Echo of Danger

Echo Falls #1

by Marta Perry

In peaceful Pennsylvania Dutch country, a young mother discovers a shocking danger--and an unexpected ally

A whisper of a threat looms over widow Deidre Morris. She and her young son have unwittingly become prisoners of her intimidating father-in-law's power. One wrong step could find her son torn from her and in the hands of the influential judge. But when Deidre collides with an intriguing stranger, the prospect of a new friendship gives her renewed hope...until a devastating murder rocks the quiet community of Echo Falls and Deidre learns first impressions can't be trusted.

Attorney Jase Glassman's assignment is befriend Deidre, gather incriminating evidence...and allow her dogged father-in-law to take custody of her child. Anything else, including losing himself in her honest charm, will compromise the job he was hired to do. Yet when a murderer ushers danger into the town, Jase's only instinct is to protect Deidre and her son--no matter the sacrifice.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Romance, Adult, Suspense, Amish, Romantic Suspense

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 25, 2017

About the author

Marta Perry is a Pennsylvania-based author of over 35 novels, many of them inspirational romances. She uses her rural Pennsylvania life and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage in writing her books, especially in her Pleasant Valley Amish series for Berkley Books and her new Amish-set suspense series for HQN Books.

Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.

Reviews

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3 STARS

(Review Not on Blog)

Deidre Morris's husband died over a year ago but her father-in-law, Franklin still insists she and her young son should move in with him and his wife. Knowing how her late husband felt about his childhood and parents, Deidre keeps resisting. Franklin hires a new lawyer and recruits him to get close to her. As Jason gets close to the widow, he does not see a bad mother or wife, but a woman he could fall for. When Deidre's son, Kevin is found at the bottom of the stairs and his babysitter murdered, Deidre has a new threat in her life.

I have wanted to try a Marta Perry novel for awhile now. She is know for her Amish fiction, and was happy to see this romantic suspense on NetGalley. This is the first book in a trilogy set in a small town called Echo Falls. One of my favourite suspense series, Kate Burkholder by Linda Castillo is also set among the Amish. Castillo's series is gritty and very informative about the Amish culture. In this book, the romance and suspense is very mild. It is more a cozy mystery with a side of romance. There is a bit of Amish culture, but it is just background thing rather than a character like in Castillo's books. While the mystery is not that tight, as the identity does not really seem hidden, I did enjoy the small-town and hope that the second book will get a bit better.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why would someone want to kill her best friend, this is what Deidre has to find out, when her son is injured, and we don’t know who would want to hurt them.
From the beginning to the end we are waiting to see who is the murderer, and again who is breaking into the house, and making attempts on their lives.
We are in Amish Pennsylvania and although Deidre isn’t Amish lots of her relatives are, and I loved how Kevin, her 5-year-old son, and his cousin Ben, who doesn’t yet speak English, converse and play together.
We follow along in this nail-biting story but are able to enjoy the picturesque scenery around us; I could almost feel the mist from the falls. While the place is beautiful, there also seems to be danger lurking, but why.
When we find out the details, they are so very heart breaking, but I never saw all of it coming. A real page turner of a story, and can’t wait for the next book in this series.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great murder mystery suspense to start off the Echo Falls series. A widow leaves her five year old with a trusted friend as she attends a library board meeting. Returning home she finds her babysitter dead and her five year old unconscious. This sets the pace for the rest of the story. Lots of edge of seat suspense as door knobs turn in the middle of the night causing the hair to raise at the back of your neck.
I enjoyed the suspense and the guessing as to who had murdered the trusted friend. I had narrowed it down to three people. One of those guesses was the correct murderer. The suspense carried out to the last chapter. The way a murder suspense mystery should end.
If you are a fan of Marta Perry or love mysteries don't miss out on Echo of Danger. I know you'll love it!
I down loaded a copy of this ebook from the digital library. A review was not requested. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great beginning to this series! I love the element of danger mixed with romance.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marta Perry is an excellent writer and this tale set in farming country in Pennsylvania brings out her strengths of characterisation and suspense. While the main characters are not Amish, some of the secondary ones are, and the quiet county seat of Echo Falls is stunned to discover crimes and sinister events.

