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Lost Echoes
Since a mysterious childhood illness, Harry Wilkes has experienced horrific visions. Gruesome scenes emerge to replay themselves before his eyes. Triggered by simple sounds, these visions occur anywhere a tragic event has happened. Now in college, Harry feels haunted and turns to alcohol to dull his visionary senses. One night, he sees a fellow drunk easily best three muggers. In this man, Harry finds not only a friend that will help him kick the booze, but also a sensei who will teach him to master his unusual gift. Soon Harry’s childhood crush, Kayla, comes and asks for help solving her father’s murder. Unsure of how it will affect him, Harry finds the strength to confront the dark secrets of the past, only to unveil the horrors of the present.
341 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
38 people are currently reading
998 people want to read
About the author
Joe R. Lansdale
818 books3,834 followersChampion Mojo Storyteller Joe R. Lansdale is the author of over forty novels and numerous short stories. His work has appeared in national anthologies, magazines, and collections, as well as numerous foreign publications. He has written for comics, television, film, newspapers, and Internet sites. His work has been collected in more than two dozen short-story collections, and he has edited or co-edited over a dozen anthologies. He has received the Edgar Award, eight Bram Stoker Awards, the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the British Fantasy Award, the Grinzani Cavour Prize for Literature, the Herodotus Historical Fiction Award, the Inkpot Award for Contributions to Science Fiction and Fantasy, and many others. His novella Bubba Ho-Tep was adapted to film by Don Coscarelli, starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis. His story "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road" was adapted to film for Showtime's "Masters of Horror," and he adapted his short story "Christmas with the Dead" to film hisownself. The film adaptation of his novel Cold in July was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and the Sundance Channel has adapted his Hap & Leonard novels for television.
He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.
He is currently co-producing several films, among them The Bottoms, based on his Edgar Award-winning novel, with Bill Paxton and Brad Wyman, and The Drive-In, with Greg Nicotero. He is Writer In Residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, and is the founder of the martial arts system Shen Chuan: Martial Science and its affiliate, Shen Chuan Family System. He is a member of both the United States and International Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He lives in Nacogdoches, Texas with his wife, dog, and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
May 10, 2015
Harry Wilkes contracted the mumps when he was a kid. After having the mumps his ear still gave him problems, until a huge pus pocket exploded out of it one day. (You know I am going to give you gross stuff-don't act shocked)
Once that happens something even weirder happens with Harry. He can see things that happen. If a noise at a place happens that ties it to a violent crime Harry can experience a vision. Past violence comes to life for him. His parents take him to doctors and everyone kinda thinks he is a bit weird.
Harry learns to not just say anything about his "gift", he grows up and heads off to college. He learns to avoid anyplace that has had a violent past and plans his routes and where he will be accordingly. He also starts to drink. Heavily.
Then when he and an old buddy are at a bar drinking they see another drunk being taken outside by a group of punks. The punks plan on robbing the drunk but they get a surprise when the drunk, Tad kicks their asses.
Tad and Harry form a bond where Tad is going to be Harry's sensei. He will teach Harry some of his tricks and they will help each other with avoiding the bottle.
Then a blast from Harry's past comes back, his friend Kayla. Who is now a cop and wants to know if her father really committed suicide.
It sounds like a good book doesn't it? I have loved everything by Joe Lansdale that I've read up until now. I just never really got into the story and was bored for most of the books. There are a few shining moments and that kept me from dnfing it, but there are much better Lansdale books out there.
"We come to see a ghost or not?" Kayla said.
""Yeah, we sure did," Harry said.
"I don't really think there's any ghost." Kayla said. "My daddy says there aren't any such things, and he's a policeman."
"My brother says there are." Joey said. "A policeman, he might know handcuffs and doughnuts, but he ain't nothin' more than anyone else when it comes to ghosts."
"Since when do you care what your brother says?" Kayla asked. "He told us you could get a girl pregnant by putting your little finger in her butt. So what's he know?"
Once that happens something even weirder happens with Harry. He can see things that happen. If a noise at a place happens that ties it to a violent crime Harry can experience a vision. Past violence comes to life for him. His parents take him to doctors and everyone kinda thinks he is a bit weird.
Harry learns to not just say anything about his "gift", he grows up and heads off to college. He learns to avoid anyplace that has had a violent past and plans his routes and where he will be accordingly. He also starts to drink. Heavily.
Then when he and an old buddy are at a bar drinking they see another drunk being taken outside by a group of punks. The punks plan on robbing the drunk but they get a surprise when the drunk, Tad kicks their asses.
Tad and Harry form a bond where Tad is going to be Harry's sensei. He will teach Harry some of his tricks and they will help each other with avoiding the bottle.
Then a blast from Harry's past comes back, his friend Kayla. Who is now a cop and wants to know if her father really committed suicide.
It sounds like a good book doesn't it? I have loved everything by Joe Lansdale that I've read up until now. I just never really got into the story and was bored for most of the books. There are a few shining moments and that kept me from dnfing it, but there are much better Lansdale books out there.
"We come to see a ghost or not?" Kayla said.
""Yeah, we sure did," Harry said.
"I don't really think there's any ghost." Kayla said. "My daddy says there aren't any such things, and he's a policeman."
"My brother says there are." Joey said. "A policeman, he might know handcuffs and doughnuts, but he ain't nothin' more than anyone else when it comes to ghosts."
"Since when do you care what your brother says?" Kayla asked. "He told us you could get a girl pregnant by putting your little finger in her butt. So what's he know?"
May 13, 2024
A mixed bag situation as the tale was interesting, yet I never fully bought in. And while I enjoyed the characters and creative plot, I mourn the cheat that enabled the ending.
Blurg...
Still, a mixed bag is better than an empty one.
Huh?
3 Emulsified Stars
Blurg...
Still, a mixed bag is better than an empty one.
Huh?
3 Emulsified Stars
November 20, 2022
Joe Lansdale is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of his Hap and Leonard novels as well as many of his stand-alones. I have enjoyed them all and have not been disappointed in any of them. LOST ECHOES is another gem from him that I thought was a very compelling page-turner.
The protagonist, Harry Wilkes, has had a very unique ability ever since contracting the mumps during childhood—he is able to see visions of the past that are triggered by noise in an area where a violent or tragic event has happened. The visions are really a mental hell for him and takes him back to witness some very awful occurrences including accidents and murders. He is unable to live a normal life and is depressed by the brutality he is able to witness. This leads him to drinking which somewhat soothes his tortured mind. Then Harry meets another drunk, a formal martial arts teacher named Tad who he becomes attached to. Tad helps him try to master his gift and find peace. But then a friend from his childhood, Kayla, wants him to use his gift to find out what really happened to her father, an apparent suicide. But was it really a suicide? Kayla thinks not. Lurking within the story is a pair of serial killers who may be linked to Kayla's father.
Another very superb thriller from Lansdale that I had a hard time putting down. I'll be looking forward to reading more from him.
The protagonist, Harry Wilkes, has had a very unique ability ever since contracting the mumps during childhood—he is able to see visions of the past that are triggered by noise in an area where a violent or tragic event has happened. The visions are really a mental hell for him and takes him back to witness some very awful occurrences including accidents and murders. He is unable to live a normal life and is depressed by the brutality he is able to witness. This leads him to drinking which somewhat soothes his tortured mind. Then Harry meets another drunk, a formal martial arts teacher named Tad who he becomes attached to. Tad helps him try to master his gift and find peace. But then a friend from his childhood, Kayla, wants him to use his gift to find out what really happened to her father, an apparent suicide. But was it really a suicide? Kayla thinks not. Lurking within the story is a pair of serial killers who may be linked to Kayla's father.
Another very superb thriller from Lansdale that I had a hard time putting down. I'll be looking forward to reading more from him.
August 29, 2024
This book gave me the sense of two forces pulling in different directions. One side led the story through some gradual character development that begins in childhood and reaches into young adulthood. Lansdale's tones and observations in these passages were great, and I felt myself getting attached to the protagonist. Then another side asserted itself and started pulling the story towards a pulpy, violent, crime-ridden stage where bad guys are really evil dudes and good guys gotta stand up and do the right thing. Lansdale is good at this thing too, so for the most part it all read well. But the two together in one 330 page book didn't read like Lansdale at his best, and didn't meld together well.
Things I did like: the ruminations on martial arts and having a center in life; the repeated motif of growing up next to a drive-in theater (Lansdale has done this so many times, and yet it still feels romantic and fantastic); the portrayal of a close-knit family; the relationship between the protagonist and his childhood friend. In fact there is a lot to like in this story, and while reading it I was interested. It just didn't come together well. It made me wonder if Lansdale has a book stewing in him that will be light on genre material.
Things I did like: the ruminations on martial arts and having a center in life; the repeated motif of growing up next to a drive-in theater (Lansdale has done this so many times, and yet it still feels romantic and fantastic); the portrayal of a close-knit family; the relationship between the protagonist and his childhood friend. In fact there is a lot to like in this story, and while reading it I was interested. It just didn't come together well. It made me wonder if Lansdale has a book stewing in him that will be light on genre material.
May 19, 2011
I’ve already mentioned on this blog several times that Joe R. Lansdale is possibly my favorite living author. I’ve already told you to go out and buy his books. So, I won’t say all that again.
If you have read some of his earlier books and enjoyed them you will most likely enjoy this one too. None of the characters are from his other books (that I know of) but some of them have similar characters, if you know what I mean.
What I’m sayin is, Lansdale’s characters have a certain voice and even when they aren’t the same character, they often sort of sound the same. Or at least, certain ones sound sort of like certain others. But that’s ok, cause I like that voice.
This book is about a guy how gets a nasty ear infection as a kid and ends up with an odd ability. Sounds will trigger echoes of violence or strong negative feelings and he will have visions of those events. (yes, this does sound sort of like the Charlaine Harris book I just wrote about, but they are pretty different).
Eventually in one of these echoes of past violence he sees somebody he things he recognizes doing something horrible and action ensues.
Lots of violence, humor and Texas twang. I’m still a Lansdale fan.
If you have read some of his earlier books and enjoyed them you will most likely enjoy this one too. None of the characters are from his other books (that I know of) but some of them have similar characters, if you know what I mean.
What I’m sayin is, Lansdale’s characters have a certain voice and even when they aren’t the same character, they often sort of sound the same. Or at least, certain ones sound sort of like certain others. But that’s ok, cause I like that voice.
This book is about a guy how gets a nasty ear infection as a kid and ends up with an odd ability. Sounds will trigger echoes of violence or strong negative feelings and he will have visions of those events. (yes, this does sound sort of like the Charlaine Harris book I just wrote about, but they are pretty different).
Eventually in one of these echoes of past violence he sees somebody he things he recognizes doing something horrible and action ensues.
Lots of violence, humor and Texas twang. I’m still a Lansdale fan.
January 22, 2015
I was kinda bored with this one. Simple as that.
August 28, 2022
Lansdale is so much fun and here's why I love him. You know exactly what you are going to get from beginning to end. No nasty surprises. There are always likeable characters who are easy to root for.
Yeah, it's all a bit paint by number, but Lansdale has his schtick down to a science and I don't care that I know who the villain is from the beginning.
Although, I wonder what happens to .
Yeah, it's all a bit paint by number, but Lansdale has his schtick down to a science and I don't care that I know who the villain is from the beginning.
Although, I wonder what happens to .
March 10, 2020
"... then he put on another burst of speed as he felt the wind whistling around him, the dry leaves spinning, and he was one with them, moving fast, not worried, no, sir, he was the monkey, and he was selfish, and he was coming, baby. Batten down the hatches, motherfucker, or hide in the barn, or mix any goddamn metaphor you want, because I am coming."
The prolific, and immensely talented, Joe R. Lansdale continuously redefines genre in such a way that only he can.
Lost Echoes is no exception. This genre-bending novel plays with the classic tropes of a pulpy crime thriller, combined with a coming-of-age story and then thrown into a blender of supernatural elements. It's one helluva ride!
"Later, as an adult, Harold Wilkes would remember the childhood events that started it all, and he would think: If only I had slept through the night."
Since contracting the mumps at the age of six, causing him to nearly die, Harry Wilkes was left with hearing loss in his right ear and a change in brain chemistry due to a nasty infection. After recovering from the illness, he experiences brutal episodes. These episodes consist of Harry yelling and screaming, almost blacking out because of the intensity. Sudden sounds bring on the harrowing images, those that are of dead people. Visions that play out in front of him as though he is experiencing them first-hand. He soon discovers that his ability (or curse) is triggered whenever he is in an area where a violent crime or tragedy has taken place, 'echoes from the original sounds'.
As one would expect, these episodes affect Harry in a deeply profound way. Doctors can't seem to help him, so he turns to alcohol to cope. It's the only thing that numbs the ability. By the time he is 20, Harry is dependent on alcohol to get through the day. It threatens to take over his life completely.
Then he meets Tad, a martial artist and fellow alcoholic. Tad lost his family in a horrific accident and liquor is his management of that pain. Except it's getting harder to manage. In Tad, Harry recognizes a kindred spirit. They eventually form a pact to help each other get off the booze, while also learning to deal with Harry's gift.
Throw in a crush from the past who needs help finding the people who murdered her father and you've got a delightfully bonkers story!
Edge-of-your-seat adventure, emotionally-wrought moments, gnarly as fuck horrors, short chapters that rock you to your very core. Lost Echoes is well-crafted insanity! I couldn't help but notice that Miriam Black shares more than a few similarities to this - both brutal, visceral gut-punches shrouded in darkness with protagonists that must learn to overcome adversity they face due to supernatural abilities.
Joe Lansdale is one of those authors that can both deliver an unflinchingly brutal story and develop authentic characters. They are flawed, fleshed out individuals in a vividly believable way. Lost Echoes follows Harry through various stages of his life. The highs and lows, twists and turns. It's truly a Lansdale coming-of-age story, wielding the Mojo storytelling with precision.
What a cracking read!
The prolific, and immensely talented, Joe R. Lansdale continuously redefines genre in such a way that only he can.
Lost Echoes is no exception. This genre-bending novel plays with the classic tropes of a pulpy crime thriller, combined with a coming-of-age story and then thrown into a blender of supernatural elements. It's one helluva ride!
"Later, as an adult, Harold Wilkes would remember the childhood events that started it all, and he would think: If only I had slept through the night."
Since contracting the mumps at the age of six, causing him to nearly die, Harry Wilkes was left with hearing loss in his right ear and a change in brain chemistry due to a nasty infection. After recovering from the illness, he experiences brutal episodes. These episodes consist of Harry yelling and screaming, almost blacking out because of the intensity. Sudden sounds bring on the harrowing images, those that are of dead people. Visions that play out in front of him as though he is experiencing them first-hand. He soon discovers that his ability (or curse) is triggered whenever he is in an area where a violent crime or tragedy has taken place, 'echoes from the original sounds'.
As one would expect, these episodes affect Harry in a deeply profound way. Doctors can't seem to help him, so he turns to alcohol to cope. It's the only thing that numbs the ability. By the time he is 20, Harry is dependent on alcohol to get through the day. It threatens to take over his life completely.
Then he meets Tad, a martial artist and fellow alcoholic. Tad lost his family in a horrific accident and liquor is his management of that pain. Except it's getting harder to manage. In Tad, Harry recognizes a kindred spirit. They eventually form a pact to help each other get off the booze, while also learning to deal with Harry's gift.
Throw in a crush from the past who needs help finding the people who murdered her father and you've got a delightfully bonkers story!
Edge-of-your-seat adventure, emotionally-wrought moments, gnarly as fuck horrors, short chapters that rock you to your very core. Lost Echoes is well-crafted insanity! I couldn't help but notice that Miriam Black shares more than a few similarities to this - both brutal, visceral gut-punches shrouded in darkness with protagonists that must learn to overcome adversity they face due to supernatural abilities.
Joe Lansdale is one of those authors that can both deliver an unflinchingly brutal story and develop authentic characters. They are flawed, fleshed out individuals in a vividly believable way. Lost Echoes follows Harry through various stages of his life. The highs and lows, twists and turns. It's truly a Lansdale coming-of-age story, wielding the Mojo storytelling with precision.
What a cracking read!
December 3, 2011
Lost Echoes was a pulpy burner. Lansdale is always a very quick read, and this was no exception. Aside from his off-putting use of the word 'turd', he is a pretty solid writer. Texas native, Lansdale mines the depths of evil that humans are capable of without oversimplifying motives, which is often the fault of genre writers. Unlike some of his works, this one does incorporate a little bit of the supernatural, but it doesn't err to mummy territory like his best known work "Bubba Ho-tep" which was turned into the well-loved film.
Lansdale is also much less broadly comical in most of his work than he was in "Bubba Ho-tep", and Lost Echoes is much more in the vein of more serious work. Don't get me wrong, his down-home tone is still intact, but this is a drier work operating in a more believable reality than the casual reader may be expecting.
All in all, Lost Echoes was pretty solid. Definitely something I don't regret reading.
Originally reviewed at http://inconsiderateprick.blogspot.co...
Lansdale is also much less broadly comical in most of his work than he was in "Bubba Ho-tep", and Lost Echoes is much more in the vein of more serious work. Don't get me wrong, his down-home tone is still intact, but this is a drier work operating in a more believable reality than the casual reader may be expecting.
All in all, Lost Echoes was pretty solid. Definitely something I don't regret reading.
Originally reviewed at http://inconsiderateprick.blogspot.co...
August 7, 2018
Not for me - got to page 67 which was 65 pages too many.
Too many books to read to waste time on this.
Too many books to read to waste time on this.
September 27, 2024
Joe Lansdale's characters just jump off the written page and come to life.
July 11, 2009
This is not one of Lansdale's best. That means two things...
1) It's not a Hap and Leonard novel.
2) It is still better than most other suspense stories.
It has all the ingredients of Lansdale's best including realistic action, an authentic East Texas atmosphere, and taut but believable dialogue. However he appears to be trying to do too much in one plot. It is one part Sixth Sense, one part Karate Kid and the rest is Lansdale. In other words, two parts of ready-made formula drowns out the uniqueness of Lansdale's suspenseful story-telling. Yet it is still an enjoyable read. Lansdale's fans will like it but if you are not familiar with this original American voice, you would be better off picking up one of his books from the Happ and Leonard series.
1) It's not a Hap and Leonard novel.
2) It is still better than most other suspense stories.
It has all the ingredients of Lansdale's best including realistic action, an authentic East Texas atmosphere, and taut but believable dialogue. However he appears to be trying to do too much in one plot. It is one part Sixth Sense, one part Karate Kid and the rest is Lansdale. In other words, two parts of ready-made formula drowns out the uniqueness of Lansdale's suspenseful story-telling. Yet it is still an enjoyable read. Lansdale's fans will like it but if you are not familiar with this original American voice, you would be better off picking up one of his books from the Happ and Leonard series.
February 27, 2019
I started out with the Hap and Leonard series and am going through them off and on. I enjoy them a lot. But I picked up Lost Echoes and found a gem. This book is so well written with a plot so original and so gripping that 1) I can't put it down; it is such a pleasure to read; 2) I don't want it to end because it is such a pleasure to read something this good. Excellent top-notch books are not easy to find, but they are out there...This is one of them.
I eagerly and highly recommend this. One of the better books I have read recently. This is for those who love to read.
I eagerly and highly recommend this. One of the better books I have read recently. This is for those who love to read.
October 20, 2017
Echi perduti: Harry, il nostro protagonista, all'età di 5 anni ha gli orecchioni, guarito Harry però incomincia a sentire degli strani rumori dentro le sue orecchie, che si riveleranno un dono/dannazione che dovrà affrontare in età adulta, così...
Un romanzo minore del nostro Big Joe? Io non direi proprio, forse sarò l'unico, ma io in Echi perduti ci ritrovo tutti gli elementi che fanno di Lansdale uno dei miei scrittori preferiti, cioè la commistione di vari generi (qui: l'horror soprannaturale, thriller/noir, romanzo di formazione, l'amore) e poi la scrittura è qualcosa di eccezionale, come ho scritto in un altro commento ad un suo libro, quando leggo un libro di Big Joe è come se stessi seduto su una panchina in una stazione di servizio nel nulla del Texas, con un caldo devastante, guardando la strada che va all'infinito e con il tipico vecchietto texano con salopette barba lunga bianchissima che seduto di fianco a me mi racconta queste storie, ovviamente con una birra ghiacciata in una mano...
Un romanzo minore del nostro Big Joe? Io non direi proprio, forse sarò l'unico, ma io in Echi perduti ci ritrovo tutti gli elementi che fanno di Lansdale uno dei miei scrittori preferiti, cioè la commistione di vari generi (qui: l'horror soprannaturale, thriller/noir, romanzo di formazione, l'amore) e poi la scrittura è qualcosa di eccezionale, come ho scritto in un altro commento ad un suo libro, quando leggo un libro di Big Joe è come se stessi seduto su una panchina in una stazione di servizio nel nulla del Texas, con un caldo devastante, guardando la strada che va all'infinito e con il tipico vecchietto texano con salopette barba lunga bianchissima che seduto di fianco a me mi racconta queste storie, ovviamente con una birra ghiacciata in una mano...
September 26, 2017
Faticoso, all'inizio, e per un libro di Lansdale gia' questo stupisce. Abituato alla prosa scoppiettante di altri romanzi questo sembra quasi scritto da un suo cugino. Poi qualcosa riparte, vi sono dialoghi che sono una firma, inframmezzati ad alcuni sviluppi prevedibili. Rispetto ad altri è minore - anche se voluminoso come stesura - e rispetto ad altri autori va piu' che bene. Forse sarebbe il caso di riposarsi un pochetto e tornare a scrivere con qualcosa di piu' da dire.
March 27, 2019
Absolutely loved this book. I need to read more Lansdale
August 3, 2017
I have liked Landsdale in the past, The Thicket being the first and my favorite, but this was silly. Too much banter that was meaningless and distracting and juvenile. In fact, this read like a bad teen novel that Dean Koontz could've have probably done a lot better with, not that I'm a Koontz fan either. Disappointing and should have been a 60-page novella really, with most of the first 200 pages left out. The Thicket, I realize now, was a departure from his normal style, that being lots of silly, annoyingly banal dialogue that gets old very fast.
January 29, 2014
Un ragazzo, a causa di una malattia avuta da piccolo, ha un dono: riesce a rivivere in prima persona eventi tragici avvenuti in passato. Riesce a recuperare gli "echi perduti", i suoni intrappolati negli oggetti e questo gli porterà un sacco di guai, in puro stile Lansdale. Non all'altezza di "In fondo alla palude" ma da leggere.
July 12, 2008
in the past i have liked what i have read from mr lansdale. this one i'm just not sure about. probably wont recommend it as i have his other books,
if your bored read it, dont buy it
if your bored read it, dont buy it
December 29, 2011
Love this author!
March 4, 2013
This book was amazing
July 5, 2017
Part supernatural horror story, part crime thriller, part coming-of-age story, Lost Echos is a story only Joe R. Lansdale could tell.
At an early age, Harry, the main character gets an ear infection which changes the chemistry in his brain granting him the ability to see images of the past from sounds generated by object in the present. Living his life and seeing the horrific images trapped inside the most common places, Harry is driven into alcoholism to cope with his troubles and numb his ability.
Along the way, Harry meets Tad, a fellow drunk who happens to be martial arts except and wants to help Harry and himself cut off the booze. However, this task is made infinitely more difficult as Harry is pulled into the web of Talia, a rich femme fatale with unknown motivations for dating Harry, and then further down the rabbit hole into a decades old murder mystery.
While the book does take its time in getting to the heart of the matter, it's enjoyable to get to know all the characters before everything spirals out of the control. Unfortunately, the time it takes seems to drag on a little too long especially since a portion of those characters, mainly Talia and her family, drop of out the picture halfway through the book. With the plot seemingly held up in the first half of the book, the second half of the book seemed to fast track the reader to a rushed climax and an even quicker denouement.
Overall, I still enjoyed the heck out of reading this book. Joe. R. Lansdale is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors. Even his not-so-great stuff seems to be leaps and bounds ahead of other authors works.
At an early age, Harry, the main character gets an ear infection which changes the chemistry in his brain granting him the ability to see images of the past from sounds generated by object in the present. Living his life and seeing the horrific images trapped inside the most common places, Harry is driven into alcoholism to cope with his troubles and numb his ability.
Along the way, Harry meets Tad, a fellow drunk who happens to be martial arts except and wants to help Harry and himself cut off the booze. However, this task is made infinitely more difficult as Harry is pulled into the web of Talia, a rich femme fatale with unknown motivations for dating Harry, and then further down the rabbit hole into a decades old murder mystery.
While the book does take its time in getting to the heart of the matter, it's enjoyable to get to know all the characters before everything spirals out of the control. Unfortunately, the time it takes seems to drag on a little too long especially since a portion of those characters, mainly Talia and her family, drop of out the picture halfway through the book. With the plot seemingly held up in the first half of the book, the second half of the book seemed to fast track the reader to a rushed climax and an even quicker denouement.
Overall, I still enjoyed the heck out of reading this book. Joe. R. Lansdale is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors. Even his not-so-great stuff seems to be leaps and bounds ahead of other authors works.
August 3, 2021
I love how Joe Lansdale writes dialogue. I've never been to East Texas, but if I ever do land there, I am expecting to hear a certain style of speech that Lansdale just nails every single time. It's funny and dirty and sweary and sharp, and I love it. For example:
"You know, if I sucked your dick, I got to apologize. I like women, but when I drink, who knows what I do. Maybe I thought it was a tit." (pg. 76).
I have been laughing about that quote for two days. It's like the people in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre are chatting with each other in an Applebees. Just low-lifes and bar flies and psychos and criminals, jawing away on the page. It is marvelous stuff. Ernest Hemingway once said an author's goal is simple: “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” Lansdale writes an awful lot of true sentences and puts them in the mouth's of his wacko characters to great effect.
So this book is a bit of a supernatural crime story, which was fun, but my favorite part with Lansdale is always the dialogue. He's a master. Not for everyone, I am sure. We live in anxious, sensitive times when words and offensive language are considered by some to be a form of harm, so if you have a sensitive soul, this will not be your jam. Personally, I think he's great.
"You know, if I sucked your dick, I got to apologize. I like women, but when I drink, who knows what I do. Maybe I thought it was a tit." (pg. 76).
I have been laughing about that quote for two days. It's like the people in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre are chatting with each other in an Applebees. Just low-lifes and bar flies and psychos and criminals, jawing away on the page. It is marvelous stuff. Ernest Hemingway once said an author's goal is simple: “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” Lansdale writes an awful lot of true sentences and puts them in the mouth's of his wacko characters to great effect.
So this book is a bit of a supernatural crime story, which was fun, but my favorite part with Lansdale is always the dialogue. He's a master. Not for everyone, I am sure. We live in anxious, sensitive times when words and offensive language are considered by some to be a form of harm, so if you have a sensitive soul, this will not be your jam. Personally, I think he's great.
June 1, 2023
Lost Echoes, Joe R. Lansdale [Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, 2006].
After a mysterious childhood illness—maybe a bout of mumps—Harry Wilkes develops the ability to see past traumatic events, including murders, accidents, assaults, when visiting the site where the event took place. As a college student, Harry discovers that alcohol stops these visions, and he crawls into the bottle nightly, until a chance encounter with a former martial arts instructor and fellow alcoholic with a tragic past sets him on the path to recovery. When a childhood friend asks Harry to use his gift to help solve her father’s murder, Harry reluctantly agrees and is on the trail of a pair of vicious and powerful serial killers. Comparisons to Stephen King are apt, if obvious, though Lansdale has a great voice and style of his own.
***
Joe R. Lansdale is the author of numerous books in the mystery, horror, and Western genres. His 2000 novel The Bottoms won an Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel, and he is a six time recipient of the Bram Stoker Award. Lansdale is perhaps best known for his Hap and Leonard novels, adapted as a Sundance Channel series and the cult classic, Bubba Ho-Tep. His story collection, Things Get Ugly will be published in August.
After a mysterious childhood illness—maybe a bout of mumps—Harry Wilkes develops the ability to see past traumatic events, including murders, accidents, assaults, when visiting the site where the event took place. As a college student, Harry discovers that alcohol stops these visions, and he crawls into the bottle nightly, until a chance encounter with a former martial arts instructor and fellow alcoholic with a tragic past sets him on the path to recovery. When a childhood friend asks Harry to use his gift to help solve her father’s murder, Harry reluctantly agrees and is on the trail of a pair of vicious and powerful serial killers. Comparisons to Stephen King are apt, if obvious, though Lansdale has a great voice and style of his own.
***
Joe R. Lansdale is the author of numerous books in the mystery, horror, and Western genres. His 2000 novel The Bottoms won an Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel, and he is a six time recipient of the Bram Stoker Award. Lansdale is perhaps best known for his Hap and Leonard novels, adapted as a Sundance Channel series and the cult classic, Bubba Ho-Tep. His story collection, Things Get Ugly will be published in August.
February 28, 2020
Not nearly as interesting as most other books Lansdale has written. He does seem to stretch into a few unknown territories by trying to blend the classic feel of his Texas everyman character while still throwing in some supernatural elements and a series of crimes at the centre of it all. Sadly I didnt find it as enjoyable though the basic premise is intriguing. An alcoholic tries to deal with a life of seeing the horrendous events that have happened in locations he visits. He tries desperately to avoid these situations for much of his life, until they hit a bit close to home and he suddenly has to do something about it. It seems like the setup to a tv series or a run of novels but really that setup runs the entire breadth of this novel and so it really doesn't feel like it has gone anywhere, nor has anywhere else to go. It could have been a lot better if handled a little differently, but in the end there is so many other great books to read by this author, you would alright to skip one.
September 10, 2022
This one was a bit slow going but it picked up speed and became very interesting.
I always feel that the endings are a bit weak when reading this writer's stories. Chapter 59 did nothing for me, and I would cut it if I were editing this book.
Tad became my favorite character as I read this one! He was so entertaining with wisdom included and his reflections were on point. I did not relate to the flintstones theme song being referenced frequently in the trunk scene but that is me as the reader.
Overall, worth reading and simply, entertaining at times with humor injected into the scenes via the characters, even though there are some gruesome scenes, too.
Likely, remembered as a Chandler or King-type storyline in many ways with the nightmares, mind echoes, and Stoker images of death and suffering. Poe comes to mind, too.
Poetic writing in several sections that made me enjoy this ride through the echoes of the main character's mindset and his struggle to control his visions.
I always feel that the endings are a bit weak when reading this writer's stories. Chapter 59 did nothing for me, and I would cut it if I were editing this book.
Tad became my favorite character as I read this one! He was so entertaining with wisdom included and his reflections were on point. I did not relate to the flintstones theme song being referenced frequently in the trunk scene but that is me as the reader.
Overall, worth reading and simply, entertaining at times with humor injected into the scenes via the characters, even though there are some gruesome scenes, too.
Likely, remembered as a Chandler or King-type storyline in many ways with the nightmares, mind echoes, and Stoker images of death and suffering. Poe comes to mind, too.
Poetic writing in several sections that made me enjoy this ride through the echoes of the main character's mindset and his struggle to control his visions.
December 4, 2023
This one is a story about retribution. Harry sees terrible visions of real life incidents. Unfortunately, he reveals what he has seen to the wrong people, leading to terrible consequences as these people need to silence him. His childhood friend Kayla, plus his new friend and recovering alcoholic, Tad, help him figure out who the bad guys are.
I can only give this 3 stars, which is not up to my usual “I love Lansdale” rating. Here are my problems: I wanted the miserable rich girl and her father to be a part of the deal, at least publicly outed as Harry would be proven a hero, if not as complicit in crime (at least the dad). Nothing mentioned there.
Also, a big deal was made about the girls being raped and murdered by these two psychopaths, but Joe doesn’t give us any solace on that either.
I can only give this 3 stars, which is not up to my usual “I love Lansdale” rating. Here are my problems: I wanted the miserable rich girl and her father to be a part of the deal, at least publicly outed as Harry would be proven a hero, if not as complicit in crime (at least the dad). Nothing mentioned there.
Also, a big deal was made about the girls being raped and murdered by these two psychopaths, but Joe doesn’t give us any solace on that either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2019
E' il mio primo romanzo di Lansdale, autore consigliatomi qui su aNobii, ed è stata una piacevole sorpresa. Lo stile narrativo è immediato e diretto, crudo quanto basta, ed a tratti ricorda molto da vicino Ellroy, ma con un approccio tutto personale. La storia è avvincente, ben condotta e misurata... Forse il finale è un po' debole, ma tutto sommato era l'unico possibile. L'abilità di Lansdale spicca però nella caratterizzazione dei personaggi: senza dettagli prolissi inquadra e tratteggia protagonisti e comprimari in maniera assolutamente veritiera e credibile, quasi fossero parte di sé. Sì... penso che approfondirò la mia conoscenza di quest'autore... :-)
January 15, 2018
This was the first Landsdale book I read, and it got me hooked.
It's not in his wild, rollicking "Hap" series of comic mysteries...it's in what I have come to think of as the Southern Gothic series....
These all are soaked in nostalgia, hard to put down, gritty. Often have the sweetness of childhood tied to them, adolescent narrators, and supernatural tones that don't overwhelm anyone.
If your impression of Lansdale is all comic books, monsters, cowboys, or comic mystery, try these. I hunger for more.
It's not in his wild, rollicking "Hap" series of comic mysteries...it's in what I have come to think of as the Southern Gothic series....
These all are soaked in nostalgia, hard to put down, gritty. Often have the sweetness of childhood tied to them, adolescent narrators, and supernatural tones that don't overwhelm anyone.
If your impression of Lansdale is all comic books, monsters, cowboys, or comic mystery, try these. I hunger for more.
May 22, 2021
It started with an awful ear infection. Then Harry Wilkes starts having horrific visions. Sort of a second sight, but more like a hindsight. Something to do with fear or violence, like a car accident, beatings, and even murder. Like a cross between the powers in "The Dead Zone" and "The Shining".
Harry “...was mad as a pig that had just found out sausage was his cousin,...” That's the kind of writing that keeps me opening up Joe Lansdale books! This book was no exception! The man does have a way with words! I wasn't as crazy about the plot herein, but I think I'm more into his Hap & Leonard books, and his historic Texas westerns. This was neither of those, but a good read, that kept me turning pages! And Tad was a heck of a character, sort of a Leonard-esque fella. The sci-fi stuff was not my cup of tea, but all-in-all, a fun adventure!
Harry “...was mad as a pig that had just found out sausage was his cousin,...” That's the kind of writing that keeps me opening up Joe Lansdale books! This book was no exception! The man does have a way with words! I wasn't as crazy about the plot herein, but I think I'm more into his Hap & Leonard books, and his historic Texas westerns. This was neither of those, but a good read, that kept me turning pages! And Tad was a heck of a character, sort of a Leonard-esque fella. The sci-fi stuff was not my cup of tea, but all-in-all, a fun adventure!
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