I was knocked out by Eric Bernt's first book in his Speed of Sound series and delighted to have found such an inventive and talented writer. His last novel of the series is The Sound of Echoes and is just as excellent as the first one. Bernt combines a depth of technological, financial, political and historical research (never pedantic, never boring) with a unique selection of finely drawn characters that fascinate and pull you in to root for their triumph or downfall.
Eddie Parks is a young adult, an autistic savant genius. For most of his life he's lived at Harmony House, a home for "special people with special needs." Backed by anonymous and mysterious benefactors, Harmony House doubles as a think tank, where its savants put their unique talents to use solving real world problems. Eddie's mother died giving birth to him, and Eddie's singular desire is to hear her voice. To that end, Eddie creates an amazing device, his "Echo Box," that can reconstruct and replay any previous sound, including private conversations, as perfectly as when it occurred, no matter how long before.
*Note: The following two paragraphs contain spoilers for Book One. Please read the first novel before the second one, as The Sound of Echoes continues where Book One leaves off.*
Eddie fulfills his dream in the first book and hears his mother sing. But the ramifications of this ground-breaking device, from intelligence and blackmail to endless power, are clear to the shadowy consortium, the American Heritage Foundation, that funds and controls Harmony House - a group that has been the catalyst behind world events and politics for many years. It's also clear to radical extremists and others who have heard the rumors of the Echo Box's existence.
Eddie's deeply supportive psychiatrist, Dr. Skylar Drummond, has formed a close relationship with Eddie, helping him with many breakthroughs. As the threats to his invention and life become clear, Skylar helps Eddie escape and survive. Doing that, with Eddie's social and behavioral difficulties and terrors, is a thrilling adventure in the face of dire circumstances.
*End of Book One spoilers.*
In The Sound of Echoes, the 2nd book, Eddie and Skylar are safely back at Harmony House. But Bob Stenson, the leader of AHF, knows that the Echo Box can capture and replay the sound of any action, any conversation, any event. As the sole holder of all the nasty secrets of those in power, AHF could install or destroy and control leaders and politicians and everyone else who can shape world events and finances to benefit AHF and its goals. Stenson believes that whoever controls the Echo Box controls the world and initiates plans once again to get the technology, copy it, and use it.
To control Eddie, Stenson has Dr. Drummond kidnapped. But Eddie has learned many things from Skylar and, with the help of some pretty strong and interesting companions, he fights back. Eddie's journey with Skylar takes them into great danger, but, along with peril and, for Eddie, terror, come discoveries and new relationships that will change their lives forever.
The Sound of Echoes blends science, intrigue, constant danger from career assassins and other assorted threats with medical and psychological support, intellectual brilliance, social awkwardness, love and courage, creating an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will illuminate and warm your heart.