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Blood Echo
Iris Avery and her best friend, Estella, spend their time drowning in the empty excesses indulged in by their crowd of Upper East Side snobs until Estella’s sudden, shocking death.
Iris searches for answers in everything from philanthropy to hypnotherapy, feeling her existence is nothing more than a dark half-life full of guilt and repentance, but finds only endless questions. And several of them revolve around her when she discovers she’s connected to a high-profile murder.
When Estella’s voice whispering cryptic commentary in her head, Iris can’t help but wonder if the hypnotherapy has been helping or hurting. Is her friend trying to warn her about something?
Bizarre packages pile up on her doorstep, and their meaning is obvious: Iris’s secrets aren’t so secret after all.
Iris searches for answers in everything from philanthropy to hypnotherapy, feeling her existence is nothing more than a dark half-life full of guilt and repentance, but finds only endless questions. And several of them revolve around her when she discovers she’s connected to a high-profile murder.
When Estella’s voice whispering cryptic commentary in her head, Iris can’t help but wonder if the hypnotherapy has been helping or hurting. Is her friend trying to warn her about something?
Bizarre packages pile up on her doorstep, and their meaning is obvious: Iris’s secrets aren’t so secret after all.
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2013
About the author
Melissa Simonson
10 books71 followersSlave/mother to a herd of animals, Loch Ness monster enthusiast, breaker of many a wine glass.
Do not challenge her to Harry Potter trivia unless you wish to be slaughtered.
Do not challenge her to Harry Potter trivia unless you wish to be slaughtered.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 22, 2015
Iris and Estella grew up together and were long time best friends. They both had their issues and drowned them in drugs and alcohol. Estella was a cutter and often took razor blades to her arms with Iris cleaning her up and taking care of her.
After Estella's death Iris blames herself and goes through therapy trying to come to terms with the loss of Estella. When Estella's father is murdered several weeks later Iris finds that someone is threatening her.
This story is very dark and disturbing. It wasn't really my taste at all as I was hoping for more of the mystery as to where the packages where coming from, who was threatening Iris etc. The first half though is mostly therapy, guilt, depression and flashbacks. Found myself getting bored waiting for more to happen.
Also, the whole idea of Iris being a vampire seems to be a complete afterthought tossed into the book. It seems it was added to give Iris the ability to heal things and keep her from dying easily. Not quite sure why it was needed as it seemed completely random with the rest of the subject matter.
A lot of interesting ideas that didn't seem to come together just right for my taste unfortunately. Found it lacking a lot in the mystery/supernatural element.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
After Estella's death Iris blames herself and goes through therapy trying to come to terms with the loss of Estella. When Estella's father is murdered several weeks later Iris finds that someone is threatening her.
This story is very dark and disturbing. It wasn't really my taste at all as I was hoping for more of the mystery as to where the packages where coming from, who was threatening Iris etc. The first half though is mostly therapy, guilt, depression and flashbacks. Found myself getting bored waiting for more to happen.
Also, the whole idea of Iris being a vampire seems to be a complete afterthought tossed into the book. It seems it was added to give Iris the ability to heal things and keep her from dying easily. Not quite sure why it was needed as it seemed completely random with the rest of the subject matter.
A lot of interesting ideas that didn't seem to come together just right for my taste unfortunately. Found it lacking a lot in the mystery/supernatural element.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
April 10, 2013
i enjoyed it! not as much as doubles i must admit but this is a different type of story with 1 pov. its a good story with interesting characters. if u r looking for a sappy vampire luv story move along this is not for u! i reccommend evryone to go out and buy this and anything else this fab author writes u will not b disappointed! :)
May 3, 2013
4.5
Iris Avery and Estella Blake had been friends since they were kids. Two beautiful trust fund party girls living the life of alcohol and drugs. Until the night Estella takes her own life. After that fateful night, in some ways Iris is free from messed up crazy girl Estella, yet in other ways she’s more shackled than ever before. When people close to her are murdered and weird packages show up in her home she needs to figure out who knows the truth about the night Estella died before she’s next on the hit parade.
Well, where do I start with this book? Estella and Iris are some messed up people. Yow doggy. I know money can’t buy happiness, but to live the life they were just boggles my mind. Estella was pretty much beyond hope, but at least Iris was salvageable.
