Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Echo Man by Sam Holland

9 reviews

maisiegibbs's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

OMG easily the best book I’ve read… ever I think. It took a while for me to get my teeth into it but once I did I couldn’t put it down. The plot. The characters. The twists. I just can’t say enough about this book. I am picking up The Twenty as we speak. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

julesreadsstuff's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I really enjoyed this thriller! It was just like watching a really fab bbc police drama on the tv but in book form!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

mirificmoxie's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

bobinsbooknook's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was filled with everything you’d hope for in a thriller; plot twists, morally grey protagonists and some absolutely shocking crime! Another great pick for fans of criminal minds type themes! 

There is a lot to unpack in this story and just when I thought I had it all figured out it would end up with one final twist just to round it all out!

I did enjoy the premise of the plot with all the different copycat kills for various serial killers and for the most part found the characters really interesting. 

My only criticism is I wish there have been better  foreshadowing to the final killer reveal to not feel so out of the blue and did leave me a little confused.

A word of warning - this book details a lot of potentially triggering topics in some pretty graphic detail - particularly during the killer POV scene so be sure to check out content warnings!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use and Infidelity

Minor: Abandonment

staceeyt's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

saartjeinwonderbookland's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

teacupsandbookshelves's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

bookwormdanni's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow, this book is not for the faint hearted!
The Echo Man is brilliantly written with a plot that will shock you from start to finish. The development of the plot is really clever and quick-paced. The writing is brilliant and Sam Holland was not afraid of writing in horrific sometimes graphic detail of abuse and assault.
There is a small group of main characters, each of which have their own personal struggles as they try to work together to find the culprit and bring to an end the horrific attacks and murders of The Echo Man.
While it's not for the faint hearted, it's such a good book that kept me guessing all the way through. It's one of those books where the reader will find themselves questioning nearly every character they meet!
I really enjoyed The Echo Man and definitely would recommend with the advice for potential readers to check the CW's first.
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Thank you to NetGalley, Sam Holland and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

librariangeorgia's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Bloody hell, that is one hell of a debut novel!

I'm still wrapping my head around it. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it. I'm a fan of serial killers in books and this one was very well written.

I thought I knew who did it around half way through but with every reveal, I kept changing my mind.

That ending was fantastic! I completely did not see that coming!

I must warn potential readers that this is quite a graphic book - mostly with the details of the murders but there are also some graphic sex scenes.

I read the kindle version of this e-arc and the format isn't quite right. It feels like it jumps too much as it's not obvious where the breaks should be.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail