, and her background as a screenwriter is evident.
The book features a diverse cast of characters, particularly featuring strong and engaging women in the prime of life (mid 40s and up!). What started out looking as a fairly run-of-the-mill romance with the local cop veered into another, far more entertaining, direction entirely. Meanwhile, a narrative thread featuring some paranormal content was handled with a lightness of touch that will make it engaging for sceptical readers like myself.
While I felt the narrative moved a little slowly at times, the setting in NSW's southern highlands was very well drawn, featuring the towns of Berrima, Mittagong, Moss Vale and Bowral, with sections set in the bushland in the northern end of the Morton National Park near Fitzroy Falls to the Kangaroo Valley escarpment. Author Joan Sauers really captures the "feel" of the area, especially in winter months, and her background as a screenwriter is evident.
The book features a diverse cast of characters, particularly featuring strong and engaging women in the prime of life (mid 40s and up!). What started out looking as a fairly run-of-the-mill romance with the local cop veered into another, far more entertaining, direction entirely. Meanwhile, a narrative thread featuring some paranormal content was handled with a lightness of touch that will make it engaging for sceptical readers like myself.
August 23, 2023
2 stars
We have another book that starts really well but somehow that fades away and it becomes ridiculous in the end.
I really liked in the beginning the main character Rose, an Australian lady who is moving to Southern Highlands of New South Wales. She has a strange and a bit frightening encounter with a local man. And then a girl disappears that could or not be related to the disappearance with of another woman years ago.
But then she starts investigating things by herself and she has the most naive way of doing things and miss some obvious signs that were screaming at her.
Also there is a ghost story that I am not sure why it needed to be present. Plus way to many details of the mundane life, such as what she is buying from the store and so on.
We have another book that starts really well but somehow that fades away and it becomes ridiculous in the end.
I really liked in the beginning the main character Rose, an Australian lady who is moving to Southern Highlands of New South Wales. She has a strange and a bit frightening encounter with a local man. And then a girl disappears that could or not be related to the disappearance with of another woman years ago.
But then she starts investigating things by herself and she has the most naive way of doing things and miss some obvious signs that were screaming at her.
Also there is a ghost story that I am not sure why it needed to be present. Plus way to many details of the mundane life, such as what she is buying from the store and so on.
November 29, 2023
I wanted to like this, as the premise had caught my attention, but unfortunately it did not live up to expectations. I found it amateurish, and was genuinely surprised to find the writer has written quite a few other books. It seemed to have been written for an overseas audience….a lengthy passage describing Ivan Milat and his killing spree is surely unnecessary even now in Australia. Even descriptions of the bush and countryside appeared to be written for a non-Australian audience in my opinion.I’d solved the “mystery” by about halfway through, and in the end I skimmed the last few chapters.
All in all, I’m glad I borrowed this from the library rather than purchasing it.
All in all, I’m glad I borrowed this from the library rather than purchasing it.
May 19, 2023
The main storyline had potential but there was so much unnecessary filler in between. it went on so many tangents and felt like I was being mansplained things about indigenous history that were not linked and their mention was never explained
July 14, 2023
What a great debut from Joan Sauers! Echo Lake is one of those mysteries that has you guessing right to the very end.
Our MC is forty something year old Rose. Just over a year after her divorce and with her son studying overseas, the opportunity of living in solitude amongst the beauty of the NSW Highlands is too great of an opportunity to pass up.
However, taking over such an isolated cottage and immersing yourself in a new town has its problems. In just a few short weeks, Rose makes an enemy with a notorious local, finds a buried film canister in her garden and disturbingly gets caught up in a missing persons case from long ago. Oh, and let's not forget the uneasy atmosphere from a haunted house and a sacred Indigenous lake.
Because Rose is a historian, she can't help not to delve into past daunting events. Unfortunately, her desire for research often leads into coincidental situations that, from a police point of view, looks very suspicious. Whilst Rose plays an innocent part, she has also started to suspect a number of locals in what turns out to be a dual murder.
Thanks to Joan's craftiness, the identity of the serial killer is hidden in plain sight. It was a shock to discover that this person was responsible. They seemed so nice! That's always the way, right?
Rose's sister, Kim, is so much fun. This one has absolutely no filter at all. She's got to be my favourite side character, alongside dapper George and wild Scot, Grace. I even warmed up to Grace's hubby, the enigmatic DI Joe in the end.
Plus, I think I gained a kilo or two from the cinnamon buns everyone seems to devour.
4.5 🌟
Our MC is forty something year old Rose. Just over a year after her divorce and with her son studying overseas, the opportunity of living in solitude amongst the beauty of the NSW Highlands is too great of an opportunity to pass up.
However, taking over such an isolated cottage and immersing yourself in a new town has its problems. In just a few short weeks, Rose makes an enemy with a notorious local, finds a buried film canister in her garden and disturbingly gets caught up in a missing persons case from long ago. Oh, and let's not forget the uneasy atmosphere from a haunted house and a sacred Indigenous lake.
Because Rose is a historian, she can't help not to delve into past daunting events. Unfortunately, her desire for research often leads into coincidental situations that, from a police point of view, looks very suspicious. Whilst Rose plays an innocent part, she has also started to suspect a number of locals in what turns out to be a dual murder.
Thanks to Joan's craftiness, the identity of the serial killer is hidden in plain sight. It was a shock to discover that this person was responsible. They seemed so nice! That's always the way, right?
Rose's sister, Kim, is so much fun. This one has absolutely no filter at all. She's got to be my favourite side character, alongside dapper George and wild Scot, Grace. I even warmed up to Grace's hubby, the enigmatic DI Joe in the end.
Plus, I think I gained a kilo or two from the cinnamon buns everyone seems to devour.
4.5 🌟
June 11, 2023
Thank you Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
A prologue that provokes the adrenaline and sets an atmospheric scene is achieved in one page.
The tranquility and beauty of the highlands is marred by death, mystery and danger lurking in the mist.
Divorced mother Rose follows her tree change dream and buys a house in the southern highlands of NSW.
Quaint towns, glorious autumnal foliage and fickle weather define the landscape and close knit community spirit exudes from its residents.
A missing local woman is about to make life in the sleepy area a mission for Rose who inadvertently stumbles across a film canister in her yard.
A curious mind and the ability to listen to people puts Rose in the midst of drama as her sleuthing skills and uncanny skill of being in the wrong place at the right time threatens her safety.
The echoes of history and shadows of danger are offset by the warmth of the characters and in particular the bond Rose has with her sister.
This story had me in from page one, a crime suspense that had a cosy and intriguing narrative with all the elements of anticipation as it unfolds.
The endorsements by some of our great crime writers hit the nail on the head as it is a very good read.
A prologue that provokes the adrenaline and sets an atmospheric scene is achieved in one page.
The tranquility and beauty of the highlands is marred by death, mystery and danger lurking in the mist.
Divorced mother Rose follows her tree change dream and buys a house in the southern highlands of NSW.
Quaint towns, glorious autumnal foliage and fickle weather define the landscape and close knit community spirit exudes from its residents.
A missing local woman is about to make life in the sleepy area a mission for Rose who inadvertently stumbles across a film canister in her yard.
A curious mind and the ability to listen to people puts Rose in the midst of drama as her sleuthing skills and uncanny skill of being in the wrong place at the right time threatens her safety.
The echoes of history and shadows of danger are offset by the warmth of the characters and in particular the bond Rose has with her sister.
This story had me in from page one, a crime suspense that had a cosy and intriguing narrative with all the elements of anticipation as it unfolds.
The endorsements by some of our great crime writers hit the nail on the head as it is a very good read.
May 19, 2023
Echo Lake by Joan Sauers is an atmospheric read, set in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. It's an area I don't know at all but Sauers does a great job of placing readers amidst the frost and drizzle, with the setting very much reflective of the book's tone, rather than overpowering the unfolding narrative.
Historian and researcher Rose plays detective (much to the chagrin of the actual police) here after coming across a buried roll of film featuring photographs of a missing woman. Sauers’ experience as a screenwriter is evident as she effortlessly spins a complex rather than convoluted tale and misdirects readers (and Rose) a number of times.
The strength of this novel is the characters Sauers creates, including Rose of course, along with her Sydney-based sister Kim and an eclectic group of locals she meets. Indeed the depth of their character development feels like an indication we’ll meet them all again in future novels in this series and I’d certainly enjoy the opportunity.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Historian and researcher Rose plays detective (much to the chagrin of the actual police) here after coming across a buried roll of film featuring photographs of a missing woman. Sauers’ experience as a screenwriter is evident as she effortlessly spins a complex rather than convoluted tale and misdirects readers (and Rose) a number of times.
The strength of this novel is the characters Sauers creates, including Rose of course, along with her Sydney-based sister Kim and an eclectic group of locals she meets. Indeed the depth of their character development feels like an indication we’ll meet them all again in future novels in this series and I’d certainly enjoy the opportunity.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
June 4, 2023
Echo Lake is the June book for Ben's book club and I am really glad that it is, because I don't think I would have ever come across it otherwise.
This mystery is set in the Southern Highlands an area I know I instantly felt connected to the novel. Rose a recent transplant to the Highlands finds herself accidentally in the middle of a case involving a woman who went missing six years ago.
The characters in this novel are so readable and engaging I loved them all. There were so many twists and turns in this novel that I am pretty sure I suspected everyone at some stage.
If you are looking for an Australian mystery novel with a great story and relatable characters Sauer's Echo Lake might just be for you.
This mystery is set in the Southern Highlands an area I know I instantly felt connected to the novel. Rose a recent transplant to the Highlands finds herself accidentally in the middle of a case involving a woman who went missing six years ago.
The characters in this novel are so readable and engaging I loved them all. There were so many twists and turns in this novel that I am pretty sure I suspected everyone at some stage.
If you are looking for an Australian mystery novel with a great story and relatable characters Sauer's Echo Lake might just be for you.
July 19, 2023
2.5 stars.
An easy-to-read, relatively engaging cosy winter mystery set in the Highlands of New South Wales. I would have liked the characters to be a bit more complex and layered and there was a lot of 'telling'. I still enjoyed.
An easy-to-read, relatively engaging cosy winter mystery set in the Highlands of New South Wales. I would have liked the characters to be a bit more complex and layered and there was a lot of 'telling'. I still enjoyed.
September 13, 2025
I really enjoyed historian Rose, as she unravels a mystery (or two) in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.
November 4, 2024
Echo Lake by Joan Sauers is her debut cozy mystery set in the Southern Highlands in New South Wales. Recently divorced Rose McHugh moves to the Southern Highlands in New South wales and finds a buried roll of film found to belong to a missing woman, and shortly after this the previous owner of Rose's house is killed. I loved this book, mainly loving the beautiful and atmospheric descriptions of the Highlands close to where I live. It was nice to find a mystery set in a place I am familiar with and I enjoyed Rose discovering some of my favourite places. Rose seems to be very capable and inquisitive, with research skills that make her a competent detective. The mystery was interesting with likeable characters and beautiful dogs. A great start.
July 9, 2023
An atmospheric cosy-thriller set in the Southern Highlands (south of Sydney)
Following a marriage break up, historian Rose McHugh ditches life in Sydney for her cosy dream cottage near Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands.
After a chance altercation with a former violent criminal in the supermarket car park, Rose’s cosy-but-isolated new life leads to a chance discovery of an undeveloped roll of film in her yard. Developing the film opens the door to unsolved murders, and brings with it harassment and rumours.