At heart the tale is one of manipulating, controlling relationships. A young widow finds her father-in-law trying to take over her life and more importantly her young son's life. From the start, when the senior man demands to sell her house and have her move in to his rambling home, we know this is wrong. Yet it would also be wrong to stop a grandparent from seeing a child. She defers a decision. Then a lawyer is assigned to - quietly - shadow the lady and try to prove her an unfit mother.

Maybe some readers will be able to see their own relationships in a new light. While there is action, this isn't a thriller. I especially enjoyed the scenes set in rugged countryside. The romance that develops is suitable for older teens or adults.

I read an ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

[Sandy Larivee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book. Don't like to give details about the plot but I will say Marta Perry never disappoints. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason Glassman has taken a job as an attorney in Echo Falls after he was betrayed by his fiance and almost disbarred because of what she did. When his new boss - Judge Morris - asks him to get close to his daughter-in-law and try to find out if she is a fit mother to his grandson, Jason agrees. But getting to know Deidre Morris shows him a woman far different than the picture the judge painted of her.

At their first encounter, he sees her home and they discover the body of her friend who was babysitting for five-year-old Kevin who has also been badly injured. Kevin doesn't remember anything about what happened. His last memory is of earlier that day. But someone is afraid that Kevin will remember.

Deidre wants to know what happened to her friend Dixie and she wants her small son to be safe. Jason spends time with Deidre and Kevin during this difficult time and begins to care for her. He becomes more and more convinced that the judge's suspicions are baseless.

Meanwhile the judge is keeping the pressure on Deidre to move Kevin and her to his cold, formal home. Deidre is reluctant because she knows what pressure he put on his son and doesn't want to subject her son to it. But the judge is a powerful man in the small town and it is hard for Deidre to go against him.

I enjoyed the setting of this story and the strong relationships. Deidre has a good support system among her Amish cousins. I also liked the way the relationship between Jason and Deidre grew slowly. This was a very nice romantic suspense story.

[Susan Faloon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Marta Perry's books and this is another excellent read. I think it's a great start to her new series. The story starts right off with suspense and tension involving the main characters. Marta touches on the Amish which she is well known for by having the main character be the daughter of a former Amish man so her cousins surround her. readers who aren't into the Amish stories will be comfortable with this as the story is much more contemporary with some 'real world' challenges and heartache. It's a good mystery, a clean read and realistic storyline.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy. I really want to read the rest of the series.

[Books and Spoons · Rating 4 out of 5]

A vastly entertaining romance novel that has the perfect name since throughout the story there is the echo of danger that you can sense and the lurking threat that can give you chills.
I really enjoyed the Amish neighbors, their customs, they culture, their language or should I say a way to speak with that tinted dutch accent (or at least I read in my mind every dialog with them with that accent!). There was a peaceful and harmonious co-existence with the English and the Amis that spoke to my heart. For some reason, I found it a beautiful way to live.
All the characters were drawn with an intense and sharp pen. They were charming and engaging, each of them demanding attention when present in the scene.
Deidre Morris was a delightful heroine. No matter what the rumors are, she is a kind-hearted, capable, gracious woman, a great mother, and a good friend. She is one of those characters that you immediately click with, and find the common ground, could even be friends with in real life.
Jase Glassman had grown up in a rough environment and had recently experienced the ultimate betrayal of a loved one. His life is in shambles as he moves to the small town, trying to find his footing again. He is thankful for the chance to still be a lawyer when his new employer asks him an odd favor.
I liked Jase. He didn't deserve the devastation he was delivered to. He had a good heart, he is kind to strangers and small children, he has good and simple morals and values, only if he could be honest about his intentions.
I liked how the plot was built, how the romance advanced. It was a slow road to the first kiss, not to mention to any declaration of feelings. The whole romance is clean and sweet with no more than kissing between the hero and heroine. The novel had a focus on the life and living around the town, with the constant small attacks towards Deidre and Jase, and the odd things happening around them. I liked how Deidre's son and Jase were building a relationship as well, and the team the three formed as the story moved on.
Echo of Danger is a mix of tender romance, small town living, and a murder investigation, with constant malice towards the characters that brings tension and strain to the tale and draws the main characters even closer together. A great summer read!
~ Four Spoons

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and HQN Books for providing an Advanced Review Copy to me in exchange for an unbiased review.

