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Rick Cahill #1
Yesterday's Echo
Rick Cahill was never convicted of his wife's murder, but he was never exonerated either. Not by the police. Not by the media. Not even by himself. Eight years later, police suspicion and his own guilt remain over his responsibility in his wife's death. When he meets Melody Malana, a beautiful yet secretive TV reporter, he sees a chance to love again. When she is arrested for murder and asks Rick for help, the former cop says no, but the rest of him says yes and he grasps at a chance for redemption. But Rick's attempt to help turns terribly wrong, and he becomes a suspect in the murder and the target of a police manhunt. On the run, Rick encounters desperate people who'll kill to keep their pasts buried. Before Rick can save himself and bring down a murderer, he must confront the truth about his own past and untangle his feeling for a woman he can never fully trust.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2013
315 people are currently reading
1615 people want to read
About the author
Matt Coyle
20 books319 followersMatt Coyle is the bestselling author of the Rick Cahill crime series. His books have won the Anthony, Shamus, Lefty, Ben Franklin Silver, Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Silver, and San Diego Book Awards, and have accrued nominations for the Macavity, Anthony, Shamus, Lefty, WRONG LIGHT, his latest novel and came out in December and has been nominated for the Lefty Award and been named a Bookreporter.com Top Pick for 2018. Matt lives in San Diego with his yellow Lab, Angus, where he is writing the sixth Rick Cahill novel. You can find him online at: www.mattcoylebooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
November 4, 2019
Rick Cahill is a former cop from Santa Barbara who left the force under a cloud when his wife was found murdered. The detective investigating the crime believes that Cahill was guilty of the murder, but did not have enough evidence to make the case. The cloud of suspicion has followed Cahill for the last eight years, even down to La Jolla, the beautiful seaside community that exists within the city of San Diego. Cahill is now the managing partner of an upscale restaurant there and is attempting to maintain a low profile while he builds his life anew.
That's easier said than done, because Cahill is one of those guys who simply seems to draw trouble like a magnet. One night the wife of the mayor of San Diego gets obnoxiously drunk in the restaurant. Her husband is making a run for the California governorship, and Cahill attempts to get the woman out of the restaurant without creating a scandal, either for her or her husband. He puts her in a cab and sends her home.
That same night, a beautiful TV reporter named Melody Malana shows up, perhaps in pursuit of a story about the governor's wife. Melody winds up in Cahill's bed that night, and he thinks this could be his chance to find true love again. But then a murder occurs and Cahill gets tangled up in an awful mess. It's like deja vu all over again, and Cahill finds himself a principal suspect.
This is one of those novels in which a man is trapped in a bad situation by circumstances beyond his control and in which he can't trust anyone other than himself. The only way to salvation is for Cahill to unravel a very tangled web of deceit, but very clever and deadly forces are arrayed against him. It will take all his wits and a lot of good luck if he's to avoid winding up either dead or in jail this time around.
This book moves along at a breakneck pace, and the character of Rick Cahill is gradually revealed as the story unfolds. He's an interesting guy and you feel for the situation in which he finds himself. That said, I had a bit of trouble buying into the story because Cahill continued to make decisions that I found questionable. Still, it's an entertaining novel--the first in the Rick Cahill series--and if you can suspend disbelief, it's quite a ride.
That's easier said than done, because Cahill is one of those guys who simply seems to draw trouble like a magnet. One night the wife of the mayor of San Diego gets obnoxiously drunk in the restaurant. Her husband is making a run for the California governorship, and Cahill attempts to get the woman out of the restaurant without creating a scandal, either for her or her husband. He puts her in a cab and sends her home.
That same night, a beautiful TV reporter named Melody Malana shows up, perhaps in pursuit of a story about the governor's wife. Melody winds up in Cahill's bed that night, and he thinks this could be his chance to find true love again. But then a murder occurs and Cahill gets tangled up in an awful mess. It's like deja vu all over again, and Cahill finds himself a principal suspect.
This is one of those novels in which a man is trapped in a bad situation by circumstances beyond his control and in which he can't trust anyone other than himself. The only way to salvation is for Cahill to unravel a very tangled web of deceit, but very clever and deadly forces are arrayed against him. It will take all his wits and a lot of good luck if he's to avoid winding up either dead or in jail this time around.
This book moves along at a breakneck pace, and the character of Rick Cahill is gradually revealed as the story unfolds. He's an interesting guy and you feel for the situation in which he finds himself. That said, I had a bit of trouble buying into the story because Cahill continued to make decisions that I found questionable. Still, it's an entertaining novel--the first in the Rick Cahill series--and if you can suspend disbelief, it's quite a ride.
July 13, 2018
Rick Cahill, the manager of Muldoon’s Steak House, in La Jolla, California, is a tarnished ex-policeman who battles internal and external demons. Cahill, now eight years after the death of his wife, who he was once accused of murdering, is working the night shift when he needs to rescue a damsel in distress, TV reporter Melody Malana, from a guy who was about to assault her.
So, for her safety, Cahill takes the captivating Melody home to his place, where they of course fall naked onto his couch (repeatedly). Melody disappears the next morning. Later that day a pair of thugs appear at Cahill’s door and beat Cahill up because they are sure he knows her whereabouts and want him to tell them. Cahill's attempt to help Melody turns terribly wrong, and he becomes a suspect in the murder in a nearby motel of a man overdosed on heroine and the target of a police manhunt.
Told in the first-person, Mr. Coyle's flawlessly executed debut novel, “Yesterday's Echo” is a crime noir teeming with memorable characters and unexpected plot twists, which include sex, drugs, and hidden secrets.
“Yesterday’s Echo”, won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel in 2014, The San Diego Book Award for Best Mystery, the IBPA Ben Franklin Silver Award for Best New Voice in Fiction, and was a Macavity Finalist for Best First Novel.
So, for her safety, Cahill takes the captivating Melody home to his place, where they of course fall naked onto his couch (repeatedly). Melody disappears the next morning. Later that day a pair of thugs appear at Cahill’s door and beat Cahill up because they are sure he knows her whereabouts and want him to tell them. Cahill's attempt to help Melody turns terribly wrong, and he becomes a suspect in the murder in a nearby motel of a man overdosed on heroine and the target of a police manhunt.
Told in the first-person, Mr. Coyle's flawlessly executed debut novel, “Yesterday's Echo” is a crime noir teeming with memorable characters and unexpected plot twists, which include sex, drugs, and hidden secrets.
“Yesterday’s Echo”, won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel in 2014, The San Diego Book Award for Best Mystery, the IBPA Ben Franklin Silver Award for Best New Voice in Fiction, and was a Macavity Finalist for Best First Novel.
February 3, 2017
I'm giving this book a 3 star read and I am adding another 1 star for the potential of a very good series. The main character, Rick Cahill I really liked, but there was more than one time were I got totally frustrated by him. Being an x-cop there were many times where he was in such poor judgement of the situation, and then other times he was brilliant. I'm curious to see how his character develops in the next book in the series.
While reading this book, a few times I just wanted it to move on-there were quite a bit moving parts throughout the story. Having said that - it really did leave a nice layout for a potential great series.
Read the book with an open mind- getting to know Rick and his backstory. I am hoping for a really good series!
While reading this book, a few times I just wanted it to move on-there were quite a bit moving parts throughout the story. Having said that - it really did leave a nice layout for a potential great series.
Read the book with an open mind- getting to know Rick and his backstory. I am hoping for a really good series!
December 17, 2015
An excellent read! The Author's first novel. He follows in the path of Michael Connelly. Great writing, good structure to the novel, mystery, suspense, murder, corruption, sex, drugs, incest, etc.; everything that makes a novel exciting. The location is set in La Jolla California and is not unlike Connelly's Los Angeles. A fun read.
December 5, 2016
Amazing debut novel
I thoroughly enjoyed and got wrapped up in this book. Matt Coyle kept me hanging on the edge of my seat, not wanting to stop reading until I found out all the sordid details of this death-defying escapade to find truth and justice. He rightfully deserves all the plaudits received to date for this stunningly well-crafted novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed and got wrapped up in this book. Matt Coyle kept me hanging on the edge of my seat, not wanting to stop reading until I found out all the sordid details of this death-defying escapade to find truth and justice. He rightfully deserves all the plaudits received to date for this stunningly well-crafted novel.
June 4, 2015
Matt Coyle delivers an intense new crime thriller series YESTERDAY’S ECHO, (Rich Cahill #1), with a flawed main protagonist who seems to find trouble around every corner; however, his tenacity and drive, keep him fighting to the bitter end in search for redemption.
