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Echoes of the Forgotten
" ‘Roll up, roll up,’ he repeats in the calm sing-song of an escaped lunatic. As the words travel to us, the skin prickles on my arms as though scratched by a painfully cold wind. A grin stretches across his face, one half more than the other, revealing large slabs of grey teeth. "
It should have been a night they'd never forget. It became the night he lost everything. A night he couldn't remember.
On the first night of their third year of university, five students disappear without a trace. three days later, Will campbell is found miles away, in the middle of the countryside, covered in somebody else’s blood. His friends are nowhere to be found. And Will can’t remember anything except a fairground and a haunting man with a crooked smile.
But there was no fair that night.
It should have been a night they'd never forget. It became the night he lost everything. A night he couldn't remember.
On the first night of their third year of university, five students disappear without a trace. three days later, Will campbell is found miles away, in the middle of the countryside, covered in somebody else’s blood. His friends are nowhere to be found. And Will can’t remember anything except a fairground and a haunting man with a crooked smile.
But there was no fair that night.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2024
26 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Michael Nunn
3 books16 followersMichael Nunn is an independently published thriller novelist, living in County Durham with his wife and cats. An avid reader with a love of writing stories growing up, he discovered Stephen King at age eleven or twelve and became fascinated with writing about monsters, demons, vampires and all things macabre.
This passion was temporarily set aside as he studied for a degree in Graphic Design at Teesside University. Shortly after graduating in 2016, Michael found himself drawn once again toward his love of writing, and devoted much of his spare time since working on his craft.
Echoes of the Forgotten is his first published novel.
This passion was temporarily set aside as he studied for a degree in Graphic Design at Teesside University. Shortly after graduating in 2016, Michael found himself drawn once again toward his love of writing, and devoted much of his spare time since working on his craft.
Echoes of the Forgotten is his first published novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 22, 2025
Echoes of the Forgotten by Michael Nunn is a thrilling, challenging and twisted psychological thriller that will make you question everything.
From the first chapter, you are looking for answers, you are trying to put this puzzle together, but it is not happening until the end. Horrific end that gives us all the answers, so you can finish this book with satisfaction.
5 friends walk into a fair, and just one walks out covered in blood and without memory of what happened. Things get more confusing when Will is informed that there was no fair this year or any previous years. Who can you trust if you can't trust your own memories?
This book is about exploring mental health and its impact on mental health.
From the first chapter, you are looking for answers, you are trying to put this puzzle together, but it is not happening until the end. Horrific end that gives us all the answers, so you can finish this book with satisfaction.
5 friends walk into a fair, and just one walks out covered in blood and without memory of what happened. Things get more confusing when Will is informed that there was no fair this year or any previous years. Who can you trust if you can't trust your own memories?
This book is about exploring mental health and its impact on mental health.
January 22, 2024
*SPOIL FREE REVIEW*
"Everyone deserves the chance to be saved."
I cannot express the literal thrill I got reading this book. Nunn is a horror author to watch out for. When I tell you I've read every type of horror book out there, I mean it - gore, thriller, crime, supernatural, you name it. I've been on the hunt for a horror book that would leave me speechless. This book does just that.
Nunn blends psychological, unexplainable, and literal terror into a perfect recipe that makes readers question both the reliability of their reading capabilities and the main character. The unreliability of our main character makes the story that much more gripping - is it real, is it an illusion, or is it supernatural? I think each reader will take away a different conclusion.
Nunn is exceptionally talented. The uniqueness of this plot is one that I will think about for a long time. And can we discuss the development of our main character? Nunn takes a deep dive of his psychological well-being, disclosing both the good and the tragic. There are some pretty dark avenues explored that compliment the plot in such a way that you can't help but plead with the main character to believe in himself, keep going, all of it.
I cannot speak highly enough about this book. I absolutely loved it and cannot wait for whatever Nunn has planned next!
"Everyone deserves the chance to be saved."
I cannot express the literal thrill I got reading this book. Nunn is a horror author to watch out for. When I tell you I've read every type of horror book out there, I mean it - gore, thriller, crime, supernatural, you name it. I've been on the hunt for a horror book that would leave me speechless. This book does just that.
Nunn blends psychological, unexplainable, and literal terror into a perfect recipe that makes readers question both the reliability of their reading capabilities and the main character. The unreliability of our main character makes the story that much more gripping - is it real, is it an illusion, or is it supernatural? I think each reader will take away a different conclusion.
Nunn is exceptionally talented. The uniqueness of this plot is one that I will think about for a long time. And can we discuss the development of our main character? Nunn takes a deep dive of his psychological well-being, disclosing both the good and the tragic. There are some pretty dark avenues explored that compliment the plot in such a way that you can't help but plead with the main character to believe in himself, keep going, all of it.
I cannot speak highly enough about this book. I absolutely loved it and cannot wait for whatever Nunn has planned next!
June 6, 2024
3.5 rounded up.
A twisty thriller with a great, creepy setting and flashes of gore that were very unsettling. I felt very concerned for the main character throughout and enjoyed the puzzle pieces building up in the first half.
