This is one of the most startlingly original horror novels I’ve read in a long time, putting its foot on the gas right from the get-go and barely giving you time to gasp for air as it recounts scenes from nightmare, like waking up in an empty house and discovering that you’re not alone ... Thomas Olde Heuvelt plays on these common terrors in fresh ways, cleverly referencing classic horror stories and mythology as he spins his eerie tale. I was genuinely creeped out at many points in the narrative, particularly with the entirely lived-in depictions of both phobias and genuine fears. Fortunately, I had Sam’s perspective and offbeat humor – a coping mechanism we have in common – to help leaven the proceedings. He is a delightful protagonist, a man who presents a wisecracking, cosmopolitan front to the world in order to hide his own unconfessed trauma and guilt. I was genuinely surprised that this was a translated work from the Dutch, so authentically does his voice resonate, as translated by Moshe Gilula ... If you’re looking for a smart, unique horror novel that knows its stuff – the chapter headings are all titles from other exceedingly relevant horror masterworks – then I highly recommend this truly scary book. I can’t wait to read more of Mr. Olde Heuvelt’s work!
Masterfully, Heuvelt creates horror that is both fantastical and naturalistic in scope. The catty and clever Gen Z dialogue is often quite funny, but make no mistake: the creep factor is high in Echo, with an opening chapter best saved for daylight hours.
Heuvelt returns with an epic tale of madness that, while less focused than Hex (2016), is just as frightening ... Opening with a masterfully terrifying scene, the stage is set for a high-anxiety, cinematic tale, and Heuvelt delivers with an intimate and disorienting storytelling style, told by alternating Sam’s notes with Nick’s diary entries and a confession, parsed out in five sections. The plot may be a slow burn, but the horror is immersive and the fear paralyzing, as readers experience mortal danger, freezing cold, and debilitating vertigo along with the characters. Clearly reminiscent of classic Stephen King tomes, but also for fans of more-recent coming-of-age horror like The Bright Lands by John Fram (2020) or highly suspenseful stories with a strong sense of place like Road of Bones by Christopher Golden (2022).
Olde Heuvelt loads this smart tale of a young man’s dehumanization with extravagant horror tropes while expertly avoiding cliché ... Olde Heuvelt expertly contrasts Nick’s somber desperation and Sam’s desperate optimism to create a moving narrative that stops just short of going over the top. Horror fans will be thrilled.