If Rick Cahill is not enough trouble, it soon begins to intensify. Rick has been left with little choices, as former young hotshot cop in Santa Barbara. Someone murdered his wife and fingers were pointed at him. Charges were dropped, but he lost his job and out from jail, has began working at a bar/restaurant, he hopes to own one day (Muldoon’s Steak House). Now he finds himself tangled up with a reporter and a dark past and dangers are lurking from everywhere. Of course, it turns into a high profile case. His dad was also a former cop and a corrupt one. Not a stellar view from the La Jolla PD.
Presently, eight years later, he is still haunted by his wife Coleen’s death, as the media was all over it, and now he meets manipulative Melody Malana, a reporter who knew him from his earlier days. He finds himself in her bed and soon thereafter in the middle of another murder investigation. He always finds himself in a lose-lose situation; however, is determined to dig his way out. There is more than one person after her.
Melody is arrested for murder and asks for Rick’s help. His first indication is to stay clear; however, Rick does not understand the word "NO". Anything involving danger and obstacles, he is in the center with guns blazing.
In the midst of doing so¸ he now becomes a suspect and target. The bad guys come after him and the only two things he has left, his bar job, and his beloved dog, Midnight are now threatened. Someone wants their past to stay buried and Rick is trying to uncover, putting himself in even more danger.
From sex, crimes, a dark past, politics, corruption, and videos, Rick risks his own life and reputation for a woman who is hiding from a past for a roller coaster ride and a whodunit crime mystery.
Matt Coyle is an author to follow, with a superb kick-ass series! After receiving an ARC of Night Tremors, I immediately purchased the audio of Yesterday's Echo (Rick Cahill #1), narrated by Nick Podehl, delivering an intense and suspenseful performance, prior to reading the second.
NIGHT TREMORS (6/2/15) Matt Coyle, returns with his engrossing and complex second installment of crime thriller (Rick Cahill #2), a fierce comeback, with grit, tenacity, suspense, and intensity --with a flawed hero with his own demons; one you will you will root for, every step of the way. Recommend reading both in order. An unstoppable main character, leaving you anxiously awaiting the next in this exciting noir crime series. (love the California setting)!
Fans of classic hard-boiled PI detective novels will enjoy this one. As related to the hard-boiled genre, the main protagonist goes from victim, suspect, perpetrator, and always in self-destructive mode. As typical of Noir fiction, Rick seems to always be in the middle of something illegal, dirty cops, or political corruption, on a daily basis--as you will find true to form, in the next book.
If Rick Cahill is not enough trouble, it soon begins to intensify. Rick has been left with little choices, as former young hotshot cop in Santa Barbara. Someone murdered his wife and fingers were pointed at him. Charges were dropped, but he lost his job and out from jail, has began working at a bar/restaurant, he hopes to own one day (Muldoon’s Steak House). Now he finds himself tangled up with a reporter and a dark past and dangers are lurking from everywhere. Of course, it turns into a high profile case. His dad was also a former cop and a corrupt one. Not a stellar view from the La Jolla PD.
Presently, eight years later, he is still haunted by his wife Coleen’s death, as the media was all over it, and now he meets manipulative Melody Malana, a reporter who knew him from his earlier days. He finds himself in her bed and soon thereafter in the middle of another murder investigation. He always finds himself in a lose-lose situation; however, is determined to dig his way out. There is more than one person after her.
Melody is arrested for murder and asks for Rick’s help. His first indication is to stay clear; however, Rick does not understand the word "NO". Anything involving danger and obstacles, he is in the center with guns blazing.
In the midst of doing so¸ he now becomes a suspect and target. The bad guys come after him and the only two things he has left, his bar job, and his beloved dog, Midnight are now threatened. Someone wants their past to stay buried and Rick is trying to uncover, putting himself in even more danger.
From sex, crimes, a dark past, politics, corruption, and videos, Rick risks his own life and reputation for a woman who is hiding from a past for a roller coaster ride and a whodunit crime mystery.
Matt Coyle is an author to follow, with a superb kick-ass series! After receiving an ARC of Night Tremors, I immediately purchased the audio of Yesterday's Echo (Rick Cahill #1), narrated by Nick Podehl, delivering an intense and suspenseful performance, prior to reading the second.
NIGHT TREMORS (6/2/15) Matt Coyle, returns with his engrossing and complex second installment of crime thriller (Rick Cahill #2), a fierce comeback, with grit, tenacity, suspense, and intensity --with a flawed hero with his own demons; one you will you will root for, every step of the way. Recommend reading both in order. An unstoppable main character, leaving you anxiously awaiting the next in this exciting noir crime series. (love the California setting)!
Fans of classic hard-boiled PI detective novels will enjoy this one. As related to the hard-boiled genre, the main protagonist goes from victim, suspect, perpetrator, and always in self-destructive mode. As typical of Noir fiction, Rick seems to always be in the middle of something illegal, dirty cops, or political corruption, on a daily basis--as you will find true to form, in the next book.
April 17, 2013
The mystery portion of this story was well done--I enjoyed the twists and turns on the way to solving the story's central question. I also enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the plotting. However, I found other portions of the story frustrating. For a former cop, Rick proved himself to be a pretty poor judge of character in a number of key scenes, yet would make brilliant deductions just a few scenes later. I also couldn't buy his Superman complex when it came to Melody, a woman he'd just met. Throughout the entire novel, the death of Rick's wife is teased, only to be revealed quickly at the very end of the story. From the way Rick reminisced about his wife's death through the whole novel, I thought his revelation would end up being more central to the story than it ultimately was, and I ended up a little letdown when he finally explained the mystery behind her death.
May 13, 2013
Matt Coyle hooked me with his first sentence and kept me up late finishing it. His style has strong echoes of Raymond Chandler with short sentences and smart descriptors, but the up-to-date La Jolla setting and strong character development made it all Matt's. It's a great read that left me wanting more. I hope this is the first of a lengthy series about Rick Cahill.
June 18, 2013
Really fun book! Coyle paced the book well at the start so I actually invested in the characters. He portrayed the hero as a normal guy with a dark past who is seeking love. Sort of an everyman who gets caught up in a well thought out scheme. The last 100+/- pages were explosive, I could not put the book down! Good first book by this author, cannot wait for book 2?
April 1, 2015
Reviewed for Library Journal.
March 15, 2013
“The first time I saw her, she made me remember and she made me forget.” This delectable opening line sets the tone for Coyle’s hard-boiled crime series debut, which introduces Rick Cahill, a former cop whose wife was brutally murdered eight years ago. Rick was accused of the crime but never convicted. Unable to fight the media maelstrom, he retreats to La Jolla, CA, to help run a restaurant with his best (and only) friend. It isn’t much of an existence but Rick is slowly regaining control of his life. Fate arrives in the figure of Melody, a gorgeous Filipina who embroils Rick in a lethal entanglement. Before too long, the protagonist finds himself back in the crosshairs of the media and the police, who remember all too well the cop that got away with murder. VERDICT: Coyle does a superb job of drawing the reader in and keeps a steady pace of action along with solid character development. This celebration of the crime noir novels of old with a modern sensibility in Rick Cahill as hero will strongly appeal to fans of classic hard-boiled PI novels.
March 15, 2013
“The first time I saw her, she made me remember and she made me forget.” This delectable opening line sets the tone for Coyle’s hard-boiled crime series debut, which introduces Rick Cahill, a former cop whose wife was brutally murdered eight years ago. Rick was accused of the crime but never convicted. Unable to fight the media maelstrom, he retreats to La Jolla, CA, to help run a restaurant with his best (and only) friend. It isn’t much of an existence but Rick is slowly regaining control of his life. Fate arrives in the figure of Melody, a gorgeous Filipina who embroils Rick in a lethal entanglement. Before too long, the protagonist finds himself back in the crosshairs of the media and the police, who remember all too well the cop that got away with murder. VERDICT: Coyle does a superb job of drawing the reader in and keeps a steady pace of action along with solid character development. This celebration of the crime noir novels of old with a modern sensibility in Rick Cahill as hero will strongly appeal to fans of classic hard-boiled PI novels.
May 8, 2018
First Book in the Series
Yesterday’s Echo is the first book in Coyle’s Rick Cahill crime thriller series and probably a good place to start. Here, Cahill is an ex-police officer suspected years earlier of murdering his wife and back in his hometown of La Jolla tending bar and managing a restaurant. A mysterious woman, some hard types following her, and an enigma of a mystery flips around Cahill’s self imposed retirement from excitement. This is a very solid action-packed thriller that really doesn’t have any letup in the action ever. All in all, a pretty good series.
Yesterday’s Echo is the first book in Coyle’s Rick Cahill crime thriller series and probably a good place to start. Here, Cahill is an ex-police officer suspected years earlier of murdering his wife and back in his hometown of La Jolla tending bar and managing a restaurant. A mysterious woman, some hard types following her, and an enigma of a mystery flips around Cahill’s self imposed retirement from excitement. This is a very solid action-packed thriller that really doesn’t have any letup in the action ever. All in all, a pretty good series.
August 24, 2015
YESTERDAY'S ECHO
Rick Cahill is a restaurant manager leading a very quiet life, and constantly kicking himself for his past mistakes. He gets himself involved in a murder, and there goes his quiet. Good book, well worth the read.
Rick Cahill is a restaurant manager leading a very quiet life, and constantly kicking himself for his past mistakes. He gets himself involved in a murder, and there goes his quiet. Good book, well worth the read.
September 16, 2018
Good mystery plot, but things just kept going from bad to worse...a stressful and dangerous journey. I didn't quite warm up to Rick Cahill, although I was rooting for him the whole time.
November 18, 2019
“Yesterday’s Echo” by Matt Coyle is the first book in the Rick Cahill series. With “Lost Tomorrows,” book six in the series, arriving on December 3, 2019, this is an appropriate time to look back at how it all started. Rick arrived on the pages burdened with a traumatic past, an unstable present, and an uncertain future. Before readers even met Cahill, his father had resigned from the La Jolla police department in disgrace suspected of malfeasance and corruption. Cahill had attempted to outrun the cloud of dishonor by joining the police force in Santa Barbara; however trouble followed there as well. His wife was murdered, and although charges against him were dropped, he was always a person of interest in her death. When readers meet Cahill, he still agonizes over this; “Coleen used to say she felt safe with me and that she knew I would always protect her. And I had. Except for the one night that had really mattered
The books are structured as Cahill’s first person narrative, and readers are immediately pulled into Cahill’s life, the struggles, the successes, and the overwhelming guilt. He talks to readers as if talking to a friend; he shares his philosophy of life; “Sometimes you have to do what’s right even when the law says it’s wrong.” And he describes his current choice of occupation; “Now strangers come to me with their problems and I try to solve them. I do it for money, not for love. It’s easier that way. Fewer people get hurt.”
La Jolla provides the framework for Cahill’s experiences; both the beautiful, “At night, it was magical. Scattered rainbows of lights from the restaurants stores, and hotels of the Golden triangle to the north gave way to the intermittent twinkles of house lights among the dark vacuum of hills rolling down to the black expanse of ocean rimmed by white splashes of broken waves.” And the painful; “It was a police station. A place where I used to belong, but never would again. A place where you were forced to face the truth, even when you lied.”
“Yesterday’s Echo” introduces characters who drop in and out of Cahill’s life in the years to come. Readers who missed the first installment in Rick Cahill’s life will appreciate the consistent earnestness that propels him from the start and carries him through the books that follow. This is a good time for faithful readers to revisit Cahill’s past in preparation for revelations of “Lost Tomorrows.”
The books are structured as Cahill’s first person narrative, and readers are immediately pulled into Cahill’s life, the struggles, the successes, and the overwhelming guilt. He talks to readers as if talking to a friend; he shares his philosophy of life; “Sometimes you have to do what’s right even when the law says it’s wrong.” And he describes his current choice of occupation; “Now strangers come to me with their problems and I try to solve them. I do it for money, not for love. It’s easier that way. Fewer people get hurt.”
La Jolla provides the framework for Cahill’s experiences; both the beautiful, “At night, it was magical. Scattered rainbows of lights from the restaurants stores, and hotels of the Golden triangle to the north gave way to the intermittent twinkles of house lights among the dark vacuum of hills rolling down to the black expanse of ocean rimmed by white splashes of broken waves.” And the painful; “It was a police station. A place where I used to belong, but never would again. A place where you were forced to face the truth, even when you lied.”
