Title: Echoes of the Past I
Author: Edward R. Lipinski
Publisher: ReadersMagnet, LLC
ISBN: 979-8-89091-248-0
Pages: 307
Genre: Mystery / Young-Adult / Coming-of-Age / Adventure
Reviewed by: Reia Midas

Read Book Review

In the lofty hills of Munnar, cradled in between the bite of chill and a yawning emptiness, multiple voices reach you at once if you scream into the distant clouds – echoes of your joy and grief. And somewhere in between, you hear the thousands of voices bellowing into the void before you, seeking the same answer. Human beings seek so they can find what they need. Author Edward Lipinski’s Echoes of the Past I is the same story of seeking and finding from the echoes we make ourselves and those left behind by numerous before us.

Echoes of the Past I  is a thrilling adventure story of a young girl fresh out of college trying to unravel the mysteries of her past. Abandoned by her father before she was even born and with a mother who remains tight-lipped about his absence, Audrey has spent her entire life trying to figure out who her father was. It wasn’t until she had had enough of the mystery surrounding her father that she finally ventured to find out about him.

Written in colloquial language with smooth flow and easy pacing, Lipinski carries the reader through Audrey’s every step to find her father. Lipinski takes us through a tumultuous journey of solving two decades of mystery, from hunting down family, friends, and associates once connected to her father to crossing the ocean to Southeast Asia. The reader is emphatically caught in equal amounts of anticipation and frustration as the lead character experienced. Lipinski subtly explores the complexity of a young girl with an absent father figure and the resulting relationship between the child and the caregiver. Because of her mother’s lack of cooperation to help her know about her father, Audrey shares a complicated relationship with her. Their interactions are either aloof or awkward, giving the impression her mother is still walking on eggshells around Audrey regarding her father. Very subtly and realistically, Lipinski shows the daughter’s confusion and the residual guilt at not being able to meet her mother halfway.

The coming-of-age prospect is clear when Alistair J. Carmichael, one of the characters and her father’s old associate, says in the line: “It’s just that I feel that study should come after you’ve exposed yourself to art.” It underscores the idea that life experiences precede personal growth and development. From hunting down clues from old family friends to traveling to Malaysia, Audrey confronts unfamiliar terrains and dangerous men. The story ends abruptly with a gripping cliffhanger which leaves the reader with more questions than answers: Will Audrey finally meet her father? And will finding him give her the answers she was hoping for?, which makes the readers yearn for the next book in the series.

Echoes of the Past I is a book that beckons to be paged by readers seeking mystery and suspense. For young adults venturing out into the world and those seeking to discover themselves, Echoes of the Past I  is the answer you are looking for.