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Echoes of the Lost: A Mystery
One retired detective. One frightened boy. One case that will unravel everything. A tense, emotional mystery perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and Liz Moore.
He usually had something to go on: a body, a name, a weapon . . . What did he have now?
Retired detective Ster McCaffrey has lived in isolation since the death of his beloved wife. Recently disabled from a traumatic brain injury, his quiet life is interrupted when he wakes in the dead of night to find a child sobbing on his doorstep—leaving him with more questions than answers.
After learning that the boy and his missing mother are unhoused with no official investigation underway, Ster decides to solve the mystery himself. To do so, he'll need to interview a community whose voice is rarely heard: the houseless of Portland, Oregon. Diving deeper into their tight-knit circle, Ster realizes trust is hard-won, and answers even more so. The further he goes, the more difficult it is to tell where the case ends, and his past begins.
With threats to his home, new evidence found in the river, and signs pointing to murder—friends and enemies are closer than Ster realizes. Only one thing is clear: the boy is in grave danger.
Follow Ster and a cast of characters in this suspenseful mystery full of twists and turns as he navigates a murder unlike any he's seen before. For fans of Cindy Brown's Macdeath, now comes a fresh take on classic crime thrillers.
He usually had something to go on: a body, a name, a weapon . . . What did he have now?
Retired detective Ster McCaffrey has lived in isolation since the death of his beloved wife. Recently disabled from a traumatic brain injury, his quiet life is interrupted when he wakes in the dead of night to find a child sobbing on his doorstep—leaving him with more questions than answers.
After learning that the boy and his missing mother are unhoused with no official investigation underway, Ster decides to solve the mystery himself. To do so, he'll need to interview a community whose voice is rarely heard: the houseless of Portland, Oregon. Diving deeper into their tight-knit circle, Ster realizes trust is hard-won, and answers even more so. The further he goes, the more difficult it is to tell where the case ends, and his past begins.
With threats to his home, new evidence found in the river, and signs pointing to murder—friends and enemies are closer than Ster realizes. Only one thing is clear: the boy is in grave danger.
Follow Ster and a cast of characters in this suspenseful mystery full of twists and turns as he navigates a murder unlike any he's seen before. For fans of Cindy Brown's Macdeath, now comes a fresh take on classic crime thrillers.
- GenresSuspense
336 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2026
About the author
Cindy Brown
40 books172 followersCindy Brown’s body of work defies genre, yet her serious crime fiction, humorous mysteries, disability news stories, and comedic plays all share themes of justice and community. She has been shortlisted for an Agatha Award, had over a dozen plays produced, and awarded a disability journalism fellowship by Women’s eNews in 2024.
Cindy and her husband live in their favorite city in the world, Portland, Oregon, where she continues to write stories that speak to her, hoping to shine a light on the goodness that surrounds us.
Cindy and her husband live in their favorite city in the world, Portland, Oregon, where she continues to write stories that speak to her, hoping to shine a light on the goodness that surrounds us.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I couldn't read "Echoes of the Lost" before I went to bed, not because it was too scary or gruesome, but because the suspense was gripping -- and I cared too much about the characters. Short, packed chapters, characters I fully expect to meet on the street (I live near Portland, Oregon where the story takes place), and a plot full of twists and turns made for fabulous reading. I highly recommend this book, whether you're a mystery fan or not.
Many of the characters are houseless, and Cindy Brown portrays these people with honesty and respect. recently had the opportunity to meet with a woman who had experienced houselessness in the Portland area, and she spoke of the lack of trust of authorities, promises made and broken, sweeps and losing her camper, the struggle to survive and feel like a human being worthy of respect. The characters Brown introduces us to feel very real, vulnerable, proud and, each in his or her own way, damaged and/or struggling. Brown doesn't sugar-coat or romanticize this population and their individual needs and struggles. I greatly appreciate an author who gets the details right!