Well-written and fast-paced the mystery kept me turning the pages. The paranormal twist was very interesting, too. The only thing that kept this book from being a 5-biter was I had a hard time connecting to Iris. I hated her head-in-the-sand attitude and didn’t quite understand her love/hate relationship with Darren. Maybe I just missed something that someone else will get. The ending was a bit of a question. What the heck is Iris going to do now? Otherwise, this book is a keeper for me and I will jot Melissa Simonson’s name down on my Favorite Authors list. A most excellent read!
*Book source ~ Many thanks to Red Adept Publishing for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
Iris Avery and Estella Blake had been friends since they were kids. Two beautiful trust fund party girls living the life of alcohol and drugs. Until the night Estella takes her own life. After that fateful night, in some ways Iris is free from messed up crazy girl Estella, yet in other ways she’s more shackled than ever before. When people close to her are murdered and weird packages show up in her home she needs to figure out who knows the truth about the night Estella died before she’s next on the hit parade.
Well, where do I start with this book? Estella and Iris are some messed up people. Yow doggy. I know money can’t buy happiness, but to live the life they were just boggles my mind. Estella was pretty much beyond hope, but at least Iris was salvageable.
Well-written and fast-paced the mystery kept me turning the pages. The paranormal twist was very interesting, too. The only thing that kept this book from being a 5-biter was I had a hard time connecting to Iris. I hated her head-in-the-sand attitude and didn’t quite understand her love/hate relationship with Darren. Maybe I just missed something that someone else will get. The ending was a bit of a question. What the heck is Iris going to do now? Otherwise, this book is a keeper for me and I will jot Melissa Simonson’s name down on my Favorite Authors list. A most excellent read!
*Book source ~ Many thanks to Red Adept Publishing for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
April 22, 2013
The first word that comes to mind to describe Blood Echo is different. (And different, in this context, is good.) I may be wrong, but when I try to think of another book that combines a thriller (it would be more accurate to call it a psychological thriller) with a touch of supernatural in this way I draw a blank. As a reader it led me to interpret some things (and I’m being purposely vague) differently than I might have, were it not for the suspension of disbelief that I was readily able to accomplish due to other parts of the story. (That may be so vague the author won’t know what I’m saying. If nothing else, it should be intriguing.)
The protagonist, Iris, is suffering due to the death of her best friend, Estella. How she deals with this and the fallout from friends, family, and persons unknown is the main story conflict. Although there were hints, the story has a big twist at the halfway point, when Iris reveals something major. I took a note at that point that simply said, “oh my.” But then I started to question whether that was real. What is “real” versus what isn’t turns out murkier than I thought. It kept me guessing where the story was going and how it would resolve to the absolute end.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
The protagonist, Iris, is suffering due to the death of her best friend, Estella. How she deals with this and the fallout from friends, family, and persons unknown is the main story conflict. Although there were hints, the story has a big twist at the halfway point, when Iris reveals something major. I took a note at that point that simply said, “oh my.” But then I started to question whether that was real. What is “real” versus what isn’t turns out murkier than I thought. It kept me guessing where the story was going and how it would resolve to the absolute end.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
April 10, 2013
Review of Blood Echo by Melissa Simonson
4 stars
Iris and Estella are hard-charging, party-animal, trust-fund babies, good-looking, well-dressed and styling. That’s the façade, but underneath are two souls marching through a wasteland, a void, empty shells encasing empty hearts—until—Estella’s self-mutilation reaches the extreme, and she dies at her own hand. Now it’s just one empty shell, Iris, surrounded by people who almost without exception don’t understand her, or Estella. When a close family member of Estella’s is brutally slain, with cocaine dumped on the corpse in some sort of message—to the police? To the remaining family? To Iris?—focus turns to Iris, whose addiction, just as Estella’s, often ran rampant and obsessive.
The characters and settings of this novel put me in mind of those of Noel Coward and Edward Albee: upscale, society scions, disenchanted, and eternally bored and jaded. Their disenchantment is well illustrated, and their backgrounds well-delineated and easy to visualize in the reader’s imagination.
Reviewed for Red Adept's Blood Echo Blog Tour--April 12 2013
4 stars
Iris and Estella are hard-charging, party-animal, trust-fund babies, good-looking, well-dressed and styling. That’s the façade, but underneath are two souls marching through a wasteland, a void, empty shells encasing empty hearts—until—Estella’s self-mutilation reaches the extreme, and she dies at her own hand. Now it’s just one empty shell, Iris, surrounded by people who almost without exception don’t understand her, or Estella. When a close family member of Estella’s is brutally slain, with cocaine dumped on the corpse in some sort of message—to the police? To the remaining family? To Iris?—focus turns to Iris, whose addiction, just as Estella’s, often ran rampant and obsessive.