Determined not to play the victim or abandon her new life, Rose uses her knack for making friends and historical research skills to try to solve the murders…with the killer hot on her heels.
--
Echo Lake hooked me from the first page. I can’t lie: part of what I loved was seeing the Southern Highlands written into fiction. The characters and plot are as charming as the Highland’s foggy, rolling hills and cosy cafes- but with an added thriller feel that makes the book something more than just an Aussie-take on a cozy mystery.
Sauers throws in a few skilful red herrings and a couple of unexpected twists, and adds a dash of romance which belongs in the "it's complicated" basket.
I'm completely rubbish at figuring out who the murderer is in most thrillers until almost the very end, and Echo Lake was no exception. The last few chapters certainly got my fingers working overtime, turning pages.
Many thanks to Allen and Unwin and the author, Joan Sauers, for the ARC. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
Following a marriage break up, historian Rose McHugh ditches life in Sydney for her cosy dream cottage near Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands.
After a chance altercation with a former violent criminal in the supermarket car park, Rose’s cosy-but-isolated new life leads to a chance discovery of an undeveloped roll of film in her yard. Developing the film opens the door to unsolved murders, and brings with it harassment and rumours.
Determined not to play the victim or abandon her new life, Rose uses her knack for making friends and historical research skills to try to solve the murders…with the killer hot on her heels.
--
Echo Lake hooked me from the first page. I can’t lie: part of what I loved was seeing the Southern Highlands written into fiction. The characters and plot are as charming as the Highland’s foggy, rolling hills and cosy cafes- but with an added thriller feel that makes the book something more than just an Aussie-take on a cozy mystery.
Sauers throws in a few skilful red herrings and a couple of unexpected twists, and adds a dash of romance which belongs in the "it's complicated" basket.
I'm completely rubbish at figuring out who the murderer is in most thrillers until almost the very end, and Echo Lake was no exception. The last few chapters certainly got my fingers working overtime, turning pages.
Many thanks to Allen and Unwin and the author, Joan Sauers, for the ARC. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 28, 2023
After moving to the Southern Highlands, Rose discovers a reel of film in her backyard showing pictures of a missing woman. Taking it on herself to play detective, she soon realizes there may be more to the story than everyone believes, with a killer looming in the shadows.
I absolutely loved this book. I listened to the audio and the narration was fantastic. The storyline was intriguing - I found it hard to put down, the backup characters were all interesting, the tinge of romance was a great addition and there were a ton of unexpected twists. If all these reasons aren't enough for you to pick up this book, then you don't know what you're missing! I'm super pumped to read more by this author now.
I absolutely loved this book. I listened to the audio and the narration was fantastic. The storyline was intriguing - I found it hard to put down, the backup characters were all interesting, the tinge of romance was a great addition and there were a ton of unexpected twists. If all these reasons aren't enough for you to pick up this book, then you don't know what you're missing! I'm super pumped to read more by this author now.
August 19, 2023
Joan can we make this a series????? 🙏🏽🙏🏽
I need more Rose 🥰 what aTop Chic!!!!
What a GREAT Book filled with characters that I want to meet. I don’t do reviews and this will probably be a crap one to read but had to let everyone know this really is an awesome cosy crime. Grab a glass of red, light your fire and immerse yourself in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW Australia 🇦🇺 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I need more Rose 🥰 what aTop Chic!!!!
What a GREAT Book filled with characters that I want to meet. I don’t do reviews and this will probably be a crap one to read but had to let everyone know this really is an awesome cosy crime. Grab a glass of red, light your fire and immerse yourself in the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW Australia 🇦🇺 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 9, 2023
Felt it was overrated. There were two murdered women in the book, yet we never got any progression as to the sort of people they were. Instead we continued to hear pointless things about the main character's dog.
May 19, 2023
2.5. Not very good
January 11, 2024
I'm really unsure if this is a cosy mystery or more general mystery. It has elements of both, and I can't make a determination. It also feels like a women's fiction novel (what used to be called Chick Lit). That's more prominent in how the protagonist, Rose, and her sister, Kim, are written.
On the whole, I'm not sure if the mix works that well in this book. I did enjoy parts of the story. Maybe my overall impression is influenced by the repetitiveness of certain scenes and settings in the plot. For example, the characters spend an inordinate amount of space in the book meeting up at the same coffee shot and chatting, and not always chatting about things linked to the mystery. Okay, that could be more cosy mystery elements, but the conversations tend to be more extreme than would be in a cosy mystery. Because I'm not sure what this book is trying to be, the constant scenes at the coffee shot started to bore me.
The protagonist has many hallmarks of a traditional cosy mystery protagonist, including having a police officer continually asking her to stop meddling. So, that made me think cosy mystery? But I still couldn't be certain. Am I spending too much time wondering what sub-genre this story fits? Probably.
What Echo Lake brings to the reader is a serviceable mystery in a picturesque setting. I felt the setting could have been better described. It's set in an area of the world that has great landscape, why not use that to full potential? I thought the sense of new friends and community strong, and I liked the interactions between Rose and her new friends. The mystery is good, but I'm uncertain about how this mystery begins. It felt so odd to me why a roll of film would be buried instead of simply being thrown away. It didn't make sense.
There's enough in the conclusion to suggest a sequel. I would read it, with a hope the characters would spend less time in the coffee shop. It started to feel like I was watching episodes of an Australia soap on TV.
I did like Bob, the dog, even though I'm more a cat person!
On the whole, I'm not sure if the mix works that well in this book. I did enjoy parts of the story. Maybe my overall impression is influenced by the repetitiveness of certain scenes and settings in the plot. For example, the characters spend an inordinate amount of space in the book meeting up at the same coffee shot and chatting, and not always chatting about things linked to the mystery. Okay, that could be more cosy mystery elements, but the conversations tend to be more extreme than would be in a cosy mystery. Because I'm not sure what this book is trying to be, the constant scenes at the coffee shot started to bore me.
The protagonist has many hallmarks of a traditional cosy mystery protagonist, including having a police officer continually asking her to stop meddling. So, that made me think cosy mystery? But I still couldn't be certain. Am I spending too much time wondering what sub-genre this story fits? Probably.
What Echo Lake brings to the reader is a serviceable mystery in a picturesque setting. I felt the setting could have been better described. It's set in an area of the world that has great landscape, why not use that to full potential? I thought the sense of new friends and community strong, and I liked the interactions between Rose and her new friends. The mystery is good, but I'm uncertain about how this mystery begins. It felt so odd to me why a roll of film would be buried instead of simply being thrown away. It didn't make sense.
There's enough in the conclusion to suggest a sequel. I would read it, with a hope the characters would spend less time in the coffee shop. It started to feel like I was watching episodes of an Australia soap on TV.
I did like Bob, the dog, even though I'm more a cat person!
January 27, 2024
Set in the southern highlands of NSW this book is billed as a "compulsive debut thriller that will haunt you long after you've turned the final page". First up the author has actually published a number of books so the debut obvious refers to the "thriller" genre that this novel supposedly falls into. Secondly, I am pleased that so many have found this book a 4 or 5 star read, but it was not for me and I fall decidedly among those 1 star reviewers.
Somewhere hidden under a number of other inconsequential story lines and an enormous amount of description (for example not just a reference to the flying of the Australian flag but a full description of the flag itself!) there is a mystery to be solved, namely the disappearance/ murder of two women. The billed "thriller" bookends the novel but rarely shows its head throughout the rest of what felt like a long romance story. There is an inordinate number of pages spent on the protagonists, historian Rose McHugh's potential romantic interests, on what she is or will wear, and on the descriptions of the highlands - far beyond scene setting and character development. And so many of those characters are so very obviously red herrings. There are numerous facetime calls to Rose's gay son in the UK and references to the indigenous inhabitants of the area which did nothing to move the plot forward or add in anyway to the crimes which supposedly anchor the novel. In fact these felt very much "box ticking" and didactic elements. And then there is Rose's supernatural powers and the parallel ghost story!
If I could have cut out the middle three quarters of the novel and read it as a short story or a novella there might have been a "thriller" here, but for me there were more laughs and groans than thrills.
Somewhere hidden under a number of other inconsequential story lines and an enormous amount of description (for example not just a reference to the flying of the Australian flag but a full description of the flag itself!) there is a mystery to be solved, namely the disappearance/ murder of two women. The billed "thriller" bookends the novel but rarely shows its head throughout the rest of what felt like a long romance story. There is an inordinate number of pages spent on the protagonists, historian Rose McHugh's potential romantic interests, on what she is or will wear, and on the descriptions of the highlands - far beyond scene setting and character development. And so many of those characters are so very obviously red herrings. There are numerous facetime calls to Rose's gay son in the UK and references to the indigenous inhabitants of the area which did nothing to move the plot forward or add in anyway to the crimes which supposedly anchor the novel. In fact these felt very much "box ticking" and didactic elements. And then there is Rose's supernatural powers and the parallel ghost story!
If I could have cut out the middle three quarters of the novel and read it as a short story or a novella there might have been a "thriller" here, but for me there were more laughs and groans than thrills.
October 13, 2025
This was a very twee cosy murder that kept me moderately entertained this weekend. It's not super well written, the dialogue in particular felt a bit forced and unrealistic, but the author is a screenwriter so I guess writing dialogue in a novel is a new thing for her, and it's not a terrible first attempt.
The main character was way too preoccupied with her weight and diet WHICH IS FINE, I KNOW, some people are like that, it's not like it's an unrealistic character trait, but I don't like spending time in that kind of headspace, so that took away some of the enjoyment for me.
The murderer was pretty obvious from the get go, but I wasn't here for the murder, I was here for the cosy small town vibes, and the cosy small town vibes were immaculate. It also felt very cute to be reading a book that mostly consisted of intergenerational friendships playing out at a local coffee shop, given that this book was lent to me by an intergenerational friend at my local coffee shop.
The main character was way too preoccupied with her weight and diet WHICH IS FINE, I KNOW, some people are like that, it's not like it's an unrealistic character trait, but I don't like spending time in that kind of headspace, so that took away some of the enjoyment for me.
The murderer was pretty obvious from the get go, but I wasn't here for the murder, I was here for the cosy small town vibes, and the cosy small town vibes were immaculate. It also felt very cute to be reading a book that mostly consisted of intergenerational friendships playing out at a local coffee shop, given that this book was lent to me by an intergenerational friend at my local coffee shop.
April 7, 2025
This was a decent, reasonably good, slightly above average read. It's not something I'll remember in a couple of months, but there was nothing really wrong with it. I liked the atmosphere and setting of a cold NSW country town, I've never spent any time in one and it made me want to visit (or at least a Victorian country town, since I live in Melbourne and wouldn't have to travel quite as far to reach the Victorian high country). I guessed the killer from pretty much the start. I was slightly annoyed that the red herring was so totally red, and the threat behind that plot line went absolutely nowhere. Probably wouldn't recommend it, at least not as a thriller/mystery, but it might work for someone looking to learn a bit more about what it's like to live in NSW/Victorian/probably Tasmanian country towns during the autumn and winter.
July 17, 2023
Read as an audiobook, I really enjoyed both the narration, characters, setting and storyline. I did feel the main character was a little hard to relate to, as she seemed to look at every male within her vicinity as a potential love interest. The storyline was good although moved slightly toward the ridiculous in the thrilling climactic scenes toward the end. Overall, it was definitely a Goodread :)
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