Echo Killer: Thriller (Polizeireporterin Harper McClain 1)

Harper McClain #1

by Christi Daugherty

Der Mörder ihrer Mutter wurde nie gefasst. Jetzt scheint er erneut zu töten.
Eine Frau Mitte dreißig, nackt und erstochen auf dem Küchenboden – aufgefunden von ihrer 12-jährigen Tochter. Als Polizeireporterin Harper McClain den Tatort sieht, hat sie nur einen Gedanken: Das grausame Szenario ist identisch mit einem anderen Mord. Dem an ihrer Mutter. Seit fünfzehn Jahren quält sie der Gedanke, dass der Killer noch immer auf freiem Fuß ist. Nun scheint er wieder zugeschlagen haben. Es gibt keine Fingerabdrücke, keine DNA, keine Spuren. Harper ist entschlossen, die Wahrheit endlich ans Licht zu bringen. Doch die hat ihren Preis.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Suspense

439 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 13, 2018

About the author

As a​ ​​newspaper​ ​reporter, Christi Daugherty first began covering murders at the age of 22. She worked as a journalist for years in cities including Savannah, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. The Echo Killing is her first crime novel. She has also written seven young adult novels under the name CJ Daugherty and writes the spy thriller series Alias Emma as Ava Glass. Find out more and win signed books by visiting her website: www.ChristiDaugherty.com. You can also follow Christi on Twitter (@CJ_Daugherty) and Facebook (CJAuthor).

Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

Harper McClain is a crime reporter living in Savannah, Georgia. When she was twelve-years-old, her mother was brutally murdered. Her Mother's murderer was never found. This has been a driving force for Harper and one of the reasons she became a crime reporter. She has built a solid reputation for herself as a journalist and formed relationships with police officers over the years. One of the police officers serves as a father figure to her as she is estranged from her father. Harper owns a police scanner and shows up at crime scenes to report on them for her employer. But one day she arrives at a crime scene which seems eerily similar to the crime scene when her Mother's was murdered. Could her Mother and this woman have been killed by the same person? Are there connections between the two cases? These questions will nag at her. She is driven to know the truth and desperately tries to find answers to all her unanswered questions.

Harper is a very strong and likable female character. She has flaws and makes some bad judgement calls and I appreciate her motivations for doing so. She found her Mother's body and has always wanted justice. Her Mother's killer was never found. She wants the truth. Her desire and search for the truth is believable and understandable.

I found this book to be fast paced, riveting, and well written. I cared about the characters and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I had a hunch who the killer was half way through and although I was correct, I still did not have all the dots connected. I thought this was a great whodunit. The plot unfolded beautifully - nothing felt rushed. The relationships in this book felt believable. This book also had a little bit of everything: police investigation, journalist investigation, romance, suspense, mystery and left the reader with a sense of anticipation.

I am also left anticipating the next book in this series!

I Highly recommend!

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press- Minotaur books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stop the presses stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

if it bleeds it leads...

This was a newspaper reporter procedural, is that a thing? Well it should be....This is the first book in the Harper McClain series and let me tell you the series is off to a fantastic start....

Harper was born to be a crime reporter.... she puts her everything into her job... it’s personal... it’s her calling.... so when she starts investigating a murder that is eerily similar to the murder of her mother over 15 years ago.... she will stop at nothing to find out the truth....

Harper was such a likable and relatable character.... yes she was damaged, but that didn’t define her... she had friends, she had a love interest (yes there is Romance in this book) she was the kind of girl you would want to go out to lunch with.... this was very refreshing... so many times with female “damaged“ characters they have such an edge to them you find them a bit prickly and hard to like.... Harper was very much likable.... The secondary characters were all very likable as well.... especially her love interest Luke, he was quite the good guy....

The mystery/Investigation in this book was done very well.... i’m not always a huge fan of police procedurals, however I might be a huge fan of newspaper reporter procedurals.... I liked how Harper went about her investigation... I enjoyed all her rule breaking.... The outcome was realistic, but definitely surprise me, did not see that coming.... also really appreciated the aftermath of the investigation... it was quite interesting and gave you some closure and understanding... very much looking forward to the next book in this series....

I would absolutely recommend this to lovers of mystery/suspense... but keep in mind it leans a little towards romantic suspense... in case that is an issue... but I do want to clarify for my friends with an aversion to romance, I don’t think this is eye rolling worthy romance😉

*** thank you so much to the publisher for a copy of this book ***

[Canadian Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't a grab you by the seat of the pants kind of mystery. It was slow to build and I'm not good at practicing patience. BUT, once it got moving, the story took off the runway.

A recent murder of a woman appears to echo that of one that took place 20 years ago. One whose daughter is now a reporter and recognizes the similarities of the death that took her mother from her at the age of 12. Investigating it however, comes at a great cost. Her safety, her job and her relationships all teeter on edge as she continues to delve in risking it all to unbury the truth.

If you like a mystery that ends in a mystery, you'll enjoy this one. However, I like things tidy with a bow on it preferably, and for me, this one fell short. I just didn't make a personal connection with the character. 3.5⭐️

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unpopular opinion time!

When Harper McClain was 12 years old she returned home from school to find her mother had been stabbed to death in their kitchen.

Fast forward to the future and Harper is now a crime reporter in Savannah, Ga. When Harper hears that there has been a murder of a woman she rushes to the crime scene and breaks in through the back door, while the entire police force is present *rolls eyes*, only to discover that the scene is almost an exact replica to her mother’s murder. From here we follow Harper into her own personal investigation in which she breaks multiple rules and does such unbelievable things that should have put her ass in jail but of course it never does because then this story wouldn’t exist.

I never warmed to Harper’s character at all. Her character was written a bit too over the top. Too tough. Too sassy to the point of being almost comical. I was also a little disappointed that the first 70 pages or so is about Harper being at the scene of a gang bang shooting only to have that never return to the story line. What was the point of that? Why not just jump right into the murder that this story is supposed to be about? It just seemed like this book had a lot of fluff and filler that was useless to the story line and caused me to skim a great deal. It also drove me crazy that her best friend constantly referred to her as Harperlicious….again *eye roll*. Okay, now I’m just being petty, ignore that.

Of course a romance is included. He’s an undercover cop and she’s a crime reporter which is all very taboo. So we have chapters in which these two are constantly …. we should be together, we shouldn’t, we will, we won’t. I can’t help you with this, I will help you with this, I shouldn’t help you with this … yadda yadda yadda. This became very tedious.

Guess who guessed the killer about 100 pages in? This lady! At least when it was revealed I had the satisfaction of saying “I KNEW IT!”

Apparently there will be a book 2 which is obvious by the way it ended however I'm going to hop off the train now and say farewell to you Ms. McClain!

All in all this was a miss for me but I am clearly an outlier. Of my friends that have read this they all gave it 4 and 5 stars. If it sounds like something you’d like then by all means read it.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for sending me an ARC of this book.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper might come across as a tad morbid to some. “Murders didn’t bother Harper. They fascinated her...Murder had long ago left it’s fingerprints in her DNA.” Fifteen years earlier, she had come home from school to discover her mother brutally murdered in their kitchen. Now, she's 27 and is a crime reporter for a Savannah newspaper. She’s audacious, maybe even foolhardy. At one point she asks a friend if she could be considered self destructive.

I chose this because it was located in Savannah. But this isn’t the Savannah that the tourists see. Daugherty does a great job of painting Savannah so it’s almost a character in its own right (even if several of her locales are invented).

There’s a nice camaraderie between Harper and the other reporters, as well as the police. The dialog is the kind of warm talk you associate with people who enjoy working together. It felt real. And Daugherty provides just enough background and detail on the other characters so you get a feel for them as real people.

And then a murder occurs and mirrors the murder of her mother, a crime that was never solved. Harper feels the police aren’t doing enough and undertakes her own investigation, trying to prove a link between the two murders. I had a pretty good inkling who the murderer was early on (and I was right). And there’s an obvious mis-step that Harper makes in her investigation that a reporter never would have. Of course, if she had done it, the book would have been a lot shorter and less suspenseful.

This is a good solid mystery. Not earth shattering, but enjoyable. A solid B effort. There’s a bit of a cliffhanger at the end that leads me to believe there will be a book #2.

My thanks to netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this novel.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper McClain's world is like a Venti Double Shot On Ice from Starbuck's.

Maximum jolt with an icy thrill.

But it's June in Savannah and the soothing drawls suddenly pay heed to what's happening on those tree-lined streets. Harper, a crime reporter for the Daily News, hears the loud buzz on her police scanner. She and her photographer, Miles Jackson, set off to get an edge on a gang shooting not far away. As shots ring out, she and Miles are pinned down behind an abandoned vehicle. The police arrive with backup and the dynamic duo are fortunate not to have been hit.

And this is a typical day for Harper.....steadfast and driven into the ground like a bolt of lightning. She pushes boundaries both in her professional and in her personal life. When the body of a woman who works for the university is found by her young daughter, Harper is reeling with the memory of her own mother's murder. It was Harper who found her mother dead on the kitchen floor when she was 12 years old.

Similarities between the two cases sends Harper into areas in which she should never tread. Her headstrong nature has left her on probation almost blowing up her career. She now lives in a town called Alienation. No longer professionally connected with nary a friend in sight.

The Echo Killing has been a welcoming read after I've slugged my way through some heavy-duty psychological thrillers lately. The character of Harper McClain is refreshing and with just the dose of snappy and witty like the whipped cream on a favorite latte. The chapters are short and action-filled with plenty of humor and zingers in the dialogue. I think that Harper is working far above her pay scale and should maybe seek out private investigating on her own. Can't wait for the next one.

I received a copy of The Echo Killing through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Christi Daugherty for the opportunity.

[Holly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jam-packed suspense!

A seasoned crime reporter + Cold case mystery with a personal stake +a recent murder and an intriguing setting in Savannah!

Crime reporter Harper McClain will stop at nothing to find the killer behind these murders. Her mother’s unsolved murder 15 years ago echoes the circumstances of a recent crime scene and rocks Harper's world. She becomes obsessed with solving the case. Could the murderer be the same person? How could she ignore the similarities of both crimes? The killer left no DNA, no evidence and no clues.

Harper will risk everything to go behind the scenes to try and bring justice to not only herself and her mother, but also another young girl who will be haunted by her mother’s murder just as Harper was many years before.

The tension builds as the mystery unfolds and Harper gets closer to learning more about the murders, but someone is watching! (I was able to predict the ending, but still a good one).

I’m anxiously awaiting the next in this series and want more Harper. Thanks to the publisher for providing my advanced copy.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty is the first book in the thrilling Harper McClain series. Harper is a crime reporter that lives life on the edge following the latest story giving the series and action packed ride from start to finish. This also felt to be just on the edge of being romantic suspense with a bit of a relationship forming too.

The story begins with Harper and her photographer, Miles Jackson, following the police scanner as the call comes in for a shooting. As they are investigating what is going on at the scene the pair find themselves following as the suspects are being chased. When heading into a sketchy area with back up no where around Harper and Miles end up pinned down by gunfire by the suspects.

The explosive beginning shows readers just how involved in finding her story and finding justice that Harper is. Fifteen years before Harper had walked in on her mother’s body in their kitchen after a gruesome murder and growing up around law enforcement since that moment Harper is no stranger to crime.

But as Harper goes after the headlines for her paper she finds herself walking in on another scene that brings back the memories of her mother’s death. With the same set up as that crime fifteen years before Harper can’t help but feel the pull to find out what happened to this latest victim and maybe, just maybe, finally get justice for her mother.

This was a great beginning to what looks to be a very promising series featuring an investigative journalist. With the ties the main character has to law enforcement it makes the story even better as she will have advantages to use as she investigates. And as tough and determined as Harper was she also showed a softer, more human side in getting involved with a love interest who helps with her investigating. With such a fast paced and thrilling ride in this first book of the series I definitely will be interested in seeing where the story goes from here with a bit of a cliffhanger ending leaving room for so much more to come.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Sarah Joint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah is beautiful... and fairly safe and picturesque when you stick to the side the tourists are on. There is a bleaker side of the city, where the houses aren't so picture perfect and the criminals run rampant. Harper is in her element when things are a bit scary and dangerous, and she spends a lot of her time there. She's a newspaper reporter who covers crime in the city, and "if it bleeds, it leads". She's always ready to dash off with her photographer to the latest crime scene, and they put out compelling stories together. The scene that she visits one afternoon is both unusual and eerily familiar at the same time. It's not in any of the usual areas, but Harper immediately notices similarities to a day she'll never forget. A mother lying naked in the kitchen, her body filled with stab wounds. A young girl being led away, traumatized. Just like Harper one day was, many years ago. Just like how her own mother met her brutal end.

