Land of Echoes

Cree Black #2

by Daniel Hecht

Second in the Cree Black series (following City of Masks), this paranormal thriller is filled with fascinating elements of Navajo culture and traditional beliefs. Author Daniel Hecht finds a careful narrative balance between family drama, eerie occultism, and scientific examination.

Teenager Tommy Keeday suffers strange and dangerous seizures while a student at a school for gifted Native Americans in New Mexico and is believed to be possessed by an evil Navajo spirit. Seattle-based parapsychologist Cree Black is asked to study and save the boy. Along with her team of ghost hunters, she uses her own empathic skills to delve into the dark secrets of the teachers and fellow students who might have something to do with Tommy's illness.

Hecht makes a bold effort to give readers believable investigations into the supernatural. Cree considers and applies theories involving magnetic fields, mysterious energies, genetics, and geographical forces. The narrative is leavened with a great many separate back-stories, as several fascinating Navajo myths and local legends are discussed in depth. This plausible, spooky, and grabbing mixture of solid detective work and paranormal chills is highly recommended.

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Fiction, Ghosts, Audiobook, Fantasy, Horror

400 pages, Paperback

First published February 21, 2004

About the author

I was born into an artist's community founded in 1946 by my parents and their friends in the wilds of Westchester County, N.Y. Surrounded by these individualistic yet communalistic bohemians, I saw artists in every discipline working their magic, and could not help but follow in their footsteps.

I've lived all over the U.S. and have worked at every kind of job to make ends meet, and I enjoy the labor of body and hands as much as the effort of the mind. Mailman, logger, carpenter, musician, musical instrument builder, graphic designer, apple picker, farmhand, nonprofit organizational director, college administrator, educator -- the great thing about a checkered past is that you see the world from a lot of perspectives. This is the best education for a writer!

I have lived in Vermont for many years, have three kids and several cats, am active on behalf of environmental causes, and am highly reclusive.

Reviews

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in this series and keeps getting better.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Cree Black novel. I especially enjoyed this one as it was located at an American Indian School so you not only had supernatural forces, but American Indian legends at work as well. I have purchased all of Daniel Hecht's novels. He is an excellent writer and I cannot believe I didn't discover him before.

[Sonya L Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been excited about novels that deal with parapsychology, but have enjoyed my jaunt into the Cree Black stories written by Daniel Hecht.
From Amazon:
"Parapsychologist Cree Black is called to a New Mexico school for gifted Navajo teens to investigate the mysterious symptoms of a student. Sixteen-year-old Tommy Keeday is wracked nightly with violent convulsions. Is the boy possessed by the spirit of an ancestor, as his family believes? Or is something even more sinister going on?

A Book Sense 76 pick in hardcover
"Hecht is so good at making his ghosts and demons believable that [Land of Echoes] quickly caught me up in its exciting story...Well balanced and beautifully written."-Chicago Tribune
"Daniel Hecht scores again in a series that is absorbing, lyrical, and altogether frightening. His exploration of the supernatural, the Navajo culture, and the beauty of the New Mexican desert all come together in a story that is as enthralling as it is evocative...This is one series you won't want to miss."-New Mystery Reader
"Hecht evokes the setting and the Navajo culture with skill and sensitivity."-Cleveland Plain Dealer
"As with the first Cree Black novel, Hecht balances paranormal phenomena with everyday concerns...Creepy and convincing."-Booklist
"Shocking and heartbreaking...Read it!"-Arizona Tribune

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coincidentally, I read this a few weeks after a road trip through the very area where the book takes place, so that may have caused me to be a little biased in the rating. I liked the story a lot and being that I was just in the setting, it felt very real to me and I was able to visualize and relate to the characters.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of Hecht's titles are enjoyable, especially Skull Session and Land of Echoes.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good escapist reading from the tribal territories of New Mexico with 4 of the main characters pining fruitlessly for each other - so you can guess how that will go. There’s some cool body horror stuff and a heroine who is likable but puts herself in harm’s way to suit the plot. And the problem child, a victim who hurts himself and others but isn’t restrained or anything.. just enjoy the horseback rides and the sunsets, ok!?

[Wendy Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The way this story explores parapsychology is really interesting. I wanted Cree & company to be prove their theories right, and was rooting for them the whole way. The plotting is also well done, with all the pieces coming together in a very satisfying way.

But the character of Julieta (and Cree, when she was around Julieta, reflecting her personality) was written in an extremely annoying fashion. The theme of this tale is "I wish I could have a baby," and unfortunately, the prose is chock-full of aching breasts and wombs. The first third was nearly unreadable with this schlock. Egad!

Luckily, there are lots of POV characters and most of them (especially the guys) are much better done.

[Gerty Gaalman-Schiphorst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooi verhaal. Soms lopen de zinnen niet goed en zijn er vreemde woorden in de tekst. Dit kan ook aan de vertaling liggen. Een beetje slordig vind ik.

[Lhizz Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful installment in the Cree Black series, and I think I liked this even more than the first. This one was less about Cree and her struggle to deal with the death of her husband, although I think she's slowly coming to terms with his loss, her interaction with the spirit world and her own self more. She acts as a white spectator of the world of the Diné/Navajo people, and Hecht's description of modern reservation life comes across as very realistic. He shows a people creating their own nation within a nation against difficult odds. I'm not familiar with the culture personally, but it struck me that Hecht had done his homework, portraying the Native American characters with sensitivity but without being pitying, cliched or patronising. Once again, the balance between the protagonists' psychological states and the supernatural shifts back and forward, and the scientific arguments for metaphysical phenomena is very believable. I look forward to reading the next book in the series, set in San Francisco, and I hope Hecht will write some more!

