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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Echo Killing is the first novel in a new series featuring crime reporter Harper McClain. It takes place in Savannah, Georgia, but the city portrayed here isn't the genteel, graceful place you've read about in so many historical novels. Instead, author Christi Daugherty shows readers a completely different side of this southern city. It's dark, gritty, and dangerous, and that's just the way our gutsy heroine prefers it.

Harper is one of the best crime reporters in the state of Georgia, and her success is no accident. Ever since she discovered the mutilated body of her mother on the kitchen floor of their home when she was twelve, Harper has felt a strong pull toward the criminal justice system. She could have chosen to be a police officer or a lawyer, but her tenacious personality and love of writing make crime reporting a perfect fit for her. She works the night shift, and much of her time is spent with the Savannah police force. Police officers and reporters don't always get along, but many of the officers have known Harper since she was a child and one of their Lieutenants took her under his wing after the brutal murder of her mother.

One evening, Harper and her photographer are summoned to the scene of a grizzly killing, one that bears a striking resemblance to the still unsolved murder of her mother. As one might guess, Harper is immediately drawn to the case, viewing it as her last possible chance to bring her mother's killer to justice. It's been fifteen years since her mom died, but the memories of that day are seared into Harper's memory, and she hopes working on this particular case might finally bring her some peace.

Unfortunately for Harper, the Savannah PD isn't forthcoming with information about the current case. No matter whom she approaches and what questions she asks, Harper is stonewalled, a fact that makes her even more determined to uncover the truth. But the truth is known to be elusive, especially when powerful people have a stake in keeping it buried, and Harper is forced to put her job and her life on the line in order to bring the killer to justice.

Harper is exactly the kind of quick-witted and fearless heroine I love to read about. She doesn't buckle under the pressure from her superiors to abandon her investigation; instead it spurs her to dig deeper into the case, something that doesn't always go well for her. Her apartment is broken into and she comes close to losing her credibility as a trusted journalist, but she perseveres in spite of it all.

It's important to realize that Harper is far from a perfect character. She definitely has her good points, but Ms. Daugherty does an excellent job giving her some flaws as well. I appreciated this, as I have trouble identifying with characters who do the exact right thing all the time. Harper's dogged determination to learn the truth behind both murders causes her to cross a few lines, both personally and professionally, and while I cringed inwardly at some of her actions, I completely understood the reasons behind them.

It's not uncommon for parts of a mystery novel to drag a bit, but that doesn't happen here. Ms. Daugherty set the pace just right, and thus made it virtually impossible for me to put this book down. She relies on an almost perfect mix of action and character development to keep the reader engaged, and I was never bored, even when the plot wasn't especially action-packed.

I was pleased to find that The Echo Killing does not end on a cliffhanger the way so many series books do. Ms. Daugherty gives us quite a bit of resolution while still leaving room for development in both the characters and the story, and I can't wait for book two to be released. Harper is a complicated woman, and I'm eager to see what the author has planned for her.

Speaking of the ending, I absolutely loved the way the author builds up to the big reveal. The last quarter of the book is super intense, and, when the identity of the killer was finally revealed, I was totally surprised. I was almost positive I knew who it was going to be, but I was completely wrong. I love when an author can trick me like that.

If you're looking for a smart, suspenseful start to a new series, you've got to give The Echo Killing a try. It contains everything I love in a good mystery, and it's not overly violent, a fact that will appeal to those who are troubled by graphic descriptions of various types of carnage. Ms. Daugherty has earned a place on my list of authors to watch out for, and I sincerely hope she doesn't make me wait too long for her next release.

Buy it at: Amazon/Barnes & Noble/iBooks/Kobo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This story had me wondering why Harper kept after the guy she was convinced the killer. She never once had me convinced. Many times I wanted to yell that is not the guy!

As the story progressed there were just the right amount off twist and turns to keep reader hooked. The killer will have everyone scratching there heads.

The Characters are developed well enough but I needed something more I could sink my teeth into.

Thank you to netgelley and the publisher for the advance copy

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

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

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

Oh, I enjoyed this! Even though I kind of had a feeling how this would end it was still very well thought out and entertaining. Great characters and the ending left enough questions to keep me hooked into reading the next novel. Great start to this series.

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


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


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


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

Good solid mystery! I loved how the worlds of journalism and the police department collide in this novel. Harper works closely with the detectives as she was the survivor of a horrific crime years ago when her mother was brutally murdered and young Harper discovered the body. Now amid gang shootings and domestic drama, another seemingly senseless murder occurs and Harper becomes suspicious when there appear to be too many similarities to her mother's murder--including the survivor's twelve-year-old daughter finding her. But of course the relationship between the media and the police department is strained so Harper must use her wits to investigate without letting on that she's doing so. Smart and sassy, Harper is a refreshing voice in female protagonists as she isn't afraid to take chances even when it may mean she steps on toes. Certainly looking forward to a sequel to this one!

Once I started reading this I did not stop until the end and I still wanted more! Go ahead and strap yourself in for a non-stop action filled ride!

Harper is a character that is easy to fall love. Driven, smart, and daring, she does what it takes to get the job done and has no problem bending the rules here and there. 

When the newest murder looks exactly the way her mothers did, down to the 12-year-old daughter finding her mother, Harper believes her mothers killer is back and she is determined to stop at nothing to find the killer. 

As we followed her investigation there are quite a few red herrings in here, but in the end, well Wow!

I really hope this is not the last we see of Miss Harper McClain!  Well Done!!!

Netgalley/Minotaur Books   March 13, 2018

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

(3.5-stars rounded up to 4) The Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty is an adult thriller following female protagonist, Harper McClain, who is a crime reporter in the city of Savannah. As female leads go, I really liked Harper; I found her to be smart and believable. Although haunted by a past trauma where she stumbled across the crime scene of her murdered mother, we learn how Harper's whole life was shaped by that one event; how she used it to fuel her passions for writing and reporting. For me, the book didn't really pick up until about 30% into the story. The introductory phase of the characters, the city and Harper's early life seemed just a little too drawn out for my taste before ever getting into the main point of our story - the murder and subsequent investigation of a woman by the name of Marie Whitney. Once Harper started looking into Ms. Whitney's death, and coming to the conclusion that there was more to the story than her police friends were letting on, the action really started to pick up. Overall, I enjoyed this story and would definitely be interested in reading the next book in the series!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur for providing me with an early copy of this book - I truly appreciate the opportunity to read this story and to share my opinions with you - I am excited for the release date to see what other readers think of it!

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

Maximum jolt with an icy thrill.

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

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

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

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

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

My review can be seen at RT Book Reviews

I loved it!

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

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

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

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

I Highly recommend!

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

Journalism has been Harper McClain's salvation. Her youth is snatched from her fifteen years ago when she arrived home from school to find her mother dead on the kitchen floor. With the aid of adults that care, she followed a path into the reporting of crime in Savannah Ga. Daugherty has gathered a well rounded group of characters into Harper's professional life. A bit slow in parts the narrative explored Harper on the hunt in solving a fresh murder that mirrors that of her mothers. Illegal methods, a hunger for answers and a taste of romance sweeps the reader into an amazing escape. "A copy of this book was provided by St Martin's Press via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY!!!! What a thrill ride! I will tell you that it did take a bit of commitment to get into the book. Once I hit about the half-way point, I needed to hold on to my hat.

I will be looking for more of Harper McClain in the future.

My thanks to netgalley and Minotaur Books for this advanced readers copy.

I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review,  so thank you netgalley and publishers for offering me this book! ♡
This story is a about a Fifteen-year-old cold murder case in the town of Savannah, crime reporter Harper McClain risks everything to find the identity of the killer. A city of antebellum architecture, picturesque parks, and cobblestone streets. Harper McClain, the timeless beauty and culture that distinguishes her home’s Southern heritage vanishes during the dark and dangerous nights. She wouldn’t have it any other way. Not even finding her mother brutally murdered in their home when she was twelve has made her love Savannah any less. Her mother’s killer was never found, and that unsolved murder left Harper with an obsession that drove her to become one of the best crime reporters in the state of Georgia. She spends her nights with the police, searching for criminals. Her latest investigation takes her to the scene of a homicide where the details are hauntingly familiar: a young girl being led from the scene by a detective, a female victim naked and stabbed multiple times in the kitchen, and no traces of any evidence pointing towards a suspect. Harper has seen all of this before in her own life. The similarities between the murder of Marie Whitney and her own mother’s death lead her to believe they’re both victims of the same killer.
This was my first book by this author, I did enjoy it, It was fast paced for the most part but at times it felt slow and just alltogether an easy read. ♡ I give this book a 4.5 star rating!

The mystery was interesting. The ending was a good set up for the next book in the series.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.