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Review for 'The Echoing Shore' by J.H. Mann.

Yet another absolutely gripping book that I have read by this incredible author!! This book is actually a Yeovil Literary Prize winner and I must admit that I am not surprised!!! Jason Mann is an incredibly talented author who really captivates his authors with his fantastic writing skills. In this absolutely gripping storyline Jason takes the reader on a time travelling trip back to the year 1991 and transported on to the 'Talan Bray' where we meet Jim Trelawney, Bobby and Jed Ridley, Seth Maltby and Jake Bolitho who are all aboard. They are on their way to rescue 2 people who got in trouble on a yacht. However, the lifeboat is lost off Cornwall's wild Atlantic coast, all of the crewmen died and the cause is never fully explained. We then fast forward to 10 years later where we meet Kate Tregillis. Kate has come from London and returned to Cornwall and she is an editor at the 'North Cornwall Gazette'. Kate meets up with an Irishman called Danny Flanagan who is doing freelance work for the London Press but offers to dig up some stories for Kate and for him to get paid if she publishes them. It is coming up to the ten year anniversary of the loss of the St Branok lifeboat and Danny suggests investigating the mystery of what happened as it was never solved. Kate agrees and they start looking in to what really happened the night of the disaster. Not everybody is happy with the case being looked into though and she faces violence and threats. Can Kate discover the truth of what really happened on the night of the disaster? Is she putting her life at risk to find out what happened to the lives of the people who died? Grab your copy of this edge of your seat and nail-biting thriller today to find out for yourselves and I can guarantee that you will not regret it!! With an absolutely gripping storyline ram packed with disaster, tension, violence, crime, suspense, lies, secrets, fear, twists, red herrings and much, much more what on Earth are you waiting for? Jason tells us the storyline through the eyes of Kate ensuring that the reader really does see, feel and hear everything that she does from the chilling and biting winds coming off the wild Atlantic coast to the fear running through her veins. It is one of those completely addictive books where every time I even considered putting the book down to get on with some house work I just had to carry on reading "one more chapter" until I ended up completely devouring it in one sitting of several hours so make sure you clear your schedules!! There was an abundance of drama, action, love, suspense, loyalty and red herrings that constantly had to me guessing and failing to work out what really happened and when all was revealed my jaw dropped!! I definitely was not expecting that one!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to Mann as it is getting harder and harder to shock me with all the crime and thriller books I read but you managed to completely blow it out of the water with this one!! I was completely invested in the storyline from beginning to end as well as being invested in Kate and all the other characters surrounding her regardless of my feelings for them. My heart was in my throat for her on so many occasions and I actually found myself shouting at the pages telling her to be careful or to watch out so make sure you do not read this in a public place!! I was also finding that I was holding my breath on several occasions and ended up getting some every odd looks off my partner! I love how determined Kate was to get to the truth of what really happened and also how resilient she was. I am a huge fan of strong female protagonists in books being female myself and Kate is an absolutely fantastic kick butt character that I will not be forgetting any time soon!! I absolutely LOVE books set in Cornwall and I had been to holiday in Cornwall in March this year where I fell in love with it and missed it before I read this book but OMG JH Mann has made me want to jump in the car and go straight back now!!! regardless of the fact that this is not your typical book set in Cornwall which I have found are mainly romance I just loved the beautiful and rugged settings Mann describes and how captivating it all is. Thankfully I am returning to St Ives again in April so I don't have long to wait to return even though after this book it really does feel like I have just this second returned after leaving there!!! Mann's stunning evocative writing skills ensures the readers are absolutely sucked into the gripping storyline with the atmosphere and characters coming to life all around them.. I absolutely fell in love venturing back into Cornwall. I became so invested in this book that it actually felt like going on a holiday even if it was one filled with tension, suspense and crime it was still nice to get away lol and I absolutely dreaded coming to the end where I had to unpack my suitcase and get back to reality retuning to wet and dreary Wales. It was an absolutely compelling and addictive heart lifting read that kept me turning the pages until late at night. Jason really has used the perfect setting for this book as it definitely adds to the atmosphere of the storyline, especially during certain events. The storyline was realistic which I always prefer as it makes it more enjoyable to read when you can see that it is something that could happen. It was a very compelling read and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author! The different characters I met throughout the book had a mix of personalities with intriguing backgrounds and each one was very compelling. Jason's evocative writing skills really have brought each of these characters to life throughout this book and it really felt as if I was with Kate throughout feeling and seeing everything that she was. If you are looking for a unique crime thriller filled with suspense that will keep your heart racing throughout then grab your copy of 'The Echoing Shore' today!!

Overall a unique, gripping thriller filled with tension and suspense.

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Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

J. H. Mann’s The Echoing Shore is a captivating mystery that immerses readers in the rugged beauty and hidden dangers of Cornwall’s wild Atlantic coast. This novel, a winner of the Yeovil Literary Prize, masterfully blends suspense, emotion, and a deep sense of place.

The story begins with a tragic event: a lifeboat is lost off the coast, resulting in the deaths of all eight crewmen. The cause of this disaster remains a mystery for a decade, until Kate Tregillis, the determined editor of a struggling local newspaper, decides to uncover the truth. Her investigation takes her deep into the insular fishing community of St Branok, where she faces resistance, threats, and violence. 

Kate Tregillis is a compelling protagonist whose tenacity and courage drive the story forward. Her quest for truth is not just professional but deeply personal, as she navigates the complexities of her own relationships and the secrets of those around her.

The Echoing Shore explores themes of truth, resilience, and the impact of the past on the present. Mann delves into the human cost of secrets and the lengths to which people will go to protect them.
Mann’s writing is lyrical and precise, capturing the raw beauty of the Cornish coast and the emotional intensity of the characters’ journeys. The narrative is well-paced, with twists and turns that keep you guessing.

The Echoing Shore is a gripping and thought-provoking mystery that will appeal to fans of atmospheric thrillers and character-driven stories. J. H. Mann has crafted a novel that is both engaging and emotionally resonant, making it a standout in the genre. Whether you’re drawn to the rugged landscapes of Cornwall or the intricate dynamics of small-town life, this book offers a richly rewarding reading experience.

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2* Nearly 3* until the end, but then what Kate almost 'allowed' to happen to a loved one who protected her with his life, spoilt the book.

This has half-decent writing, but the writing was abundantly on the wall for 2 reasons - Cornwall and its ties with smuggling, and a certain someone made just a little too prominent. But, not on the wall, pun intentional, for 3 journalists with plenty of experience...

I don't think this is a spoilerish review because so many books have featured Cornwall's long history of smuggling, locals who clam up about it, and who don't like tourists. This has a bit of all three, which was so evident reading through the lines, and because one person was just a little too in focus, a little too friendly, a little too always there, and because blabbing in front of said person carries a cliché often seen, though perhaps here, their gender wasn't typical. The sole red herring of this book was a little too scarlet, not red, which gave this person away as not being the distraction the author attempted.

But, for 3 seasoned journalists to open their mouths in the wrong places, many a time, and with 2 being local, and not to put two and two together and make 4, smacks of suspension of disbelief a little too much. And sorry for all the 'too' and 'little' in this review. I couldn't believe all 3 could be so blind, although the Irish guy was sort of on the right track.

What ruined it for me was the realisation that the most loving, most loyal, most protective entity in this tale had their future written on the wall, too. And yet Kate was blind to this too, allowing something utterly preventable to occur. And she wasn't sorry enough after, didn't grieve enough, didn't hit the bottle enough although she hit it mpte than enough most other times. This ruined what'd been a 3* tale so far. Not sure I'd read more from this author, unfortunately.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Spider Books, for my reading pleasure

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This was a pretty good book! it was very twisty and turny and it had me all over the place trying to figure out who did it. I love when a book can honestly keep you guessing and not be predictable. This was a good mystery book and I enjoyed reading it. The author is very descriptive and helps you feel like you're in the book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and especially the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book!!

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I liked the premise of this crime mystery set on the rugged Cornish coast. However, it was slow in parts and the killing of the lovely dog was unnecessary to the plot.

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Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC.
A good book set on the Atlantic Coast of Cornwall with great descriptions of the landscape.
It features Kate, who owns a small.local newspaper, which is hanging on by a thread. She's single and the love of her life is Rufus, her dog. When a freelance journalist, Danny, offers his help, she's reluctant at first, but agrees. When he decides to investigate and publish the story of the a local ship lost with all passengers, all hell breaks loose. The locals are furious and someone is threatening the lives of Kate and Danny.
I liked the book, but was saddened by the loss of Rufus. When you read a mystery with a beloved pet, most of the time it gets killed, which I hate!

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J. H. Mann crafted a very intriguing story that kept me reading. There were several plot twists that made me doubt and change my guess as to who was behind everything. I enjoyed all of the imagery that Mann included and could imagine the feel of the spray from the water and ambiance of the town. I would love to see this become a series or at least a follow-up book the shares more of the lives of the characters.

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What a great new mystery writer that I have found to read. I have already downloaded his previous book to read. A young woman has returned to a small town in Cornwall to become the editor of a failing local newspaper. To try to boost sales, she hires a freelance writer who wants to write about a story ininvolving a lifeboat disaster that had occured 10 years before. What ensues is an intriguing thriller of who did what and an ending that I did not see coming. Highly recommenced for those who love British mysteries.

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