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...My mother says if you haven't got regrets you haven't lived right. - Cree (Lucretia Black)"

This is what I realized after finishing this novel, this is the second book of Cree Black's adventure which I shouldn't have read before reading the prequel. Although, it might have been a whole different story from the first but, personally, I would prefer reading it by sequence.
Land of Echoes is a visually satisfying and suspense grabbing novel that will glue your eyes on each and every page.
The story revolves around Cree Black and her friends trying to solve the mystery surrounding the teenage Navajo, Tommy, and determine whether or not he is possessed by a spirit or merely mentally deranged. In addition, identify the connection between the head mistress, Julieta, the land where the school resides and their past in relation to Tommy's condition.
I personally enjoyed reading it and would reread it again if I ever had the chance to read the prequel. I would definitely recommend it to horror and paranormal novel fans.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Setting = excellent: I've never been to the area, but felt as thought I'd been raised there - the imagery is that vivid!

Plot = good: Kind of a combined rating ... the mystery/occult angle was done well, but Julietta's love life was as painful as a Harlequin much of the time. Cree's thoughts veered that way at times, but were largely kept in check so as not to detract from the main story.

Characters = fair: Cree was her usual self, as was Joyce (whose nasal NY accent is a hoot on audio). Edgar was almost non-existent, mooning around after Cree to provide a love triangle aspect. Even Julietta comments to Cree about it at the end. Julietta herself came off as self-absorbed, living in the past carrying her bitterness against Garrett McCarty. Maybe he wasn't such a great guy, but he was carried as a villain rather too far for me.

[Terri Epp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am still in the process of reading this book but will finish it in the next day or so. It is based on a character named Cree Black, who is a renowned psychologist who owns a company that deals in parapsychology which is part of Cree's speciality.

Cree is asked to assist a boy who is showing signs of "possession" at a school for gifted Navajo students. The principal of the school feels she has a connecttion to this boy which brings up her past.

The sub plot involves a mining company. Julieta, the principal, was once married to the owner.

The heart of the book is about two women who find themselves connected due to past tragedies, the inability to see that loving men are in both their lives and to help a talented boy find out who he is.

I would recommend his book for some lighter reading and an interesting storyline.

[April Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creeepy....Love the New Mexico setting. Something about the Southwest that's so mystical and mysterious. Very well written and descriptive, you feel as if you are right there in the mists of the Navajo land. Perfect read for this time of year!

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to City of Masks

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Daniel Hecht really draws you into the Navajo area setting! Super imagery inspired in my head while listening to the audiobook. That was one of my favorite parts. This book was excellent. As good as the first.
Cree's love life was still a mess, not sure I cared anymore. But the author didn't let it detract from the main story.
Very windy and unexpected twists. I enjoyed it, but at the end I didn't feel quite satisfied somehow, like I said excellent reveal and mystery ending, but the end of the book just meh wan. LOVED Joyce giving it to Lynn.

[Kathy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the connection to the Navajo Indian believes and customs and the very good descriptions of the vastness of the territory\area. The theme and the history of ghosts, possession, woven in with how the main character uses modern higher learning combined with acceptance of the 'unknown' and native american lore is quite good. There are sections which I wished had more detail and more attention but overall a fairly good book

[Rashel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way Hecht weaves these mysteries and builds in background and facts supporting the story. I get more from the books than entertainment. This one was true possession not just a recurring memory imposed on a place.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my 13 best mysteries read in 2004.

[Emily Onufer · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The land was big and enduring; people were small and transient, and the details of their little lives got lost in the sweep of things." 53

[Laura MacKechnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Daniel hechts books. Engaging characters and a good story the keeps you guessing

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe three and a half stars. I thought the ghost stuff would creep me out, but it didn't bother me! The book kept my interest, I was curious who the ghost was, and it was a satisfying ending!

[Dottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it better than the first book!

[Dkolacinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

My final read of 2022 and what an amazing way to end the year. Cree Black is a complex and fully realized character and this is a great novel set in the world of Native Americans.

[Rosanne Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installation in a series, the author writes with rich description detail that draws the reader into the setting, people, and narrative.

[Katherine Fahey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great puzzle

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of finest works I've ever read. Ever.

[Lisa Hgmr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paranormal on Native American reservation. Skin walkers, customs, past mistakes righted through new generations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original and genre blending. A fiction book written meticulously by an interesting man.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book to listen to. This is the second of the "Cree Black Series." Cree is a parapsychologist who deals in hauntings and supernatural occurences, a "ghostbuster" you could say. This adventure was about a young Navaho boy possessed by a spirit. Reading (listening to) this book gave me many insights into Native American culture and life. The role of the healer is not that much different than the role of a psychologist. It is also interesting because at the same time I was listening to this novel I was reading stories focusing on the caste system of India. Although the literary value of the two vary greatly, I begin to realize that class struggles are the same all around the world. The way the whites spoke of the Native Americans is the same as the way the Brahmins spoke of the lower castes. Although not a great literary work, I found this book interesting!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredibly gripping and slightly horrifying book. It is a mystery of the paranormal. THe "detective" is someone who works with ghosts. Odd I know. Not usually my thing. But it takes place on the Navaho Indian Reservation, and the story is deep, complex and riveting. The ghost part is very low key and almost beliveable which makes it more scary. Do not read this book before you go to bed. Do not read this book if you live in New Mexico. Reminds me of a camping trip we took when I was very young to Chaco Canyon, and my parents packed up the tent and everything in the middle of the night and fled because there were faces in the rocks and voices.
This book was good, but I am not sure I will seek out the other ones. Doens't help me sleep.