Dierdre Morris is a young widow who has to deal with the father-in-law from hell. Judge Franklin Morris is a powerful, controlling man who wants her to move in with him so that he can raise his grandson as he sees fit. Dierdre does not want to leave her home, and is determined to spare her son from the overpowering control Franklin had over her deceased husband. Used to getting his way, Franklin hires Jason Glassman to his law firm, basically just to get the goods on Dierdre.
Things get complicated when a murderer is on the lose and threatens the safety of her son.
Readers who love mystery and romance will enjoy this book. It’s a quick read with lots of twists and turns along the way.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. Deidre and her son are trying to pick up the pieces after her husband dies. I loved how the author portrayed her as a strong woman who doesn’t roll over when a crisis hits. Her fierce protection of her son is extremely well written. What happens when your father-in-law is a very powerful judge? Deidre finds that her father-in-law is very controlling. He wants to have his grandson live under his roof and will do anything to have that happen.

I did like Jase but sometimes he irritated me. Is he there to help Deidre or secretly gathering information for the judge. It won’t me easy to fight such a powerful person but Deidre hopes Jase will prove to be someone she can count on. When an accident involving Deidre’s son puts his life in danger, she must find out who is trying to harm him. I loved the Amish references in the book and how Deidre still held her upbringing as an important part of her. The book is packed with intrigue and danger that leads to a exciting ending. Who can Deidre trust? Find out in this action packed book that delivers a high intensity thriller .

[Joy M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Amish romantic suspense. Well written, good plot. Exactly what I was looking to read.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, because it took place in a real town in Pennsylvania, called Echo Falls. The story was good, a murder mystery in the small town.

[Sarita · Rating 3 out of 5]

The narrator kept me well engaged in the presentation of this interesting suspense.

The suspense plot also held my interest and twist and turns kept me guessing.

*I listened to the audiobook on Everand.*

[Donna Repsher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by stating that I'm a huge fan of Marta Perry's Amish series, and when I saw that she was writing a new non-Amish series, was eager to read the first novel in the series, but while it was well-written, I wasn't head-over heels for it, and could only give it 3.5 stars.

The plot is pretty simple and straightforward, Deidre Morris was widowed one year ago. She's still not over her late husband, Frank, and is now caring for her 5-year-old son, Kevin, alone. Her late husband was a lawyer who worked for his father, Judge Franklin Morris, a tough, rigid and controlling man, and now that his son is gone, he's been trying to get Deirdre and her son to move from her family home to his mansion on a hill, where he lives with his alcoholic wife, Sylvia, and where her late husband was poorly raised, never able to meet his own father's expectations. Deirdre has refused, but that doesn't stop the judge from trying to manipulate matters. The judge's latest attempt is his hiring of Jason, an attorney, to replace his late son at his law firm. There's one caveat to Jason's hiring, the judge expects him to find enough dirt on Deirdre to ensure that he'd win a custody fight for his grandson.

One evening, while Deirdre was attending a meeting, she comes home to find her friend and babysitter, Dixie, dead in her living room, and Kevin unconscious on the stairs. Kevin is comatose, and when he eventually wakes, has no memory of the events leading to Dixie's death, and the search for her killer and threats to Deirdre's life form the background of this novel.

Since this novel was listed on Netgalley as romantic suspense, I expected much more romance than murder mystery, and more possible suspects than were given by Ms. Perry. As whodunits go, the murderer was obvious from the get-go, as for suspense it was mild at best considering the rather small cast of possible suspects, and, as a romance, there wasn't much of that either. What I liked best about the novel, oddly enough, was Deirdre's next-door neighbor and close friend, Judith, an Amish woman who is Deirdre's internet business partner, and mother to Kevin's friend Benjamin.

