Oh yeah! The ever-so-awesome Jake Boulder is back and I am over the moon to be hosting a stop today for Graham Smith’s PAST ECHOES. If you want to read my reviews of the first two books in this fantastic series, you can check them out here:
Watching The Bodies
The Kindred Killers
Before I start with all the Eeeek’s and OMFG’s, why don’t we find out a little more about the author and this book!
About the Author
Graham Smith is a time served joiner who has built bridges, houses, dug drains and slated roofs to make ends meet. Since Christmas 2000, he has been manager of a busy hotel and wedding venue near Gretna Green, Scotland.
He is an internationally best-selling Kindle author and has four books featuring DI Harry Evans and the Cumbrian Major Crimes Team, and two novels, featuring Utah doorman, Jake Boulder.
2018 will be a busy year for Graham as he has the third Jake Boulder being published and a Harry Evans novel and novella.
An avid fan of crime fiction since being given one of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five books at the age of eight, he has also been a regular reviewer and interviewer for the well-respected website Crimesquad.com since 2009
Graham is the founder of Crime and Publishment, a weekend of crime-writing classes which includes the chance for attendees to pitch their novels to agents and publishers. Since the first weekend in 2013, eight attendees have gone on to sign publishing contracts.
Graham can be found at
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About the Book
Jake Boulder is back and he’s tasked with tracking down a man due to inherit a small fortune. Not only that, he must also reveal the secret which forced a young woman to flee New York some forty years ago. The evidence he needs is hidden in a safety deposit box and while Boulder has the key, the only clue he has for box’s location is a series of numbers etched onto the key and a mysterious list of names.
Boulder has his work cut out since he must also locate his estranged father, Cameron MacDonald, so that Cameron can donate bone marrow to Boulder’s half-brother John.
In a game of cat and mouse, he must solve the case and find the two men without alerting those who control New York’s underworld.
Can Boulder survive against both the mafia and a professional hitman, in what is his toughest case yet?
My Rating: 5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Review:
Those of you in the #BookWorld who know me, know that I am a HUGE fan of Graham Smith’s books – I have read every single book (including the short story/non series collections) written by this author and can say that there has not been one that I have not loved! This is the third book in the fabulous Boulder series and boy are you in for a treat! Although you don’t have to read this series from the start, I highly recommend reading Book 2- The Kindred Killers first to avoid any spoilers in this one or vice versa! ?
The story starts out in Casperton, Utah but the main setting is the Big Apple – New York! Within the pages, the reader is faced with loss, relationships, change, revenge, transition, resolution, uncovering the past, guilt, secrets, grief, anger, closure and perceived justice ….OMFG – you get everything and so much more!
Eeeeeek! Mr Smith has such a superb knack at upping the ante with every follow up book in a series he writes and in Past Echoes, we are on a whole new level! #BOOM! ?? The plot is action-packed, fast-paced and believe me peeps, this story is going to tear you up and break you down! I was completely and utterly emotionally-floored after reading this book – the author has no fear of pulling out all the stops and taking the reader on an OMFG-Don’t-Do-This-To-Me kinda ride! Fans of Boulder will see a whole new side to him and will thoroughly enjoy following Boulder as he pieces the puzzle together in an attempt to ensure everyone gets the closure they need. ?
Now my favourite part…characters! Jake Boulder is definitely #Unleashed in Past Echoes and beware anyone who has wronged him – a full can or ten of whoop-ass is opened and there is no stopping Jake as the author has given him one hell of a dilemma to deal with. We still get a glimpse of Boulder’s fantastic humour which comes as a welcome distraction from everything else we face in this story! One thing I love about Boulder is how we see him break things down in his mind/head as he tries to find a solution the the problem(s) he faces. In this novel, he is still protective, fiercely loyal and determined – but oh-my-God, a line is crossed and we are left wondering WTAF!?
Alfonse, Ivy,Taylor and Dr Edwards have appearances too – all of these characters play a huge role in Boulder’s life and each play a part in moving this story forward – there is a real game-changer delivered and OMFG, I can’t even begin to explain what I mean by this…buy the book….you will see EXACTLY what I mean!
Cameron…Jake’s “father” – there are just NO WORDS for this narcissistic, selfish, deceitful…all the bad words you can think of…arsehole of a man (and I use the term man very loosely)- well, no nice words.. I mean his son will die and all this guy can think about is himself…what a son-of-a-…you get the picture! Whether intended or not, the author really did an exceptional job on making me dislike this character so much that I just feel sick even thinking about him. For that reason…I will leave it there…he isn’t worth any more words!
The Mortician – what a baddie! You can guess where he gets his nickname from! What happens when Jake comes face-to-face with an antagonist that leaves a trail of bodies wherever he goes….no spoilers here!
Another book I could talk about forever…I cannot tell you all the WOW, OMFG and WTAF moments because this is one book you NEED to read for yourself. I think you know this gets a massive HELL YEAH recommendation from me! One bullet CAN change everything in this provoking, dramatic, intense, heart-stopping action crime thriller! I, for one, cannot friggin wait for Book 4 …is it nearly done, Mr Smith? ??
I urge you to buy the whole series! (You can get all THREE for under £4!!) DO IT!
My thanks to the author for giving me the absolute pleasure of being one of the few beta readers for this book and to Sarah Hardy and Bloodhound Books for an ARC and invitation to take part in the Blog Blitz. Make sure you follow the tour and catch what everyone else thinks – I guarantee you will want to join #TeamBoulder!