Despite the years separating the crimes, Harper is convinced the man who murdered Marie Whitney and her mother are one and the same. She has a hard time convincing anyone else. It doesn't matter if she has help or not on this one. She's determined to figure it out, convinced she's the only one who can find justice for the two murdered women.

The book is very atmospheric... it made me feel like I was right in Savannah, even though I've never even been close. I do wish The Library bar in the story was a real thing, because I'd want to go! The story is full of very likable and memorable characters, and it's a great start to a promising series. The story was hard to predict when it came to the mystery, and very well-written. The romance came across to me as a little too cliche, but I'm a bit jaded when it comes to romance and I know a lot of readers will really love those parts. It's a great dark combination of wit and mystery. There's light moments between Harper and her longtime best friend that will make you laugh, and scary moments that will give you a chill. That's just the combination I love. I'm looking forward to the next one!

Minotaur Books kindly sent me an ARC of this book, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

[Lori Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining! I stayed up into the wee hours to finish. Even though I kind of had a feeling how this would end it was still very well thought out and really well paced. I never got bored. Great characters and an ending that left enough questions to keep me hooked into reading the next novel. Really looking forward to seeing where this series goes. 4.5 stars.

[Lindsay L]

Setting aside and I am not connecting to the writing or characters.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5-stars rounded up**

The Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty is an Adult Crime Thriller following female protagonist, Harper McClain, a up-and-coming journalist in the city of Savannah.



I really liked Harper as a character. I found her to be smart and believable.

Although haunted by the past trauma of discovering her mother brutally murdered in her childhood home, Harper has been able to move forward and use that event to fuel her passion for justice, writing and reporting.

Throughout the story we come to understand how much Harper's life has been shaped by that one event.

It's like my mother's death made this huge noise a long time ago. And this murder is the echo of it.



I did have a slight issue with the pacing, as for me, I didn't become fully engaged until about the 30% mark.



The main point of our story, the murder and subsequent investigation of a woman by the name of Marie Whitney, seemed a bit of an afterthought in the beginning.

Once Harper started looking into Ms. Whitney's death, and coming to the conclusion that there was more to the story than her police friends were letting on, the action really started to pick up.



Overall, I enjoyed this story and would definitely be interested in reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to publisher, St. Martin's Press, for providing me with an early copy of this book to read and review. I look forward to reading more about Harper in the future!

[Mackey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a review, just some thoughts: The protagonist is a street smart, intelligent, quick thinking crime beat journalist. I love journalists and between her and her photographer, their banter and pursuit of justice, I literally could not stop reading this one from start to finish all in one sitting. The only drawback for me was her infatuation with Luke, the on again/off again romantic interest. Personally, I thought he was an asshole. He was there in the end when it counted but he's a Jerk. Smart women should settle for Jerks. Overlook that, or like him if you must, and you have the beginning of a great new series!

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifteen years ago, a 12-year-old girl came home from school only to find her mother lying dead on the kitchen floor. She had been stabbed repeatedly ... the killer was never found.

Crime Reporter Harper McClain was that child. The murder of her mother is the very reason she chose her profession. She's very good at what she does, the cops respect her for her honesty, sometimes brutal at times.

She hears the scanner and off she runs, grabbing her photographer and her notebook. A woman has been found dead and for Harper, this one brings all kinds of memories. The dead woman has been repeatedly stabbed and is positioned on the kitchen floor. Her 12-year-old daughter found her when she arrived home after school.

The killings are so similar, Harper thinks her mother's killer has returned. No one believes her... not the Homicide Detective leading this new investigation, not the undercover cop she has a crush on, not her best friend, and not the Lieutenant, who has been her father figure for many years.

It's when she decides to investigate on her own that things get really dangerous for her. The cops stop talking to her, the undercover cop warns her, the lead detective threatens to arrest her, her boss threatens to fire her, and someone breaks into her apartment, destroying everything in sight.

Sometimes you have to be real careful about what you wish for .... the truth doesn't always set you free.

This is an amazingly well written story. This author rates right up there with Last Seen by Rick Mofina and Scoop by Kit Frazier .. all of which were brilliant books. The story is not altogether unique, but so well done that it doesn't matter. Harper is a wonderful series character .... she's gutsy and inquisitive and the passion for her job all but jumps out every time her name is mentioned. The secondary characters lend a lot of credibility to the story.

There is a small cliffhanger, but again, this one is so well-written I don't mind waiting for the next book to arrive. I highly recommend this one to anyone who likes crime fiction where the spotlight shines on the reporter.

Many thanks to the author / St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of the most paint by numbers books I’ve read in a long time. The one star is for the cat named Zuzu.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE ECHO KILLING is the story of a young woman, Harper McClain, who discovers that her mother's murder fifteen years ago has been echoed when Harper, in her job as a crime reporter, is covering a murder scene. For Harper, this murder brings back memories of the day she came home from school and found her mother brutally murdered. Could the murderer be back? But, why fifteen years later? Is there some connection between Harper's mother and the murdered woman? Harper can't let this go and, despite the risk of losing both her job and alienating the ones close to her, she is hell-bent on solving this murder.

4.5 stars

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS!

The Echo Killing was so freaking good! I couldn't put it down!! I'm kind of wanting to kick myself because I feel like I should've dived right into when I first got the book.. but then life got in the way and I finally found time to read this AMAZING book and I fell in love.

Harper McClain is probably my favorite character from any book that I've read today. TODAY people! Yes, I have lots and lots of favorite characters, books, and series. I'm a fickle person and want to love everyone in the book world! Now Harper had a terrible childhood. Everything was bright, shiny, and absolutely wonderful.. until it wasn't. She came home one day to find her mother dead. Murdered. Now I have no idea what would happen to anyone in that situation.. cry, scream, be in shock for like ever. Harper called the police and was probably in shock the entire time.

Many years later, she's an adult and works as a crime reporter. She's a bad ass that has an in with cops and her fellow reporters. She is a strong and independent woman who just wants to solve her mother's case.. or at least wants it solved. She also has a whole lot of feelings for a guy that she can't be with... for some odd reason.

Harper see's a murder scene that she wasn't supposed to. The thing is.. it looked exactly like her moms. So of course, like any normal human being, she get obsessed with this case and her moms (which still isn't solved). There are a bunch of twists and turns in this book and I had no idea who actually did it!

The romance between her and Luke was spot on. I love me some "forbidden" romance. However, I still don't trust Luke. I don't care that he goes undercover or anything.. he just seemed super sketchy at times.

My money was on someone that she didn't think who did it.. nor was it the person who actually committed the murder that she wasn't supposed to see. HOWEVER, the cliffhanger that she might actually know the one person who murdered her mom was a complete and utter mind fuck. My mind is completely blown right now. I seriously need book 2 right now!

Overall, I'm in love with this book. I want to reread it right now! Recommending this to everyone!!

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. Harper McClain was a great character, damaged enough to be "interesting" but really strong, smart as a whip, and highly entertaining to watch do her thing. The secondary characters were pretty good too, but Harper was definitely a powerful main character.

The mystery itself was a good one. I will admit, I solved the murder (or at least guessed the identity of the murderer) near the beginning, but not all the details. As the story came together, I started to sway in my opinion, so good job by Daugherty on sending enough mixed signals to make the mystery work harder. I don't think everyone will get the killer's identity, but it was just a gut feeling I had. Honestly, being proven right just made me enjoy the book more, especially because of the author's path on getting to the reveal.

Glad this one is going to have a sequel. It left enough open for another book at minimum, and I want to know more... and spend more time with Harper.

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a thrilling experience! This book was absolutely amazing! I was feeling blah because I have been stuck at the hospital for a loved one so I needed something thrilling and suspenseful to wake up my emotions. The Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty exceeded my expectations! I was drawn to this novel because of the Savannah, Georgia setting. I live in Charleston, South Carolina, so Savannah is only an hour away and I have visited there many times. I think it's always great to read books where you can recognize the locations and can truly imagine the real descriptions.
What I didn't realize was that this story was so much more than your every day crime thriller in a southern setting. It was way more and quite the ride! This book captivated me from the beginning with it's fantastic characterization and beautiful descriptions. The MC was a strong woman and she just rocked in every sense. All the characters in this story were realistic and relatable. I really enjoyed how the MC was a crime reporter instead of a detective or whatnot. I loved seeing things from Harper's POV. Harper's passion for writing and her past really stuck to me and I became passionately invested in these characters especially Harper.
The plot was fast paced but perfectly descriptive. I have always been crazy about cold cases but this story took things to a different level for me! The fast paced plot put me through a whirlwind! There were intense twists and turns that had me scrolling on my kindle all through the night. Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty brings you to an alternate reality of southern cities that makes you consider what truly goes on behind closed doors. This crime thriller might have taken place in a beautifully descriptive setting but it brought me to an entertaining, dark and twisted situation that held a solid mystery. Surely this story will have you entertained from beginning to end! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great crime thriller. Thank you so much St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I appreciate this opportunity and all views expressed are my own.

[Caroline Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Echo Killing is an expertly crafted novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. Author Christi Daughtery came up with such rich settings and characters in this dark and twisty book. I loved the premise which had me hooked from the start. The story unfolded at a great pace, and I loved the lush Savannah setting. Harper McClain made an intriguing character, feeling all too real as I turned the pages of what I would describe as a pulse-pounding read. The ending was both satisfying and thought-provoking, and I was left thinking about it and the moral dilemmas it posed days after I finished. I'm being purposely vague as I don't want to spoil the story, but I do hope there is another book to follow soon. A brilliant, suspenseful read which I highly recommend.

[Frank Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. This was really close to a police procedural, which I normally do not like. It was good, just not great. I still enjoyed the main characters and overall flow of this story. The ending definitely leaves it open for a follow up series, obviously, since there is already a second book out. I may keep reading this series, just when I'm caught up with my most anticipated releases. I'd definitely recommend this one for fans of procedurals, it would most likely get better reviews from that crowd!!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to my nature I read the second of this series first so I knew who the killer was from the start. It really didn’t bother me because I enjoyed the adventure of finding out the how and the why of Harper’s mother’s murder. There remain so many unanswered questions in both this one and the second book…that you know that there will be more great books in this series. The characters of Harper as well as Detective Luke Wells are well worth the time to read these books.

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you're looking for an exciting new mystery series featuring a rebellious, brilliant, tough as nails reporter like Lois Lane or Veronica Mars then look awaaaaay from The Echo Killing.

** Some spoiler-y bits ahead **

The opening chapter introduces us to Harper McClain, who, along with her photographer buddy, gets caught in the crossfire of a trio of gang bangers.

The purpose of this ridiculous, trite and poorly written scene straight out of a How-to guide on how to make characters look cooler than they are, is not to demonstrate Harper's rebellious streak and willingness to break the rules.

It's to introduce her love interest, Luke Walker, who bursts onto the scene in all his cheesy, swaggering glory, to save Harper's life.

Yes, readers, there is a love story involved, and to make matters worse, there is no chemistry, no character development of Luke, their rapport or exposition on how and why they 'connect.' He's just there because...well, a woman needs a man, right?

When a single mother is murdered with aspects mimicking her own mother's death over a decade ago, Harper insinuates herself into the investigation, breaking all the rules and regulations because...you know, she's quirky like that.

This is when it gets REALLY silly.

I know what you're thinking. You're shaking your head and saying, "What else is there?"

Well, I'm glad you asked.

There are just too many moments in which I had to force myself to suspend disbelief that I just threw my hands up in surrender. I give up.

First, Harper sneaks into the backyard of the crime scene to scope out the details to make sure it looks just like what happened to her mother.

She managed to do all this with a swarm of police officers and media surrounding the scene. Yeah, right.

Then, when the investigation into her mother's murder stalls, despite having been a crime reporter for several years, Harper has no idea what to do. Her photographer buddy needs to give her a Murder 101 lesson on why people kill: motive, means and opportunity.

Maybe Harper needs to watch a couple episodes of How to Get Away with Murder so she can educate herself. I'm sure the brilliant Annalise Keating could teach her a thing or two. Or 1,000.

Yes, thank you. You see, I'm just a dumb ol' woman, tee her hee. I need a man to save me and show me how to do my JOB!

When the showdown between Harper and the obvious bad guy arrives, she calls Luke to tell him she's scared and needs him. He arrives to save her life (again) even though he was on an undercover assignment yet he managed to get away.

Huh. I didn't know it was that easy to break your cover and run off to protect your kinda secret girlfriend.

I don't know what the author is trying to say with the creation of Harper McClain but it sure wasn't a strong, independent, intelligent woman.

Instead, Harper comes off as a hackneyed stereotype of what a reporter is supposed to be; a tenacious loudmouth who doesn't know how to do her job and makes wild accusations without any proof.

I found her immature, bratty and, at times, petulant. It was as if she had regressed to her tween self once she discovered the murder was similar to her mother's.

You don't have to be Sherlock to know I won't be following this series in the future.

[Kaycee Bowick (Off_The_Press) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harper McClain is a reporter for a newspaper in Savannah, Georgia, where she chases down the 'best crimes' on a daily basis in order to make it to the front page of the paper. Harper is fascinated with crime, especially murder, and attributes this strange inclination to the traumatic event of her childhood that changed her life--the murder of her mother. The murder of her mother that she had to stumble upon when she arrived home from school, alert the police to, and that ultimately ended her childhood.

When Harper shows up to a crime scene that feels eerily familiar and watches as the police lead a young girl out of the home--a young girl that she sees so much of herself in--Harper as to get a closer look. Breaking the law and taking a major risk, Harper trespasses into the backyard in order to get a closer look through the window and comes to a stunning realization. The crime scene is identical to that of her mother's killing.

As Harper becomes heavily involved in the investigation of the murdered woman's life and the inspection of the suspects, danger begins to loom above her like a dark cloud. Not only could her job threatened by her dangerous obsession with the crime, but her life could also be at risk. How far is Harper willing to go to uncover the truth about her mother's murder?

★  ☆  ★  ☆ ★  ☆ ★  ☆ ★  ☆ ★  ☆ ★  ☆ ★  ☆ ★  ☆ ★  ☆ ★

I binge read this title over the weekend in only a few sittings. I am a sucker for a good police procedural--my OG favorite genre. Now, this isn't exactly a cut-and-dry police procedural.. it's actually a quite nice hybrid of the genre in my opinion. You get all of the heavy police involvement and criminal investigation... but through the eyes of a crime reporter instead of a detective. This was a unique touch and set this novel apart from other crime thrillers.

The characters were fantastic and the author did a great job of building a meaningful background story for Harper that made me feel very invested in her character. I loved Miles, the freelance photographer that Harper worked closely with. And I also loved the was that Daugherty wove a touch of romance into the web of a criminal investigation... all these personable touches make readers invested in the characters and highly likely to pick up future installments in the Harper McClain series.

The only reason that this title did not get a full five stars from me was the sole reason that I was able to determine who the killer was. Very early on in the novel, I had two specific characters that I was suspicious of, and had already pinpointed the blatant red herring, and continued to refine my theory to the correct person. Now, this might not be the case for everyone... I had read so many police procedurals and crime thrillers that I feel like I know the ins and outs of the genre pretty well and can usually make pretty educated guesses.. but the ending of this one just felt like a bit of a cop-out to me. Nevertheless.. it did not deter me from fully enjoying this novel and I will absolutely be picking up the next installment in the Harper McClain series.

Thank you to Christi Daugherty and Minotaur books for providing me with a DRC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[Adele Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want book with an unsolved murder that keeps you guessing, then look no further than The Echo Killing. You can't help but like the characters and wonder what happens next. I think I fell a bit in love with Luke.
Can not wait to get stuck in to the second part, A Beautiful Corpse.

[Darinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harper is a news reporter in Savannah, where she works nights following crime activity across the city to catch her next story. After responding to a call to a murder scene, Harper is on a story that is eerily similar to another murder that happened 15 years earlier... the murder of Harper's mother, which was never solved. Harper sees the connection between the cases, but the police don't want to hear about it. Investigating this current story brings back memories for Harper, many of which she has tried not to think about for years. As Harper works to uncover the truth behind these crimes, she jeopardizes current relationships in her personal and professional lives.

Dark story. Great characters. Picturesque setting. The mystery was complex and twisty, but not hard to figure out. The characters were well-developed, and I especially liked Harper. She was strong, smart, and a real go-getter. I love mysteries that take place in cities like Savannah, with such a rich history, the setting adds to the story.

A fast-paced crime mystery. I'll be keeping a look out for the next book in this new series.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be published in March 2018.

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own.
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3.5 stars

Reading this may not have been the best idea when I couldn't sleep haha.

Been awhile (that I can remember) since I had a good murder mystery that I could sink my teeth into (first one comes to mind is the Kurt Wallander series but tired brain is tired ;-P ) so I was cautiously optimistic about this one.

I didn't feel the southern setting as much most of the time. For me the "atmospheric" feeling came more from the way the author wrote the people and circumstances. You could really sink your teeth into everything.

At times I admired Harper's determination and stubbornness but there were a few times I wanted to shake her for not being more careful.

I never really suspected one guy the way she did.. but I kept an open mind just in case I was wrong.

The killer's identity was a surprise... I admit that I wouldn't have considered this person at all.

The twists in this were very well done, nothing seeming out of left field. One thing that was left unresolved was very chilling. I have a feeling this one will be playing a big role in the future.

Nothing in the personal lives that was affected was wrapped in a neat little bow, which felt more authentic. Life can be messy. (That came out better in my head)

I did really enjoy this one but not sure if I will continue the series or not yet.

Would recommend though.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. A really solid start to what is hopefully a series. I enjoyed this one, but it left me with more questions by the end which made the ending a bit flat but I will be looking out for the next one for sure!

Set in Savannah, Georgia, we meet crime reporter Harper McClain. When a murder is committed, echoing a 15-year-old cold case, McClain takes it upon herself to try to find the perpetrator. The kicker here is that it was McClain’s mother killed 15 years ago, and the fact that the killer was never caught makes her think they are back.

Harper becomes like a dog with a bone, exhausting all of her police contacts trying to learn all she can about the current murder, while also delving into her mother’s case. Harper doesn’t realise just how dangerous this will turn out to be.

I enjoyed The Echo Killing. It is definitely a solid start to the series, but it left me with a lot of questions by the end. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though, as it has made me eager to read the next Harper McClain book.

The Echo Killing is a good thriller. Pacy and tense, it kept me reading. I loved the location, and McClain is a great character.

Recommended for sure!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great new thriller and a new character to follow. Harper McClain is a criminal reporter working for a Savannah newspaper. Her mother was murdered when Harper was only 12 and the killer was never found. Now there is a new murder, fifteen years later, and the murder scene looks very much like that of her mother. The investigation is on and Harper is deeply involved even though she's not supposed to be. Some very surprising information turns up.

I enjoyed reading this book and loved the strong, determined character Harper McClain. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks to Christi Daugherty and St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

[Michelle Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong heroine, a chilling mystery, and a colorful setting all work together to make The Echo Killing a fantastic read.  If you're a fan of crime dramas, then I highly recommend this book.

For starters, Harper McClain was a wonderful heroine.  Sometimes, authors equate tough with bitchy and smart with smart-aleck.  Luckily, Harper showed the positive qualities without displaying the negative ones.  She was a loner, but that didn't stop her from becoming attached to people.  She was also very good at her job, and she worked hard to stay on top.  My one complaint was that in her pursuit of the truth, Harper did something involving a minor that crossed a line for me.  I realize that she was driven to find the killer, but I didn't like that she involved an emotionally fragile child.

The mystery was a good one, and I wasn't sure who the culprit was until the last few chapters.  The fast pace kept me turning pages.  And although the end wrapped up nicely, there are some cliffhangers which make me want to read on in the series.

I'm drawn to settings in novels, and the reason I asked to review this book was because it was set in Savannah, GA, a city I've wanted to visit.  When you read The Echo Killing, it's as if you are on tour of this lovely place.  Reading it has confirmed that I will be visiting Savannah at some point in my life.

The Echo Killing was a fantastic murder mystery, and I plan on reading more books in this series.  Four out of five stars.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the review copy.