The End of Echoes
Written by Dawn Hosmer ⎮ Narrated by Marnye Young
Author: Dawn Hosmer
Narrator: Marnye Young
Length: 11 hours and 41 minutes
Publisher: Dawn Hosmer
Released: Oct. 19, 2019
Genre: Suspense
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Synopsis
Two families, forever linked by tragedy.
Ruby Dunkin is in an abusive marriage. Her best efforts aren't enough to shield her two children from an abusive father whose cruelty knows no bounds. Their volatile situation ends in tragedy when Ruby's eldest son Billy is torn away from everything he loves. Consumed by hatred and self-loathing, Billy becomes the thing he hates the most: his father.
Chelsea Wyatt, a senior in high school, goes missing after work, one night, never to return. Her parents are devastated, only knowing this kind of tragedy from the news. Crimes like this are unheard of in their quiet Midwestern town.
Consumed by the tragic fate of their friend, family member, and neighbor, their lives and futures are forever altered.
For over 18 years, no one knows the connection between Ruby Dunkin and Chelsea Wyatt. A journey through time reveals the common thread stitching their heartbreak together. Yesterday echoes throughout each character's life as they decide how, and if, they will break the chains of the past.
Will they continue to leave a legacy of pain and loss for future generations?
Will they break the cycles of abuse that have destroyed so many lives?
Becky's Review
4 Stars
This audiobook was provided by its author, Dawn Hosmer, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thanks, Dawn!
The End of Echoes is one of the most emotionally draining stories I’ve come across. But here’s the thing, it’s also one of the most compelling stories I’ve come across, and that’s saying something considering the number of books I’ve read and/or listened to over the years. I could go on and on about how difficult this story was to get through based solely on the subject matter because it was difficult. It was also absolutely gut-wrenching, but when you consider the subject matter, I’d have been surprised if it hadn’t been. I will say that I didn’t expect it to go to quite the depth that it did, and as much as I dislike trigger warnings, this one most definitely needs them.
In terms of the writing here, I have to say that Dawn Hosmer is certainly talented. She is, without a doubt, a gifted storyteller, and even though this one quite literally wore me out, I would read Hosmer’s other work. The pacing is that of a seasoned author, and the characters are wonderfully drawn. They aren’t all likable by any means, but they are developed, and they just feel real.
Marnye Young is the narrator for this emotionally-charged tale, and I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure about her at first, especially with so much of the book coming from a male point of view, and Ms. Young’s voice is decidedly feminine. However, the more I listened, the more drawn in I became, and part of that is due to this narrator. She injects so much emotion into the words that it’s impossible to keep from getting caught up in the characters and their lives.
In the end, I’m not sure which genre The End of Echoes should fall under. I suppose it’s more drama than anything else, although there is some suspense even though it’s not difficult to see where things are going from pretty early on. Regardless of genre, The End of Echoes is dark, gripping, and totally compelling from start to finish. The subject matter doesn’t make for easy reading by any means, and it does give some food for thought on the cycle of abuse and just how far it can go. This one is not an easy listen, but it does get its hooks in, and it doesn’t let go.