Ratings17
Average rating3.6
Jack McDevitt novels definitely follow a certain formula, but I love the formula. Within the first 4-5 pages they set up some mystery that I want to know how it is resolved. This book was no exception. Sure, some things happen in every Alex Benedict book (attempts on his life seem common) but the scenarios/mysteries are always engaging, the characters (now) familiar and fun (I have read all the other Alex Benedict books and prefer them to the Hutch series), and the solution/explanation at the end almost always satisfying.
This was a fun read on the train/plan that I finished in pretty much one sitting. A great, fun, read.
I have subsequently started another Culture novel, the Hydrogen Sonata. Is it interesting and more complex with more ideas and more complex characetrs? Sure. Does it grab my attention at the get-go the way a McDevitt usually does? Nope...
I'm a complete sucker for McDevitt's Alex Benedict/Chase Kolpath novels. I really enjoy the sci-fi mystery aspect of them. And while this is far from the best in that series, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable entry for me.
It follows the same formula as the previous entries. An initially mundane artifact leads to a series of questions and intrigue. No new ground here, but well written with a palpable sense of wonder at the size of the universe. The hope that there is something else out there is a common theme in McDevitt's work, and it is at the forefront here.
This isn't necessarily going to convert new readers, but the faithful will find lots to enjoy here.
I don't understand why this isn't the Chase Kolpath series, rather than the Alex Benedict series, since while Alex is the guy in charge, it's Chase that the books are about. In any case, while just as friendly and readable as McDevitt's other books, Echo isn't the best of the series. Perhaps, as with the Priscilla Hutchins series, McDevitt has simply run out of steam towards the end.
Echo is a good mystery story in the tradition of the Benedict series, but it suffers from a couple of defects. First, it sets up what seems a token effort at Chase-Alex conflict, which brings a welcome uncertainty into the book, but which McDevitt never really commits to. Second, the book has Chase and especially Alex pursuing an investigation at a very high cost - so high that not only is it not really credible, but it succeeds at the difficult task of making our heroes a lot less likeable. The book doesn't really recover from that.It means that while I have the next book in the series, Firebird, on my shelf, I'm less excited to read it.
Finally, the final reveal and denouement don't really fulfill the promise of the early chapters. They could have been successful with a different lead in, but here, it's a bit of a disappointment.
If you're a serious fan of the Benedict series, by all means, buy this - you'll enjoy, even if it's not your favorite in the series. If you're new to the series, go back to A Talent for War or Polaris and start there. If you've sort of enjoyed the series, but not loved it, skip this and go one to one of McDevitt's other excellent books - try Eternity Road or The Engines of God.