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Kinship #4
The Echoes
The fourth in Jess Montgomery's evocative Kinship series, The Echoes combines exquisite storytelling with extraordinary crime plotting.
"A beautifully written tour de force." ―Linda Castillo on The Stills
As July 4, 1928 approaches, Sheriff Lily Ross and her family look forward to the opening of an amusement park in a nearby town, created by Chalmer Fitzpatrick―a veteran and lumber mill owner. When Lily is alerted to the possible drowning of a girl, she goes to investigate, and discovers schisms going back several generations, in an ongoing dispute over the land on which Fitzpatrick has built the park.
Lily's family life is soon rattled, too, with the revelation that before he died, her brother had a daughter, Esme, with a woman in France, and arrangements have been made for Esme to immigrate to the U.S. to live with them. But Esme never makes it to Kinship, and soon Lily discovers that she has been kidnapped. Not only that, but a young woman is indeed found murdered in the fishing pond on Fitzpatrick's property, at the same time that a baby is left on his doorstep.
As the two crimes interweave, Lily must confront the question of what makes can we trust those we love? And what do we share, and what do we keep secret?
"A beautifully written tour de force." ―Linda Castillo on The Stills
As July 4, 1928 approaches, Sheriff Lily Ross and her family look forward to the opening of an amusement park in a nearby town, created by Chalmer Fitzpatrick―a veteran and lumber mill owner. When Lily is alerted to the possible drowning of a girl, she goes to investigate, and discovers schisms going back several generations, in an ongoing dispute over the land on which Fitzpatrick has built the park.
Lily's family life is soon rattled, too, with the revelation that before he died, her brother had a daughter, Esme, with a woman in France, and arrangements have been made for Esme to immigrate to the U.S. to live with them. But Esme never makes it to Kinship, and soon Lily discovers that she has been kidnapped. Not only that, but a young woman is indeed found murdered in the fishing pond on Fitzpatrick's property, at the same time that a baby is left on his doorstep.
As the two crimes interweave, Lily must confront the question of what makes can we trust those we love? And what do we share, and what do we keep secret?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2022
26 people are currently reading
5342 people want to read
About the author
Jess Montgomery
8 books497 followersJESS MONTGOMERY is the author of the Kinship Historical Mystery series, inspired by a true-life 1920s female sheriff in Appalachia.
-->Learn more, read excerpts and find book club discussion questions at www.jessmontgomeryauthor.com.
-->Follow Jess on BookBub to get free alerts when her books go on sale: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jess-...
-->Stay in touch, get updates, and receive bonus content through her free enewsletter, https://www.subscribepage.com/jessmon... or on Facebook @JessMontgomeryAuthor
Under Jess's given name, she is a columnist for Writer's Digest, "Level Up Your Writing (Life)." Jess also interviews authors and artists on her podcast: "Tea with Jess: Chatting with Authors and Artists." Find the podcast "Tea with Jess" on podcast directories or her website.
Her first novel in the Kinship Historical Mystery series, THE WIDOWS, won the Readers' Choice in Fiction for the 2019 Ohioana Awards. Jess is a three-time recipient of the Individual Excellence Award in Literary Arts from the Ohio Arts Council, and has been a John E. Nance Writer in Residence at Thurber House (Columbus, Ohio).
She lives in her native Ohio, and in addition to writing, loves spending time with family and friends, reading, crocheting, baking (especially pies), spoiling her cats and houseplants, hiking, swimming, and fishing.
-->Learn more, read excerpts and find book club discussion questions at www.jessmontgomeryauthor.com.
-->Follow Jess on BookBub to get free alerts when her books go on sale: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jess-...
-->Stay in touch, get updates, and receive bonus content through her free enewsletter, https://www.subscribepage.com/jessmon... or on Facebook @JessMontgomeryAuthor
Under Jess's given name, she is a columnist for Writer's Digest, "Level Up Your Writing (Life)." Jess also interviews authors and artists on her podcast: "Tea with Jess: Chatting with Authors and Artists." Find the podcast "Tea with Jess" on podcast directories or her website.
Her first novel in the Kinship Historical Mystery series, THE WIDOWS, won the Readers' Choice in Fiction for the 2019 Ohioana Awards. Jess is a three-time recipient of the Individual Excellence Award in Literary Arts from the Ohio Arts Council, and has been a John E. Nance Writer in Residence at Thurber House (Columbus, Ohio).
She lives in her native Ohio, and in addition to writing, loves spending time with family and friends, reading, crocheting, baking (especially pies), spoiling her cats and houseplants, hiking, swimming, and fishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
July 25, 2025
Note: I received a free copy of this book. In exchange here is my honest review.
I wasn’t aware that this book was part of a series. 🤷🏼♀️ I obviously didn’t read the first three. 😬 Even jumping in here on book four, it was a good story. 👍
I wasn’t aware that this book was part of a series. 🤷🏼♀️ I obviously didn’t read the first three. 😬 Even jumping in here on book four, it was a good story. 👍
April 12, 2022
The Echoes is the 4th book in the Kinship historical fiction series written by Jess Montgomery. I'm an avid mystery reader, so when a series combines two of my favorite genres, it's a big win. This book is no exception, and it was full of authentic scenes, memorable backgrounds, smart dialog, and twisty paths. Sheriff Lily tries to keep order in a small Ohio town, Kinship, but it's not easy. With a brother, a father, and a husband dead in the last few years, she and her mother have been raising their family on their own. But it seems the brother had a secret child in France during the war (books take place in 1928), and she's on her way to see her paternal relatives now that her maternal grandmother and mother are also dead.
Montgomery fully brings you into this story and the truth about life nearly 100 years ago. Everything feels real, but it's not slow like you'd expect. There is a fine balance to her writing, and I eagerly turn the pages to learn more about the two stories that eventually intersect. A local baby turns up on a couple's doorstep, her mother recently murdered. Who was the father? Or was that really her mother? Lily's niece arrives from France but has been kidnapped before her family meets her at the train station. Who engineered it? Only a few people knew of her arrival. Another great edition... I wish there were more about Esme (niece) and what her life was like in France without her parents. I also wanted to know more about the family who was centerstage with the baby that showed up on the doorstep. I found myself waffling between a 4 and a 5 but definitely recommend this one.
Montgomery fully brings you into this story and the truth about life nearly 100 years ago. Everything feels real, but it's not slow like you'd expect. There is a fine balance to her writing, and I eagerly turn the pages to learn more about the two stories that eventually intersect. A local baby turns up on a couple's doorstep, her mother recently murdered. Who was the father? Or was that really her mother? Lily's niece arrives from France but has been kidnapped before her family meets her at the train station. Who engineered it? Only a few people knew of her arrival. Another great edition... I wish there were more about Esme (niece) and what her life was like in France without her parents. I also wanted to know more about the family who was centerstage with the baby that showed up on the doorstep. I found myself waffling between a 4 and a 5 but definitely recommend this one.
June 15, 2022
Thanks to Minotaur Books for “The Echoes” by Author Jess Montgomery for an honest review. 📚
When I requested this book, I didn’t realize it was the author’s 4th in an ending (?!! Noooo) series but “The Echoes” easily stands on its own feet and fully delivers a fascinating stand alone historical novel. I loved all the research the author obviously did to make this tale so true to the times of nearly 100 years ago as our beloved protagonist Sheriff Lily Ross suddenly finds herself solving numerous shocking mysteries that rock her world, professionally and personally. Boring historical novel? Nopity nope—not for one second. I also love stories that intertwine as this does. Great 2022 Summer read for a road trip or staycation. ❤️
When I requested this book, I didn’t realize it was the author’s 4th in an ending (?!! Noooo) series but “The Echoes” easily stands on its own feet and fully delivers a fascinating stand alone historical novel. I loved all the research the author obviously did to make this tale so true to the times of nearly 100 years ago as our beloved protagonist Sheriff Lily Ross suddenly finds herself solving numerous shocking mysteries that rock her world, professionally and personally. Boring historical novel? Nopity nope—not for one second. I also love stories that intertwine as this does. Great 2022 Summer read for a road trip or staycation. ❤️
April 5, 2022
Inspired by Ohio's first female sheriff in 1925, each Kinship Mystery Series written by the talented storyteller—Jess Montgomery includes co-narrators with Sheriff Lily Ross, the protagonist. Smartly written each co-narrator may have a different perspective on Lily and her case.
THE ECHOES is a powerful story, a mix of historical mystery, rural and Gothic. Fans and newcomers will enjoy the tenacious Sheriff Lily Ross. The fourth in the Kinship mystery series.
In the Echoes, her mom is one of the co-narrators, Beulah McArthur—and she has plenty of SECRETS. She has not always been comfortable with her daughter Lily having such a dangerous job. (can you imagine back in this period).
The plot revolves around Roger, Lily's brother and Beulah's son Roger and his time in the Great War, deceased. Both Lily and Beulah work together to resolve the numerous issues in The Echoes, which also helps connect them.
The other co-narrator is Esmé, the secret daughter Roger fathered in France, and now her mother's family can no longer care for her due to health reasons, she is sent to them. However, things do not go as planned.
The novel starts on July 4, 1928, at the opening of an amusement park named after Lily's brother, who died during the war. Chalmer Fitzpatrick is the owner.
However, a dark shadow falls on the town with more than one tragedy. Pearl Riley is found murdered in the park's pond.
Chalmer's wife, Sophia, finds a month-old infant by their side door. Was the baby an affair with Chalmer and Pearl? However, Sophia has secrets of her own, among many others.
Lily does not know about her brother Roger's daughter that her mom had kept a secret. Beulah now has arranged to have Esmé come from France to America, and she is only 9 yrs old, with a chaperone.
However, along the way, Esmé goes missing. Was she kidnapped? If so, the motive?
Many secrets keep the drama and suspense high from the baby, the affairs, and then more murders. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle, and Lily and her family have their work cut out for them. How are all the components connected?
Everyone involved in the novel is trying to protect their family, but how far will they go?
A story of family, love, loss, and traumas— PTSD from the war to those who have experienced traumatic events. How do we deal with traumas as it echoes through families and personal lives? A fitting title. Asks several questions: what war does do to soldiers' minds and how does trauma trickle through generations of families, communities, and countries.
You will enjoy this Kinship series if you love strong women and historical fiction. I really enjoyed this author's writing. While this was the first book in the series I have had the opportunity to read, I would recommend reading the prior ones, even though it can be read as a standalone. I look forward to reading THE WIDOWS, THE HOLLOWS, and THE STILLS.
I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Susan Bennett for an entertaining listening experience. Highly recommend the audiobook.
Thank you to #StMartinsPress, #MacmillianAudio, and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, enjoy, and review.
Blog Review Posted @ www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Pub Date: March 29, 2022
THE ECHOES is a powerful story, a mix of historical mystery, rural and Gothic. Fans and newcomers will enjoy the tenacious Sheriff Lily Ross. The fourth in the Kinship mystery series.
In the Echoes, her mom is one of the co-narrators, Beulah McArthur—and she has plenty of SECRETS. She has not always been comfortable with her daughter Lily having such a dangerous job. (can you imagine back in this period).
The plot revolves around Roger, Lily's brother and Beulah's son Roger and his time in the Great War, deceased. Both Lily and Beulah work together to resolve the numerous issues in The Echoes, which also helps connect them.
The other co-narrator is Esmé, the secret daughter Roger fathered in France, and now her mother's family can no longer care for her due to health reasons, she is sent to them. However, things do not go as planned.
The novel starts on July 4, 1928, at the opening of an amusement park named after Lily's brother, who died during the war. Chalmer Fitzpatrick is the owner.
However, a dark shadow falls on the town with more than one tragedy. Pearl Riley is found murdered in the park's pond.
Chalmer's wife, Sophia, finds a month-old infant by their side door. Was the baby an affair with Chalmer and Pearl? However, Sophia has secrets of her own, among many others.
Lily does not know about her brother Roger's daughter that her mom had kept a secret. Beulah now has arranged to have Esmé come from France to America, and she is only 9 yrs old, with a chaperone.
However, along the way, Esmé goes missing. Was she kidnapped? If so, the motive?
Many secrets keep the drama and suspense high from the baby, the affairs, and then more murders. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle, and Lily and her family have their work cut out for them. How are all the components connected?
Everyone involved in the novel is trying to protect their family, but how far will they go?
A story of family, love, loss, and traumas— PTSD from the war to those who have experienced traumatic events. How do we deal with traumas as it echoes through families and personal lives? A fitting title. Asks several questions: what war does do to soldiers' minds and how does trauma trickle through generations of families, communities, and countries.
You will enjoy this Kinship series if you love strong women and historical fiction. I really enjoyed this author's writing. While this was the first book in the series I have had the opportunity to read, I would recommend reading the prior ones, even though it can be read as a standalone. I look forward to reading THE WIDOWS, THE HOLLOWS, and THE STILLS.
I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Susan Bennett for an entertaining listening experience. Highly recommend the audiobook.
Thank you to #StMartinsPress, #MacmillianAudio, and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, enjoy, and review.
Blog Review Posted @ www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Pub Date: March 29, 2022
April 16, 2022
Once again, Jess Montgomery has written a brilliant mystery for Sheriff Lily Ross to solve. I loved how well the author personalizes each of these strong, brave women with depth and character all their own.
The Echoes (Kinship #4) centers around Lily’s mother, and also a family renown for their internal feuding.. the Fitzpatrick’s.. with not one good apple in the whole bunch. Sheriff Lily must solve multiple murders, and the disappearance of her 9 year old niece Esme who’s emigrated from France. They all mesh into one cataclysmic twist towards the end that sets all to right. Secrets, obsessed love, betrayal.. it’s all there. This is a phenomenal historical fiction series I highly recommend! 📚🤩
Fascinating facts—
•Sheriff Lily Ross is based off the very first female sheriff in Ohio, Maude Collins.
•Maude Collins is a direct descendant of the McCoy Clan of the Hatfield and McCoy feuding families.
The Echoes (Kinship #4) centers around Lily’s mother, and also a family renown for their internal feuding.. the Fitzpatrick’s.. with not one good apple in the whole bunch. Sheriff Lily must solve multiple murders, and the disappearance of her 9 year old niece Esme who’s emigrated from France. They all mesh into one cataclysmic twist towards the end that sets all to right. Secrets, obsessed love, betrayal.. it’s all there. This is a phenomenal historical fiction series I highly recommend! 📚🤩
Fascinating facts—
•Sheriff Lily Ross is based off the very first female sheriff in Ohio, Maude Collins.
•Maude Collins is a direct descendant of the McCoy Clan of the Hatfield and McCoy feuding families.
March 14, 2022
I hadn’t realized that this was part of a series when I initially requested it, but it worked fine as a standalone. The writing is heartfelt and top-notch and the characters well-drawn and relatable. I loved the powerful female role models. The audio version has an enjoyable flow and the narrator drew me in and held my interest throughout. I loved the story and the descriptions of this tight-knit community. Now I want to go back and read the rest of this series.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and Jess Montgomery for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and Jess Montgomery for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 20, 2022
THE ECHOES is part of series called The Kinship Mystery Series, which I didn’t realize when I picked this up, but it can read as a stand-alone too.
The Echoes mixes history with mystery, creating a gothic story around Sheriff Lily Roth, the first female detective in Ohio, and plenty of secrets.
This was the story of a family who experienced trauma and loss, including Lily’s brother Roger who died during the Great War, and now more secrets are being uncovered as Lily tries to find answers to who killed the girl in the pond.
I listened to this as an audiobook ALC and love the narrator, Susan Bennett, who has narrated many books I also enjoyed, becoming another favorite voice for me.
*many thanks to Minotaur and Macmillan Audio/Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
The Echoes mixes history with mystery, creating a gothic story around Sheriff Lily Roth, the first female detective in Ohio, and plenty of secrets.
This was the story of a family who experienced trauma and loss, including Lily’s brother Roger who died during the Great War, and now more secrets are being uncovered as Lily tries to find answers to who killed the girl in the pond.
I listened to this as an audiobook ALC and love the narrator, Susan Bennett, who has narrated many books I also enjoyed, becoming another favorite voice for me.
*many thanks to Minotaur and Macmillan Audio/Netgalley for the gifted copy for review
March 19, 2022
I did not want this book to end. I absolutely love this series and wish it would go on forever. I love how Montgomery writes such strong, complex women characters with rich internal lives and conflicts. With each book in this series, I feel she gets stronger and better. I love seeing the changes in Lily's relationships with Marvena, and with her mother and daughter. I will read every Kinship book she writes!
April 4, 2022
The Disappearance of Esmee
July 4, 1928 , Kinston, Ohio, as a celebration is going on at an newly opened amusement park, Lily the sheriff is made aware of a possible drowning in a pond on a disputed piece of land.
Meanwhile, Lily's mom is agonizing over how to tell Lily and the family about a child named Esmee that her brother fathered while in the Army in France. He was killed in battle and the child's mother died in childbirth, the grandmother had been caring for her, but she was ill and could not longer care for her. She needed Esmee to come to America and live with her father's relatives.
Lily is told about Esmee when she does not arrive in Kinship, Ohio as she is supposed to do . They fear that she has been kidnapped and perhaps her chaperone is in on the kidnapping. Now Lily has two crimes to solve.
Lily wonders if there is any connection and can she find Esmee before harm comes to her. She is not happy that she was not told about Esmee before and even less when she finds out her steady boyfriend knew about it but kept it from her.
This is a story of a town of secrets and Lily doesn't know who to trust. Who is telling the truth and who is lying? She is not even sure she can trust family and just when she thinks she has it solved, it isn't.
This was a great mystery story and I enjoyed listening to the audio book. The narrator did a wonderful job with the narration, it was very clear and the dramatic parts were done very well. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Jess Montgomery for a great mystery story, to Susan Bennett for doing an excellent narration, to Macmillan Audio for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
July 4, 1928 , Kinston, Ohio, as a celebration is going on at an newly opened amusement park, Lily the sheriff is made aware of a possible drowning in a pond on a disputed piece of land.
Meanwhile, Lily's mom is agonizing over how to tell Lily and the family about a child named Esmee that her brother fathered while in the Army in France. He was killed in battle and the child's mother died in childbirth, the grandmother had been caring for her, but she was ill and could not longer care for her. She needed Esmee to come to America and live with her father's relatives.
Lily is told about Esmee when she does not arrive in Kinship, Ohio as she is supposed to do . They fear that she has been kidnapped and perhaps her chaperone is in on the kidnapping. Now Lily has two crimes to solve.
Lily wonders if there is any connection and can she find Esmee before harm comes to her. She is not happy that she was not told about Esmee before and even less when she finds out her steady boyfriend knew about it but kept it from her.
This is a story of a town of secrets and Lily doesn't know who to trust. Who is telling the truth and who is lying? She is not even sure she can trust family and just when she thinks she has it solved, it isn't.
This was a great mystery story and I enjoyed listening to the audio book. The narrator did a wonderful job with the narration, it was very clear and the dramatic parts were done very well. I would recommend this book.
Thanks to Jess Montgomery for a great mystery story, to Susan Bennett for doing an excellent narration, to Macmillan Audio for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
March 30, 2022
It is now 1928 and Sheriff Lily Ross has a lot on her plate. An amusement park is being built in the small town of Kinship, she deals with a possible murder, the fact that her now-deceased brother fathered a child while serving in the war in France, and is navigating her relationship with Benjamen.
For my thoughts on this intriguing fourth book in the Kinship series, please see my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/BFVF9T8_b3w
For my thoughts on this intriguing fourth book in the Kinship series, please see my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/BFVF9T8_b3w
March 25, 2022
Jess Montgomery's Kinship historical mystery series is one that all lovers of the genre should read. These books-- and The Echoes is no exception-- are filled with evocative storytelling, intricate plotting, and compelling characters. Small, telling details put readers right into the time period. Who would have believed that there'd be such a thing as a parking lot for automobiles? And that "cardboard fan with a flat wooden handle from the funeral home" made me look for the one that's been in our family since 1909. (Yes, I did find it.) Then there are also aggravating details such as the fact that married women weren't allowed to be schoolteachers, and the derogatory way some folks there in Kinship call Lily Ross "She-riff."
But it's the people, not the historical details, that are the flesh and bone and blood of The Echoes. Esmé, a little girl kidnapped in a strange land. Lily's mother, Beulah, who keeps too many secrets. Other people "so proud of their hate" that they carry it "like a torch." (Have you ever been able to understand people like that? Neither have I.) And Lily Ross herself. Strong. Indomitable. So sure of herself and her convictions that she tends to scare the people who know her best.
Montgomery shows us-- and shows us in lyrical, heart-bruising style-- that hurt only needs to find people once for it to echo through the rest of their lives. This is a marvelous series and one that should not be missed.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
But it's the people, not the historical details, that are the flesh and bone and blood of The Echoes. Esmé, a little girl kidnapped in a strange land. Lily's mother, Beulah, who keeps too many secrets. Other people "so proud of their hate" that they carry it "like a torch." (Have you ever been able to understand people like that? Neither have I.) And Lily Ross herself. Strong. Indomitable. So sure of herself and her convictions that she tends to scare the people who know her best.
Montgomery shows us-- and shows us in lyrical, heart-bruising style-- that hurt only needs to find people once for it to echo through the rest of their lives. This is a marvelous series and one that should not be missed.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
March 22, 2022
This is the kind of book you read with a lump in your throat. Jess Montgomery’s portrayal of 1920’s Ohio is so deeply felt, so evocative, so redolent of history and memory and shared experience, that to read one of these books is to be completely immersed, while at the same time feeling all of the human experience. Montgomery covers it all – birth, death and everything in between. This novel seemed to me to be the most focused of her books plot wise, and that seemed to give this story an extra intensity.
The book opens with a young girl named Esme, as she heads to America and a new life. Montgomery switches narrators throughout, so the book returns to Lily, the sheriff in tiny Kinship, Ohio, who is listening to an old woman explain to her that she’s seen a dead body floating in the pond near her house. While Lily covers the pond in a rowboat there’s no trace of a body and she’s impatient with the woman, whose name is Maybelle and who may or may not have “the sight”.
The book then shifts to Lily’s mother, Beulah, who has been keeping a very big secret: Esme is the illegitimate daughter of her son Roger, conceived when he was fighting in France. Because Esme’s French grandmother is dying, she’s sending Esme to the only family she has left. Unfortunately, Beulah has told no one in her family that they should be looking forward to having a niece or cousin joining them.
Beulah has relied on Maybelle’s son, Chalmer, to facilitate the move, and it’s Chalmer’s family that provides much of the drama in the story. He and his wife Sophie don’t get along; Sophie refuses to let her mother-in-law live in the house; and there are some impoverished and bitter cousins, on the wrong side of a longstanding family feud, working for Chalmer.
There’s a big opening of a new “amusement” park scheduled, named in honor of WWI veterans, and Lily and her entire family attend the opening ceremony. The park has been mainly financed and built by Chalmer, and the ceremonies are interrupted by one of his cousins and later in the evening, an even worse tragedy: the body of a woman is discovered floating in the pond, just as Maybelle imagined.
And then there’s Esme. As she starts on the last leg of her long journey her chaperone leaves her for a moment and she’s kidnapped. So while Lily is investigating the drowned woman’s death, she’s also frantic to discover what happened to her niece, as her mother has finally revealed what’s going on.
The true narrative and emotional backbone of the story is Roger himself. He was respected and beloved in town, and many of the men in the story, including Lily’s beau, Benjamin, are veterans who served with Roger. Then there’s Esme, and the connection she brings, and there’s Lily’s friend Hildy, who was engaged to Roger before he left for the war. All of the threads of memory and loss belonging to these various characters wind through the story. The connections to Roger are strong or slight, but he’s influenced those he’s left behind in more ways than one. The main connection of course is his mother Beulah, and the ways his loss has affected her life.
Lily’s feelings are more unresolved than her mother’s, in my opinion, and she’s struggling with them throughout the book. Montgomery is a beautiful writer and one who creates in depth portraits of those she’s writing about. The characters of Lily and of Beulah, in this novel, are the central tentpoles but as with Roger’s absence, there are so many tributaries flowing from the connections that Lily and her mother have made in their lives. It’s these connections that move everyone forward. Montgomery creates and writes about community in all its pain, beauty, and necessity. While there are several deaths in the book the message of community is the one I took with me. I can’t recommend this series, and this particular book, more highly.
The book opens with a young girl named Esme, as she heads to America and a new life. Montgomery switches narrators throughout, so the book returns to Lily, the sheriff in tiny Kinship, Ohio, who is listening to an old woman explain to her that she’s seen a dead body floating in the pond near her house. While Lily covers the pond in a rowboat there’s no trace of a body and she’s impatient with the woman, whose name is Maybelle and who may or may not have “the sight”.
The book then shifts to Lily’s mother, Beulah, who has been keeping a very big secret: Esme is the illegitimate daughter of her son Roger, conceived when he was fighting in France. Because Esme’s French grandmother is dying, she’s sending Esme to the only family she has left. Unfortunately, Beulah has told no one in her family that they should be looking forward to having a niece or cousin joining them.
Beulah has relied on Maybelle’s son, Chalmer, to facilitate the move, and it’s Chalmer’s family that provides much of the drama in the story. He and his wife Sophie don’t get along; Sophie refuses to let her mother-in-law live in the house; and there are some impoverished and bitter cousins, on the wrong side of a longstanding family feud, working for Chalmer.
There’s a big opening of a new “amusement” park scheduled, named in honor of WWI veterans, and Lily and her entire family attend the opening ceremony. The park has been mainly financed and built by Chalmer, and the ceremonies are interrupted by one of his cousins and later in the evening, an even worse tragedy: the body of a woman is discovered floating in the pond, just as Maybelle imagined.
And then there’s Esme. As she starts on the last leg of her long journey her chaperone leaves her for a moment and she’s kidnapped. So while Lily is investigating the drowned woman’s death, she’s also frantic to discover what happened to her niece, as her mother has finally revealed what’s going on.
The true narrative and emotional backbone of the story is Roger himself. He was respected and beloved in town, and many of the men in the story, including Lily’s beau, Benjamin, are veterans who served with Roger. Then there’s Esme, and the connection she brings, and there’s Lily’s friend Hildy, who was engaged to Roger before he left for the war. All of the threads of memory and loss belonging to these various characters wind through the story. The connections to Roger are strong or slight, but he’s influenced those he’s left behind in more ways than one. The main connection of course is his mother Beulah, and the ways his loss has affected her life.
Lily’s feelings are more unresolved than her mother’s, in my opinion, and she’s struggling with them throughout the book. Montgomery is a beautiful writer and one who creates in depth portraits of those she’s writing about. The characters of Lily and of Beulah, in this novel, are the central tentpoles but as with Roger’s absence, there are so many tributaries flowing from the connections that Lily and her mother have made in their lives. It’s these connections that move everyone forward. Montgomery creates and writes about community in all its pain, beauty, and necessity. While there are several deaths in the book the message of community is the one I took with me. I can’t recommend this series, and this particular book, more highly.
April 4, 2022
THE ECHOES somehow seems to be a softer story than the first three installments of Jess Montgomery’s fabulous series about a sheriff and the problems she encounters in the rural Ohio county she protects at the start of the last century. While there are crimes here, the focus is on the people who live in this part of Bronwyn County.
It's July 1928, and both the weather and emotions are running hot. Montgomery shares the points of view of Sheriff Lily Ross and her mother, Beulah. Each is clearly labeled. Both women are widows, and Beulah had a late-in-life child who is the same age as one of Lily's children. What Lily does not know at the start of the novel is that her mother has arranged for her brother's child, Esmé, who was born in France during World War I, to come live with them.
Roger, Lily's brother, died in the war. And while Beulah has known about Esmé’s existence for several years, Lily has been kept in the dark. There have been many excuses --- the time wasn't right; she didn't want to worry Lily --- but now the child is due to arrive in a few days, and Lily must be told. We meet Esmé at the start of the book as she is attempting to escape from steerage and sneak into the upper deck so she can see the Statue of Liberty as they arrive at New York Harbor. She is not successful in her efforts, but we learn a bit about her independence and spunk.
An older lady, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, informs Lily about a dead woman floating in a pond --- a vision that eventually comes to pass. But in the meantime, we are introduced to the many characters whose actions and relationships make up this complex story. Unlike previous books in the series, there is no mention of organized crime or Prohibition. This fourth entry is about the people who live in this rural area of Ohio --- their prejudices, struggles and ties to each other.
One woman is nursing the child of another to earn extra money as her husband has not been able to find employment, and they have many children of their own to support. A well-to-do mill owner decides to create an amusement park and name it in honor of Roger. His extended family includes the unsavory relatives who remain angry and jealous that his ancestors were more business savvy than theirs. All of these characters are part of the intricate plot that Montgomery has woven.
We don't know what has happened to Esmé when she doesn't appear as expected. We don't know who killed the woman found floating in the pond. We don't know how the emotions and liaisons of various characters play into the mysteries. There is a lot happening, and readers will need to pay attention if they have any hope of catching the carefully placed clues about what is really going on under the surface.
In addition to creating characters who are likable and realistic, Montgomery is at her best when using powerful imagery to describe simple events. When we read passages about the day turning into night, and darkness falling, we feel as if we are there, breathing in the scents of night, hearing the sounds of owls and crickets, seeing the "velvety deep violet" night sky. Such prose is calming; by necessity we pause and let our imaginations wander to that corner of Ohio where nature is beautiful.
While THE ECHOES can serve as a stand-alone, Montgomery does add layer upon layer of character development as the series progresses. So those who enjoy historical fiction, strong female characters and a touch of mystery will want to start with the first book, THE WIDOWS. In a way, this opening installment echoes the theme that runs throughout the series --- how women dealt with the misogyny, prejudice and downright lack of equality that was prevalent in the early 20th century.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
It's July 1928, and both the weather and emotions are running hot. Montgomery shares the points of view of Sheriff Lily Ross and her mother, Beulah. Each is clearly labeled. Both women are widows, and Beulah had a late-in-life child who is the same age as one of Lily's children. What Lily does not know at the start of the novel is that her mother has arranged for her brother's child, Esmé, who was born in France during World War I, to come live with them.
Roger, Lily's brother, died in the war. And while Beulah has known about Esmé’s existence for several years, Lily has been kept in the dark. There have been many excuses --- the time wasn't right; she didn't want to worry Lily --- but now the child is due to arrive in a few days, and Lily must be told. We meet Esmé at the start of the book as she is attempting to escape from steerage and sneak into the upper deck so she can see the Statue of Liberty as they arrive at New York Harbor. She is not successful in her efforts, but we learn a bit about her independence and spunk.
An older lady, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, informs Lily about a dead woman floating in a pond --- a vision that eventually comes to pass. But in the meantime, we are introduced to the many characters whose actions and relationships make up this complex story. Unlike previous books in the series, there is no mention of organized crime or Prohibition. This fourth entry is about the people who live in this rural area of Ohio --- their prejudices, struggles and ties to each other.
One woman is nursing the child of another to earn extra money as her husband has not been able to find employment, and they have many children of their own to support. A well-to-do mill owner decides to create an amusement park and name it in honor of Roger. His extended family includes the unsavory relatives who remain angry and jealous that his ancestors were more business savvy than theirs. All of these characters are part of the intricate plot that Montgomery has woven.
We don't know what has happened to Esmé when she doesn't appear as expected. We don't know who killed the woman found floating in the pond. We don't know how the emotions and liaisons of various characters play into the mysteries. There is a lot happening, and readers will need to pay attention if they have any hope of catching the carefully placed clues about what is really going on under the surface.
In addition to creating characters who are likable and realistic, Montgomery is at her best when using powerful imagery to describe simple events. When we read passages about the day turning into night, and darkness falling, we feel as if we are there, breathing in the scents of night, hearing the sounds of owls and crickets, seeing the "velvety deep violet" night sky. Such prose is calming; by necessity we pause and let our imaginations wander to that corner of Ohio where nature is beautiful.
While THE ECHOES can serve as a stand-alone, Montgomery does add layer upon layer of character development as the series progresses. So those who enjoy historical fiction, strong female characters and a touch of mystery will want to start with the first book, THE WIDOWS. In a way, this opening installment echoes the theme that runs throughout the series --- how women dealt with the misogyny, prejudice and downright lack of equality that was prevalent in the early 20th century.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
March 30, 2022
I’ve loved all the books in the Kinship series and was excited to hear about The Echoes. Montgomery has outdone herself with this one with a tightly wound crime at its center. The historical angle of the novel is fantastic. I’m hoping to read many more books in this series in the future!
April 18, 2022
Another delightful addition to the series
July 14, 2022
4 STARS
2022; Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Audio
We are back in Kinship, and things are busy with drama. We move through the story with Lily and Beulah's point of view. The book opens with Chalmer Fitzpatrick, former war vet and Lily's brother, Roger's friend, opening a new park in Kinship. The opening day sets off incidents that lead to a young woman being found murdered, and a baby left without a home. Beulah's been hiding a secret from Lily and the family, Roger had a daughter in France. Esme is now nine years old, and about to lose her maternal grandmother, the only family she has known. Beulah's been corresponding with Esme's grandmother, Charlotte and has decided to take on Esme. When she goes to pick her up from the train the young girl and her hired escort are no where to be found. Lily finds herself pulled between the the mysteries and having her job as Sheriff tested all throughout.
There is a lot happening in this one, and with the alternating POV, I was kept on my toes. It's not difficult to keep straight though, and a bit filled with anxious tension. One thing I love about the kinship novels is the cast of characters. Each book we see how they grow and are trying to get through hard times. It is interesting to see a woman sheriff during this time, and at times it reminds me of the Kopp Sisters, with less humour. Any of the novels in the series could probably read on their own, but if you are full immersive reader you will want to start at the beginning and see the growth and arcs move.
***I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook/ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2022; Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press/Macmillan Audio
We are back in Kinship, and things are busy with drama. We move through the story with Lily and Beulah's point of view. The book opens with Chalmer Fitzpatrick, former war vet and Lily's brother, Roger's friend, opening a new park in Kinship. The opening day sets off incidents that lead to a young woman being found murdered, and a baby left without a home. Beulah's been hiding a secret from Lily and the family, Roger had a daughter in France. Esme is now nine years old, and about to lose her maternal grandmother, the only family she has known. Beulah's been corresponding with Esme's grandmother, Charlotte and has decided to take on Esme. When she goes to pick her up from the train the young girl and her hired escort are no where to be found. Lily finds herself pulled between the the mysteries and having her job as Sheriff tested all throughout.
There is a lot happening in this one, and with the alternating POV, I was kept on my toes. It's not difficult to keep straight though, and a bit filled with anxious tension. One thing I love about the kinship novels is the cast of characters. Each book we see how they grow and are trying to get through hard times. It is interesting to see a woman sheriff during this time, and at times it reminds me of the Kopp Sisters, with less humour. Any of the novels in the series could probably read on their own, but if you are full immersive reader you will want to start at the beginning and see the growth and arcs move.
***I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook/ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
April 13, 2022
3.5⭐️
The Echoes by Jess Montgomery was a historical mystery fiction that was narrated by Susan Bennett. SB did an excellent job. I liked her voice a lot.
This novel confused me at first but I started successfully tracking at chapter 3.
This novel is full of colorful characters and secrets. I love a strong protagonist and Lily was just that.
I didn’t realize this is the fourth book of a series but it can be read as a stand-alone. A small town folks with lots of history between them. I enjoyed this and I’ll probably read another from this author.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.
The Echoes by Jess Montgomery was a historical mystery fiction that was narrated by Susan Bennett. SB did an excellent job. I liked her voice a lot.
This novel confused me at first but I started successfully tracking at chapter 3.
This novel is full of colorful characters and secrets. I love a strong protagonist and Lily was just that.
I didn’t realize this is the fourth book of a series but it can be read as a stand-alone. A small town folks with lots of history between them. I enjoyed this and I’ll probably read another from this author.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.
June 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this book - actually the whole series! It was an easy and believable read about rural life in the 1920’s. Real emotion with joy, fear, hope, remorse and love. I hope Ms. Montgomery writes another!
April 20, 2022
It's 1928 Sheriff Lily Ross is investigating a murder in Kingship, when word was received of a daughter of Roger, Esme was on her way from France to live with her late father's family. She was kidnapped from the train she was riding to Kingship.
Sheriff Lily has to come to terms of the importance of family.
I received this free ARC book from Minotaur books.
Sheriff Lily has to come to terms of the importance of family.
I received this free ARC book from Minotaur books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2022
Loved this series. I hope there are more coming. This was an advanced reader copy and there were a lot of mistakes (wrong names, etc. ) . I hope they correct them . But love Jess montgomery. Can't wait for more books from this author.
March 22, 2022
It's 1928 and there's more to the people of the town of Kinship than meets the eyes, as Sheriff Lily Ross discovers. Her 9 year old niece Esme, born after her brother Roger was killed in France during WWI, disappears on her way to Kinship. An elderly woman keeps claiming she sees a girl in a blue dress floating in a pond. There's a new amusement park about to open. And Lily, a widow, is trying to figure out her future with Benjamin. Lily's mother Beulah has been keeping the secret of Esme and other secrets as well. This is told largely from Lily and Beulah's perspectives with periodic offerings from Esme. As with the earlier books in the series (and this is more readable as a standalone than some of the earlier ones), there's a little too much focus on how people are related to one another and so on- you like me might wonder why some of it is relevant (and as far as I can tell, it often isn't). The parts that are, such as the history of the land where the park is built, got a little lost for me. Fans Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans who have followed the series closely will no doubt be pleased to see favorite characters again in this interesting novel about the lingering effects of WWI, PTSD, and how a woman law enforcement officer navigates her community.