The characters and settings of this novel put me in mind of those of Noel Coward and Edward Albee: upscale, society scions, disenchanted, and eternally bored and jaded. Their disenchantment is well illustrated, and their backgrounds well-delineated and easy to visualize in the reader’s imagination.
Reviewed for Red Adept's Blood Echo Blog Tour--April 12 2013
May 5, 2013
Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-echo-tour-review-amazon-gcsswag.html
Blood Echo was quite the read for me. I personally have never come across something like this. It is an emotional thriller that really took me by surprise. Our main character is Iris. Her and her best friend Estella are rich beyond belief and spoiled. They are best friends and they have known each other for a long time. Their relationship is strained and dark at best. It all started with their drug abuse. They are both drug addicts. Well at least one of them is. Estella is dead and Iris is trying to cope with her death. She doesn't know how to handle Estella's suicide, but she is coping. I like that even with all she has been through she is still quite the fighter even though she is very tortured. On top of that, she is also a vampire. I love that Simonson doesn't say it outright. It is actually very subtle. This is a thriller with a tad bit of paranormal thrown.
Another aspect I enjoyed about this book was the emotional rollercoaster. Iris is such a tortured soul, but there are those along the way that help her. I loved her relationship with Fred. Fred was a homeless man she met the night she was turned. He knows everything about her and only because she was high when she met him. I loved how unlikely their friendship was. Even though they were so different, they had a lot in common. I also enjoy her relationship with Darren. Darren was her boyfriend and he was the on that turned her. He cares about Iris and what she is going through even though she won't listen. He warned her about the Blakes, Estella and her family, but she won't listen.
I loved the story. After Estella's suicide, strange things seem to be happening around Iris. A month after Estella dies, Estella's father is killed. No one liked the man especially Estella and her brother Adam. Someone killed him and dump Estella's secret stash on him. After that, Iris notices someone has been in her home without her permission. Then other tragedies take place and it all seems to be centered around Iris. She knows someone is stalking her. She knows whoever it is knew her and Estella due to the messages they leave her. Simonson does such a great job building up this mystery. I am really good at figuring out these mysteries. This really threw me for a loop. We get a huge reveal halfway in the book, but it isn't even the icing on the cake. There is much much more.
I highly recommend this book. It is a wonderful psychological thriller. I loved the amount of emotion that was put into this book. The relationships between these characters was dark and complex. This book could have easily been written without the little vampire twist because Iris is very much human. But her powers do come in handy (she has the ability to heal and kill with just the touch of her hands). This book will grab your attention from the very first page. I read it in a day. That ending, oh my goodness that ending. Wow! Check this out today.
Blood Echo was quite the read for me. I personally have never come across something like this. It is an emotional thriller that really took me by surprise. Our main character is Iris. Her and her best friend Estella are rich beyond belief and spoiled. They are best friends and they have known each other for a long time. Their relationship is strained and dark at best. It all started with their drug abuse. They are both drug addicts. Well at least one of them is. Estella is dead and Iris is trying to cope with her death. She doesn't know how to handle Estella's suicide, but she is coping. I like that even with all she has been through she is still quite the fighter even though she is very tortured. On top of that, she is also a vampire. I love that Simonson doesn't say it outright. It is actually very subtle. This is a thriller with a tad bit of paranormal thrown.
Another aspect I enjoyed about this book was the emotional rollercoaster. Iris is such a tortured soul, but there are those along the way that help her. I loved her relationship with Fred. Fred was a homeless man she met the night she was turned. He knows everything about her and only because she was high when she met him. I loved how unlikely their friendship was. Even though they were so different, they had a lot in common. I also enjoy her relationship with Darren. Darren was her boyfriend and he was the on that turned her. He cares about Iris and what she is going through even though she won't listen. He warned her about the Blakes, Estella and her family, but she won't listen.
I loved the story. After Estella's suicide, strange things seem to be happening around Iris. A month after Estella dies, Estella's father is killed. No one liked the man especially Estella and her brother Adam. Someone killed him and dump Estella's secret stash on him. After that, Iris notices someone has been in her home without her permission. Then other tragedies take place and it all seems to be centered around Iris. She knows someone is stalking her. She knows whoever it is knew her and Estella due to the messages they leave her. Simonson does such a great job building up this mystery. I am really good at figuring out these mysteries. This really threw me for a loop. We get a huge reveal halfway in the book, but it isn't even the icing on the cake. There is much much more.