“Yesterday’s Echo” introduces characters who drop in and out of Cahill’s life in the years to come. Readers who missed the first installment in Rick Cahill’s life will appreciate the consistent earnestness that propels him from the start and carries him through the books that follow. This is a good time for faithful readers to revisit Cahill’s past in preparation for revelations of “Lost Tomorrows.”
October 18, 2014
This book is nominated for both the Anthony and Macavity Awards for best first mystery novel. I liked the writing style, and there is an interesting and plausible plot. I had trouble with the lead character, Rick Cahill. Cahill is a former Santa Barbara Police Officer who was arrested for the murder of his wife. The charges were dismissed, but Cahill never escaped the cloud of the arrest. He moved back to LaJolla where he grew up and started working for an old friend Turk Muldoon who now owns his father's restaurant and bar. Turk was one of the only people to accept Cahill after the murder of his wife, and helped Cahill back on his feet. One evening at the restaurant 3 people come in that starts Cahill's world spinning out of control, and he soon finds himself the suspect of another homicide. In my opinion, Cahill does some really stupid things that are inconsistent with being a former cop, a person previously accused of the murder of his wife and a person trying to protect himself from another false arrest and accusation. He is kind of a jerk to the few friends he has left. These things, especially the stupid stuff, drove me crazy. I am not so sure they were necessary to the story or plot either. All in all, it is a fast paced mystery and a mostly enjoyable read.
September 18, 2017
Yesterday's Echo by Matt Coyle
Rick Cahill series Book #1
4.5★'s
This is an author that bears watching. If [Yesterday's Echo] is any indication of what Matt Coyle is capable of then the Mystery & Suspense readers have something to celebrate.
Coyle has presented us with ex-cop Rick Cahill...a tarnished character that is battling more than his share of demons. Accused of his wife's murder but not convicted because of lack of evidence, Rick moves to LaJolla to manage a restaurant for a friend. Everything is going well until a woman who had been in earlier with a man that she was arguing with...returns and asks for his help. Things just never go right for him after he tries to be the good guy. I'm not going to say much more about the story but I will say that if you want an captivating read that you won't want to put it down, and you don’t want to end...try this talented new author...Matt Coyle
Rick Cahill series Book #1
4.5★'s
This is an author that bears watching. If [Yesterday's Echo] is any indication of what Matt Coyle is capable of then the Mystery & Suspense readers have something to celebrate.
Coyle has presented us with ex-cop Rick Cahill...a tarnished character that is battling more than his share of demons. Accused of his wife's murder but not convicted because of lack of evidence, Rick moves to LaJolla to manage a restaurant for a friend. Everything is going well until a woman who had been in earlier with a man that she was arguing with...returns and asks for his help. Things just never go right for him after he tries to be the good guy. I'm not going to say much more about the story but I will say that if you want an captivating read that you won't want to put it down, and you don’t want to end...try this talented new author...Matt Coyle
November 21, 2013
Really enjoyed this read, author Matt Coyle's first novel. It had good, smart writing, a complex but credible plot, and a likeable, albeit flawed, main character you wanted to root for. I hope it's not too long a wait before the next Rick Cahill book.
May 11, 2017
Mystery writer Matt Coyle introduced his first in a series novel with a bang. And what better place than America's Finest City, San Diego. The sequence of events built momentum from the beginning and carried through to the end. There was no putting the book down.
Eight years ago, Rick Cahill's wife had been brutally raped and murdered. He was named prime suspect in her murder. There wasn't enough evidence to hold him so he was set free. For what it was worth, he was innocent. His employer, The San Bernardino Police Department saw things differently. They wanted no part of him. He had been driven out from the force. Apparently, he really wasn't free after all. Regardless the evidence, everyone still held him responsible for his wife's murder. The media had a big hand in that. The way things were going, it was time to move on. To the rescue came an ole' buddy who offered him a job in his restaurant in La Jolla. He jumped at the opportunity to get away. He wasted no time in getting down there. It was time to start a new life.
Eight years later, he's now the manager of the restaurant. Hard work's paid off. He immersed himself in his job with the hope it would help bury his troubled past. Good luck with that. Again, thanks to the media, his undeserved reputation linking him to an unsolved murder always seemed to follow him wherever he went. There was no escaping. The best he could come up with was to keep as low a profile as possible. As he'd come to find out, that's easier said than done.
One evening, at his restaurant he met Melody, a TV reporter who also happened to be a real hottie. The night's off to a good start, so he hoped. Melody didn't happen in there by accident. Well aware of his background, she sought his help for a murder of which she was being accused. Rick agreed to come to her aid. Hopefully, in more ways than one. It had been a long time.
As Rick digs in and begins to untangle the evidence, he finds himself a hunted man by the La Jolla PD. The charge - murder. What the hell brought this on! He's now on the run not only from the police but also from the people that he's found who need to keep their pasts hidden. And they're determined to stop him at any cost. Even if it means his own death.
Eight years ago, Rick Cahill's wife had been brutally raped and murdered. He was named prime suspect in her murder. There wasn't enough evidence to hold him so he was set free. For what it was worth, he was innocent. His employer, The San Bernardino Police Department saw things differently. They wanted no part of him. He had been driven out from the force. Apparently, he really wasn't free after all. Regardless the evidence, everyone still held him responsible for his wife's murder. The media had a big hand in that. The way things were going, it was time to move on. To the rescue came an ole' buddy who offered him a job in his restaurant in La Jolla. He jumped at the opportunity to get away. He wasted no time in getting down there. It was time to start a new life.
Eight years later, he's now the manager of the restaurant. Hard work's paid off. He immersed himself in his job with the hope it would help bury his troubled past. Good luck with that. Again, thanks to the media, his undeserved reputation linking him to an unsolved murder always seemed to follow him wherever he went. There was no escaping. The best he could come up with was to keep as low a profile as possible. As he'd come to find out, that's easier said than done.
One evening, at his restaurant he met Melody, a TV reporter who also happened to be a real hottie. The night's off to a good start, so he hoped. Melody didn't happen in there by accident. Well aware of his background, she sought his help for a murder of which she was being accused. Rick agreed to come to her aid. Hopefully, in more ways than one. It had been a long time.
As Rick digs in and begins to untangle the evidence, he finds himself a hunted man by the La Jolla PD. The charge - murder. What the hell brought this on! He's now on the run not only from the police but also from the people that he's found who need to keep their pasts hidden. And they're determined to stop him at any cost. Even if it means his own death.
January 18, 2015
Yesterday's Echo won the best debut mystery novel award at Bouchercon 2014 and it's easy to see why: it's a tightly plotted detective story about a man wrongly accused. I don't like police procedurals because the notion of the cop as hero has always been a stretch for me and Yesterday's Echo is lousy with power-tripping cops, corrupt cops, asshole cops (I know I'm getting redundant here) which made the peril feel legit. Coyle's protagonist is an ex-cop who was kicked off the force in disgrace and drags the baggage of his many sins, and the sins of his father, everywhere he goes. His relationships with the women in the novel is a bit more problematic: we're not quite in the virgin/whore territory but close enough to knock it down half a star. Nonstop action, well-written scenes, and a bit of wit make Yesterday's Echo a super compelling California noir.
August 10, 2013
It's hard to believe that this is Matt Coyle's first novel. It had everything going for it, a complicated protagonist, a suspenseful story and a voice that you wanted to hang around with. The writing style felt confident as if he's been writing mystery novels for decades. He not only had an interesting story but he used a backstory that he doled out in bits and pieces along the way leaving the reader begging for more. Some debut mysteries have well developed stories but fall apart at the end - not Yesterday's Echo. It has a powerful ending with each story tied up skillfully. I'm impatient to read Matt Coyle's next mystery.
March 12, 2016
A great noir mystery with crisp, terse writing and superbly controlled voice. Coyle reveals his main character's flaws as well as his strengths, giving us the picture of a man who is wounded and full of regrets, yet who still manages to be kind and, when pressed, do right by those he loves. The San Diego settings, particularly the locations in La Jolla, are so well-drawn that anyone who has been there will recognize them immediately. A dark, fast-paced read, with just enough action, pathos, and dry humor to keep us rooting for ex-cop Rick Cahill until the very end.
October 12, 2017
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this story, Matt Coyle writes well and there were elements of humour which I also liked. I took off half a point though because I think the chief protagonist, Rick Cahill, made a few too many bad decisions. Chief among them not seeing Melody for what she really was.
Anyway, it was a fast paced thriller where our hero is cornered time and time again yet manages to escape by the skin of his teeth, only to get tricked/trapped yet again and so on.
A fun romp laced with sex and corruption and murder and blackmail, in other words a great start to a series!
I enjoyed this story, Matt Coyle writes well and there were elements of humour which I also liked. I took off half a point though because I think the chief protagonist, Rick Cahill, made a few too many bad decisions. Chief among them not seeing Melody for what she really was.
Anyway, it was a fast paced thriller where our hero is cornered time and time again yet manages to escape by the skin of his teeth, only to get tricked/trapped yet again and so on.
A fun romp laced with sex and corruption and murder and blackmail, in other words a great start to a series!
April 24, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is a page turner. Matt Coyle does a good job of developing the characters and storyline, as well as continually building the suspense. Having grown up in San Diego, I also enjoyed the overall characterization of La Jolla, as well as the description of specific sites. I felt the descriptions were sufficiently detailed that someone unfamiliar with the area could still relate. Hopefully, there will be many more Rick Cahill books in the future..
July 7, 2015
I loved this book! If you're a San Diego, CA native... it's fun to read about your own city. The story takes place in La Jolla, CA. Police procedural, easy reading. The main character aggravated me, made me anxious but I felt the author gave me his back story as needed to explain the character's thought process, decision making.
I'm looking forward to his next book where he writes less about the La Jolla, north Clairemont area & takes us down into OB.
I'm looking forward to his next book where he writes less about the La Jolla, north Clairemont area & takes us down into OB.
November 26, 2020
Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.
Okay he's not that Rick but he still sleeps with the damsel in distress.
Sloppy storytelling. A first time author that's too be expected. At one point i was trying to figure out what the main plot was. Police corruption. Prostitutes. Drugs. Blackmail. And a dirty, i mean dirty little secret.
A harmless episodic read. I'll try out book 2.
Okay he's not that Rick but he still sleeps with the damsel in distress.
Sloppy storytelling. A first time author that's too be expected. At one point i was trying to figure out what the main plot was. Police corruption. Prostitutes. Drugs. Blackmail. And a dirty, i mean dirty little secret.
A harmless episodic read. I'll try out book 2.
April 18, 2018
Rick Cahill, disgraced S CA cop, is dragged into a complex tangled world of politics, sex and people who can and do kill to keep the past buried. Yesterday's Echo by Matt Coyle carries this mystery through a very tricky path to a very reasonable conclusion.
If you enjoy sort of traditional mysteries with cops, some sex, heroes and shady characters, this is a good story for you.
If you enjoy sort of traditional mysteries with cops, some sex, heroes and shady characters, this is a good story for you.
December 12, 2012
A fun read from debut author Matt Coyle!
August 30, 2017
Audio -Slow start, noir type dialogue with some weird metaphors, but a good read. Will read another in the series.
May 10, 2016
Loved it. The writing is easy and yet wonderful. I liked his style, I re-read sentences just to enjoy them again. The opening started that way, wonderful --it had me from the beginning. I liked the story--mystery, suspense and some romance. Anxiety and tension --yes.
Cahill is likeable and flawed. I found him human--I'm a sucker for a characters who love love their dogs. This one is a black lab - how perfect.
The story held interest with some excitement and twists, including the dog. Some plots could figure out but it didn't matter. I liked location of La Jolla, not far from me, and that was fun to read someone else's point of view.
This author is now on my watch list for sure. I highly recommend this noir-style book. You won't be disappointed.
Cahill is likeable and flawed. I found him human--I'm a sucker for a characters who love love their dogs. This one is a black lab - how perfect.
The story held interest with some excitement and twists, including the dog. Some plots could figure out but it didn't matter. I liked location of La Jolla, not far from me, and that was fun to read someone else's point of view.
This author is now on my watch list for sure. I highly recommend this noir-style book. You won't be disappointed.
May 6, 2013
Book Review & Giveaway: Yesterday’s Echo by Matt Coyle is Book #1 in the Rick Cahill crime series. Its journey has been a long one, since Matt found the seeds for this novel almost 30 years ago, but if this book is any indication then it was well worth the trip. In some ways this novel pays homage to classic hard-boiled PI/crime novels; however, its contemporary edge will appeal to mystery and thriller fans of all kinds. Thanks to the publisher’s generosity, we’re giving away an advance readers copy (ARC) of Yesterday’s Echo, so be sure to enter to our giveaway at http://popcornreads.com/?p=5912.
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