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An Echo of Children
A slow burn, chilling horror in a gorgeous edition. Ramsey Campbell always delivers...
Coral and Allan Clarendon have just moved to the seaside town of Barnwall with their young son Dean. If an uncommon number of children have died unnaturally in Barnwall throughout history, surely Dean must be safe with his parents. Could their house be a source of peril? Allan and Coral seem to think so, since they call for an exorcism. Allan’s father Thom believes his wife is wrong to think the ceremony has left Dean in worse danger. But if she’s alone in seeing the terrors that are gathering around him, how desperate will her solution have to be?
The Ramsey Campbell Special Editions. Campbell is the greatest inheritor of a tradition that reaches back through H.P. Lovecraft and M.R. James to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and the early Gothic writers. The dark, masterful work of the painter Henry Fuseli, a friend of Mary Wollstonecraft, is used on these special editions to invoke early literary investigations into the supernatural.
Coral and Allan Clarendon have just moved to the seaside town of Barnwall with their young son Dean. If an uncommon number of children have died unnaturally in Barnwall throughout history, surely Dean must be safe with his parents. Could their house be a source of peril? Allan and Coral seem to think so, since they call for an exorcism. Allan’s father Thom believes his wife is wrong to think the ceremony has left Dean in worse danger. But if she’s alone in seeing the terrors that are gathering around him, how desperate will her solution have to be?
The Ramsey Campbell Special Editions. Campbell is the greatest inheritor of a tradition that reaches back through H.P. Lovecraft and M.R. James to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and the early Gothic writers. The dark, masterful work of the painter Henry Fuseli, a friend of Mary Wollstonecraft, is used on these special editions to invoke early literary investigations into the supernatural.
- GenresHorror
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2025
About the author
Ramsey Campbell
875 books1,639 followersRamsey Campbell is a British writer considered by a number of critics to be one of the great masters of horror fiction. T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today," while S. T. Joshi has said that "future generations will regard him as the leading horror writer of our generation, every bit the equal of Lovecraft or Blackwood."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 20, 2025
In many ways this is classic Ramsey Campbell: it is a slow-paced, atmospheric thriller that is over-filled with formalistic dialogue that begs a sense of dissonance over the whole proceedings. Unfortunately, these didn’t add up to an exciting or suspenseful read for me. I really enjoyed the overall story, it is playing with the intersection of smalltown urban legends and local history, teasing the contemporary folk horror genre without committing to any one style, and the story arc benefits from that. I think the pacing works well, too, it is rage and paranoia inducing, but that is kind of the point, I imagine. But the characters, writing style, and the dialogue just made this a hard sell for me. In addition to parents and a young child we have two sets of grandparents, and it isn’t really clear until a few chapters in that we are following one of the grandparents, Thom, as our primary perspective. This is because Campbell favors dialogue over narration, and after maybe a well-crafted opening paragraph to the chapter if there are more than two characters in a scene we will then get 80% dialogue, often without any clarity as to who is speaking when there are three or more people talking at once.
There is so little interiority to the characters, it all keeps the reader distant. We do get some insight into Thom and a little into his wife, as well, but it is more dialogue than emotion, and the dialogue always feels overly formal, stuffy and stilted. It is hard to believe anyone would ever talk like this. This is, in part, because it is hard to believe any of these people even know each other. The ways they talk to each other, even between married couples, always feel like they are being acquainted with someone new at every turn of the page. The mother and father are sufficiently distant and weird, and they get more so as the story progresses, and that works for their characters and the storyline. However, I have no idea what role the other grandparents were playing in the narrative, and the relationship between Thom and his wife felt like you could drive a truck through it. So, the character relationships felt unrealistic and the excessive, momentum-stealing pages of pages of stilted dialogue didn’t help. I think I could have leaned into all of that weirdness—because certainly this writing style is intentional, and it does work for many people—if only the character decisions made sense. The parents and young children, they are perfect. But of the four grandparents Jude is the only one that ever makes sense. The problem is we experience the world through Thom’s perspective, through which it is clear that things are not right and getting worse, and action should be taken. Yet Jude is the only one who acknowledges this, and everyone else acts as if she is crazy. That makes a disconnect between the reader’s experience and the expressed opinions of the character through whom we experience it… if the actions seemed reasonable through Thom’s perspective then the reader might doubt the veracity or reliability of Jude’s actions. Similarly, if we experienced the story through her perspective and not Thom’s we would be trapped with a potentially unreliable narrator. Instead, we have a reliable narrator who demonstrates things are wrong and it feels like pure plot contrivance only that no one responds to it except Jude. It never feels realistic, nor does it ever invite the reader into the plot. There are ways this dissonance could have been used to make the story’s conclusion more effective and thrilling, but it doesn’t ever feel that intentional. Instead, it feels both incongruous with reality and simply convenient.
This was more frustration for me than much else. I appreciate the overall story and the pacing, and if you are a fan of Campbell’s writing style which is somewhat fever dream-ish that is incredibly dialogue heavy, dialogue that is bent at all sorts of weird angles from how humans talk to each other (especially parents and children and spouses!), and that aesthetic works for you, then you will definitely dig this story. There are a lot of folk who are attracted to that vibe and storytelling modality, and that’s why I can’t say this is a bad book. But while I have enjoyed Campbell’s style in the past the pieces just did not come together for me this time around in a story that was particularly inventive or fun for me.
(Rounded up from 2.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Flame Tree Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There is so little interiority to the characters, it all keeps the reader distant. We do get some insight into Thom and a little into his wife, as well, but it is more dialogue than emotion, and the dialogue always feels overly formal, stuffy and stilted. It is hard to believe anyone would ever talk like this. This is, in part, because it is hard to believe any of these people even know each other. The ways they talk to each other, even between married couples, always feel like they are being acquainted with someone new at every turn of the page. The mother and father are sufficiently distant and weird, and they get more so as the story progresses, and that works for their characters and the storyline. However, I have no idea what role the other grandparents were playing in the narrative, and the relationship between Thom and his wife felt like you could drive a truck through it. So, the character relationships felt unrealistic and the excessive, momentum-stealing pages of pages of stilted dialogue didn’t help. I think I could have leaned into all of that weirdness—because certainly this writing style is intentional, and it does work for many people—if only the character decisions made sense. The parents and young children, they are perfect. But of the four grandparents Jude is the only one that ever makes sense. The problem is we experience the world through Thom’s perspective, through which it is clear that things are not right and getting worse, and action should be taken. Yet Jude is the only one who acknowledges this, and everyone else acts as if she is crazy. That makes a disconnect between the reader’s experience and the expressed opinions of the character through whom we experience it… if the actions seemed reasonable through Thom’s perspective then the reader might doubt the veracity or reliability of Jude’s actions. Similarly, if we experienced the story through her perspective and not Thom’s we would be trapped with a potentially unreliable narrator. Instead, we have a reliable narrator who demonstrates things are wrong and it feels like pure plot contrivance only that no one responds to it except Jude. It never feels realistic, nor does it ever invite the reader into the plot. There are ways this dissonance could have been used to make the story’s conclusion more effective and thrilling, but it doesn’t ever feel that intentional. Instead, it feels both incongruous with reality and simply convenient.
This was more frustration for me than much else. I appreciate the overall story and the pacing, and if you are a fan of Campbell’s writing style which is somewhat fever dream-ish that is incredibly dialogue heavy, dialogue that is bent at all sorts of weird angles from how humans talk to each other (especially parents and children and spouses!), and that aesthetic works for you, then you will definitely dig this story. There are a lot of folk who are attracted to that vibe and storytelling modality, and that’s why I can’t say this is a bad book. But while I have enjoyed Campbell’s style in the past the pieces just did not come together for me this time around in a story that was particularly inventive or fun for me.
(Rounded up from 2.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Flame Tree Press, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 24, 2025
Two sets of parents are visiting their children and 6 year old grandchild in their new home. Things seem a bit off right away. Jude is the first to notice that her grandson, Dean, is excessively polite and that her son and daughter-in-law constantly correct everything he does. He is not allowed to play with his toys, and his only friend is invisible. Could it be just a lonely child's way of coping, or is this imaginary friend something more? The other grandparents and even her husband are dismissive of her concerns at first.
This is a slow-burning horror told with Ramsey Campbell's usual flair for the subtle and insidious. Things escalate gradually as Jude begins to research the dark history of the home and the town. I could feel her fear and frustration at being the only one willing to acknowledge that something dangerous was happening, and it was about to get worse. I was so angry at the way she was treated when her son and in-laws tried to gaslight her into believing that everything she noticed was just a product of her own mind. So many times, I wanted to scream at her husband to stand up for her. I believed you, Jude!
4 out of 5 stars
My thanks to Flame Tree Press
This is a slow-burning horror told with Ramsey Campbell's usual flair for the subtle and insidious. Things escalate gradually as Jude begins to research the dark history of the home and the town. I could feel her fear and frustration at being the only one willing to acknowledge that something dangerous was happening, and it was about to get worse. I was so angry at the way she was treated when her son and in-laws tried to gaslight her into believing that everything she noticed was just a product of her own mind. So many times, I wanted to scream at her husband to stand up for her. I believed you, Jude!
4 out of 5 stars
My thanks to Flame Tree Press
September 22, 2025
It's time for someone to finally say it: Britain is totally FUCKED. According to every Ramsey Campbell book I've read (and I've read a lot, so I'm kinda an expert) these people are the worst of the worst. Thank god America kicked their ass and became it's own thing because I couldn't handle being part of this culture. I'll take my Trump-y neighbors and too-woke friends over dealing with the British any day of the week, what with their fake smiles and backhanded compliments all the time. This is why people hate JK Rowling nowadays, not because she's transphobic, but because she's so damn British about it, her every Tweet carrying the smug attitude of all the Ramsey Campbell characters combined.
September 28, 2025
This is the work of a seasoned master, reminiscent of Ira Levin in its precision and paranoia.
We interviewed Ramsey Campbell on Craftwork: listen here.
We interviewed Ramsey Campbell on Craftwork: listen here.
September 6, 2025
A dense, intricately written horror tale of a set of grandparents trying to save their grandson from the suspiciously evil and unorthodox upbringing tactics of his own parents. Lest you think this is a novel about inappropriate and harsh parenting strategies, I haste to add that the book flirts openly with the supernatural, playing with several interesting ambiguities till about thirty pages before the end. Adding to a general sense of discordance, is a technically extremely intriguing dialogue technique, disturbing the flow and disenchanting expectations, as the family talk sounds both natural and unnatural at the same time. Of greater interest, however, is the subtle presence of the bizarre and the uncanny throughout the novel, the author never taking advantage of the little unsettling details peppering the plot, going instead for a slow-burn, masterful example of quiet horror. This allows for some amazing character development, and transforms the ending into a disturbing, thoughtful, dark and chilling mindscrew of a finish!
Lack of gore and typical means of fostering suspense will probably make this book feel rather arcane to newcomers and somewhat disorienting to experienced readers. My personal feel was that the impressively unpredictable use of spoken language filled the story with so much anxiety and claustrophobic atmosphere, the book ended up being a unique reading experience from start to finish. I can't recommend the story highly enough, not least for the beautiful edition Flame Tree Publishing has packaged it in!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC to review.
Lack of gore and typical means of fostering suspense will probably make this book feel rather arcane to newcomers and somewhat disorienting to experienced readers. My personal feel was that the impressively unpredictable use of spoken language filled the story with so much anxiety and claustrophobic atmosphere, the book ended up being a unique reading experience from start to finish. I can't recommend the story highly enough, not least for the beautiful edition Flame Tree Publishing has packaged it in!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC to review.
August 29, 2025
AN ECHO OF CHILDREN, by Ramsey Campbell, is a slow burn horror that builds steadily as the story goes on. Allan and Coral--along with six-year-old Dean--move into a new house in a fairly quiet little neighborhood. We start with each of the four grandparents coming for a visit. The first (only?) to note anything of suspicion is Jude, Allan's mother. The parents rarely leave Dean's side, and insist he stays where they can see him at all times.
Dean is a good kid, overly polite to anyone's ears, yet with a distinct undercurrent of fear at pleasing his parents. This immediately put me on edge. As time goes on, the parents are even MORE overprotective and bizarre, suddenly becoming Christians and imposing strict "lessons"--the result of Dean not doing well is only "hinted at". Somehow, the fact that we are NOT told exactly what happens is worse, for then the mind comes up with all kinds of horrendous possibilities.
This is hinged to an awful past of foster parents who thought their adopted son needed an exorcism, and tortured him until he finally died. The new home Dean's family resides in, was built upon the site (of demolished brick) that the first house stood.
Again, this is an extremely slow burn horror, but one that lingers, and continues to ratchet up. Jude's suspicions are based on observation and research, yet she she insinuated as "losing her mind" by their own son, and their in-laws. Her husband, who seems to be the narrator of the story, doesn't quite believe her, but neither will he outwardly agree that she needs "help".
The revelations mount as we near the end, and the ultimate idea behind this was something I hadn't thought of--the kind that will linger long after! My only critique--which won't be an issue for everyone--is Campbell's overly formal dialogue (as opposed to showing things unfold, most of this is in conversation between characters. While it was sometimes difficult to distinguish which person was talking, the WAY they spoke to each other--even parents to kids--was too formal, and often I had to stop and figure out exactly what was being said. This is simply the author's writing style, and the only part I still haven't gotten used. to
Overall, a solid horror novel that will get under your skin and cause you to question things in a new light. Ironically, not knowing exact details of what happened in that house somehow made it even worse.
Recommended.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are uniquely my own.**
Dean is a good kid, overly polite to anyone's ears, yet with a distinct undercurrent of fear at pleasing his parents. This immediately put me on edge. As time goes on, the parents are even MORE overprotective and bizarre, suddenly becoming Christians and imposing strict "lessons"--the result of Dean not doing well is only "hinted at". Somehow, the fact that we are NOT told exactly what happens is worse, for then the mind comes up with all kinds of horrendous possibilities.
This is hinged to an awful past of foster parents who thought their adopted son needed an exorcism, and tortured him until he finally died. The new home Dean's family resides in, was built upon the site (of demolished brick) that the first house stood.
Again, this is an extremely slow burn horror, but one that lingers, and continues to ratchet up. Jude's suspicions are based on observation and research, yet she she insinuated as "losing her mind" by their own son, and their in-laws. Her husband, who seems to be the narrator of the story, doesn't quite believe her, but neither will he outwardly agree that she needs "help".
The revelations mount as we near the end, and the ultimate idea behind this was something I hadn't thought of--the kind that will linger long after! My only critique--which won't be an issue for everyone--is Campbell's overly formal dialogue (as opposed to showing things unfold, most of this is in conversation between characters. While it was sometimes difficult to distinguish which person was talking, the WAY they spoke to each other--even parents to kids--was too formal, and often I had to stop and figure out exactly what was being said. This is simply the author's writing style, and the only part I still haven't gotten used. to
Overall, a solid horror novel that will get under your skin and cause you to question things in a new light. Ironically, not knowing exact details of what happened in that house somehow made it even worse.
Recommended.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are uniquely my own.**
September 21, 2025
'An Echo of Children' - a journey into fear from the modern master of horror.
It's the second Ramsey Campbell book I have read and it's just as brilliant as the first one.
I am completely drawn in by his unique and original style.
While I have read a lot of horror books, his works stands apart. It's intensely atmospheric and dark (honestly, gives me chills), creating a feeling of a dream where you are aware you're asleep, but are trapped and unable to wake up.
It's the second Ramsey Campbell book I have read and it's just as brilliant as the first one.
I am completely drawn in by his unique and original style.
While I have read a lot of horror books, his works stands apart. It's intensely atmospheric and dark (honestly, gives me chills), creating a feeling of a dream where you are aware you're asleep, but are trapped and unable to wake up.
October 5, 2025
Coral and Allan Clarendon have recently moved to the town of Barnwall with their young son Dean. When Dean’s two sets of grandparents arrive for a visit it becomes evident that something is not quite right. Dean seems docile, reserved and his parents unnaturally strict with him. It’s up to Allan’s parents, Thom and Jude to try to get to the bottom of what’s going on.
This is classic Ramsey Campbell; an atmospheric slow burn, with the tension drip fed to an eager audience. It’s dialogue heavy and the dialogue often feels stilted and formal which I wouldn’t usually appreciate, but with Campbell it feels very fitting and actually enhances the increasing sense of unease. That said, I didn’t like any of the characters due to their stilted dialogue and behaviours so it was hard to care too much about any of them.
An Echo of Children is chilling and mysterious. It takes the reader on a slow unsettling journey where it’s evident that something is drastically wrong, but what? If you like your horror a little weird, rich in dialogue with subtle meaning, then grab this cause you’ll love
Read
September 13, 20254 1/2 Stars
Master of Horror Ramsey Campbell has been writing stellar horror and psychological fiction as long as I have been alive. He is the UK’s answer to Stephen King and his latest effort, AN ECHO OF CHILDREN, proves that he is showing no sign of slowing down.
For readers who have been enjoying his work as long as I have it has been a pleasure to see how Campbell continues to grow and adapt as a modern horror writer. With AN ECHO OF CHILDREN, his depiction of older protagonists reflects this very fact as he is able to speak in their voice in a way that can only come through physical maturity. The primary voices in this novel are Jude and Thom, two genuinely concerned grandparents who fear that their grandson Dean may be the victim of something supernatural that may be permeating both the new place where he lives as well as the minds of his parents, Coral and Allan Clarendon.
Coral, Allan, and young Dean Clarendon have just moved from a less savory neighborhood to a new housing development in the town of Barnwall. This is quite a distance for Allan’s parents, Jude, and Thom, to traverse to be able to visit their grandson Dean. On their first visit to the new home, they notice Dean speaking to someone who was not there. When confronted with this fact, he tells his grandparents that he was talking to his friend Heady, who appears to him both with and without a head. It is only when his head appears that Dean can hear him.
This would normally not be concerning had Jude and Thom left things be. Their counterparts, Coral’s parents Kendrick and Leigh, do not see any issue when presented with this concern. Since Jude and Thom are sleeping in Dean’s room during their visit, they become far more sensitive to their continued concerns over not only his behavior but also the distant and sometimes bizarre behaviors of his parents.
Upon returning to their own home, Jude and Thom do some research into Barnwall and specifically the area where their son had bought his families new home. What they find out is quite alarming. To begin with, the section of Barnwall that the house was in is referred to as Childer Field --- which is a direct reference to the ancient Norse history that unfortunately involved some barbaric behavior and particularly with physical harm suffered by many children who resided there. More recently, Jude and Thom learn that the location where their son and his family live is the very same spot where a family called the Days lived. The Days were an infamous name in Barnwall as an exorcism that had gone badly wrong occurred in their home, perhaps permanently haunting the area where the new home was built, even with the original residence being torn down.
Dean’s strange behavior continues to alarm his parents and especially his grandparents. A priest and local psychic are both called in and there is even some discussion to an exorcism which the priest refuses to commit to. It is at this point where the psychological thriller aspects of AN ECHO OF CHILDREN take over, as the uncharacteristic change in Dean’s parents comes to the forefront to the point where both Jude and Thom are no longer welcome in their home due to concerns they have voiced about everything unexplainable that is happening before their eyes.
The latter part of the novel shows what happens when Jude, and to some lesser extent Thom, take matters into their own hands. The result is an unpredictable and chilling plot twist that had me reeling. Campbell lays everything out openly and allows the story and natural suspense elements to build to a point where you can only watch and observe as things unfold in unexpected ways. This type of human horror is the most effective kind to depict as it really gets under your skin in a very personal way.
There is a Q&A with Ramsey Campbell before the start of the book and one of the answers he provides really resonated with me. He refers to AN ECHO OF CHILDREN as the ‘anti-Exorcist.’ With that quote, he describes the fact that sometimes resorting to exorcism in the case of young children may not only be counter-productive but also a potential form of child abuse. This really forced me think about all I had read and it made the plot elements of this story linger with me long after I had turned the final page.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
Master of Horror Ramsey Campbell has been writing stellar horror and psychological fiction as long as I have been alive. He is the UK’s answer to Stephen King and his latest effort, AN ECHO OF CHILDREN, proves that he is showing no sign of slowing down.
For readers who have been enjoying his work as long as I have it has been a pleasure to see how Campbell continues to grow and adapt as a modern horror writer. With AN ECHO OF CHILDREN, his depiction of older protagonists reflects this very fact as he is able to speak in their voice in a way that can only come through physical maturity. The primary voices in this novel are Jude and Thom, two genuinely concerned grandparents who fear that their grandson Dean may be the victim of something supernatural that may be permeating both the new place where he lives as well as the minds of his parents, Coral and Allan Clarendon.
Coral, Allan, and young Dean Clarendon have just moved from a less savory neighborhood to a new housing development in the town of Barnwall. This is quite a distance for Allan’s parents, Jude, and Thom, to traverse to be able to visit their grandson Dean. On their first visit to the new home, they notice Dean speaking to someone who was not there. When confronted with this fact, he tells his grandparents that he was talking to his friend Heady, who appears to him both with and without a head. It is only when his head appears that Dean can hear him.
This would normally not be concerning had Jude and Thom left things be. Their counterparts, Coral’s parents Kendrick and Leigh, do not see any issue when presented with this concern. Since Jude and Thom are sleeping in Dean’s room during their visit, they become far more sensitive to their continued concerns over not only his behavior but also the distant and sometimes bizarre behaviors of his parents.
Upon returning to their own home, Jude and Thom do some research into Barnwall and specifically the area where their son had bought his families new home. What they find out is quite alarming. To begin with, the section of Barnwall that the house was in is referred to as Childer Field --- which is a direct reference to the ancient Norse history that unfortunately involved some barbaric behavior and particularly with physical harm suffered by many children who resided there. More recently, Jude and Thom learn that the location where their son and his family live is the very same spot where a family called the Days lived. The Days were an infamous name in Barnwall as an exorcism that had gone badly wrong occurred in their home, perhaps permanently haunting the area where the new home was built, even with the original residence being torn down.
Dean’s strange behavior continues to alarm his parents and especially his grandparents. A priest and local psychic are both called in and there is even some discussion to an exorcism which the priest refuses to commit to. It is at this point where the psychological thriller aspects of AN ECHO OF CHILDREN take over, as the uncharacteristic change in Dean’s parents comes to the forefront to the point where both Jude and Thom are no longer welcome in their home due to concerns they have voiced about everything unexplainable that is happening before their eyes.
The latter part of the novel shows what happens when Jude, and to some lesser extent Thom, take matters into their own hands. The result is an unpredictable and chilling plot twist that had me reeling. Campbell lays everything out openly and allows the story and natural suspense elements to build to a point where you can only watch and observe as things unfold in unexpected ways. This type of human horror is the most effective kind to depict as it really gets under your skin in a very personal way.
There is a Q&A with Ramsey Campbell before the start of the book and one of the answers he provides really resonated with me. He refers to AN ECHO OF CHILDREN as the ‘anti-Exorcist.’ With that quote, he describes the fact that sometimes resorting to exorcism in the case of young children may not only be counter-productive but also a potential form of child abuse. This really forced me think about all I had read and it made the plot elements of this story linger with me long after I had turned the final page.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
September 14, 2025
Ramsey Campbell has been writing stellar horror and psychological fiction as long as I have been alive. He is the UK’s answer to Stephen King, and his latest effort proves that he shows no signs of slowing down.
It has been a pleasure to see Campbell continue to grow and adapt as a modern horror writer. With his depiction of older protagonists in AN ECHO OF CHILDREN, he is able to speak in their voice in a way that can only come through physical maturity. The main characters are Jude and Thom, who fear that their grandson, Dean, is the victim of something supernatural that may be permeating both the new place where he lives and the minds of his parents, Coral and Allan Clarendon.
Coral, Allan and Dean have just moved from a less savory neighborhood to a new housing development in the seaside town of Barnwall. This is quite a distance for Jude and Thom. During their first visit, they notice Dean speaking to someone who is not there. When confronted about it, he tells them that he was talking to his friend, Heady, who appears to him both with and without a head. It is only when his head is visible that Dean can hear him.
Coral’s parents, Kendrick and Leigh, do not see any issues with Dean. Since Jude and Thom are sleeping in Dean’s room, they become far more sensitive to their continued concerns over not only his actions but also the distant and sometimes bizarre behavior of Coral and Allan.
When they return home, Jude and Thom do some research into Barnwall, and what they find is quite alarming. To begin with, the section of Barnwall where their son's house is located is referred to as Childer Field, which is a direct reference to the ancient Norse history that involved some barbaric behavior, including physical harm suffered by many children who resided there. More recently, Jude and Thom learn that Dean and his parents live in the very same spot where the Days family resided. The Days were an infamous name in Barnwall as an exorcism that had gone terribly wrong occurred in their home, perhaps permanently haunting the area where the new house was built, even though the original residence had been torn down.
Dean’s strange behavior continues to alarm his parents and especially his grandparents. A priest and a psychic are called in, and there is even some discussion about an exorcism to which the priest refuses to commit. The psychological thriller aspects of the book take over as the uncharacteristic change in Coral and Allan comes to the forefront. Jude and Thom are no longer welcome in their home due to concerns they have voiced about everything unexplainable that is occurring before their eyes.
The latter part of the novel shows what happens when Jude and, to a lesser extent, Thom take matters into their own hands. The result is an unpredictable and chilling plot twist that had me reeling. Campbell lays everything out openly and allows the story and natural suspense elements to build to a point where you can only watch and observe as things unfold in unexpected ways. This human horror is the most effective type of horror to depict as it gets under your skin in a very personal way.
There is a Q&A with Campbell in the book, and one of the answers he provides truly resonated with me. He refers to AN ECHO OF CHILDREN as the “anti-EXORCIST.” Sometimes resorting to exorcism in the case of children may be not only counterproductive but also a potential form of child abuse. This forced me to think about all that I had read, and it made the various plot elements linger with me long after I had turned the last page.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
It has been a pleasure to see Campbell continue to grow and adapt as a modern horror writer. With his depiction of older protagonists in AN ECHO OF CHILDREN, he is able to speak in their voice in a way that can only come through physical maturity. The main characters are Jude and Thom, who fear that their grandson, Dean, is the victim of something supernatural that may be permeating both the new place where he lives and the minds of his parents, Coral and Allan Clarendon.
Coral, Allan and Dean have just moved from a less savory neighborhood to a new housing development in the seaside town of Barnwall. This is quite a distance for Jude and Thom. During their first visit, they notice Dean speaking to someone who is not there. When confronted about it, he tells them that he was talking to his friend, Heady, who appears to him both with and without a head. It is only when his head is visible that Dean can hear him.
Coral’s parents, Kendrick and Leigh, do not see any issues with Dean. Since Jude and Thom are sleeping in Dean’s room, they become far more sensitive to their continued concerns over not only his actions but also the distant and sometimes bizarre behavior of Coral and Allan.
When they return home, Jude and Thom do some research into Barnwall, and what they find is quite alarming. To begin with, the section of Barnwall where their son's house is located is referred to as Childer Field, which is a direct reference to the ancient Norse history that involved some barbaric behavior, including physical harm suffered by many children who resided there. More recently, Jude and Thom learn that Dean and his parents live in the very same spot where the Days family resided. The Days were an infamous name in Barnwall as an exorcism that had gone terribly wrong occurred in their home, perhaps permanently haunting the area where the new house was built, even though the original residence had been torn down.
Dean’s strange behavior continues to alarm his parents and especially his grandparents. A priest and a psychic are called in, and there is even some discussion about an exorcism to which the priest refuses to commit. The psychological thriller aspects of the book take over as the uncharacteristic change in Coral and Allan comes to the forefront. Jude and Thom are no longer welcome in their home due to concerns they have voiced about everything unexplainable that is occurring before their eyes.
The latter part of the novel shows what happens when Jude and, to a lesser extent, Thom take matters into their own hands. The result is an unpredictable and chilling plot twist that had me reeling. Campbell lays everything out openly and allows the story and natural suspense elements to build to a point where you can only watch and observe as things unfold in unexpected ways. This human horror is the most effective type of horror to depict as it gets under your skin in a very personal way.
There is a Q&A with Campbell in the book, and one of the answers he provides truly resonated with me. He refers to AN ECHO OF CHILDREN as the “anti-EXORCIST.” Sometimes resorting to exorcism in the case of children may be not only counterproductive but also a potential form of child abuse. This forced me to think about all that I had read, and it made the various plot elements linger with me long after I had turned the last page.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
July 18, 2025
As a long-time self-confessed fan of the wonderful Ramsey Campbell, I should have expected this new story to be disturbing... but I admit I didn't expect just how deeply it would affect me.
Be warned, 'An Echo of Children' will take you to places you suddenly realise you didn't really want to go to - and it gets harder and harder to find the way back. This book will literally haunt you, and I found it impossible to put down, until I reached the (bitter) end.
A perfectly observed masterpiece, this story is not simply a classic horror tale, it's a keen, troubling and a darkly painful human story. Throughout the whole narrative, I was drawn - at times almost too deeply for my own comfort - into the disturbing descent of a dysfunctional family, caught in the grip of an ancient evil. The sinister, insidiously horrible way the family are dragged further and further from their own selves and into the echoes of the past, is beyond compelling. This story underlined, for me, why I'll always come back to Ramsey's particular shades of darkness, because there are depths within even his darkest imaginings.
I've always admired the 'human interest' aspect of Ramsey Campbell's writing, and especially how he is so adept at capturing the nuances and undercurrents in family relationships. The subtle and often fraught exchanges between the characters are so cleverly written. The doubts, fears, and difficulties he observes, and the way familiar established roles are challenged as children become parents, and parents become grandparents, is something I feel he captures beautifully. If, at times, perhaps a little too keenly for comfort. As a grandmother myself, I admit I was particularly chilled by the way these relationships spiraled down into an extremely dark place, and how the key characters - grandparents themselves - tried to deal with the distress of the situation they found themselves embroiled in.
The dread, the fear, the undercurrents of ancient evil - these are all classic Ramsey Campbell. But where, for me, 'An Echo of Children' surpasses all of these 'tropes' and becomes much more than a sum of these parts, is in how it remains firmly grounded in the abiding strength and sacrifice of family love. At its darkest (and there are some very dark moments within these pages) 'An Echo of Children' almost reaches despair and insanity. The sheer terror of being faced with an almost impossible to fight evil, is chillingly woven throughout the whole story. Yet the one light in this darkness, is the sheer determination, the bravery and inner strength, that rises to the surface, in defiance of all the odds...
I literally couldn't stop reading, once I'd started. I had to find out what was going to happen, and if the family I quickly grew to care for very deeply, would survive...
I won't say more, and as ever, no spoilers, but this story is certainly a triumph in exquisitely tortured horror. Deeply disturbing, dark, and compelling, 'An Echo of Children' will live in my mind long after the last page.
If you are strong enough to experience this descent into madness yourself, I suggest you invest in a copy of this oh-so-dark tale, from the absolute legend that is Mr Ramsey Campbell! (It's OK, you can thank me later, but just don't blame me if this haunts your nightmares, too...) xXx
Be warned, 'An Echo of Children' will take you to places you suddenly realise you didn't really want to go to - and it gets harder and harder to find the way back. This book will literally haunt you, and I found it impossible to put down, until I reached the (bitter) end.
A perfectly observed masterpiece, this story is not simply a classic horror tale, it's a keen, troubling and a darkly painful human story. Throughout the whole narrative, I was drawn - at times almost too deeply for my own comfort - into the disturbing descent of a dysfunctional family, caught in the grip of an ancient evil. The sinister, insidiously horrible way the family are dragged further and further from their own selves and into the echoes of the past, is beyond compelling. This story underlined, for me, why I'll always come back to Ramsey's particular shades of darkness, because there are depths within even his darkest imaginings.
I've always admired the 'human interest' aspect of Ramsey Campbell's writing, and especially how he is so adept at capturing the nuances and undercurrents in family relationships. The subtle and often fraught exchanges between the characters are so cleverly written. The doubts, fears, and difficulties he observes, and the way familiar established roles are challenged as children become parents, and parents become grandparents, is something I feel he captures beautifully. If, at times, perhaps a little too keenly for comfort. As a grandmother myself, I admit I was particularly chilled by the way these relationships spiraled down into an extremely dark place, and how the key characters - grandparents themselves - tried to deal with the distress of the situation they found themselves embroiled in.
The dread, the fear, the undercurrents of ancient evil - these are all classic Ramsey Campbell. But where, for me, 'An Echo of Children' surpasses all of these 'tropes' and becomes much more than a sum of these parts, is in how it remains firmly grounded in the abiding strength and sacrifice of family love. At its darkest (and there are some very dark moments within these pages) 'An Echo of Children' almost reaches despair and insanity. The sheer terror of being faced with an almost impossible to fight evil, is chillingly woven throughout the whole story. Yet the one light in this darkness, is the sheer determination, the bravery and inner strength, that rises to the surface, in defiance of all the odds...
I literally couldn't stop reading, once I'd started. I had to find out what was going to happen, and if the family I quickly grew to care for very deeply, would survive...
I won't say more, and as ever, no spoilers, but this story is certainly a triumph in exquisitely tortured horror. Deeply disturbing, dark, and compelling, 'An Echo of Children' will live in my mind long after the last page.
If you are strong enough to experience this descent into madness yourself, I suggest you invest in a copy of this oh-so-dark tale, from the absolute legend that is Mr Ramsey Campbell! (It's OK, you can thank me later, but just don't blame me if this haunts your nightmares, too...) xXx
May 27, 2025
An Echo of Children by Ramsey Campbell
Poor Dean. The little child just wants to live a normal life, which is becoming increasingly difficult. Under the harsh tutelage of his parents, Claire and Allan, Dean is treated more like a slave. Allan’s parents, Jude and Thom, are visiting. Several startling observations occur during their visit, and they are left wondering about the history of the new house Claire and Allan have moved into. A home with a history of child violence and strange religious practices is uncovered, leaving Jude and Thom worried for the safety of Dean. Allan and Clair have changed; their mannerisms and parenting style have become unhinged. Ever the detectives, the grandparents become the detectives tasked with executing plans that test the moral boundaries.
This is abundantly clear; when kids are involved in a horror story, I become more apprehensive. The tension is ratcheted up tenfold, and my senses are heightened. Fully aware that we must figure out why Dean is being tormented left me feeling helpless. What can we do? Upon discovery of a root cause, we find that the city is hiding a secret. Buried under rubble, ghosts from the past have firmly taken hold. A plot of land lending itself to peculiarity, as if a potential kidnapper were handing out sweets to a would-be youthful victim.
Being a parent myself, this story tested my patience. Similar to being bitten by a mosquito, I scratched only to find my skin itchy once again, and again… I said aloud to no one in particular, "Leave that kid alone!" in protest. The book revels in our human nature to nurture the young children in our lives and feasts upon the emotional turmoil that mistreatment provides. Atmospheric in delivery, the novel's location and its inhabitants will leave the reader scratching their heads in bewilderment. Firmly placed in a sense of mental vertigo, my head was left spinning like a top.
As the conclusion drew near, I realized the plan that Ramsey Campbell had in store for us. Beautiful and wholly fitting! A rip-roaring rollercoaster of diabolical drama had successfully invaded my existence, and I wanted more. I am giving this 4 out of 5 stars!
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
Poor Dean. The little child just wants to live a normal life, which is becoming increasingly difficult. Under the harsh tutelage of his parents, Claire and Allan, Dean is treated more like a slave. Allan’s parents, Jude and Thom, are visiting. Several startling observations occur during their visit, and they are left wondering about the history of the new house Claire and Allan have moved into. A home with a history of child violence and strange religious practices is uncovered, leaving Jude and Thom worried for the safety of Dean. Allan and Clair have changed; their mannerisms and parenting style have become unhinged. Ever the detectives, the grandparents become the detectives tasked with executing plans that test the moral boundaries.
This is abundantly clear; when kids are involved in a horror story, I become more apprehensive. The tension is ratcheted up tenfold, and my senses are heightened. Fully aware that we must figure out why Dean is being tormented left me feeling helpless. What can we do? Upon discovery of a root cause, we find that the city is hiding a secret. Buried under rubble, ghosts from the past have firmly taken hold. A plot of land lending itself to peculiarity, as if a potential kidnapper were handing out sweets to a would-be youthful victim.
Being a parent myself, this story tested my patience. Similar to being bitten by a mosquito, I scratched only to find my skin itchy once again, and again… I said aloud to no one in particular, "Leave that kid alone!" in protest. The book revels in our human nature to nurture the young children in our lives and feasts upon the emotional turmoil that mistreatment provides. Atmospheric in delivery, the novel's location and its inhabitants will leave the reader scratching their heads in bewilderment. Firmly placed in a sense of mental vertigo, my head was left spinning like a top.
As the conclusion drew near, I realized the plan that Ramsey Campbell had in store for us. Beautiful and wholly fitting! A rip-roaring rollercoaster of diabolical drama had successfully invaded my existence, and I wanted more. I am giving this 4 out of 5 stars!
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
September 30, 2025
An okay read
An Echo of Children was, for me, an okay read that didn’t fully deliver on its initial promise. The setup hints at something dark and unsettling, and there are moments where Campbell’s skill in building atmosphere shines—particularly in the early scenes. One sequence at the amusement park where Thom experiences disturbing visions stands out as especially eerie and sets the tone for what seems like it could have been a truly chilling story. Unfortunately, the tension never quite sustains at the same level.
While the book has a handful of twists and unsettling ideas, much of the second half began to feel repetitive. The constant push-and-pull with Jude trying to speak with Dean, only for Allan and Coral to intervene, became predictable and diluted the suspense. Similarly, characters like Kendrik and Leigh felt underdeveloped and left me questioning why they were included at all, as they didn’t seem to add much to the progression of the story.
That said, there were parts I genuinely appreciated. Jude emerged as the most compelling character—her instincts, courage, and refusal to simply stand by gave the book some much-needed momentum. Dean was also engaging, particularly as the pressures around him mounted. Allan and Coral, while frustrating, were effective characters in their own way—portrayed with a mix of religious fervor and suffocating control that made them the type of people you “love to hate.”
The ending, however, left me wanting more clarity, as several character arcs felt unresolved. Overall, An Echo of Children has flashes of strong atmosphere and character work but falls short of being a standout. For me, it landed as a decent, middle-of-the-road read rather than something unforgettable.
An Echo of Children was, for me, an okay read that didn’t fully deliver on its initial promise. The setup hints at something dark and unsettling, and there are moments where Campbell’s skill in building atmosphere shines—particularly in the early scenes. One sequence at the amusement park where Thom experiences disturbing visions stands out as especially eerie and sets the tone for what seems like it could have been a truly chilling story. Unfortunately, the tension never quite sustains at the same level.
While the book has a handful of twists and unsettling ideas, much of the second half began to feel repetitive. The constant push-and-pull with Jude trying to speak with Dean, only for Allan and Coral to intervene, became predictable and diluted the suspense. Similarly, characters like Kendrik and Leigh felt underdeveloped and left me questioning why they were included at all, as they didn’t seem to add much to the progression of the story.
That said, there were parts I genuinely appreciated. Jude emerged as the most compelling character—her instincts, courage, and refusal to simply stand by gave the book some much-needed momentum. Dean was also engaging, particularly as the pressures around him mounted. Allan and Coral, while frustrating, were effective characters in their own way—portrayed with a mix of religious fervor and suffocating control that made them the type of people you “love to hate.”
The ending, however, left me wanting more clarity, as several character arcs felt unresolved. Overall, An Echo of Children has flashes of strong atmosphere and character work but falls short of being a standout. For me, it landed as a decent, middle-of-the-road read rather than something unforgettable.
October 3, 2025
This book unsettled me in a way I can’t describe. There’s no gore, no death, no physical violence, but the slow burn, and the characters’ dynamics, really got to me!
This is my second book from this author and I was happy to find the same care and skill in the dialogue, as I think they are what make this book effective! The characters appear average, almost indistinctive, but how they interact with each other is eerie and literally made me uneasy. The dialogues feel normal and unnatural at the same time, but manage to define the main protagonists very well, so that they feel real even if weird. I found it surprising how the description of someone’s recurring behavioural gestures creeped me out, making me want to hug myself.
The story itself is not even that original in a way, and it could be defined as a sort of haunted house/possession, but reinvented so that it feels fresh, not forgetting also unpredictable. The fact I didn’t know where the plot was going at all times, is also another reason why I felt captivated as I wanted to be able to predict what would happen, but always failed.
I loved this story for how it made me feel, despite the simplicity of the plot, the absence of any action or horrific scene and its slow burn. This is quiet horror at such a high level, although it’s not surprising given that Ramsey Campbell is one of the masters of horror!
Thanks to Random Things Tour and Flame Tree Press for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
This is my second book from this author and I was happy to find the same care and skill in the dialogue, as I think they are what make this book effective! The characters appear average, almost indistinctive, but how they interact with each other is eerie and literally made me uneasy. The dialogues feel normal and unnatural at the same time, but manage to define the main protagonists very well, so that they feel real even if weird. I found it surprising how the description of someone’s recurring behavioural gestures creeped me out, making me want to hug myself.
The story itself is not even that original in a way, and it could be defined as a sort of haunted house/possession, but reinvented so that it feels fresh, not forgetting also unpredictable. The fact I didn’t know where the plot was going at all times, is also another reason why I felt captivated as I wanted to be able to predict what would happen, but always failed.
I loved this story for how it made me feel, despite the simplicity of the plot, the absence of any action or horrific scene and its slow burn. This is quiet horror at such a high level, although it’s not surprising given that Ramsey Campbell is one of the masters of horror!
Thanks to Random Things Tour and Flame Tree Press for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
August 2, 2025
A new Ramsey Campbell is always a cause for celebration in my eyes - and I'm not alone. I also won't be alone in welcoming this latest novel with open arms. An Echo of Children has all the atmosphere of creeping dread for which the author is so rightly acclaimed.
Is it true that where you live can influence you to such an extent that it changes your personality? When Allan and Coral move to the seaside town of Barnwall with their only child, Dean, they become increasingly obsessed with controlling every aspect of his behaviour. Thus, in turn, becomes a source of escalating concern to Dean's grandparents - especially Alan's parents. Of course, there was that tragedy some years earlier when children died...
This is a story that insinuates itself into your brain and makes you yearn to return to it. You HAVE to know what happens next and how it will all turn out. The characters are people we recognise in our own lives. What happens to them is the stuff of nightmares and there is the true horror.
An Echo of Children is a worthy addition to the Ramsey Campbell canon. A new classic.
Is it true that where you live can influence you to such an extent that it changes your personality? When Allan and Coral move to the seaside town of Barnwall with their only child, Dean, they become increasingly obsessed with controlling every aspect of his behaviour. Thus, in turn, becomes a source of escalating concern to Dean's grandparents - especially Alan's parents. Of course, there was that tragedy some years earlier when children died...
This is a story that insinuates itself into your brain and makes you yearn to return to it. You HAVE to know what happens next and how it will all turn out. The characters are people we recognise in our own lives. What happens to them is the stuff of nightmares and there is the true horror.
An Echo of Children is a worthy addition to the Ramsey Campbell canon. A new classic.
May 28, 2025
4.5 stars
Ramsey Campbell returns with a slow-burn nightmare that creeps under your skin and stays there. An Echo of Children is classic Campbell—moody, ambiguous, and dripping with dread. Coral and Allan’s move to the seemingly quiet seaside town of Barnwall quickly unravels into something far darker, especially when whispers of past child deaths begin to echo through their new home. The horror here isn’t flashy—it’s psychological, disorienting, and disturbingly plausible. Coral’s increasing paranoia (or is it clarity?) builds to a chilling crescendo, while the question of what’s truly haunting Dean lingers like sea mist. Campbell is a master of turning the everyday into something subtly sinister, and he pulls it off once again. This one’s not for gorehounds—it’s for readers who like their horror atmospheric, ambiguous, and full of creeping dread. Perfect for fans of haunted house stories that whisper instead of scream.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press providing me with an eARC of An Echo of Children prior to its publication.
Ramsey Campbell returns with a slow-burn nightmare that creeps under your skin and stays there. An Echo of Children is classic Campbell—moody, ambiguous, and dripping with dread. Coral and Allan’s move to the seemingly quiet seaside town of Barnwall quickly unravels into something far darker, especially when whispers of past child deaths begin to echo through their new home. The horror here isn’t flashy—it’s psychological, disorienting, and disturbingly plausible. Coral’s increasing paranoia (or is it clarity?) builds to a chilling crescendo, while the question of what’s truly haunting Dean lingers like sea mist. Campbell is a master of turning the everyday into something subtly sinister, and he pulls it off once again. This one’s not for gorehounds—it’s for readers who like their horror atmospheric, ambiguous, and full of creeping dread. Perfect for fans of haunted house stories that whisper instead of scream.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press providing me with an eARC of An Echo of Children prior to its publication.
October 13, 2025
An Echo Of Children is a slow burn, unsettling, mysterious, sinister read that's sure to unerve you and chill you to the bone.
This is my second Ramsey Campbell read, my first being "The Incubations" and I must say, both reads were incredibly impressive.
It's a dark, moody, suspenseful horror, but there's no death or gore, this tale isn't about that, it's more of a character driven story, focusing on character dynamics, how they interact with eachother, how they communicate.
The story itself is quite a simple one, and the idea has been done before, but somehow the author adds a contemporary twist so the story feels fresh and new.
The story centres around Coral and Allan, who move with their young son to the town of Bramwell, and it's not long before they feel something is not quite right about their new house. An Evil seems to have taken an interest in their son, Dean. But what lengths will Coral and Allan go to in order to protect their son? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
This is my second Ramsey Campbell read, my first being "The Incubations" and I must say, both reads were incredibly impressive.
It's a dark, moody, suspenseful horror, but there's no death or gore, this tale isn't about that, it's more of a character driven story, focusing on character dynamics, how they interact with eachother, how they communicate.
The story itself is quite a simple one, and the idea has been done before, but somehow the author adds a contemporary twist so the story feels fresh and new.
The story centres around Coral and Allan, who move with their young son to the town of Bramwell, and it's not long before they feel something is not quite right about their new house. An Evil seems to have taken an interest in their son, Dean. But what lengths will Coral and Allan go to in order to protect their son? Be sure to pick your copy up to find out.
4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
October 15, 2025
One of Campbell's best in years – and this is a man whose normal standard is everyone else's gold. Whereas Campbell’s 2024 novel, ‘The Incubations’, explored how even something apparently so simple can be manipulated into something so impenetrable, ‘An Echo of Children’ turns that notion on its head. The emotional highs (and tragic lows) aren’t quite as strong as in many of his fictions, and I suppose if his association with August Derleth is what has rung the bell for your Pavlovian dog, you may find yourself a tad wrong-footed; however, there’s often bucketfuls more to be said for an insular story. Particularly when the narrative takes its cue from people like Henry James or even Fyodor Dostoyevsky, though pushing them into a more insular world, the novel is always powerful. Campbell finds a vulnerability in both the cosiest and mildest of moments and he seems almost restless until your chilled breath is visible in the warmest of rooms. Fear not, whatever mental parasites he has imparted into his words, they’ll soon have found a new home within your brain.
October 6, 2025
This slowly meanders through the plight of Jude's desperation to keep Dean safe. So very sad, frustrating and tense.
There's something very very wrong with Willow Grove and we're voyeurs watching it fall apart. Jude's pleas are ignored and Thom is slow in acting. It's like car crash TV where you know what is going to happen but are powerless to stop it. I was waiting for confirmation that the worst has happened but that's not the way it unfolds. It's all very tragic but Thoms actions in the end make complete sense...we just don't know if it resolves everything leaving the feeling of helplessness to persist.
It's an odd read and took me a while to get into it. I think it's because you know Dean isn't being treated well and that is the trigger point for how the story makes you feel. It should make you feel angry, uncomfortable and like you want it to go differently! I feel like we identify with Jude and so we know how she feels throughout. It's cleverly written 😊
There's something very very wrong with Willow Grove and we're voyeurs watching it fall apart. Jude's pleas are ignored and Thom is slow in acting. It's like car crash TV where you know what is going to happen but are powerless to stop it. I was waiting for confirmation that the worst has happened but that's not the way it unfolds. It's all very tragic but Thoms actions in the end make complete sense...we just don't know if it resolves everything leaving the feeling of helplessness to persist.
It's an odd read and took me a while to get into it. I think it's because you know Dean isn't being treated well and that is the trigger point for how the story makes you feel. It should make you feel angry, uncomfortable and like you want it to go differently! I feel like we identify with Jude and so we know how she feels throughout. It's cleverly written 😊
October 13, 2025
For my full sensory review please visit my blog. This is not a quick read, it builds tension and atmosphere. Readers beware there are themes of child abuse and trauma.
An Echo of Children tips into the genre of horror come psychological thriller. All the way through I had an overall feeling of something sinister and unnerving. I, for one, do enjoy it when a book has me feeling something. If you like a tense read this is for you, and definitely a great one for colder autumnal and winter evenings and super for spooky season.
I love the dipping into the uncanny with Campbell’s writing style. Although I say this isn’t a quick read I wish to reassure readers that I found it ticks along at a steady pace. I absolutely loved it and just to add it had rather an iconic ending which is simply fantastic. I highly recommend.
An Echo of Children tips into the genre of horror come psychological thriller. All the way through I had an overall feeling of something sinister and unnerving. I, for one, do enjoy it when a book has me feeling something. If you like a tense read this is for you, and definitely a great one for colder autumnal and winter evenings and super for spooky season.
I love the dipping into the uncanny with Campbell’s writing style. Although I say this isn’t a quick read I wish to reassure readers that I found it ticks along at a steady pace. I absolutely loved it and just to add it had rather an iconic ending which is simply fantastic. I highly recommend.
October 14, 2025
Firstly, how stunning it this gold and silver special edition cover of this book? I absolutely love it and feel this two tone edition cover really fits the gothic horror feel and flashes a shine to attract you to the darker pages inside.
I found this book brilliant. It really grabs at you and pulls you into the story, taking deep into the rabbit hole of questioning whether or not things are happening how they seem, and if a sign is a sign or just coincidence, etc. You also start to question both safety and sanity and wonder just how worth it things are for a house.
I liked the pace of this story, as it allowed for those much needed details to really build the suspense and also gave you a real view into the pain they were feeling in the waiting game. This read really had me hooked.
I found this book brilliant. It really grabs at you and pulls you into the story, taking deep into the rabbit hole of questioning whether or not things are happening how they seem, and if a sign is a sign or just coincidence, etc. You also start to question both safety and sanity and wonder just how worth it things are for a house.
I liked the pace of this story, as it allowed for those much needed details to really build the suspense and also gave you a real view into the pain they were feeling in the waiting game. This read really had me hooked.
February 5, 2026
A rare disappointment from a favourite author.
Even in his better works these days, I find Ramsey Campbell sometimes pares the creepiness down too close to the bone. Here it's just about non-existent. We're left with a family tale of mild unease that never rises to much before it's over.
It doesn't help that it starts off as a completely different story altogether. Alas, Heady, the suggestively named and not-entirely imaginary friend of the young boy at the centre of the drama, is written out just a few chapters in. Other children and the echoes thereof are also absent thereafter. It's as if Campbell lost all interest in his original idea but felt duty-bound to hammer on to the end regardless.
I'm still looking forward to the next one, Ramsey.
Even in his better works these days, I find Ramsey Campbell sometimes pares the creepiness down too close to the bone. Here it's just about non-existent. We're left with a family tale of mild unease that never rises to much before it's over.
It doesn't help that it starts off as a completely different story altogether. Alas, Heady, the suggestively named and not-entirely imaginary friend of the young boy at the centre of the drama, is written out just a few chapters in. Other children and the echoes thereof are also absent thereafter. It's as if Campbell lost all interest in his original idea but felt duty-bound to hammer on to the end regardless.
I'm still looking forward to the next one, Ramsey.
September 7, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed An Echo of Children, which will appeal to long-term fans accustomed to Ramsey Campbell style. However, those looking for more confrontational, immediate or violent horror might find its subtleties to be rather tame. Even though there is no graphic content or full blown horror, I appreciated the subtleties and complexities of this unnerving family drama, finding it gripping until the unpredictable ending.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
August 25, 2025
An Echo of Children is unsettling from the beginning as Allan and Coral’s parents and their young son Dean’s grandparents arrive for a visit at their new house in the seaside town of Barnhall, where they - especially grandma Jude - witness Dean’s overly polite responses to what appears to be strict parenting, see Dean talking to and about an imaginary friend called Heady, and hear children shouting in the park though they don’t see them.
When Jude shares her concerns about what she sees and hears, she starts to feel like everyone is gaslighting her as they question whether she’s having mental “lapses” due to her age and that she shouldn’t be left alone with Dean. On their second day out, they run into the local priest, and it comes out that everyone thinks there’s something off in the house, and they ask the priest to perform an exorcism on the house. He demurs and suggests that they ask the owner of a local mystical supplies shop to perform a cleansing instead.
When they return to their respective homes, the grandparents continue to be concerned about Dean - again, especially Jude - and she questions whether it’s the house that is causing the changes in her son’s family, so she starts to research the house and town and finds that both have a dark past concerning children.
An Echo of Children by Ramsey Campbell is a tense, slow-burn psychological horror with themes of trauma and cycles of abuse but at its heart is about family and what lengths we would go to to the protect the ones we love.
Stray Thoughts:
For most of the book, Thom was so frustrating. It felt like he never had Jude’s back, and when she would question him, he would totally gaslight her about doubting his support.
The conversations felt so real and got so tense sometimes. That made these characters feel so real and dialed my anxiety to 11.
Boy, do I feel every twinge and ache and pain that Thom describes, even down to trying to turn over in bed without disturbing my spouse. Rundown meat suits are a pain - literally and figuratively.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the advance copy for my honest review.
When Jude shares her concerns about what she sees and hears, she starts to feel like everyone is gaslighting her as they question whether she’s having mental “lapses” due to her age and that she shouldn’t be left alone with Dean. On their second day out, they run into the local priest, and it comes out that everyone thinks there’s something off in the house, and they ask the priest to perform an exorcism on the house. He demurs and suggests that they ask the owner of a local mystical supplies shop to perform a cleansing instead.
When they return to their respective homes, the grandparents continue to be concerned about Dean - again, especially Jude - and she questions whether it’s the house that is causing the changes in her son’s family, so she starts to research the house and town and finds that both have a dark past concerning children.
An Echo of Children by Ramsey Campbell is a tense, slow-burn psychological horror with themes of trauma and cycles of abuse but at its heart is about family and what lengths we would go to to the protect the ones we love.
Stray Thoughts:
For most of the book, Thom was so frustrating. It felt like he never had Jude’s back, and when she would question him, he would totally gaslight her about doubting his support.
The conversations felt so real and got so tense sometimes. That made these characters feel so real and dialed my anxiety to 11.
Boy, do I feel every twinge and ache and pain that Thom describes, even down to trying to turn over in bed without disturbing my spouse. Rundown meat suits are a pain - literally and figuratively.
Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the advance copy for my honest review.
May 31, 2025
You always know you're reading a Ramsey Campbell book because of the mood it evokes, one of darkness and never-ending distraught. The characters bump heads in this novel... a lot. The dialogue is fierce, clipped, showing the worst in humanity at times. It builds and builds to the final act where things take an unexpected turn or three. Dark and brooding, the writing is topnotch as per the usual for this author.
October 7, 2025
Disassociated
This wasn’t the thriller I expected, it was slow, detailed and moody!
I was expecting things to happen that didn’t and I was concerned to start with until every thing clicks into place.
The parents are the stars of this book, I really like the character descriptions and how you grow to like them throughout the story. I didn’t want to stop reading and the way Dean spoke was really getting to me - so creepy
A different type of thriller but I did enjoy it
This wasn’t the thriller I expected, it was slow, detailed and moody!
I was expecting things to happen that didn’t and I was concerned to start with until every thing clicks into place.
The parents are the stars of this book, I really like the character descriptions and how you grow to like them throughout the story. I didn’t want to stop reading and the way Dean spoke was really getting to me - so creepy
A different type of thriller but I did enjoy it
October 22, 2025
Mother knows best... but which mother is the correct one?
Grandparents and their offspring may clash a bit at how to raise young children, but would their views be that different? What is there to hide?
Living in a small town with horrendous histories, it is no wonder there would be a miasma of evil lurking, or is that just imagination?
A fantastic read, so good that I read it in one sitting. Excellent stuff as usual from Mr. Campbell.
Grandparents and their offspring may clash a bit at how to raise young children, but would their views be that different? What is there to hide?
Living in a small town with horrendous histories, it is no wonder there would be a miasma of evil lurking, or is that just imagination?
A fantastic read, so good that I read it in one sitting. Excellent stuff as usual from Mr. Campbell.
September 11, 2026
After such prolificacy it is a wonder Ramsey Campbell has not exhausted his capacity for uniquely disturbing fiction. At the core of An Echo of Children is a typical Campbellian conceit, but only in the way he takes a seemingly straightforward horror-adjacent idea or trope and uses it as scaffolding for a tense comedy of manners/paranoia, often dripping with supernatural happenings flickering in and out of view on the periphery. Here he takes both the idea of possession and the haunted house and uses them to explore the issue of child abuse. In particular the failings of social systems and institutions in the UK to flag child-endangerment, and how it is surprisingly difficult to remove a child from a dangerous situation when there is even a small amount ambiguity. And ambiguity there most certainly is, both for readers and characters, right up until the final sentence that lights up with suggestion and throws into shadow all that has preceded.
October 25, 2025
Another enjoyable read from Ramsey Campbell. He still has it. Spooky story, characters that you cared about, and the pacing was good too. His books are always must reads for me. #AnEchoofChildren #NetGalley
November 27, 2025
One of Campbell's most low-key novels, successfully establishing a sense of disquiet early on which is sustained right through to the end whilst treating its subject matter with the gravity it deserves. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/202...
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