I highly recommend this book. It is a wonderful psychological thriller. I loved the amount of emotion that was put into this book. The relationships between these characters was dark and complex. This book could have easily been written without the little vampire twist because Iris is very much human. But her powers do come in handy (she has the ability to heal and kill with just the touch of her hands). This book will grab your attention from the very first page. I read it in a day. That ending, oh my goodness that ending. Wow! Check this out today.
January 17, 2015
Every so often a book comes along that hooks you from the opening line. Blood Echo by Melissa Simonson is that book. From page one, I was knee deep the red waves of mystery.
There is a dark, but warm, quality that encompasses the writing style of Melissa Simonson. She evokes pity for characters that a reader would normally deem unlovable and that speaks volumes for her talent!
Estella and Iris were best friends. Not just a simple concept of best friends, but tried and true, dark and twisted, connected like blood, but thicker, best friends. They've survived struggle unknown to many, and faced loneliness with only each other to cling. And then tragedy strikes (I won't tell you what - you'll have to read to find out!) and Iris finds herself in a world unknown, one without her best friend (however, it does seem some bonds are forever).
But this world is more foreign than Iris could have imagined. Armed with a new twist on her own life, she dips in and out of emotionally charged moments, some devastating to her own well being. Yet, as she learns to control her new fate, Iris opens herself to possibilities, opportunities if you will, to make certain things right.
From exasperating characters like Darren to endearing characters like Fred, Blood Echo will leave the reader thirsting for more. Lovers of series such as The Southern Vampire Mysteries (aka True Blood) will be sure to love Blood Echo; this is not Twilight fan fiction!
Blood Echo can be purchased through the following retailers:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Echo-eboo...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blood...
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Blood-...
About Melissa Simonson via Red Adpet Publishing:
Melissa Simonson has been writing for four years and started mainly out of weekend boredom. She's a self-professed caffeine addict and a terrible driver; she has a weird fascination with rosary beads, complicated cocktails, and diet coke.
When she's not writing, she can be found watching endless hours of Dexter and Weeds and reading dark, gritty fiction.
Since she saw Jason Statham in her favorite movie Snatch, Melissa has wanted to marry him.
She lives in Southern California with her four year old son, Liam, who is already smarter than she is.
For more about Melissa Simonson, visit her blog at http://lissasimonson.wordpress.com/
April 22, 2013
I was very unsure of this novel, but by the end of the first chapter I could not put it down. This novel is a paranormal mystery and until the very end I had no idea who dunit. Which I loved. It kept me reading because I had to know.
Iris intrigued me. The fact that she stood by Estella at her darkest hours made her a true friend, but yet I knew she was getting taken advantage of. After Estella’s death, when Iris was hearing Estella’s voice in her head, it was apparent how possessive Estella really was of Iris. I like that Iris was “turned” but that the only part of her abilities brought up again and again was her healing powers. That made this almost a non-paranormal story to me, I even forgot a few times of her special skills.
At the end of the novel I was sad it was almost over, but thrilled to know the answer to who dunit. I have a feeling that this will be a book that visits me in my dreams. If your looking for a thriller story with lots of suspense pick up this novel.
June 28, 2013
When I picked up Melissa Simonson's first novel, Doubles, I was stunned by the sheer depth and power of her writing. When you read her books, you feel a full connection with her characters and quickly become one with the novel. In `Doubles' I was trapped in the basement, held captive with the main characters. In `Hazard Pay' I was by her character's side as she sought revenge, and in Blood Echo I felt so fully the emotions of Iris and felt the struggles in her mind.
I loved Blood Echo for many reasons. A rehabbing young woman in the higher epsilons of society, Iris has witnessed the death of her suicidal best friend and searches for stability as those around her fall like cards. This novel is haunting, with a vamprillic tinge and an undercurrent of the unknown that will cause your heart to race as you work out the mystery of death this novel revolves on.
I could not stop reading until the end, and now I sit in great anticipation of Simonson's next release.
Simonson is a mastermind of the dark.
I loved Blood Echo for many reasons. A rehabbing young woman in the higher epsilons of society, Iris has witnessed the death of her suicidal best friend and searches for stability as those around her fall like cards. This novel is haunting, with a vamprillic tinge and an undercurrent of the unknown that will cause your heart to race as you work out the mystery of death this novel revolves on.
I could not stop reading until the end, and now I sit in great anticipation of Simonson's next release.
Simonson is a mastermind of the dark.
June 29, 2013
The story was a little confusing in the beginning but once it took off. It. Took. Off! The story centers around a conflicted vampire who is dealing with the death of her best friend. Suddenly the vampire is being tormented through the murders of her friends. The killer leaves clues for her to find, stringing her along for an ending even she could not have predicted. This story is well worth the read and the fact that it is free is an even better bonus:)
April 14, 2018
Definitely amazing, it kept me guessing until the very end. I really wanted a second part to the story, it seems like she just got fed up with writing and left me on a cliff (if she has a second part that I`m missing please let me know!)
February 10, 2019
Amazing
This white-knuckle page turner had me guessing "who done it" all the way until the very last page. Amazing book!!!
This white-knuckle page turner had me guessing "who done it" all the way until the very last page. Amazing book!!!
May 19, 2024
A good read…
It took me 2 years to finish this book. Not due to it being poorly written, just life getting in the way. That said I had to finish this and glad I stuck to it.
It took me 2 years to finish this book. Not due to it being poorly written, just life getting in the way. That said I had to finish this and glad I stuck to it.
April 19, 2013
Note: This is not a PG-rated book. It contains violence, drug use, and adult situations and language. In fact, parts are deeply disturbing.
To describe Blood Echo as intense would be a bit like saying Noah got a little wet. This is a roller coaster ride from the opening paragraph to the shocking ending. An ending that took me completely by surprise.
Iris and Estella are trust fund babies who indulge in virtually every excess that a lot of money can buy. While neither is emotionally healthy, Estella is particularly unstable and prone to self-harm. Already dead when the book begins, we meet her through Iris' memories.
When her therapist introduces hypnosis to their sessions, Iris starts having conversations in her head with Estella. Mysterious packages show up in her penthouse. And people start dying - violently.
Not a comfortable read, Blood Echo is a gripping story that explores the darker side of friendship, mental health, and obsession. Definitely not comfortable; definitely well done.
~*~*~
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from the publisher . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
To describe Blood Echo as intense would be a bit like saying Noah got a little wet. This is a roller coaster ride from the opening paragraph to the shocking ending. An ending that took me completely by surprise.
Iris and Estella are trust fund babies who indulge in virtually every excess that a lot of money can buy. While neither is emotionally healthy, Estella is particularly unstable and prone to self-harm. Already dead when the book begins, we meet her through Iris' memories.
When her therapist introduces hypnosis to their sessions, Iris starts having conversations in her head with Estella. Mysterious packages show up in her penthouse. And people start dying - violently.
Not a comfortable read, Blood Echo is a gripping story that explores the darker side of friendship, mental health, and obsession. Definitely not comfortable; definitely well done.
~*~*~
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from the publisher . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
October 8, 2015
This book was good because the ending took me by surprise. Of course as I thought back, it should have been obvious, but the author did a good job misleading me. I felt like there could have been more included though. There were parts of the story that weren’t explained, like a scene not being described. When I read, a book plays in my mind like a movie, I want to see what’s going on and know the details. The author left some of these descriptions out. Along with that, I would have liked to know more about the main characters background. She has a certain “gift” and I wanted to the author to describe to me how she got it, but it seemed like this “gift” was thrown in out of convenience for other parts of the book even though it was set up as the main cause of the tragedy in the story. I was able to stay involved and curious enough to keep reading it, but since I was anticipating so much more detail I felt like I was missing something when I finished it. It would have been great if more had been explained.
August 27, 2015
The book doesn't get interesting until about half way through. Iris goes through her life, and I was very confused as to what was going on. When the book started getting good though, I couldn't put it down. Action, suspense, it's like pretty little liars but with a lot of cocaine and blood. Right at the end, a huge plot twist happens that will make you doubt your existence. The ending actually made me die
August 30, 2015
I was not really impressed by this book, but it did make me keep turning the pages.
I think it could use some more explanations and a bit more of paranormal elements, since they are being used in the first place.
Other than that, it had good and unexpected twists and was mostly well written.
I think it could use some more explanations and a bit more of paranormal elements, since they are being used in the first place.
Other than that, it had good and unexpected twists and was mostly well written.
June 16, 2013
I found myself confused at times because the book seemed to flip back and forth in time quite a bit, sometimes causing me to reread a section to grasp it better.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews