The Echoes
Book 4 in the Kinship series
Now available
The fourth in Jess Montgomery’s evocative Kinship series, The Echoes combines exquisite storytelling with extraordinary crime plotting.
As July 4, 1928 approaches, Sheriff Lily Ross and her family look forward to the opening of an amusement park in a nearby town, created by Chalmer Fitzpatrick―a veteran and lumber mill owner. Lily is alerted to the possible drowning of a girl, she goes to investigate, and discovers schisms going back several generations, in an ongoing dispute over the land on which Fitzpatrick has built the park.
Lily’s family life is soon rattled, too, with the revelation that before he died, her brother had a daughter, Esme, with a woman in France, and arrangements have been made for Esme to immigrate to the U.S. to live with them. But Esme never makes it to Kinship, and soon Lily discovers that she has been kidnapped. Not only that, but a young woman is indeed found murdered in the fishing pond on Fitzpatrick’s property, at the same time that a baby is left on his doorstep.
As the two crimes interweave, Lily must confront the question of what makes family: can we trust those we love? And what do we share, and what do we keep secret?
Read an excerpt
Read interviews
Check out the Discussion Guide
Praise
Named an Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Thriller, Mystery & Suspense
“An evocative and beautifully written tale of hardship, love, and kinship.”
—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review (Read more)
“The multiple plot lines… are interwoven magnificently in this atmospheric tale, rich in historical detail, the fourth in the Kinship series.”
—Booklist
“This is the most ingeniously plotted book in the series so far. What fun!”
—Dayton Daily News (Read more)
“Touching and hauntingly researched, Jess Montgomery’s authentic voice in this novel is breathtakingly captivating… This is part of a series, but you can read them in any order, and with its deeply felt cast of characters, The Echoes is revealing and touching and absolutely terrific.”
—Hank Phillippi Ryan, Book Trib (Read more)
“In addition to creating characters who are likable and realistic, Montgomery is at her best when using powerful imagery to describe simple events.”
—Book Reporter (Read more)
“As Lily solves these mysteries, she encounters other ones, about echoes from the past that continue to upend life in Kinship…The result is a powerful book to which the entire series thus far builds in an epic crescendo.”
—Reviewing the Evidence (Read more)
“Montgomery creates and writes about community in all its pain, beauty, and necessity. While there are several deaths in the book, the message of community is the one I took with me. I can’t recommend this series, and this particular book, more highly”
—Aunt Agatha’s (Read more)
“Evocative setting and strong characterization.”
—Historical Novel Review (Read more)
“Montgomery shows us—and shows us in lyrical, heart-bruising style―that hurt only needs to find people once for it to echo through the rest of their lives. This is a marvelous series and one that should not be missed.”
—Kittling Books (Read more)
“These are small town stories that are anything but cozies. I recommend them all.”
—Joyce’s Mystery and Fiction Book Reviews (Read more)
“Need a good historical mystery… THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!”
—Recca’s Pieces (Read more)
Interviews
Print/Online
- “Mothers and Daughters: Inspiration for THE ECHOES,” by Jess Montgomery, in Criminal Element
- The Big Idea: The Echoes, on John Scalzi’s Whatever Blog
- Guest Post about The Echoes on Wicked Authors Blog
- The Echoes of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, by Jess Montgomery, in History Reader
- Beulah McArthur Guest Post on Dru’s Book Musings
- An Accidental Theme? An Echo! Guest Post on Jungle Reds blog
- Who’s Publishing What, University of Dayton Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop Blog
- For Author, Hike Leads to Murder Series, article in The Elkin Tribune (Mt. Airy, North Carolina)
Podcast/Radio/Video
- Rachael Herron: How Do You Write
- The Story Blender Podcast
- The Sisters in Crime Writers’ Podcast
- Making it Up with Carter Wilson
- Book Nook with Vick Mickunas
- A Mighty Blaze with Hank Phillippi Ryan
- Speaking of Mysteries with Nancie Clare
- Now, Appalachia with Eliot Parker
- Jess Montgomery Discussing The Echoes at Joseph-Beth Cincinnati
- Jess Montgomery Discussing The Echoes at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore
- The Book Cougars Podcast
- Perks of Being a Book Lover Podcast
- Book Carnival Bookstore—In Conversation with Mary Anna Evans
- Top Shelf at the Merrick Library with Carol Ann Tack Podcast