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The End of Echoes
Two families, forever linked by tragedy.
Ruby Dunkin is in an abusive marriage. Her best efforts aren't enough to shield her two children from an abusive father whose cruelty knows no bounds. Their volatile situation ends in tragedy when Ruby's eldest son, Billy is torn away from everything he loves. Consumed by hatred and self-loathing Billy becomes the thing he hates the most—his father.Chelsea Wyatt, a senior in high school, goes missing after work one night, never to return. Her parents are devastated, only knowing this kind of tragedy from the news. Crimes like this are unheard of in their quiet, midwestern town. Consumed by the tragic fate of their friend, family member and neighbor, their lives and futures are forever altered.For over eighteen years, no one knows the connection between Ruby Dunkin and Chelsea Wyatt. A journey through time reveals the common thread stitching their heartbreak together. Yesterday echoes throughout each character's life as they decide how, and if, they will break the chains of the past.
Will they continue to leave a legacy of pain and loss for future generations? Will they break the cycles of abuse that have destroyed so many lives?
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First published August 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
November 20, 2019
Nature?
Dawn Hosmer’s The End of Echoes is a gripping story that weaves fictional lives with disturbing realities of abuse and torment. There are moments of harsh physical and psychological brutality that are deeply upsetting. The novel is emotionally raw but while the horror mounts, seeds of hope compel us to maintain our connection with many of the wonderfully drawn characters and urge them forward towards reconciliation and break cycles of misery and harm.
The story is told from multiple first-person perspectives, jumping back and forwards in time – before and after the 8 February 1989. This date is the occasion of the disappearance and brutal murder of a young teenage girl Chelsea Wyatt. Throughout the agonising wait to find her body, we feel the gripping nightmare paralyse her family, where ‘doing’ is not an option and all they can manage is to sink into despair, and ‘wait’. The personal impact when the body is discovered is heart-breaking, and the spiralling collapse of family unity and individual self-destruction is masterfully portrayed.
Tom is Chelsea’s father, he is a numbers guy, maybe slightly autistic in the way he relates everything to numbers and is obsessive about counting. There is a fair bit of black humour delivered through Tom. I found the story from the father’s perspective really poignant and terrifying as a father myself. It explores the irrational behaviour and erratic thinking that grief can have on the mind, which causes confusion and argument with those around.
A second family background provides the other main thread in the story and we witness a mother and her two sons, Billy and David, severely abused by their husband/father. The many escapes and bewildering returns to this evil man, leave the young boys despairing yet sensitive to their mother’s predicament. They have nowhere to run and they experience the evolving cruelty and develop their own tactics to navigate the threat. Inevitably the psychological turmoil the young boys face will change them as people with the most dreaded reality a possibility. You are just like your father!
The story signals the failings in our society where the support for abused women and children is seriously poor and feeds the opportunity for damaged individuals to grow up and cause their own damage. It’s also a deeper story that considers the resolve required, for some, to end the echoes of misery through the generations and end the cycle of violent behaviour. There is a restoring of hope in the story and empathy developed for many of the characters is a wonderful testament to their delicate crafting by Dawn Hosmer.
I experienced this book as an audiobook and the narration by Marnye Young was magnificent. Her ability to strike such emotional feeling into the story, particularly the dialogue, made this vividly real. I would like to thank Marnye Young and Dawn Hosmer for providing me with an audiobook copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Dawn Hosmer’s The End of Echoes is a gripping story that weaves fictional lives with disturbing realities of abuse and torment. There are moments of harsh physical and psychological brutality that are deeply upsetting. The novel is emotionally raw but while the horror mounts, seeds of hope compel us to maintain our connection with many of the wonderfully drawn characters and urge them forward towards reconciliation and break cycles of misery and harm.
The story is told from multiple first-person perspectives, jumping back and forwards in time – before and after the 8 February 1989. This date is the occasion of the disappearance and brutal murder of a young teenage girl Chelsea Wyatt. Throughout the agonising wait to find her body, we feel the gripping nightmare paralyse her family, where ‘doing’ is not an option and all they can manage is to sink into despair, and ‘wait’. The personal impact when the body is discovered is heart-breaking, and the spiralling collapse of family unity and individual self-destruction is masterfully portrayed.
Tom is Chelsea’s father, he is a numbers guy, maybe slightly autistic in the way he relates everything to numbers and is obsessive about counting. There is a fair bit of black humour delivered through Tom. I found the story from the father’s perspective really poignant and terrifying as a father myself. It explores the irrational behaviour and erratic thinking that grief can have on the mind, which causes confusion and argument with those around.
A second family background provides the other main thread in the story and we witness a mother and her two sons, Billy and David, severely abused by their husband/father. The many escapes and bewildering returns to this evil man, leave the young boys despairing yet sensitive to their mother’s predicament. They have nowhere to run and they experience the evolving cruelty and develop their own tactics to navigate the threat. Inevitably the psychological turmoil the young boys face will change them as people with the most dreaded reality a possibility. You are just like your father!
The story signals the failings in our society where the support for abused women and children is seriously poor and feeds the opportunity for damaged individuals to grow up and cause their own damage. It’s also a deeper story that considers the resolve required, for some, to end the echoes of misery through the generations and end the cycle of violent behaviour. There is a restoring of hope in the story and empathy developed for many of the characters is a wonderful testament to their delicate crafting by Dawn Hosmer.
I experienced this book as an audiobook and the narration by Marnye Young was magnificent. Her ability to strike such emotional feeling into the story, particularly the dialogue, made this vividly real. I would like to thank Marnye Young and Dawn Hosmer for providing me with an audiobook copy of this book in return for an honest review.
August 6, 2019
Dawn Hosmer’s sophomore novel, The End of Echoes, is a hard-hitting, 365 degree view of the impact of a terrible rape and murder, and how that pivotal event profoundly shapes the lives of those effected in different ways. And though this novel deeply stirs emotion as we grieve for characters, whose lives begin to self-destruct in the wake of the horrific murder, the novel is about hope. About crawling out from the wreckage and rubble of one’s life to reclaim some semblance of who they might’ve otherwise became. It’s about losing one’s self and finding one’s self again. About breaking cycles of abuse and violence that perpetuate in our society with tragic predictability. And it’s about a System that forces its champions to follow the letter of the law, even when they know the heart’s path is clearly the correct one. It’s about how tragedy can tear the fabric of a family apart at the seams, but how only time can mend it. This is real life that the author is painting in a fictional backdrop.
The novel is told from many first-person perspectives, including the killer’s. This style is a perfect selection to tell this unique story. I felt empathy for each of the characters as they went along on their painful journey. Being a father myself, it’s frightening, and almost incomprehensible, to imagine something like this happening to one of my own children. I think you can’t help but make those comparisons while reading this book, and that lends it some of its power.
I felt so much emotion while reading this story. I loved the cast of characters, and would highly recommend this book. It’s the kind of book that has me reflecting on it after reading, and drawing corollaries to tragic events I’ve experienced in my own life. And despite the book’s title, I suspect it will continue to echo in the recesses of my mind as I continue to discover and reflect on its latent personal meaning.
The novel is told from many first-person perspectives, including the killer’s. This style is a perfect selection to tell this unique story. I felt empathy for each of the characters as they went along on their painful journey. Being a father myself, it’s frightening, and almost incomprehensible, to imagine something like this happening to one of my own children. I think you can’t help but make those comparisons while reading this book, and that lends it some of its power.
I felt so much emotion while reading this story. I loved the cast of characters, and would highly recommend this book. It’s the kind of book that has me reflecting on it after reading, and drawing corollaries to tragic events I’ve experienced in my own life. And despite the book’s title, I suspect it will continue to echo in the recesses of my mind as I continue to discover and reflect on its latent personal meaning.
September 11, 2019
I'm not sure how to start this review! The End of Echoes took me on an emotional journey I wasn't prepared for.
Let's start with mechanics. Dawn Hosmer is a flat-out talented author. I knew that from reading Bits and Pieces. In The End of Echoes, she used multiple, first-person narrators and a non-linear timeline. And, impressively, she did it well. The story progressed smoothly, even as it jumped forward and backward in time, and I connected with nearly all of the main characters.
I struggled through the first half of the book because it was so deeply devastating. This story has so much tragedy in it. I wanted to keep turning the pages, but I also wasn't sure if I could continue to suffer through the characters' heart-wrenching difficulties. However, soon after the middle of the book, bits of hope started to creep in. I devoured the last 45% or so in one day. The tragic parts had connected me to the characters, and I wanted so badly for each of them to find some sort of redemption and/or hope. They mattered to me. I love when an author makes me truly care about the characters. This isn't always an easy book to read, but it's worth the heartbreak.
There are important messages in this book too, about forgiveness, personal responsibility, and more. The End of Echoes is a story with depth.
Dawn Hosmer continues to be a new author to watch. I look forward to seeing how she surprises me next.
Let's start with mechanics. Dawn Hosmer is a flat-out talented author. I knew that from reading Bits and Pieces. In The End of Echoes, she used multiple, first-person narrators and a non-linear timeline. And, impressively, she did it well. The story progressed smoothly, even as it jumped forward and backward in time, and I connected with nearly all of the main characters.
I struggled through the first half of the book because it was so deeply devastating. This story has so much tragedy in it. I wanted to keep turning the pages, but I also wasn't sure if I could continue to suffer through the characters' heart-wrenching difficulties. However, soon after the middle of the book, bits of hope started to creep in. I devoured the last 45% or so in one day. The tragic parts had connected me to the characters, and I wanted so badly for each of them to find some sort of redemption and/or hope. They mattered to me. I love when an author makes me truly care about the characters. This isn't always an easy book to read, but it's worth the heartbreak.
There are important messages in this book too, about forgiveness, personal responsibility, and more. The End of Echoes is a story with depth.
Dawn Hosmer continues to be a new author to watch. I look forward to seeing how she surprises me next.
October 28, 2019
Oh my goodness, where to begin? This novel is every parent’s worst nightmare about abuse, violence, trauma and loss. I don’t want to give the plot away too much but the Author’s storytelling is so unique, with multiple points-of view of the personal tragedies experienced by the characters. I was taken on an emotional rollercoaster ride and felt empathy for each of the characters during their incomprehensible, painful journey. It’s raw and so realistic, emotionally enthralling and heart-wrenching. Thank you Author Dawn Hosmer for writing such a captivating and powerful story of tragedy, love, healing, and breaking the cycles of the past.
May 19, 2020
This book is extremely heartbreaking, raw, but also very well written. The book accurately portrays how violence ricochets out into the world and causes collateral damage to many. Hosmer does an excellent job communicating the emotions of her characters. The jumps between different points of view actually added to the tension of the story instead of dispelling it, in my opinion. Sometimes, head hopping can be confusing, but I think it enhanced the mystery in this novel. A recommended read for those who are okay with the heavy content.
January 29, 2020
Highly recommended
Wonderfully written novel that I recommend to anyone. The book captivated me from the beginning and I found it hard to put down. Looking forward to reading more by this author!
Wonderfully written novel that I recommend to anyone. The book captivated me from the beginning and I found it hard to put down. Looking forward to reading more by this author!
November 25, 2019
An exceptionally well-written crime thriller...
The End of Echoes by Dawn Hosmer is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel, with brilliantly drawn characters driven by heartbreak and the need for justice. The author weaves a well-crafted crime thriller with intriguing twists and turns that will captivate the reader from the first page to the last. Skillfully constructed, it’s a story that will take you on a heart-rending but fascinating journey.
The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Ruby Dunkin is in an abusive marriage. Her best efforts aren't enough to shield her two children from an abusive father whose cruelty knows no bounds. Their volatile situation ends in tragedy when Ruby's eldest son, Billy is torn away from everything he loves. Consumed by hatred and self-loathing Billy becomes the thing he hates the most—his father.
Chelsea Wyatt, a senior in high school, goes missing after work one night, never to return. Her parents are devastated, only knowing this kind of tragedy from the news. Crimes like this are unheard of in their quiet, midwestern town. Consumed by the tragic fate of their friend, family member and neighbor, their lives and futures are forever altered. For over eighteen years, no one knows the connection between Ruby Dunkin and Chelsea Wyatt.
A journey through time reveals the common thread stitching their heartbreak together. Yesterday echoes throughout each character's life as they decide how, and if, they will break the chains of the past. Will they continue to leave a legacy of pain and loss for future generations? Will they break the cycles of abuse that have destroyed so many lives?’
Now, if that’s not enough to get your curiosity juices flowing, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.
The story had every element a good story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much.
This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing journey. Five stars.
*Special mention also to Marnye Young (Audio Sorceress) for an outstanding audio version of this book.
The End of Echoes by Dawn Hosmer is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel, with brilliantly drawn characters driven by heartbreak and the need for justice. The author weaves a well-crafted crime thriller with intriguing twists and turns that will captivate the reader from the first page to the last. Skillfully constructed, it’s a story that will take you on a heart-rending but fascinating journey.
The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Ruby Dunkin is in an abusive marriage. Her best efforts aren't enough to shield her two children from an abusive father whose cruelty knows no bounds. Their volatile situation ends in tragedy when Ruby's eldest son, Billy is torn away from everything he loves. Consumed by hatred and self-loathing Billy becomes the thing he hates the most—his father.
Chelsea Wyatt, a senior in high school, goes missing after work one night, never to return. Her parents are devastated, only knowing this kind of tragedy from the news. Crimes like this are unheard of in their quiet, midwestern town. Consumed by the tragic fate of their friend, family member and neighbor, their lives and futures are forever altered. For over eighteen years, no one knows the connection between Ruby Dunkin and Chelsea Wyatt.
A journey through time reveals the common thread stitching their heartbreak together. Yesterday echoes throughout each character's life as they decide how, and if, they will break the chains of the past. Will they continue to leave a legacy of pain and loss for future generations? Will they break the cycles of abuse that have destroyed so many lives?’
Now, if that’s not enough to get your curiosity juices flowing, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.
The story had every element a good story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much.
This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing journey. Five stars.
*Special mention also to Marnye Young (Audio Sorceress) for an outstanding audio version of this book.
October 20, 2019
This is a gripping story of two families whose lives were destroyed by the choices one makes. Hosmer has the characters all going in different directions with grief, anger and rage. The author also shows how each character dealt with their emotions differently.
It has many triggers, and I found myself having to walk away from some of the scenes and coming back later to read. A romance book was also being read at the same time because after reading this, I needed to read something happy, something heartwarming. I don’t usually read romance.
It has a bittersweet ending, and the reality that comes with making choices. How one wrong choice changes the lives of many.
I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.
It has many triggers, and I found myself having to walk away from some of the scenes and coming back later to read. A romance book was also being read at the same time because after reading this, I needed to read something happy, something heartwarming. I don’t usually read romance.
It has a bittersweet ending, and the reality that comes with making choices. How one wrong choice changes the lives of many.
I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.
May 27, 2020
This book was a really interesting one about cycles of violence in families and how they perpetuate themselves. It also made me think about how crucial it is that children have advocates who strongly work in child’s best interest and how disastrous it is when that doesn’t happen; for the child and society.
We need to do better.
We need to do better.
May 7, 2020
Evil haunts for years
When a young girl is tragically kidnapped the evil haunts a family and all involved for years. This book is a mystery told by all in except the victim. You get all the story. I'm not sure as to the reasoning behind the way this was written but it is very innovative.
When a young girl is tragically kidnapped the evil haunts a family and all involved for years. This book is a mystery told by all in except the victim. You get all the story. I'm not sure as to the reasoning behind the way this was written but it is very innovative.
December 5, 2019
Whew, where do I begin. First off, I went back and forth about starting this book. I just didn't know what to expect and had no real opinion about it but decided to pick it up anyways. I'm really glad that I did. So many emotions! This author was able to tell a really dark and intense story in a way that made the reader really feel and understand the emotions that each character was going through. I wouldn't be surprised if the author had first hand experience with this subject matter because that's the only way I feel like someone could convey the range of emotions a tragedy like this could bring on. Having personally experienced the loss of a family member suddenly and tragically, I felt like I could identify with all of the phases grief takes you through - sadness, hurt, anger, rage, guilt, etc. It was hard to put this one down and at the same time it was hard to get through. In the end, I found it a little therapeutic and cathartic for me.
January 16, 2020
A riveting, tragic, and compelling story that I'd pit against some of the industry's best authors.
Most of us in our lives have been struck by sadness or tragedy, and some of us, more so than others. This book tells that story. And as much as I wanted to sit and read this page-turner in one go, I couldn't because the writing is so powerful and unrelenting that I was planted right there with all the characters (even the minor ones), living their tragedies through their eyes, wishing with all my heart for someone, anyone to stop the domino effect of destruction.
This is not a story about redemption, but the reader is drawn right into the lives of tragic circumstance upon tragic circumstance, and the author does such a magnificent job of showing us the consequences of these realities that you can't help but feel for every single person involved.
I just happened to see another person's review, and while I understand not every book is for every person, I have to say I strongly disagree that this author failed to grip me emotionally. In fact, I can't STOP thinking about this book, the way the author weaved together the threads of such a magnetic story, leaving my heart and mind whirling.
If you are a fan of Jodi Piccoult, if you're the type of reader who wants to see the whole story and not just one side of it, then this is the book for you.
Most of us in our lives have been struck by sadness or tragedy, and some of us, more so than others. This book tells that story. And as much as I wanted to sit and read this page-turner in one go, I couldn't because the writing is so powerful and unrelenting that I was planted right there with all the characters (even the minor ones), living their tragedies through their eyes, wishing with all my heart for someone, anyone to stop the domino effect of destruction.
This is not a story about redemption, but the reader is drawn right into the lives of tragic circumstance upon tragic circumstance, and the author does such a magnificent job of showing us the consequences of these realities that you can't help but feel for every single person involved.
I just happened to see another person's review, and while I understand not every book is for every person, I have to say I strongly disagree that this author failed to grip me emotionally. In fact, I can't STOP thinking about this book, the way the author weaved together the threads of such a magnetic story, leaving my heart and mind whirling.
If you are a fan of Jodi Piccoult, if you're the type of reader who wants to see the whole story and not just one side of it, then this is the book for you.
November 24, 2019
I've never cried so hard in my life over fictional characters with a realistic and all too real cycle of abuse that is hard to break.
Hosmer is an extremely talented writer as I learned in reading her previous work.
End of Echoes is told through multiple first-person point of views, jumps between time lines and families, and tells a heart wrenching story.
I connected to each and every single character and found myself feeling empathy for each and every one of them. The book details the journey of losing a family member in one family while learning the tragic abusive and corrosive story of another.
There are many themes in this book including loss, grief, death, addiction, depression, and a number of other personal struggles many people today face and live with. The author did such an amazing job at uniquely characterizing each person with their own struggles. It was done with such intention and such care, you were devastated reading and living with these characters.
In turn, there were other themes that brought hope to the forefront. In the darkness and struggle of each story, you also saw strength when they didn't think they could go on, resiliency, forgiveness, and growth all the way to acceptance.
The emotional journey that I went through reading this sums up life. There is no road map and the destination is unclear. Our choices make all the difference.
I can't say enough about this author's talent and she's definitely one to watch out for. I am looking forward to reading her next masterpiece.
Hosmer is an extremely talented writer as I learned in reading her previous work.
End of Echoes is told through multiple first-person point of views, jumps between time lines and families, and tells a heart wrenching story.
I connected to each and every single character and found myself feeling empathy for each and every one of them. The book details the journey of losing a family member in one family while learning the tragic abusive and corrosive story of another.
There are many themes in this book including loss, grief, death, addiction, depression, and a number of other personal struggles many people today face and live with. The author did such an amazing job at uniquely characterizing each person with their own struggles. It was done with such intention and such care, you were devastated reading and living with these characters.
In turn, there were other themes that brought hope to the forefront. In the darkness and struggle of each story, you also saw strength when they didn't think they could go on, resiliency, forgiveness, and growth all the way to acceptance.
The emotional journey that I went through reading this sums up life. There is no road map and the destination is unclear. Our choices make all the difference.
I can't say enough about this author's talent and she's definitely one to watch out for. I am looking forward to reading her next masterpiece.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2019
I had the opportunity and privelege of reading an advanced copy of this amazing story by Dawn Hosmer. The emotional journey she takes you on with these characters is incredible. I often found myself heartbroken by the tragedies endured on all sides of this story. But this isn't just a story of loss, it's a testament to the human spirit, the resilience of youth, and an honest look at how circumstances beyond anyone's control have a lasting impact. It's a journey of emotional discovery that will leave you feeling everything from sad, to angry, to hopeful, to despair and in the end, compassionate toward those who suffer abuse at the hands of others.
I highly recommend this read, just don't forget your tissues.
I highly recommend this read, just don't forget your tissues.
May 12, 2021
I don’t even know what to say. This the second book of Dawn Hosmer’s I’ve read, and once again I’m blown away. There’s something about her books that are eminently readable - completely unputdownable. If the mark of a great writer is making you feel their characters’ joy and pain in equal measure, then Dawn Hosmer is an unbelievable writer.
That’s not to say that The End of Echoes is an easy read. Each page is it’s own dull-bladed stab to the chest. There are no clean cuts to be had here, just the slow ripping and tearing of your heart. That’s because the characters in this book could be you. Their families could be your families, and the tragedies that befall the characters feel just a little too real.
That’s not to say that The End of Echoes is an easy read. Each page is it’s own dull-bladed stab to the chest. There are no clean cuts to be had here, just the slow ripping and tearing of your heart. That’s because the characters in this book could be you. Their families could be your families, and the tragedies that befall the characters feel just a little too real.
September 15, 2020
A gripping look at the dark side of child abuse
End of Echoes chronicles the life of Billy, an abused child, who repeats the script given him by his alcoholic father, spreading more misery and abuse, even down another generation. Written with the authority of one who knows loss, and has seen the pain. It also chronicles the grief of a family who loses a bright young daughter - and the widening hole of tragedy that engulfs and nearly destroys them.
In the end, the hope that every victim's family has is forgiveness, and a return to a new normal. Hosmer offers us the key, both for perpetrators and victims, as Nichole, the victim's best friend, reaches out to help abused children. The Echo goes down through generations, both good and bad.
End of Echoes chronicles the life of Billy, an abused child, who repeats the script given him by his alcoholic father, spreading more misery and abuse, even down another generation. Written with the authority of one who knows loss, and has seen the pain. It also chronicles the grief of a family who loses a bright young daughter - and the widening hole of tragedy that engulfs and nearly destroys them.
In the end, the hope that every victim's family has is forgiveness, and a return to a new normal. Hosmer offers us the key, both for perpetrators and victims, as Nichole, the victim's best friend, reaches out to help abused children. The Echo goes down through generations, both good and bad.
June 11, 2021
This book completely captivating. Dawn is a master storyteller and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I have never read another author that is able to make me feel the pain and heartache that her characters experience. This is a physiological thriller that centers around one main event but captures the thoughts and emotions of everyone affected from the family of the victim and killer to the killer himself. I have never had so many conflicting emotions or felt so deeply for so many different characters which is a testament to how talented Dawn Hosmer truly is. This is a must-read but have tissues ready!!
June 15, 2021
I have never read a book from this perspective. It brought something new and awe-inspiring. I was taken on a very different ride than usual for the genre, but it was an amazing one.
Well executed with heart breaking characters and people who you will care about long after you stop reading.
Well executed with heart breaking characters and people who you will care about long after you stop reading.
May 25, 2020
Listened to this as an audio book. The narrator brought the characters to life and the first half of the story was really good and engaging. However, the story seemed too drawn out in the second.
October 21, 2024
Wasn’t expecting to become so emotional over a murderer. In light of the Menendez brothers gaining ground in public favor of them being released it gives thought to others who have been convicted of the same type of crimes. While I don’t think this murder is the same in any way to the Menendez brothers, Billy had little to now chance of escaping what he became because of how he was raised and the violence he witnessed and was victim to. There was no happy ending because in the end no one here is really avenged. I was just heartbroken for everyone, and the last line in the book left me with full body chills.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2020
The grace with which Hosmer crafts this raw narrative leaves you in awe of the story and the telling of it. I started reading this book after dinner. Woke up at 2 a.m. and couldn't get it out of my head, so I picked it up and finished it before the sun came up.
Through End of Echoes, Hosmer explores the equally unlikely and inevitable collision of two families, living in different timelines and very different worlds. As the ripples of brutality and betrayal span the years, she weaves a stunning and shattering narrative with characters pushing the boundaries of coping, anger, and forgiveness as they face difficult choices between retribution and recovery.
This deeply layered book will leave you breathless.
Through End of Echoes, Hosmer explores the equally unlikely and inevitable collision of two families, living in different timelines and very different worlds. As the ripples of brutality and betrayal span the years, she weaves a stunning and shattering narrative with characters pushing the boundaries of coping, anger, and forgiveness as they face difficult choices between retribution and recovery.
This deeply layered book will leave you breathless.
July 26, 2022
(Actual rating: 3.5 stars)
I struggle to write this review because to be completely honest, I can’t say I enjoyed this book, but it impacted me nonetheless.
The End of Echoes is not a book I would recommend to anyone. It is gritty, and dark, and sad. It doesn’t have a happy ending and it was a difficult read.
Still I feel like this book might be exactly what someone needs at some point in their life. It focuses on the stages and types of grief, of abuse, death, loss, and a myriad of other difficult topics.
This was a book of realism. It shows how one person’s actions can affect so many others. It was a thought provoking story, but a very heavy one as well.
I struggle to write this review because to be completely honest, I can’t say I enjoyed this book, but it impacted me nonetheless.
The End of Echoes is not a book I would recommend to anyone. It is gritty, and dark, and sad. It doesn’t have a happy ending and it was a difficult read.
Still I feel like this book might be exactly what someone needs at some point in their life. It focuses on the stages and types of grief, of abuse, death, loss, and a myriad of other difficult topics.
This was a book of realism. It shows how one person’s actions can affect so many others. It was a thought provoking story, but a very heavy one as well.
September 28, 2019
An introspective dive into the lives destroyed through substance abuse, madness, and hate in this tale of two families torn apart by death and despair.
This is by no means a "light read," and at times I had to put the book down just to walk away and breathe for awhile before I could continue on. As someone who lost a sibling at a young age to manslaughter as well as surviving domestic abuse, there were many emotional battles contained within these pages that hit really close to home. However, the constant wallowing in memories of "perfect Chelsea" got a bit heavy-handed within the family's circle of despair, and while understandable, it began to border on tedium. Billy's tragic story was far more interesting, being both touching and heartbreaking. Yet no two people experience grief exactly the same and that is well evident within the characters' stories. And I loved Nicole's summation near the end: "There can be happiness despite the pain. There can be healing, no matter how deep the wound. There are choices."
A very well-written and engrossing read!
This is by no means a "light read," and at times I had to put the book down just to walk away and breathe for awhile before I could continue on. As someone who lost a sibling at a young age to manslaughter as well as surviving domestic abuse, there were many emotional battles contained within these pages that hit really close to home. However, the constant wallowing in memories of "perfect Chelsea" got a bit heavy-handed within the family's circle of despair, and while understandable, it began to border on tedium. Billy's tragic story was far more interesting, being both touching and heartbreaking. Yet no two people experience grief exactly the same and that is well evident within the characters' stories. And I loved Nicole's summation near the end: "There can be happiness despite the pain. There can be healing, no matter how deep the wound. There are choices."
A very well-written and engrossing read!
August 18, 2019
The End of Echoes. Let me start with wow, what an emotional and gripping book. I was so captured by the characters they haunted me—I had to know what happened and what happens next! From the first page to the last, Dawn Hosmer delivers a dark and enthralling story surrounding the mysterious death of a teenage girl.
The End of Echoes kept me turning pages and unable to put the book down. It is a complex and riveting tale told from multiple perspectives. Each character’s viewpoint drew me further into the story giving me a unique and personal experience. The multifaceted reactions and actions from the characters were so real at times, they gave me shivers.
Buy the book, grab some tissues, and prepare to live, breathe, and feel all the emotions along with each character as they face, cope and live the worst day of their lives—and beyond.
The End of Echoes kept me turning pages and unable to put the book down. It is a complex and riveting tale told from multiple perspectives. Each character’s viewpoint drew me further into the story giving me a unique and personal experience. The multifaceted reactions and actions from the characters were so real at times, they gave me shivers.
Buy the book, grab some tissues, and prepare to live, breathe, and feel all the emotions along with each character as they face, cope and live the worst day of their lives—and beyond.
September 1, 2019
This was a hard read. So real. Triggering. Filled with truth and the ugly parts of life no one wants to think about, let alone jump into the trenches and experience with characters.
But it's honest and truth we all must face, the two sides, nature versus nurture, and the consequences when nurture is horribly lacking.
The author takes you through the valley of the shadow of death, plunges you in the river to drown, pulls you back out, and leaves you to weep alongside the thousands of victims of domestic abuse, known and unknown. I went through a box of tissues reading this book. But I also came out the other side with hope.
Recognize the mistakes. Learn from them. Change the present to create a better future.
And break the cycle of abuse.
But it's honest and truth we all must face, the two sides, nature versus nurture, and the consequences when nurture is horribly lacking.
The author takes you through the valley of the shadow of death, plunges you in the river to drown, pulls you back out, and leaves you to weep alongside the thousands of victims of domestic abuse, known and unknown. I went through a box of tissues reading this book. But I also came out the other side with hope.
Recognize the mistakes. Learn from them. Change the present to create a better future.
And break the cycle of abuse.
September 4, 2019
Dawn Hosmer has done it again! After reading her debut novel, Bits & Pieces, I was eager to get my hands on Echoes. I wasn't at all surprised to find myself attached to each of the characters and finding myself completely immersed in the story.
Through multiple points-of-view, Hosmer introduces us to two separate families as they make their way through personal tragedies. A common event ties them together in a way that changes each of them forever. We see each character struggle to find their way through the pain and back to some semblance of normalcy. It's a beautifully woven story that will pull on your heartstrings and let you see how differently people handle grief.
Thank you, Dawn for sharing this amazing story with all of us!
Through multiple points-of-view, Hosmer introduces us to two separate families as they make their way through personal tragedies. A common event ties them together in a way that changes each of them forever. We see each character struggle to find their way through the pain and back to some semblance of normalcy. It's a beautifully woven story that will pull on your heartstrings and let you see how differently people handle grief.
Thank you, Dawn for sharing this amazing story with all of us!
October 27, 2019
I did not expect to become so emotionally involved with the characters in this book! Author Dawn Hosmer brings life to the many people involved in this tragic story, artfully revealing the journey of each, through point of view storytelling. Hosmer has a true talent for weaving a realistic tale, with knowledge of human behavior and an empathetic, sympathetic heart.
I almost feel that I need to read it again, to catch anything I may have missed, because of the beautifully subtle way that this story unfolded. It was good to the very last drop!
I almost feel that I need to read it again, to catch anything I may have missed, because of the beautifully subtle way that this story unfolded. It was good to the very last drop!
August 11, 2019
I could not read this book fast enough. Wonderfully written and unforgettable story that was so easy to become immersed in. But make sure you have a tissue ready because the emotion in this book will shred your heart strings. I found myself crying several times throughout which is not typical for me. This is the second book from this author I've read and was not disappointed at all. Looking forward to future books from this exceptional writer.
June 19, 2020
Rarely does a story produce so much suspense while simultaneously evoking so much emotion. The added element of weaving together multiple points of view into a seamless story line makes this novel an unforgettable masterpiece. I am in awe of the author’s unique writing style in creating such a powerful work of brilliance. The brilliance being magnified by the outstanding narration on Audible by Maryne Young aka Audio Sorceress.
There are triggers in this story for anyone with a history of domestic violence and substance abuse. But the author presents these issues in a straightforward manner of understanding and consequence. In the end, we see the families come to terms with “ending the echoes” of a repeat legacy.
For authors who are hesitant to produce an audio book with an “outside” narrator, this novel is a great example of how the power of the written and spoken word can ignite into a magnificent experience for the reader. I cannot recommend this audio version enough for a heightened experience of what this story has to offer.
There are triggers in this story for anyone with a history of domestic violence and substance abuse. But the author presents these issues in a straightforward manner of understanding and consequence. In the end, we see the families come to terms with “ending the echoes” of a repeat legacy.
For authors who are hesitant to produce an audio book with an “outside” narrator, this novel is a great example of how the power of the written and spoken word can ignite into a magnificent experience for the reader. I cannot recommend this audio version enough for a heightened experience of what this story has to offer.
April 16, 2020
Dawn Hosmer is the master of the visceral. As an author, I loved so many things about this book: The well crafted plot, the deeply flawed characters and the way Dawn crafts tragic irony into a story that keeps you hooked, even as you cringe.
That last part was solid proof of what a terrific storyteller Dawn is. I felt my chest tightening and found myself avoiding reading this one too late into the evening. Like the most gripping stories of Stephen King it can send you to bed with nightmares.
But it's an important work because it rips the cover off of the cycle of abuse that is an all too true reality in our society.
I keep coming back to Dawn Hosmer again and again, because she doesn't just tell good stories. She makes us think about the things we too often would prefer to ignore.
That last part was solid proof of what a terrific storyteller Dawn is. I felt my chest tightening and found myself avoiding reading this one too late into the evening. Like the most gripping stories of Stephen King it can send you to bed with nightmares.
But it's an important work because it rips the cover off of the cycle of abuse that is an all too true reality in our society.
I keep coming back to Dawn Hosmer again and again, because she doesn't just tell good stories. She makes us think about the things we too often would prefer to ignore.
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