While I cannot fault Ms. Perry's writing skills--she has them in spades, this novel just didn't measure up to her previous, excellent and suspenseful Amish mysteries, either in plot, character development or suspense. I sincerely hope to see more of the aforementioned in the next novel in this series.

I read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this novel and received no compensation for doing so. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Leslie McKee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reviewed this for RT Bookreviews Magazine: https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-re...

If you are looking for a book with more mystery than romance, this is one to consider. While the suspense angle is interesting overall, it is a bit slow to build, and there is some predictability. The characters are well-developed and likable.

Widow Deidre Morris is trying to get on with her life and do the best for her son Kevin after the loss of her husband. Her father-in-law, Judge Franklin Morris, never felt she was good enough for his son, and Franklin does not believe she should be the one raising Kevin. Franklin hires attorney Jase Glassman to befriend Deidre and gather evidence to help him prove his case. However, plans change a bit when a murder rocks the small community. It seems likely that Kevin saw something, but he refuses to talk about it. Jase is determined to keep Deidre and Kevin safe. Will Franklin be able to prove his case, or will Deidre find help and support from an unlikely source? (HQN, Apr., 384 pp., $7.99)

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy read. Good mystery line.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It kept me in suspense until the end.

[ANNETTE · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good plot that held my interest . The story kept me guessing till the end.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Echo of Danger is by Marta Perry. This is a mystery and a suspense. Once you start reading it, it is very difficult if not impossible to put down. The suspects mount up as you try to find the killer.
Deidre Morris and her son, Kevin, lived in the house she and her husband Frank had purchased. Her Father-in-law, Judge Franklin Morris, had wanted them to live in the Morris Mansion with him and his wife. However, Frank was trying desperately to get out of his Father’s control. He did not want his son to be brought up in that house where his Mother was an alcoholic. Immediately after his funeral, the Judge started in on Deidre to move into the Mansion; but she refused. Now, a year later, he comes again with his request again. Once more, she refused; but this time, the judge wasn’t going to stop until she was convinced.
Jason (Jase) Glassman was an attorney who has come to take Frank’s place in his Father’s law firm. Jason had gone to law school with Frank. He had been betrayed by his fiancé and his job and reputation in the City were shot. He needed to rebuild his reputation and Judge Morris was willing to take a chance if Jason would investigate Deidre’s life and find who she was having an affair with. Judge Morris wanted the information for a leverage to get Diedra to move.
Jase found out that Deidra was going to a meeting to plan a town celebration so as a representative of the law firm, he attended and met her. He was surprised to see she wasn’t the blatant shrew she had been made out to be; however, he knew he had to get close to her. He loosened some wires in her car and later when she couldn’t get it started, offered her a ride home as he lived next door to her. On the way home, they began to get acquainted. On reaching her house, they found the door open and her friend, Dixie who had been babysitting, on the floor with a head injury which caused her death. Kevin, her five-year-old son, was curled up on the steps where he obviously had a head injury. There was no sign of an intrusion so Dixie must have let him in. Who was it who killed Dixie? Could Kevin have seen it? Would he ever recover his memory of that night?
Now, someone is trying to kill Deidra! Who is it and why?

[Pam Graber]

Marta Perry does it again in this chilling story. Deidre Morris is fighting her powerful father-in-law to remain in her home with her young son. When her best friend is murdered while babysitting, and her son is seriously injured, she fears that Judge Morris finally has the ammunition he needs to take her son away.

Jase Glassman takes a job in Judge Morris' legal firm. On the surface, he's filling the position vacated when the judge's son, Deidre's husband, committed suicide, but the judge really hired him to get close to Deidre and find dirt on her that he can use to get custody of his grandson. The closer Jase gets to Deidre, though, the less he likes that aspect of the job. Instead of a money-hungry, loose woman, he finds a dedicated mother who would do anything to protect her son. He finds more to admire than to trash in her reputation, and when attempts are made on her life, he knows that he needs to do what he can to protect her. Will she still want him to when she finds out why the judge hired him?