March 29, 2022
When I requested this book I was unaware that it was part of a series. When I finished The Echoes I was happy that it had worked well as a stand alone and I wanted to get my hands on the previous three books. I usually don't enjoy multiple points of view but this story worked. I like historical mysteries and this time period really came alive for me. Set in July 1928 in a small town in Ohio, Lily Ross is a widow and the local sherif. She has a lot to deal with when a young woman is found floating in a pond, generations worth of strife between two families mars the opening of a new amusement park and her own family has to confront a major secret about her late brother and the young daughter , Esme, fathered when he was fighting in France. After his death she was raised by her mothers family but now she has been sent to Ohio. She doesn't arrive. Many questions, many secrets - all threads of the two cases intertwine and Lily has to ask herself what makes family.
The mystery was well crafted and the setting came alive. Lily was such a strong character I couldn't wait to read the previous books and to learn more about the other women in her life. My thanks to the publisher, Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The mystery was well crafted and the setting came alive. Lily was such a strong character I couldn't wait to read the previous books and to learn more about the other women in her life. My thanks to the publisher, Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
January 31, 2022
Another visit to Kinship and to Sheriff Lily Ross and her family. Lily's mother takes on a bigger role in this one--because she has been keeping a secret for three years and now there is no way to avoid the consequences.
In the meantime, there is preparation for the new amusement park to be opened on July 4th, and Chalmer Fitzpatrick's 97-year-old woman has called Lily (again) because there is a drowned woman in a pond which is slated to be part of a new amusement park. Once again, Lily finds no drowned woman, and the question is whether the old woman's vision is dementia or the "the sight."
It's 1928, but there are connections to the Great War that claimed Lily's brother and the discovery of a truly unexpected legacy. There are so many secrets in this one! As usual, Jess Montgomery uses some actual history in her plot.
Montgomery's characters and setting feel so genuine that the opportunity to visit Kinship again is always appreciated...but now another year to wait for the next book.
NetGalley/St. Martin's Press.
Historical Mystery. March 29, 2022. Print length: 288 pages.
In the meantime, there is preparation for the new amusement park to be opened on July 4th, and Chalmer Fitzpatrick's 97-year-old woman has called Lily (again) because there is a drowned woman in a pond which is slated to be part of a new amusement park. Once again, Lily finds no drowned woman, and the question is whether the old woman's vision is dementia or the "the sight."
It's 1928, but there are connections to the Great War that claimed Lily's brother and the discovery of a truly unexpected legacy. There are so many secrets in this one! As usual, Jess Montgomery uses some actual history in her plot.
Montgomery's characters and setting feel so genuine that the opportunity to visit Kinship again is always appreciated...but now another year to wait for the next book.
NetGalley/St. Martin's Press.
Historical Mystery. March 29, 2022. Print length: 288 pages.
March 18, 2022
The Echos by Jess Montgomery is an incredible listen with many heartwarming and heartwretching details. The setting of the book is 1928, and remnants of the Great War are still around. The book is part of a series and a standalone listen. I was immediately pulled into the book with the fantastic narration by Susan Bennett. She really brought the characters to life with her voice, and added the right emotions to the scenes. I loved how family was interpreted in this book! It added so many feels to the story. The Kinship Tree was also a poignant image. Thank you #NetGalley and #Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this pre-release! I loved it!
June 13, 2022
I gave The Echoes 5 stars. My favorite folksy saying from it was, "Drink tea; life; is hard." If you enjoy mysteries with twists and turns, The Echoes is full of them. You'll feel right at home in the tiny town of Kinship, where everyone has known each other since birth. Like so much of America, The great war took a toll on their small town; husbands, sons, and brothers didn't return. The ones that did carry invisible scars that would later be called PTSD.
April 4, 2022
If you haven't read any of Jess Montgomery's books, they are a must. She researches and includes obscure historical elements that are often not shared in traditional history books. Murder, mayhem and intrigue.
April 12, 2022
I love this series! Such good stories ☺️
April 25, 2022
Great series. I really like the characters. I could hardly put it down.
April 4, 2022
THE ECHOES somehow seems to be a softer story than the first three installments of Jess Montgomery’s fabulous series about a sheriff and the problems she encounters in the rural Ohio county she protects at the start of the last century. While there are crimes here, the focus is on the people who live in this part of Bronwyn County.
It's July 1928, and both the weather and emotions are running hot. Montgomery shares the points of view of Sheriff Lily Ross and her mother, Beulah. Each is clearly labeled. Both women are widows, and Beulah had a late-in-life child who is the same age as one of Lily's children. What Lily does not know at the start of the novel is that her mother has arranged for her brother's child, Esmé, who was born in France during World War I, to come live with them.
Roger, Lily's brother, died in the war. And while Beulah has known about Esmé’s existence for several years, Lily has been kept in the dark. There have been many excuses --- the time wasn't right; she didn't want to worry Lily --- but now the child is due to arrive in a few days, and Lily must be told. We meet Esmé at the start of the book as she is attempting to escape from steerage and sneak into the upper deck so she can see the Statue of Liberty as they arrive at New York Harbor. She is not successful in her efforts, but we learn a bit about her independence and spunk.
An older lady, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, informs Lily about a dead woman floating in a pond --- a vision that eventually comes to pass. But in the meantime, we are introduced to the many characters whose actions and relationships make up this complex story. Unlike previous books in the series, there is no mention of organized crime or Prohibition. This fourth entry is about the people who live in this rural area of Ohio --- their prejudices, struggles and ties to each other.
One woman is nursing the child of another to earn extra money as her husband has not been able to find employment, and they have many children of their own to support. A well-to-do mill owner decides to create an amusement park and name it in honor of Roger. His extended family includes the unsavory relatives who remain angry and jealous that his ancestors were more business savvy than theirs. All of these characters are part of the intricate plot that Montgomery has woven.
We don't know what has happened to Esmé when she doesn't appear as expected. We don't know who killed the woman found floating in the pond. We don't know how the emotions and liaisons of various characters play into the mysteries. There is a lot happening, and readers will need to pay attention if they have any hope of catching the carefully placed clues about what is really going on under the surface.
In addition to creating characters who are likable and realistic, Montgomery is at her best when using powerful imagery to describe simple events. When we read passages about the day turning into night, and darkness falling, we feel as if we are there, breathing in the scents of night, hearing the sounds of owls and crickets, seeing the "velvety deep violet" night sky. Such prose is calming; by necessity we pause and let our imaginations wander to that corner of Ohio where nature is beautiful.
While THE ECHOES can serve as a stand-alone, Montgomery does add layer upon layer of character development as the series progresses. So those who enjoy historical fiction, strong female characters and a touch of mystery will want to start with the first book, THE WIDOWS. In a way, this opening installment echoes the theme that runs throughout the series --- how women dealt with the misogyny, prejudice and downright lack of equality that was prevalent in the early 20th century.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
It's July 1928, and both the weather and emotions are running hot. Montgomery shares the points of view of Sheriff Lily Ross and her mother, Beulah. Each is clearly labeled. Both women are widows, and Beulah had a late-in-life child who is the same age as one of Lily's children. What Lily does not know at the start of the novel is that her mother has arranged for her brother's child, Esmé, who was born in France during World War I, to come live with them.
Roger, Lily's brother, died in the war. And while Beulah has known about Esmé’s existence for several years, Lily has been kept in the dark. There have been many excuses --- the time wasn't right; she didn't want to worry Lily --- but now the child is due to arrive in a few days, and Lily must be told. We meet Esmé at the start of the book as she is attempting to escape from steerage and sneak into the upper deck so she can see the Statue of Liberty as they arrive at New York Harbor. She is not successful in her efforts, but we learn a bit about her independence and spunk.
An older lady, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, informs Lily about a dead woman floating in a pond --- a vision that eventually comes to pass. But in the meantime, we are introduced to the many characters whose actions and relationships make up this complex story. Unlike previous books in the series, there is no mention of organized crime or Prohibition. This fourth entry is about the people who live in this rural area of Ohio --- their prejudices, struggles and ties to each other.
One woman is nursing the child of another to earn extra money as her husband has not been able to find employment, and they have many children of their own to support. A well-to-do mill owner decides to create an amusement park and name it in honor of Roger. His extended family includes the unsavory relatives who remain angry and jealous that his ancestors were more business savvy than theirs. All of these characters are part of the intricate plot that Montgomery has woven.
We don't know what has happened to Esmé when she doesn't appear as expected. We don't know who killed the woman found floating in the pond. We don't know how the emotions and liaisons of various characters play into the mysteries. There is a lot happening, and readers will need to pay attention if they have any hope of catching the carefully placed clues about what is really going on under the surface.
In addition to creating characters who are likable and realistic, Montgomery is at her best when using powerful imagery to describe simple events. When we read passages about the day turning into night, and darkness falling, we feel as if we are there, breathing in the scents of night, hearing the sounds of owls and crickets, seeing the "velvety deep violet" night sky. Such prose is calming; by necessity we pause and let our imaginations wander to that corner of Ohio where nature is beautiful.
While THE ECHOES can serve as a stand-alone, Montgomery does add layer upon layer of character development as the series progresses. So those who enjoy historical fiction, strong female characters and a touch of mystery will want to start with the first book, THE WIDOWS. In a way, this opening installment echoes the theme that runs throughout the series --- how women dealt with the misogyny, prejudice and downright lack of equality that was prevalent in the early 20th century.
Reviewed by Pamela Kramer
June 5, 2022
Echoes, the fourth book in the Kinship series, is set in 1920s Ohio, and again features Sheriff Lily Ross. The story begins as the town prepares for the July 4th celebration which is to be special this year. Chalmer Fitzpatrick has created an amusement park and is planning to dedicate it to veterans at the celebration. But before the park opens, a girl drowns in the lake at the park and Lily is called to investigate the incident.
She discovers that there is a family dispute over many issues one of which is the park land. This leads to the conclusion that the death might not have been a suicide. At the same time, Lily learns that her brother fathered a child while he was stationed in France as a soldier during World War I. The child is nine-year-old Esme, and she has been sent along with a chaperone to come to live with Lily’s family. However, somewhere on the journey she disappears and never arrives. Add to that, a baby with no identification mysteriously appears on the Fitzpatrick’s doorstep.
Lily is distraught that her brother, Roger, had fathered a child overseas especially since he was to marry her best friend, Hildy, when he returned from the war. Lily attempts to unravel her emotions about Esme, her niece, while she looks into the drowning, into the identity of the baby, and also into Esme’s disappearance. These three story lines converge and bring many reminder of the past into the lives of the book’s characters.
Lily and her mother, Beulah, narrate this book. Strong female characters have been a part of the series and this book is no exception. Family and family ties are extremely important to this book just as they have been in the previous three books. Unique to this novel is the recognition of the impact of PTSD on the soldiers who have survived war. Romance, again, finds a place in the book as Lily and her mother Beulah connect with their male suitors. The reader is also reminded of the hardships faced by those who live in a coal mining community on the 1920s.
The book could be a stand alone, but the characters continue to develop and grow with each additional book in the Kinship series. Therefore, the reader will gain more understanding of the time period and of the characters by reading the books in order. This fourth book in the series also serves to remind us that incidents either good or bad can have an echo effect on the lives of others. This book, Echoes, combines history and mystery into an absorbing story that is both believable and appealing.
She discovers that there is a family dispute over many issues one of which is the park land. This leads to the conclusion that the death might not have been a suicide. At the same time, Lily learns that her brother fathered a child while he was stationed in France as a soldier during World War I. The child is nine-year-old Esme, and she has been sent along with a chaperone to come to live with Lily’s family. However, somewhere on the journey she disappears and never arrives. Add to that, a baby with no identification mysteriously appears on the Fitzpatrick’s doorstep.
Lily is distraught that her brother, Roger, had fathered a child overseas especially since he was to marry her best friend, Hildy, when he returned from the war. Lily attempts to unravel her emotions about Esme, her niece, while she looks into the drowning, into the identity of the baby, and also into Esme’s disappearance. These three story lines converge and bring many reminder of the past into the lives of the book’s characters.
Lily and her mother, Beulah, narrate this book. Strong female characters have been a part of the series and this book is no exception. Family and family ties are extremely important to this book just as they have been in the previous three books. Unique to this novel is the recognition of the impact of PTSD on the soldiers who have survived war. Romance, again, finds a place in the book as Lily and her mother Beulah connect with their male suitors. The reader is also reminded of the hardships faced by those who live in a coal mining community on the 1920s.
The book could be a stand alone, but the characters continue to develop and grow with each additional book in the Kinship series. Therefore, the reader will gain more understanding of the time period and of the characters by reading the books in order. This fourth book in the series also serves to remind us that incidents either good or bad can have an echo effect on the lives of others. This book, Echoes, combines history and mystery into an absorbing story that is both believable and appealing.
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