I have rules about cemeteries.
Well... now I have rules about cemeteries. I may have just made them up, but they still apply. The main rule, the most important rule, is that if someone starts to run, you follow. You don't pause to assess the situation; you don't worry about looking silly or scared, you just run. At a minimum, you need to run as fast as the person you're following; that way you don't get left behind. Getting left behind is bad.
If you can run faster, that's even better.
I've seen some odd things that I can't explain during my time with the Special Tracking Unit, things revealed by shine that convince me there's something beyond death. This should be comforting news, and it usually is, but not when I'm standing in a graveyard on the cusp of night.
There's a certain genre of book that really had it's peak around the 2000's - books like the Charlie Parker series, Nelson Demille's John Corey novels, the Carson Ryder books - my first real introduction to novels about serial killers and the men that chase them. Like YA, there's only a few authors of this genre I'll still read today - snarky male protagonists and diabolical genius killers get a little samey - and Spencer Kope has written a series that I'm absolutely hooked on.
We do have a snarky male protagonist, but Steps is unusual for more than just his ability to see shine - he's a little more thoughtful, and not afraid to be a civilian among the sea of law enforcement he usually finds himself in. The everyday considerations of his talent are also well done, not intrusive, but bring up some interesting points that made me really see the downside of being able to see every trace of human contact with your surroundings (motel rooms - need I say more?)
There was a bit of a lack of that ability having much bearing on the case this time, but I still found this a solid entry in the series. It's nice to have a set of books that reliably work for some crimey, bantery entertainment, so I'll definitely be back for the next. Spencer Kope First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Spencer Kope, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Spencer Kope returns with his fourth novel in this unique crime procedural series, using the abilities of two men to track people down using their own personal skills. The Special Tracking Unit is known around the country for their abilities, but it is the work of Magnus ‘Steps’ Craig, who can see ‘shine’ that adds new depth to the investigation. This may be the more harrowing case yet, with dead ends and a mysterious undertone that connects all those involved. Kope keeps getting better the more this series progresses.
Four men have been enjoying an annual fishing trip for the past two decades. It’s a way to escape their daily lives and enjoy a little camaraderie. When they don’t check in at the expected time, families worry and calls are made. Due to the notoriety of one man on the trip, Washington becomes involved, which means a call to the Special Tracking Unit.
Jimmy Donovan and Magnus ‘Steps’ Craig comprise the Unit, working together to locate those who have gone missing. Steps has a special ability, seeing each person’s unique ‘shine’ or glimmer they emit, which helps with tracking and forensic progression. However, it’s also a detriment, as has become apparent in cases past. Together, they travel to California and begin their investigation, only to land in the middle of something odd.
When one of the victims is apparently found on a park bench, things soon turn baffling. It’s not actually the victim, but a man who has recently died and been buried. This body, having been placed in a coffin, is now out and wearing one of the missing men’s clothes. As Steps and Donovan follow the local authorities, it’s revealed that this has been a body swap and someone was buried alive.
Unsure what to make of the killer or their antics, Steps and Donovan must continue working, trying to hone in on anything, including shine, to get answers. After a second body is discovered, it’s a race to learn the motive and rationale. What may be a political connection could also be something completely different, which only complicates the investigation. Time is running out and the body count keeps mounting.
I discovered Spencer Kope’s books and could not get enough of this unique take on the crime procedural genre. There is something refreshing about a unique take, while still keeping the reader completely attached to the story. Kope writes well and leaves the reader eager to see what awaits in this non-stop novels.
Steps and Donovan surely take centre stage in this piece, using their skills to track down not only the four missing men, but a killer with an axe to grind. While there is a little backstory when it comes to Steps, that is mostly a means of reminding readers what’s happened to him. Personal and professional growth is key in this novel, occurring throughout and keeping the series fan glued to what is to come. As the novels have progressed, I have become more attached to both men, eager to see what awaits and how they will progress.
Kope uses a strong writing style and sinister crime to lure readers into the middle of this piece. There’s nothing like a crime thriller to get the blood pumping, but it is the uniqueness of solving it that adds something special. A great narrative, with constant movement, helps catapult Kope to the top of the genre, while the story never loses focus on what’s important. One would not think that tracking the missing and those who have committed crimes could be so intriguing, though Spencer Kope has found a way, so much so that I cannot wait to see what he’s got coming in the future.
Kudos, Mr. Kope, for another winner. I can only hope that others will discover this series and find the same enjoyment .
Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/ec...
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... Spencer Kope This book is #4 in the series and I previously read #3 a couple of years ago. To recap the basis for the stories, Steps Craig is a tracker for the FBI's Elite Special Tracking Unit. When Steps was 8 years old, he froze to death in a blizzard. Yes, he died. When he was revived, he came back with a special ability. He sees people's shine with each person's shine being unique. The only thing that stops him from seeing this all the time is lead crystal so he wears lead crystal eyeglasses except when at a crime scene. You can count on one hand the number of people who are aware he has this ability. Steps' partner is Special Agent Jimmy Donovan and Diane is the intelligence agent back at the office.
In this story, 4 college friends - a CEO accountant, a congressman, a deputy district attorney, and a hedge fund founder - reunite every year for their fishing event. They are all missing from the river in California where they always camp and fish. The tracking unit is called in because they are missing from an area where they couldn't possibly be missing. Something else must be going on here.
This book has been on my list to read in 2021 and, due to a lull in new books arriving at the library, I caught a break to finally read it. Characters I like, good mystery, good police work - all reasons I enjoyed this book. Be prepared for gruesome scenes and graphic autopsies. This killer is depraved. There's no way to figure out ahead of time who the killer is and that's something else I like in a story. By the way, Steps loves books! Spencer Kope I have been hooked on this series from the first book! Steps and his synesthesia are utterly fascinating to me.
The premise of this book is: Four friends have vanished while on their annual fly-fishing trip—a congressman, a district attorney, a CEO of a major accounting firm, and a co-founder of a successful hedge fund. The FBI's Special Tracking Unit, which is made up of Jimmy Donovan, Magnus “Steps” Craig, and aided by the brilliant Diane (who is able to find anything there is to be found on the internet) is called upon to determine where the missing men are. What begins as a missing persons case turns into a case that is as gruesome as the pacing is relentless! (I honestly don't remember the previous books as being quite as disturbing.)
Having said that, however, I still love this unique series and can't wait to see what's next! Spencer Kope Walking the thin line between the natural and the supernatural can be very risky. Once again the author crossed the chasm successfully.
This was more of a police procedural. The 'Shine' was a sub plot.
Steps, Jimmy, and Diane make a great trio.
The ending. I have to wait a year for the next book? Oh, come on!
Read book one to better understand the 'Shine'
Spencer Kope
A group of missing friends forces 'Steps' Craig to contend with the most twisted killer he's ever encountered in Spencer Kope's Echoes of the Dead.
Magnus “Steps” Craig is the best 'tracker' in the world, renowned for his ability to follow a person's trail anywhere - no matter the terrain or how old the trail. Steps utilizes his unique talent as part of the elite three-man Special Tracking Unit of the FBI, which is called in on cases that require his unparalleled skills. But there’s a secret to his success. Steps has a kind of synesthesia where he can see the ‘essence’ of a person—which appears to him as a unique color or pattern he calls shine—on everything they’ve touched. It's a secret Steps has shared with a rare few people and could, if revealed, endanger not only himself but the unit that he serves.
Steps and the Special Tracking Unit are called in on a new case where the local law enforcement is baffled. Four friends have vanished while on their annual fly-fishing trip—a congressman, a district attorney, a CEO of a major accounting firm, and a cofounder of a successful hedge fund. Now, Steps must search some of the most treacherous terrain, the Sierra Nevada range, as one by one time begins to run out for the missing men. Desperate to save whoever they can, Steps and his team discover that this is no simple missing persons case, but one with sinister motivations unlike any they've seen before. Echoes of the Dead (Special Tracking Unit #4)
Echoes of the Dead is the 4rth book in the Special Tracking Unit. This can be read as a stand-alone. I have been a fan of this series from the beginning. This book had it all. It was fast-paced with an interesting plot. The characters are well developed. Steps, is such a unique character, it is a refreshing addition to the crime genre. His portrayal of moments of emotion, fear, anger and witty banter makes him human.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Spencer Kope for a copy of Echoes of the Dead in exchange of a fair and honest review. Spencer Kope I love this series and this was an awesome addition to it! Many thanks to the publisher for this copy:) Spencer Kope Echoes of the Dead - written by Spencer Kope and published in 2021 by Minotaur Books, St Martin's Publishing Group. Magnus Steps Craig and his FBI pal Jimmy Donovan are on the case again as members of the FBI's Special Tracking Unit. Instead of using the keen skills of a dog, they use Steps' magical gift of seeing color shadows specific to each person that persist wherever they go, an interesting construct. This time they are looking into the disappearance of a quartet of fishing buddies who have failed to check in. It's a gory story, too much torture for me, but I do like the way Steps, Jimmy and their crack researcher Diane work together. Spencer Kope The writing is really good, and I love these characters. But I didn’t feel like Steps had to use “shine” much in this book, and that’s a disappointment! It’s the most interesting aspect of the series, and it really wasn’t needed here. I also thought this book was really gruesome, and I got a bit uncomfortable reading it towards the end. Spencer Kope This is the fourth book in the series but can be read as a stand-alone. Spencer Kope offers a unique crime thriller with a hint of sci-fi. The storyline is fast-paced and intriguing as the “team” sets out to investigate a series of murders. Kope’s refreshing approach and main character’s peculiarity makes the narrative standout in an overcrowded genre. Love this series.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #EchoesofTheDead which was read and reviewed voluntarily. Spencer Kope
FREE READ Echoes of the Dead (Special Tracking Unit #4)
