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Release date: February 19, 2019

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Kidnapped and raised by serial killers, Charlotte Rowe suffered an ordeal that made her infamous. Everyone in the world knew who she was. But no one in the world has any idea what she’s become…

Charlotte is an experiment. And a weapon. Enabled by a superpower drug, she’s partnered with a shadowy pharmaceutical company to hunt down and eliminate society’s most depraved human predators. But her latest mission goes off the rails in a horrifying way. Unsettled by her own capacity for violence, Charlotte wants some time to retreat so she can work on her new relationship with Luke, a sheriff’s deputy in the isolated Central California town she now calls home.

If only the threats hadn’t followed Charlotte there.

Something sinister is evolving in Altamira, California—a massive network of domestic terrorists with ties to Charlotte’s influential and corrupt employers. As a vast and explosive criminal conspiracy grows, the fate of Charlotte’s hometown hangs in the balance. With everyone she cares about in danger, Charlotte has no choice but to bring her powers home.

Charlotte Rowe has been triggered, and now she’ll have to take matters into her own powerful hands.

Review:

Some of my most trusted bookstagram friends have been raving about Christopher Rice for awhile now so late last year I finally picked up the first book in this series, Bone Music. They all told me that not only is his writing amazing, but that this series in particular had a unique edge, and man were they right! Even though this falls under the general umbrella of a thriller there are some sci fi elements which, surprisingly didn’t bother me at all even though that genre is way out of my comfort zone. Just a heads up!

As I said earlier this is the second book in a series and it is crucial to read both books. I did listen to the first book on audio and then flipped between the two for this one and the narration was great if you want that as an option. Anyway, do not start here and think you can get all caught up easily, there is imperative information in the first installment so do yourself a favor and start there.

I want to circle back to the sci fi angle I mentioned earlier, there is definitely some supernatural activity here but it was handled in the most believable way possible. Weird, I know, but even though things should seem far fetched it just all makes sense here and I didn’t actually feel like I was reading something out there or that I had to suspend disbelief at all. I think part of this is because the characterization is great, especially with Charlotte and while I feel like two books in we’ve taken a deep dive into who she is, I also get the sense that there is so much more to explore with her.

The pacing here is a little odd, it starts out fast and full of intensity and then things slow down a bit and then bam, you’re back to excitement and one hell of an ending. I’m a serious fan of the author now and really can’t wait for the next book, this is just a really cool concept and like nothing that I’ve read before.

Blood Echo in three words: Unusual, Complex and Dark

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.