I like books that take me by surprise and this one certainly did that. I was coming to the end of the book and still had several suspects, and that doesn't always happen. I enjoyed this one, and I especially enjoyed listening to the audio version. I definitely recommend!

[The Book Worm · Rating 4 out of 5]

As sometimes happens, I went through this series backwards. A while ago I read Sound of Fear, which is book two in the Echo Falls series by Marta Perry, and only now I managed to pick up book one. To be honest, reading it in reverse order didn't bother me much. It's true some of the characters are common between the books, but the two stories are sufficiently separate that they can be read stand alone.

I have to say I enjoyed Echo of Danger a bit more than book two. I found it more well structured and with a more convincing plot. The suspense is good and while the end was somewhat predictable there were still some interesting twists and turns. There were, however, also a couple of loose ends that I would have liked to see explained or followed through - so not quite worthy of 5 stars, but still recommended.

If you love suspense with a touch of (clean) romance, then this is a good book series for you.

[Rome Doherty · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book because Goodreads suggested this author because I read Linda Castillo, a mystery story among the Amish in Ohio. I finished it only because it was the only thing on my phone I could listen to in the car. It turned out to be more of a romance novel than a mystery. When I discovered this, I said, I used to be a sensitive new-age guy, I can listen to a romance novel. But a novel that depends on the obtuseness of its heroine to propel the plot forward is a looser. The romance interest was supposed to be a hot shot lawyer who, while marginally smarter, still made the livestock in the vicinity of Echo Falls PA look bright. The writing, while competent, was unable to rescue the book.

[Marissa Hamel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a thriller murder mystery although I think it was quite obvious who the killer was early on so stars off for that. The main characters husband died and she had a 50 year old to raise but the father in law who was a big known judge wanted control over the boy so he tried to get his daughter in law to move in with him she refused. He hired a man to investigate her and dig up dirt that he could use in court to prove her a unfit mom. The man fell in love with her though and protected her n her boy. The father in law killed Dixie (the daughter in laws friend while she was baby sitting his grandson who was asleep)and her ex. Dixie threaten to expose him for raping her at 13. Judge kills himself in the end.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when I discover an author new to me and really like their stories! I certainly will look for more of Marta Perry's books. While I am not a fan of Amish stories, I enjoyed the way Marta Perry wove elements of Amish and English together. This first-in-a-series romantic suspense certainly kept my attention. A little boy witnesses a murder, his grandfather wants to control his future with or without his mother, and a new mystery man in town is who the mom turns to for help. Fun!

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this when I saw it on Netgalley. I have enjoyed several of Marta Perry's other Amish series. This one was not as suspenseful. Not to give away any of the plot, but, I felt that the guilty party was obvious and was not surprised by the ending. I did enjoy the small town way of life and the friendship between Judith and Deidre.

[Lorie May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite, but still Good!

I love Marta Perry novels. I like how she uses crimes and romance. I like Amish Romance, but this book is mostly all “English.” I liked the characters and the element of suspense, even though I had a hard time getting interested at first. All in all, it was a good read!

[Sally Lindsay-briggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harlequin provided this book for me. I have read this author before but this didn't float my boat. It didn't provide enough suspense and it did not hold my interest. The tempestuous romantic relationship between Jace and Deidre was annoying. The unexpected portrayal of the real murderer was interesting and the Amish presence was lovely.

[majsan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25/5⭐️

Meh. A bit boring. Again, what is it with calling all these books romantic suspense, but then they turn out to be anything but…? Or maybe I just have a different idea of what a romantic suspense is. But of the other hand, there was some gun action, so perhaps this is exactly what a romantic suspense in a realistic setting looks like 🤷‍♀️. In that case I prefer the sub category of; adventure romantic suspense, as I like to think of them. This was not it.
Did I mention he was a lawyer, and not a grumpy ex- military man who reluctantly falls in love with the h… gosh I’m ruined😂😭
BUT is should be acknowledged that he was protective of her, how he fixed the security system and got mad at her for opening doors to strangers and generally being too trusting😍 that’s how we like ‘em