I love Savannah, but Christi Daugherty's The Echo Killing is not the Savannah of the cobblestone streets, lovely architecture, and many parks. Daughtery's Harper McClain is a crime reporter and her job takes her to places other than the tourist mecca of Old Savannah.

Harper's mother was murdered when she was twelve, and when another murder takes place that echos the murder of her mother in surprising detail, Harper is compelled to investigate further. Despite some discouragement from her mentor who doesn't believe the killer is the same one that murdered her mother, Harper continues digging.

And while the murder itself is eerily similar to that of her mother, the victim is an entirely different breed. Is the killer the same one becoming active again after fifteen years...or is it a copy cat?

Suspenseful.

Read in December; blog review scheduled for 3/5/18.

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press

Mystery/Suspense. March 13, 2018. Print length: 368 pages.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Christi Daugherty, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to read an early copy.

When a murder echoing a fifteen-year-old cold case rocks the Southern town of Savannah, crime reporter Harper McClain risks everything to find the identity of this calculated killer.

A city of antebellum architecture, picturesque parks, and cobblestone streets, Savannah moves at a graceful pace. But for 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. At last, she has the chance to find the murderer who’s eluded justice for fifteen years and make sure another little girl isn’t forever haunted by a senseless act of violence―even if it puts Harper in the killer’s cross-hairs…

I don't understand why there aren't more mystery/thrillers set in Savannah. It's such a beautiful city with a strong historical background. Daugherty did a fantastic job penning the setting of this one. That paired with the fantastic plot made for a great read. The author's strong points of this one were definitely the backstory, the rich setting, and the unique cast of characters. It felt relatable, yet suspenseful--paced well enough to be read in one sitting.

Great read! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

As a native Georgian, I enjoyed this novel that is set in Savannah. Harper McClain is a young crime reporter for the local newspaper who is investigating a murder that is very similar to her mother's murder 15 year prior. As she gets caught up in the investigation, she finds that some of the clues hit very close to home. A fast-paced read that I enjoyed very much. I think if you enjoy Debra Webb or Mary Higgins Clark, you will enjoy this one. Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Never reading anything by Christi Daugherty before I wasn't sure what to expect. The Echo Killing was a fast paced novel that hooked me from the start and kept me wondering until the end, And what an ending!! Thank goodness there will be more of the Harper McClain series to look forward to!

Really good book. I would of gone 5 stars, but for several chapters I really wanted to strangle the main character, Harper! She was just being so stupid and selfish, but she turned it around. I loved the way she stumbled on the identity of the killer. Just remember when you think no one is around, or no one can see you the very opposite might be true. Solid mystery, with the newspaper business as a back drop. Fun read.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were nicely developed and the relationships were on point. I loved the plot and these ethical/moral dilemmas that face the protagonist. Can’t wait to read the next one.

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