A twisty thriller with a great, creepy setting and flashes of gore that were very unsettling. I felt very concerned for the main character throughout and enjoyed the puzzle pieces building up in the first half.
February 4, 2024
5 friends walk into a fair...
Will was one of five missing people until he was found 3 days after his disappearance without his friends, covered in blood and no memory.
He claims they had gone to a fair in town, but nobody recalls there being a fair. In fact, there hasn't been a fair in Treevale since the early 1900s. Will tries desperately to piece together what had happened the night he and his friends went missing, taking drastic measures to try and recover his memory, but he's not so sure if the fair had even really happened. Did he kill his friends? Was the fair a figment of his imagination to protect his fragile mind from the truth of that night? Is he so mentally disturbed that he can't tell what's real and what's not?
This, my friends, is Michael's first novel, and I applaud 👏 👏👏 this man's creative genius! Echoes of the Forgotten is one hell of a thriller that will pull you in from the very beginning, heart pounding, nail biting, desperate to help solve the case of the Treevale Five! This story is a must-read. Enter if you dare!
Will was one of five missing people until he was found 3 days after his disappearance without his friends, covered in blood and no memory.
He claims they had gone to a fair in town, but nobody recalls there being a fair. In fact, there hasn't been a fair in Treevale since the early 1900s. Will tries desperately to piece together what had happened the night he and his friends went missing, taking drastic measures to try and recover his memory, but he's not so sure if the fair had even really happened. Did he kill his friends? Was the fair a figment of his imagination to protect his fragile mind from the truth of that night? Is he so mentally disturbed that he can't tell what's real and what's not?
This, my friends, is Michael's first novel, and I applaud 👏 👏👏 this man's creative genius! Echoes of the Forgotten is one hell of a thriller that will pull you in from the very beginning, heart pounding, nail biting, desperate to help solve the case of the Treevale Five! This story is a must-read. Enter if you dare!
June 29, 2024
4.5 Stars!!
A super twisty and creepy thriller/horror read that will keep you guessing throughout!
Such an intriguing storyline along with an unreliable main character- five friends went to a fairground, but only one returns. But was the fair real or just something he imagined?
I found it to be more of a slower paced psychological suspense in the first half with the horror more towards the latter half. It really picks up in the second half and the last 20% or so will have your heart racing!
The Crooked Man is so creepy! I also don’t think I can ever go into a House of Horrors at a fair ever again now!
A very good debut novel to check out! I look forward to seeing what this author comes out with next!🖤
Thank you @michaelnunnauthor for this #gifted e-copy!🫶🏼
A super twisty and creepy thriller/horror read that will keep you guessing throughout!
Such an intriguing storyline along with an unreliable main character- five friends went to a fairground, but only one returns. But was the fair real or just something he imagined?
I found it to be more of a slower paced psychological suspense in the first half with the horror more towards the latter half. It really picks up in the second half and the last 20% or so will have your heart racing!
The Crooked Man is so creepy! I also don’t think I can ever go into a House of Horrors at a fair ever again now!
A very good debut novel to check out! I look forward to seeing what this author comes out with next!🖤
Thank you @michaelnunnauthor for this #gifted e-copy!🫶🏼
May 14, 2024
3.5 stars
I read this as part of the Indievisible Book Tour.
The story itself intrigued me from the start. 5 friends went to a fair ground but only 1 came back. The setting was creepy and there were lots of incredibly tense and disturbing moments.
The Crooked Man is like something out of a nightmare and I really enjoyed the ending and how it all came together.
I thought it was well written and a great horror/thriller that I'd recommend to readers of the genre.
My only negative was with the characters. The MC was the only one who felt well developed but even then I had a hard time connecting with him. At times I felt the plot dragged a little and could have been tightened up a bit.
Overall, a creepy horror. I won't be forgetting the Crooked Man any time soon!
I read this as part of the Indievisible Book Tour.
The story itself intrigued me from the start. 5 friends went to a fair ground but only 1 came back. The setting was creepy and there were lots of incredibly tense and disturbing moments.
The Crooked Man is like something out of a nightmare and I really enjoyed the ending and how it all came together.
I thought it was well written and a great horror/thriller that I'd recommend to readers of the genre.
My only negative was with the characters. The MC was the only one who felt well developed but even then I had a hard time connecting with him. At times I felt the plot dragged a little and could have been tightened up a bit.
Overall, a creepy horror. I won't be forgetting the Crooked Man any time soon!
June 19, 2024
It’s official, Michael Nunn has been added to the list of “authors I will always read/recommend books by”, because this book was BRILLIANT, and left me terrified to go to sleep without knowing if it was all real… or if The Crooked Man was a figment of our MC’s imagination.
I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say that Nunn pulled off an amazingly creepy story that’s jam packed with heavy emotional damage, while still being full of twists, turns, and gasps. It’s not often that a book ends, and STILL leaves me with my jaw on the floor and my hands over my eyes to hide from The Crooked Man and his twisted schemes.
Wonderful debut novel by Michael Nunn and I truly cannot wait to read everything he writes, because I know it’ll be a wickedly good time.
I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say that Nunn pulled off an amazingly creepy story that’s jam packed with heavy emotional damage, while still being full of twists, turns, and gasps. It’s not often that a book ends, and STILL leaves me with my jaw on the floor and my hands over my eyes to hide from The Crooked Man and his twisted schemes.
Wonderful debut novel by Michael Nunn and I truly cannot wait to read everything he writes, because I know it’ll be a wickedly good time.
May 20, 2024
After a tough time, Will meets his friends at a university museum trip. He convinces them to leave and go to the fairground set up in the local park. Will and his friends go missing, but Will turns up a few days later with no memories of what happened to him or his friends. All he knows is there was a fairground. The police inform him there was never a fairground in the park.
Will decides to restart his third year at university a year after this event, but things are tough. His friends are still missing. He thinks he's being watched. People assume he's a murderer. His counsellor doesn't want him to try hypnotherapy. He does try it, which leads to more confusion about his memories. He also has an awkward relationship with his family.
I was so gripped to what happened to Will and his friends. I really wanted to know what happened at the fairground, if there ever was a fairground to begin with. We don't learn much about Will's old missing friends, but this worked well because it meant there wasn't much build of their relationships... So it leaves you questioning, did Will murder them? I also like the questions surrounding The Stranger. What was his interest in Will? Did he bad or good intentions towards him. The Crooked Man was pretty terrifying too.
I liked Beth & Ben and thought the development of these characters was a really good part of the story. I liked that they stuck around when most people would run from this situation (which we saw with people like Xander!) it's tough though because I can see why they were nervous with some of the ways Will was acting.
This is deffo a fun book which leaves you wondering what the hell is going on. If you like Stephen King style vibes, but without all that heavy detail, then this book will be for you. It is quite long, but it's straight to the point and has plenty of action. It builds up its main character while allowing you that sense of dread and the constant anticipation of a twist being thrown your way. Overall, a creepy book which I recommend to horror lovers or someone wanting something eerie but nothing that will keep them up at night (well, maybe The Crooked Man will!)
Will decides to restart his third year at university a year after this event, but things are tough. His friends are still missing. He thinks he's being watched. People assume he's a murderer. His counsellor doesn't want him to try hypnotherapy. He does try it, which leads to more confusion about his memories. He also has an awkward relationship with his family.
I was so gripped to what happened to Will and his friends. I really wanted to know what happened at the fairground, if there ever was a fairground to begin with. We don't learn much about Will's old missing friends, but this worked well because it meant there wasn't much build of their relationships... So it leaves you questioning, did Will murder them? I also like the questions surrounding The Stranger. What was his interest in Will? Did he bad or good intentions towards him. The Crooked Man was pretty terrifying too.
I liked Beth & Ben and thought the development of these characters was a really good part of the story. I liked that they stuck around when most people would run from this situation (which we saw with people like Xander!) it's tough though because I can see why they were nervous with some of the ways Will was acting.
This is deffo a fun book which leaves you wondering what the hell is going on. If you like Stephen King style vibes, but without all that heavy detail, then this book will be for you. It is quite long, but it's straight to the point and has plenty of action. It builds up its main character while allowing you that sense of dread and the constant anticipation of a twist being thrown your way. Overall, a creepy book which I recommend to horror lovers or someone wanting something eerie but nothing that will keep them up at night (well, maybe The Crooked Man will!)
May 23, 2024
... Roll up. Do you dare? Will the 'Crooked Man' mess with your mind?
Go on enter if you dare, but he warned this dark tale can really mess with your mind.
My thought upon opening the book was that I had read this before. Yet as the story progressed I realised it was just an opening similar to a novel I had read many moons ago. The title of which escapes me. But the scene was set and my own mind kept revisiting the fairground even when the book was not in my hand.
The character of the Crooked Man was so freaky the stuff of many nightmares I am sure. I can still clearly see his grossly misshapen body with it's long elongated limbs calling out to Will and others. Ultimately playing with their minds so they are unable to tell what is real and what is not. Hell, the story had my thoughts jumping around all over the place.
There are a lot of characters in this story, some standing out more than others. Will the main character is a complex soul, with his mental illness and the life he has encountered from such an early age. Ian his stepfather although only little cameo appearances is a strong grounding and supportive man. But the character that stands out for me is 'The Stranger'. This character has so many layers to him, his introduction in the story made me hesitant and wary. Yet there is so much beneath his raggedy ripped jacket and his constant stalking of Will.
I really cannot say more without giving too much away. All I will say is, if you are a fan of of a twisting turning horror story, the kind that puts your mind into overdrive then you might very well enjoy this.
Do you dare? The Roll up, Roll up!
Go on enter if you dare, but he warned this dark tale can really mess with your mind.
My thought upon opening the book was that I had read this before. Yet as the story progressed I realised it was just an opening similar to a novel I had read many moons ago. The title of which escapes me. But the scene was set and my own mind kept revisiting the fairground even when the book was not in my hand.
The character of the Crooked Man was so freaky the stuff of many nightmares I am sure. I can still clearly see his grossly misshapen body with it's long elongated limbs calling out to Will and others. Ultimately playing with their minds so they are unable to tell what is real and what is not. Hell, the story had my thoughts jumping around all over the place.
There are a lot of characters in this story, some standing out more than others. Will the main character is a complex soul, with his mental illness and the life he has encountered from such an early age. Ian his stepfather although only little cameo appearances is a strong grounding and supportive man. But the character that stands out for me is 'The Stranger'. This character has so many layers to him, his introduction in the story made me hesitant and wary. Yet there is so much beneath his raggedy ripped jacket and his constant stalking of Will.
I really cannot say more without giving too much away. All I will say is, if you are a fan of of a twisting turning horror story, the kind that puts your mind into overdrive then you might very well enjoy this.
Do you dare? The Roll up, Roll up!
February 12, 2024
This was a very well done psychological horror novel, a debut by Michael Nunn and hopefully the beginning of lots of great stories to come!
This story follows our main character Will who, a year prior to the start of this story, vanished with four of his closest friends. Then, after being deemed missing by authorities, Will shows up. Beaten, bloodied, and without any memory of what happened to his friends.
Now, a year later, most people still look at Will like he’s a killer, and he’s dealing with the ramifications of living life when others didn’t get the chance to.
I really liked this book. I thought Will was a solid character, and I also liked the introduction of another narration character later on in the story. I do think that outside of those characters, the rest of the cast did fall a bit flat. I wanted more to flesh them out than this story provided, probably because it was so focused on fleshing Will out quite well.
There’s also a creepy carnival in this story - which is a huge plus for me as carny horror is a trope I love, and all of the scenes where we were wandering the carnival were definitely my favorites.
I think the ending came a bit abruptly and, while it wrapped things up well, I definitely wanted more answers. Overall though, this was a fantastic story and something I would highly recommend to those who like character-driven horror novels with a touch of the supernatural thrown in.
This story follows our main character Will who, a year prior to the start of this story, vanished with four of his closest friends. Then, after being deemed missing by authorities, Will shows up. Beaten, bloodied, and without any memory of what happened to his friends.
Now, a year later, most people still look at Will like he’s a killer, and he’s dealing with the ramifications of living life when others didn’t get the chance to.
I really liked this book. I thought Will was a solid character, and I also liked the introduction of another narration character later on in the story. I do think that outside of those characters, the rest of the cast did fall a bit flat. I wanted more to flesh them out than this story provided, probably because it was so focused on fleshing Will out quite well.
There’s also a creepy carnival in this story - which is a huge plus for me as carny horror is a trope I love, and all of the scenes where we were wandering the carnival were definitely my favorites.
I think the ending came a bit abruptly and, while it wrapped things up well, I definitely wanted more answers. Overall though, this was a fantastic story and something I would highly recommend to those who like character-driven horror novels with a touch of the supernatural thrown in.
October 21, 2025
Intense Psychological Horror
A young man (Will) with suicidal ideations plans to end his life after giving his friends a night of positive memories at a nearby fair. But he wakes up in a field with blood all over him, his friends missing, and a sixty-hour memory lapse that he struggles to fight through. Also, he was told that no fair happened where he said they had all gone. Eleven months later, he’s still trying to figure out what happened that night, especially since everyone believes he killed his friends. His terrifying nightmares about “The Crooked Man” and the mysterious letters he receives add to the creepy factor that this novel is swimming in. His only friend now is Beth, one of his roommates in college who tries to help but seems unsure of how. The creep factor here is high, as the author does an amazing job with the slow burn of discovering just what happened to Will and his friends when they disappeared. Other strange people pop up (Peter Lincoln in particular) who only make the situation more intriguing as they add new layers to the storyline. The turning point of Will finally meeting the Crooked Man again was frightening and tense, and it brought the lingering questions of Will’s lost memories to a head. This is a well written piece of psychological horror.
A young man (Will) with suicidal ideations plans to end his life after giving his friends a night of positive memories at a nearby fair. But he wakes up in a field with blood all over him, his friends missing, and a sixty-hour memory lapse that he struggles to fight through. Also, he was told that no fair happened where he said they had all gone. Eleven months later, he’s still trying to figure out what happened that night, especially since everyone believes he killed his friends. His terrifying nightmares about “The Crooked Man” and the mysterious letters he receives add to the creepy factor that this novel is swimming in. His only friend now is Beth, one of his roommates in college who tries to help but seems unsure of how. The creep factor here is high, as the author does an amazing job with the slow burn of discovering just what happened to Will and his friends when they disappeared. Other strange people pop up (Peter Lincoln in particular) who only make the situation more intriguing as they add new layers to the storyline. The turning point of Will finally meeting the Crooked Man again was frightening and tense, and it brought the lingering questions of Will’s lost memories to a head. This is a well written piece of psychological horror.
November 2, 2024
WOW. This one was quite the ride! The storyline is intriguing AND has an unreliable narrator. CHECK and CHECK. It was twisty and a slow burn that included many puzzle pieces coming together. However, the last 20% picks up and will have your adrenaline pumping + you racing through the pages.
Not many books have me second guessing, especially through the entirety of it. I was stumped at times on what I thought of Will and the fairground. When I thought I had it figured out, Michael threw something in to make me ponder all I thought I pieced together. The sense of dread and anticipation was PERFECT.