Ster, the main character, suffers from a traumatic brain injury, and here too, Brown has done her research. His symptoms and difficulties ring true as he struggles to care for the two-year-old boy left on his doorstep. He makes mistakes, loses track of details, suffers severe headaches, and learns to ask for help in his quest to find the boy's mother.
The plot is full of surprises, from the arrival of the child to the discovery of the child's mother -- I don't want to give the plot away. But the story follows a well-constructed arc and the ending is surprising, but believable.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ann Farley, author "Tell her Yes" (poetry)
Many of the characters are houseless, and Cindy Brown portrays these people with honesty and respect. recently had the opportunity to meet with a woman who had experienced houselessness in the Portland area, and she spoke of the lack of trust of authorities, promises made and broken, sweeps and losing her camper, the struggle to survive and feel like a human being worthy of respect. The characters Brown introduces us to feel very real, vulnerable, proud and, each in his or her own way, damaged and/or struggling. Brown doesn't sugar-coat or romanticize this population and their individual needs and struggles. I greatly appreciate an author who gets the details right!
Ster, the main character, suffers from a traumatic brain injury, and here too, Brown has done her research. His symptoms and difficulties ring true as he struggles to care for the two-year-old boy left on his doorstep. He makes mistakes, loses track of details, suffers severe headaches, and learns to ask for help in his quest to find the boy's mother.
The plot is full of surprises, from the arrival of the child to the discovery of the child's mother -- I don't want to give the plot away. But the story follows a well-constructed arc and the ending is surprising, but believable.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ann Farley, author "Tell her Yes" (poetry)
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book can keep a Reader up nights following the twisting path of clues and lots of unexpected turns and events. "Echoes" is a departure from Cindy Brown's popular series of cozy mysteries with clever pun-intended titles, such as "MacDeath" and "The Sound of Murder." This book is an intriguing, gritty murder mystery that takes place mostly on the streets of Portland, Oregon. And why was this adorable child deposited on the doorstep of retired cop, Ster McCaffrey?
It all begins on a rainy December night in Portland-- the worst of seasons. Despite being lonely, retired, and with a brain injury, Ster sets out to find the boy's family. Finding the boy's mom takes him to the streets of Portland and making connections among the houseless (not homeless, they say) people and the backstories of their lives. In doing so, Ster comes up facing a backstory of his own--the death of his beloved wife and the disappearance of his daughter shortly afterward, five years ago.
Ster endures yet another handicap while chasing down the conclusion to the murder mystery. Although the book ends with a Christmas celebration, the ending is not fairy-tale happy. But there is a hopeful possibility ahead. Perhaps there will be a sequel?
I found unique features about this book, and I applaud the author for her deep dive into the milieu of Portland street culture and showing the strengths, loyalties, and fears of the houseless community. A second salient feature is the two-year old boy as a main character in this story. The street people just call him Fuzzy; he is portrayed with all the liveliness and beauty of an innocent toddler, along with the challenges adults face in caring for him.
I received this copy as an advanced reader copy from the author, and I have presented my honest review.
It all begins on a rainy December night in Portland-- the worst of seasons. Despite being lonely, retired, and with a brain injury, Ster sets out to find the boy's family. Finding the boy's mom takes him to the streets of Portland and making connections among the houseless (not homeless, they say) people and the backstories of their lives. In doing so, Ster comes up facing a backstory of his own--the death of his beloved wife and the disappearance of his daughter shortly afterward, five years ago.
Ster endures yet another handicap while chasing down the conclusion to the murder mystery. Although the book ends with a Christmas celebration, the ending is not fairy-tale happy. But there is a hopeful possibility ahead. Perhaps there will be a sequel?
I found unique features about this book, and I applaud the author for her deep dive into the milieu of Portland street culture and showing the strengths, loyalties, and fears of the houseless community. A second salient feature is the two-year old boy as a main character in this story. The street people just call him Fuzzy; he is portrayed with all the liveliness and beauty of an innocent toddler, along with the challenges adults face in caring for him.
I received this copy as an advanced reader copy from the author, and I have presented my honest review.
May 16, 2026
📚 Echoes of the Lost by Cindy Brown 📚
I am so glad I got to read this ARC of this mystery that is fast-paced and holds emotional depth, that's set in one of my favorite cities (Portland, OR). I grew up in Oregon and lived in Portland for four years before moving to Seattle so I jumped at the offer to read this. Thank you @friendlybrown for reaching out.
The story is multi-layered and deals with many topics like the city's unhoused population, disability, police corruption, the foster care system, sex work, and aging. Cindy Brown writes about these issues and the characters with a careful and caring style, bringing about lots of empathy for each character. I really loved how no houseless character was a caricature. This book was right up my alley because I trained as a social worker in Portland and now work in legal aid in Seattle where I hear stories involving the child welfare system, substance use, and the housing crisis often. Seeing the humanity in every client, and every person, is so important and this shines through in this novel.
Being a book lover, I also really enjoyed how much the library played into the story!
I am going to have to check out her other books now. Congrats Cindy!
This is the second book I've reviewed for Ooligan Press too, and I think they're doing an incredible job.
I am so glad I got to read this ARC of this mystery that is fast-paced and holds emotional depth, that's set in one of my favorite cities (Portland, OR). I grew up in Oregon and lived in Portland for four years before moving to Seattle so I jumped at the offer to read this. Thank you @friendlybrown for reaching out.
The story is multi-layered and deals with many topics like the city's unhoused population, disability, police corruption, the foster care system, sex work, and aging. Cindy Brown writes about these issues and the characters with a careful and caring style, bringing about lots of empathy for each character. I really loved how no houseless character was a caricature. This book was right up my alley because I trained as a social worker in Portland and now work in legal aid in Seattle where I hear stories involving the child welfare system, substance use, and the housing crisis often. Seeing the humanity in every client, and every person, is so important and this shines through in this novel.
Being a book lover, I also really enjoyed how much the library played into the story!
I am going to have to check out her other books now. Congrats Cindy!
This is the second book I've reviewed for Ooligan Press too, and I think they're doing an incredible job.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was impressed with the skill Cindy has to switch genre writing from her cozy series to a rich mystery. This story had a balanced blend of touching moments, dread, worry, outrage, and empathy. I got so caught up in the atmosphere of drizzly streets, smells of the city, and memorable characters of Portland that I wasn’t at first aware of the ominous tension building and sliding up my spine. Now and then I wanted to jump to the end to find out the truth but resisted and let the plot lines weave together while I soaked in the rich depth of characters and how their lives skillfully merge together. This story felt so real and the people so alive that the themes of trust, justice, and true friendships will bind you to their lives well beyond the last page.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“Echoes of the Lost” is a unique mix of humor, intrigue and the full spectrum of human nature. If you’re a fan of Kate Atkinson, you’ll love this book, and you’ll fall for Ster McCaffrey even harder than Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie. The multiple vibes of Portland are like another character in the story. I stayed up too late several nights not able to pause, the story just kept getting mysteriouser and mysteriouser, and the denouement is satisfying and surprising. I hope there’s a sequel on the way!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 3, 2025
Echoes of the Lost is a wonderfully dark mystery that's also brimming with life. Cindy Brown's characters, from her overwhelmed retired police detective protagonist to the Portland houseless community, are all empathetically written and fully realized. Also, what a great whodunit plot!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Absolutely one of my favorite mysteries I’ve read this year! The unexpected situations and characters that gave this book the twist and turns within every chapter! What you thought was happening wasn’t! I highly recommend this book and it deserves all five stars and more!
May 16, 2026
Just finished the book tonight. It was a good read. Well written and tight story. A great cast of characters. Not your typical crime drama. Way more enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews