An Echo in Time
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Average rating5
15
Ratings1
Average rating5
A woman delves into a centuries-old murder to find the truth behind her self-destructive behavior in a powerful novel about love, loss, and healing by the bestselling author of An Unfinished Story and The Stars Don’t Lie.
Unable to catch a break in life or love as she approaches thirty, Charli Thurman sees red lights at every crossroads. And given the Thurman family’s tumultuous history, she knows things will only get worse, unless she can break the cycle and figure out where—and when—it all went wrong.
Charli is skeptical when her best friend introduces her to a “soul reader” who specializes in generational trauma. But during family constellation therapy with the guru, Charli experiences an inexplicable memory of terrible violence. Whatever happened in the past, it created an imbalance that’s still in the Thurman blood.
When Charli’s research leads her to Winchester, England, she meets a charming pub owner named Noah, whose own family history is similarly twisted. As the mystery deepens around a damaged inheritance and a tragic death, Charli is resolved to find the truth—and create the fresh start she has been hoping for her whole life.
Reviews with the most likes.
Strong Multi-Generational Tale. With this tale, Walker expands into something I've never seen from him (though I *am* a somewhat recent fan, only finding him within the 2020s or so) - a dual timeline, present day/ historical fiction tale. Both periods are executed well for their time and setting, though there are some mystical elements to the present day setting that will be harder for some to accept - and some elements of the more practical present day setup that may seem just as unrealistic to others.
Still, Walker manages to write a female lead as well as most female authors within the women's fiction space while *also* having a male lead that is also Walker's typical greatness with such characters. That he *also* manages to give both of them a compelling romance - and proving some of my points re: "romance novels" along the way! - is even more icing on the cake there.
But really, the story here is about the trauma and the seeming generational nature of it. In this respect, I didn't really see the present day issues as "trauma" so much as a lot of bad luck/ bad circumstances. Yes, any one of the things *suck*, but I didn't really see them as "trauma". (Though the one situation, part of the practical yet possibly unrealistic stuff noted above, ... well, I'll shut up now to avoid any possible spoilers.) This noted, the historical period was simply *full* of trauma, that part I absolutely got and it was 100% crystal clear - particularly as they relate to some other books I've read and raved about over the decades.
And yet, regardless of which part of which storyline's traumas hit you, the reader of this review, harder... Walker, as always, shows superb skill in bringing the characters *back from it* - which isn't really a spoiler, given this is very much Walker's style in every book I've read from him. Indeed, it is a particular strength of his that sets his tales apart from many in whichever genre you may place his books. Thus, no matter your own traumas in your "real" life and no matter how much you may identify with a particular trauma found in this tale... you're also going to find a degree of catharsis within these pages that is Walker's particular brand of real-world "magic" with his words.
Very much recommended.
Originally posted at bookanon.com.