Can we also give an honorable mention to Ben and Beth? The way they stayed around and weren’t quick to judge + the ending…total kudos to them.
I was impressed to see this was a debut because… wtf. lol!
I will most definitely be reading more from Michael, and can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
“𝒦𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝒹𝑜𝑒𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃. ℐ𝓉 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓉 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒶𝓂𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒹.”
𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨.
🎡 psychological thriller
🔥 slow burn
🎡 unreliable narrator
🔥 dark academia
🎡 amnesia
🔥 hypnotherapy
Not many books have me second guessing, especially through the entirety of it. I was stumped at times on what I thought of Will and the fairground. When I thought I had it figured out, Michael threw something in to make me ponder all I thought I pieced together. The sense of dread and anticipation was PERFECT.
Can we also give an honorable mention to Ben and Beth? The way they stayed around and weren’t quick to judge + the ending…total kudos to them.
I was impressed to see this was a debut because… wtf. lol!
I will most definitely be reading more from Michael, and can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
“𝒦𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝒹𝑜𝑒𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃. ℐ𝓉 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓉 𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒶𝓂𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒹.”
𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨.
🎡 psychological thriller
🔥 slow burn
🎡 unreliable narrator
🔥 dark academia
🎡 amnesia
🔥 hypnotherapy
May 3, 2024
Five friends hang out together the first night after they returned to college. Only one of them returns, the other four are missing (presumed dead). Will is found covered in blood with almost no recollection of the events that took place, only that he was at a fairground that seemingly didn't exist.
I found the premise of this book very mysterious and throughout all of it, I had no idea what would happen next or how it was going to end. I loved that the slow-burning plot was broken up with flashbacks, which felt like a fever dream. They were so creepy and the tension was built up perfectly with those scenes. The pace really picked up within the last 15-20% of the story, and at that point it was absolutely terrifying. The last few chapters definitely had elements that reminded me of Stephen King's It and both of James Markert's novels, The Nightmare Man and Mister Lullaby.
I also felt an emotional bond towards Will, because of his ongoing struggle with mental illness. However, I didn't care for his relationship with his friends who went missing, particularly his girlfriend. Some of the comments they had made to Will, knowing he was struggling with suicidal thoughts, I thought to be highly insensitive (particularly how his girlfriend treated him after he attempted suicide). Because of this, I found it a little difficult to care about what happened to them, only because Will blamed himself for their disappearance.
This might be for you if you enjoy a slow-burning plot, psychological horror, an unreliable narrator, and amusement park horror.
TW: Suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, some violence and gore
Thank you so much to Michael for a copy of this novel! All thoughts and this review were strictly my own.
I found the premise of this book very mysterious and throughout all of it, I had no idea what would happen next or how it was going to end. I loved that the slow-burning plot was broken up with flashbacks, which felt like a fever dream. They were so creepy and the tension was built up perfectly with those scenes. The pace really picked up within the last 15-20% of the story, and at that point it was absolutely terrifying. The last few chapters definitely had elements that reminded me of Stephen King's It and both of James Markert's novels, The Nightmare Man and Mister Lullaby.
I also felt an emotional bond towards Will, because of his ongoing struggle with mental illness. However, I didn't care for his relationship with his friends who went missing, particularly his girlfriend. Some of the comments they had made to Will, knowing he was struggling with suicidal thoughts, I thought to be highly insensitive (particularly how his girlfriend treated him after he attempted suicide). Because of this, I found it a little difficult to care about what happened to them, only because Will blamed himself for their disappearance.
This might be for you if you enjoy a slow-burning plot, psychological horror, an unreliable narrator, and amusement park horror.
TW: Suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, some violence and gore
Thank you so much to Michael for a copy of this novel! All thoughts and this review were strictly my own.
August 1, 2024
I finished this book last week, and I’m still trying to process how phenomenal it was. Michael Nunn is a natural storyteller—one I’ll definitely be watching out for in the indie horror + thriller space. ECHOES OF THE FORGOTTEN is brilliantly crafted and even more brilliantly executed as we follow the main character through a horrific mental health journey, a disappearance, and missing memories. Oh, and did I mention there’s a creepy fairground? 🎡
If you’re looking for a psychological horror book that will hook you immediately and keep you glued to the page until the very end, then definitely check this one out!
If you’re looking for a psychological horror book that will hook you immediately and keep you glued to the page until the very end, then definitely check this one out!
March 3, 2024
Will Campbell went out with friends and came home without them. His friends are missing and he is covered in someone's blood. He has no memory of the past 60 hours. Did he harm his friends? Is he covered in his blood? Where are his friends? Will wants to remember and find his friends but his memory is completely blank. The families of his friends are angry and want answers. As time passes and they are still missing, Will needs to decide what he will do to move on. Are his friends ever found?
At first blush, this seems like a straightforward thriller that will result in a sad outcome. Will is a complicated character. He is profoundly depressed and suicidal. As he works through his grief over the loss of his friends, Will matures emotionally. There are unexpected events related to the missing students, twists and turns that lead to a surprising conclusion. The source of Will's depression is never clear and his character development starts as the book begins. His back story is never revealed. Michael Nunn has written an entertaining story complete with surprises that will keep any thriller fan turning pages.
At first blush, this seems like a straightforward thriller that will result in a sad outcome. Will is a complicated character. He is profoundly depressed and suicidal. As he works through his grief over the loss of his friends, Will matures emotionally. There are unexpected events related to the missing students, twists and turns that lead to a surprising conclusion. The source of Will's depression is never clear and his character development starts as the book begins. His back story is never revealed. Michael Nunn has written an entertaining story complete with surprises that will keep any thriller fan turning pages.
May 10, 2024
This was a horror/psychological suspense story about Will, a design student who lives through a traumatic experience at the start of the story when his friends go missing.
Will struggles to cope with the loss of his four friends one night when they attended a fair after leaving a museum. The police question him about his missing friends, but he remembers nothing about the night they went missing.
The story turns to events and memories prior to the night his friends disappear and you get to know Will and how on that night he’d decided he would attempt to end his life again. His friends struggle to cope with this situation.
Will makes new friends and has the support of his stepfather, Ian, who worries about him, but is also a carer for Will’s mother, who became mentally ill after the death of Will’s brother.
Events occur, such that Will receives strange letters in the mail; letters that remind him of his traumatic past when he had last visited the fair and his friends had disappeared. He gets snippets of memories and soon undergoes hypnosis.
Believing that hypnosis has given him false memories, he meets a journalist, Peter, who has been watching him and is curious about his past. Peter has his own reasons to seek the truth about his four missing friends.
The story ends with a bitter-sweet resolution.
I enjoyed this story with its diverse characters and suspenseful storyline. The only issue I had was that the story dragged a bit too much towards the end, as it never appeared to come to a resolution. It could have been completed a lot sooner. (in my opinion). Despite that, it was an entertaining and gripping story that had me turning the pages. Well worth the read.
Will struggles to cope with the loss of his four friends one night when they attended a fair after leaving a museum. The police question him about his missing friends, but he remembers nothing about the night they went missing.
The story turns to events and memories prior to the night his friends disappear and you get to know Will and how on that night he’d decided he would attempt to end his life again. His friends struggle to cope with this situation.
Will makes new friends and has the support of his stepfather, Ian, who worries about him, but is also a carer for Will’s mother, who became mentally ill after the death of Will’s brother.
Events occur, such that Will receives strange letters in the mail; letters that remind him of his traumatic past when he had last visited the fair and his friends had disappeared. He gets snippets of memories and soon undergoes hypnosis.
Believing that hypnosis has given him false memories, he meets a journalist, Peter, who has been watching him and is curious about his past. Peter has his own reasons to seek the truth about his four missing friends.
The story ends with a bitter-sweet resolution.
I enjoyed this story with its diverse characters and suspenseful storyline. The only issue I had was that the story dragged a bit too much towards the end, as it never appeared to come to a resolution. It could have been completed a lot sooner. (in my opinion). Despite that, it was an entertaining and gripping story that had me turning the pages. Well worth the read.
February 2, 2024
This book... was a huge disappointment.
After Michael Nunn gave my debut novel a measly 4 stars (Shams & Rams available NOW on Amazon!) I couldn't wait to tear down his perfect score in a similar manner.
First, I looked for a spelling mistake... but there was none. Then I looked for a grammatical error, but the lacking was found to be abundance! Surely the narrative must have suffered with all that sterilizing and box ticking... but no.
ECHOES OF THE FORGOTTEN is a smart and stylish tour de force. Delivering all the energy and originality you could ever hope from a passionate new author. The use of the main characters amnesia was a clever framing device for a rapidly unravelling mystery, that keeps you hooked and guessing what's real or not. A fully fleshed out world, populated with believable characters is made unnervingly eerie with subtle and not so subtle scares. Ending with a climax straight from a Hollywood blockbuster, his attention to detail made clear when all the plot points are called home for a stunning finale.
It's hard to believe that the guy I work with could produce such a highly polished and entertaining book. Capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with any established authors work without blinking.
The huge disappointment came when I realized this book couldn't be given anything less than FIVE STARS, despite there being no rams in it. Clear a space on your book shelf in between Clive Barker and Stephen King. Michael Nunn has arrived and he has something to say.
After Michael Nunn gave my debut novel a measly 4 stars (Shams & Rams available NOW on Amazon!) I couldn't wait to tear down his perfect score in a similar manner.
First, I looked for a spelling mistake... but there was none. Then I looked for a grammatical error, but the lacking was found to be abundance! Surely the narrative must have suffered with all that sterilizing and box ticking... but no.
ECHOES OF THE FORGOTTEN is a smart and stylish tour de force. Delivering all the energy and originality you could ever hope from a passionate new author. The use of the main characters amnesia was a clever framing device for a rapidly unravelling mystery, that keeps you hooked and guessing what's real or not. A fully fleshed out world, populated with believable characters is made unnervingly eerie with subtle and not so subtle scares. Ending with a climax straight from a Hollywood blockbuster, his attention to detail made clear when all the plot points are called home for a stunning finale.
It's hard to believe that the guy I work with could produce such a highly polished and entertaining book. Capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with any established authors work without blinking.
The huge disappointment came when I realized this book couldn't be given anything less than FIVE STARS, despite there being no rams in it. Clear a space on your book shelf in between Clive Barker and Stephen King. Michael Nunn has arrived and he has something to say.
March 22, 2024
Horror is my mother’s favourite genre, and I’ve been reading it from a young age. Due to this, I am always eager to try new things in the genre. When I heard about Echoes of the Forgotten, I was instantly curious. It promised something creepy, and I was here for it.
I will be honest and say that Echoes of the Forgotten had me conflicted. I appreciate the way the story came together, but it was not quite the story I had expected. It was much more of a psychological horror than I had anticipated, leaving the reader in the dark for a long time. While it was interesting to watch these elements come together, I do wish the darker aspects had been explored in more detail. That is not to say I disliked the other elements – there were lots of interesting elements explored throughout the story – but it did mean I was not as deeply invested in the story as I had hoped. There were points when I could not put it down, but there were also points when I wanted to hurry through what was happening, which is why I was conflicted overall.
While this was not quite the story I had anticipated, it did make for enjoyable reading. Personal preference means I did not love it quite as much as I had hoped, but I can certainly see it ticking the boxes for many.
I will be honest and say that Echoes of the Forgotten had me conflicted. I appreciate the way the story came together, but it was not quite the story I had expected. It was much more of a psychological horror than I had anticipated, leaving the reader in the dark for a long time. While it was interesting to watch these elements come together, I do wish the darker aspects had been explored in more detail. That is not to say I disliked the other elements – there were lots of interesting elements explored throughout the story – but it did mean I was not as deeply invested in the story as I had hoped. There were points when I could not put it down, but there were also points when I wanted to hurry through what was happening, which is why I was conflicted overall.
While this was not quite the story I had anticipated, it did make for enjoyable reading. Personal preference means I did not love it quite as much as I had hoped, but I can certainly see it ticking the boxes for many.
November 28, 2024
3.5⭐️
AD-PR PRODUCT
An engaging horror with a freaky and suspenseful finale! 😍
This was an enjoyable psychological horror which contained thriller vibes and was very easy to read. I had no idea how this book would play out and I was pleasantly surprised.
On the first night of their third year of university, five students disappear without a trace. Three days later, Will Campbell is found miles away, in the middle of the countryside, covered in somebody else’s blood. His friends are nowhere to be found. And Will can’t remember anything except a fairground and a haunting man with a crooked smile. But there was no fair that night…
Nunn has concocted a chilling debut that emitted slight American Horror Story Freak Show vibes. It took me a little while to grasp the flow of this read, but once I had, it didn’t take me long to turn the page.
I think the pacing fluctuated at times and I got a little confused with the flips between past and present. However, this wasn’t a major issue as the plot perfectly captures your attention. How could I not be engrossed by a fairground that wasn’t there!!!
I liked the incorporation of associative amnesia and the exploration of hypnotherapy and I just felt terrible for Will. I think his mental health struggles were portrayed appropriately and I just wish he had a better support system in place.
What I loved the most, but which also terrified me, was the Crooked Man. Skeletal in appearance with spider-like limbs, he was so creepy and filled me with absolute dread. Will and his friends were enveloped in primal fear and I don’t blame them. How that finale played out was brilliant!
A huge thank you to @michaelnunnauthor for this ARC of Echoes of the Forgotten and apologies for the delay in reading this book. Echoes of the Forgotten is out now.
If you’re a fan of horror, check out this book! ☺️
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
AD-PR PRODUCT
An engaging horror with a freaky and suspenseful finale! 😍
This was an enjoyable psychological horror which contained thriller vibes and was very easy to read. I had no idea how this book would play out and I was pleasantly surprised.
On the first night of their third year of university, five students disappear without a trace. Three days later, Will Campbell is found miles away, in the middle of the countryside, covered in somebody else’s blood. His friends are nowhere to be found. And Will can’t remember anything except a fairground and a haunting man with a crooked smile. But there was no fair that night…
Nunn has concocted a chilling debut that emitted slight American Horror Story Freak Show vibes. It took me a little while to grasp the flow of this read, but once I had, it didn’t take me long to turn the page.
I think the pacing fluctuated at times and I got a little confused with the flips between past and present. However, this wasn’t a major issue as the plot perfectly captures your attention. How could I not be engrossed by a fairground that wasn’t there!!!
I liked the incorporation of associative amnesia and the exploration of hypnotherapy and I just felt terrible for Will. I think his mental health struggles were portrayed appropriately and I just wish he had a better support system in place.
What I loved the most, but which also terrified me, was the Crooked Man. Skeletal in appearance with spider-like limbs, he was so creepy and filled me with absolute dread. Will and his friends were enveloped in primal fear and I don’t blame them. How that finale played out was brilliant!
A huge thank you to @michaelnunnauthor for this ARC of Echoes of the Forgotten and apologies for the delay in reading this book. Echoes of the Forgotten is out now.
If you’re a fan of horror, check out this book! ☺️
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
August 30, 2024
I don’t read a lot of horror or thrillers, but this one was fantastic! It was such a heartbreaking story. I really appreciated the way mental health was portrayed in the story, the depression, suicidal ideation, therapy, etc. involved throughout. And it looks like the author is an advocate for mental health too, which is amazing if you support in real life the sorts of issues you write about! I’m not sure what I expected actually happened to Will and his friends, but the reveal was something that I didn’t really expect - perhaps it’s due to my inexperience with such books, but I felt like it was a unique twist on a disappearance story! There are queer relationships too if that’s what would sway you! If you like horror, thrillers, or just want to support an indie author, then you should read this book! I’m eager to read more from Michael Nunn!
September 22, 2024
Michael Nunn’s debut novel is a slow-burn psychological journey that follows Will, who has some made up recollections of what happened when his friends went missing one night and he was the only one to return. With chunks of time missing from his memory he explores hypnotherapy to fill the gaps, all while being investigated as a suspect.
Nunn’s writing feels very much like an echo of Stephen King’s influence (not a bad thing though). This being apparent more toward the end with special mention to 1408. The Crooked Man is a terrifying character that at no point can you trust is real or not.
If you enjoy slow-burn psychological horror this may be your speed.
Nunn does a great job creating a very layer main character and letting a lot of unknowns hover over him.
Nunn’s writing feels very much like an echo of Stephen King’s influence (not a bad thing though). This being apparent more toward the end with special mention to 1408. The Crooked Man is a terrifying character that at no point can you trust is real or not.
If you enjoy slow-burn psychological horror this may be your speed.
Nunn does a great job creating a very layer main character and letting a lot of unknowns hover over him.
September 2, 2024
This was a great thriller/horror novel that sucked me in right from the start. A night out with friends goes terribly wrong, and suddenly Will wakes up days later to his friends missing, and no memory other than attending a fair that he's told never actually happened. I could really feel Will's desperation throughout the book to figure out what happened to his friends, and I loved the way grief was also tied into the story, making it feel more realistic. The Crooked Man was such a creepy addition and sounds like what nightmares are made of! There were times where I felt the plot dragged a little but I enjoyed the story overall and would recommend!
December 4, 2024
'This is the fairground from the night you disappeared. What can you smell? What can you see? And hear?’
Five university students at the beginning of their third year are missing. Three days later, Will Campbell is found miles away, covered in blood - and it's not his. What happened to him? And why can't he remember?
Congratulations on the debut, Michael. You knew how to keep me guessing. 💜
The story changed pace and swapped narratives which might be a hit or miss with readers, but it for me, it added to the darkness of Will's dilemma.
If you're into horror stories with psychological twists, and fairgrounds, check this book out.
Five university students at the beginning of their third year are missing. Three days later, Will Campbell is found miles away, covered in blood - and it's not his. What happened to him? And why can't he remember?
Congratulations on the debut, Michael. You knew how to keep me guessing. 💜
The story changed pace and swapped narratives which might be a hit or miss with readers, but it for me, it added to the darkness of Will's dilemma.
If you're into horror stories with psychological twists, and fairgrounds, check this book out.
October 23, 2024
Another book that's been on my TBR list for a while that I am glad I got around to reading. This book really draws you into the story right from the start, I did wonder if it would get too spooky for me at one point but by then I was already invested in the story and didn't want to put it down. I was so intrigued to know what happened to Will and his friends the night that they went missing. And the mystery of that night keeps you in suspense right throughout the book. You can imagine being in a spooky fairground as you are reading.
Very well written and I would read more from Michael Nunn.
Very well written and I would read more from Michael Nunn.
December 30, 2025
michealnunn #echoesoftheforgotten is creepie, atmospheric, eerie and suspenseful. The difficulty Will faces with his memory loss, memory distortion and grief is brilliantly woven into a plotline that constantly makes you (as well as the other characters) question what is going on. The other characters are well fleshed and with their own personalities, and Wills flashbacks of his friends are effective and emotive.
Brilliant read with wonderfully visceral imagery.
Brilliant read with wonderfully visceral imagery.
September 27, 2024
I devoured this book in just a couple of sittings, staying up late into the night and picking it up again first thing in the morning because it was so gripping and suspenseful. Michael Nunn's debut is nothing short of phenomenal, flawlessly executed and incredibly addictive. I was completely hooked from start to finish. Looking forward to reading more from Michael.
November 3, 2024
Woah! Talk about a twisty psychological thriller! As much as I tried to predict what would happen, I was completely wrong & pleasantly shocked by the ending! I can honestly say that I have never read a storyline like this one. I enjoyed the mental health aspect, the missing memories & disappearance tropes.
Creative. Descriptive. Twisty. Different & full of suspense.
Creative. Descriptive. Twisty. Different & full of suspense.
February 7, 2024
This is an amazing story executed very well. The imagery used is incredibly vivid and well thought out. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Remember the name Michael Nunn; I'm sure we'll be enjoying much more of his work in the future
February 26, 2025
What. A. Book. Left me speechless, it was so so so good! Michael Nunn is now one of my absolute favorite writers.
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