Evie Wyld’s The Echoes is a haunting and beautifully written novel that delves into generational trauma, grief, and Australia’s dark colonial past. Told through multiple perspectives, the story follows Hannah, a woman living in London with her partner Max—who, at the novel’s start, has died traumatically and now lingers as a ghost. From this spectral vantage point, Max gains insight into Hannah’s past, finally understanding the painful experiences that shaped her and the motivations behind her often inexplicable actions.
As the narrative unfolds, the reader is drawn into Hannah’s family history, deeply entwined with Australia’s brutal treatment of its Aboriginal population. Wyld’s writing is superb—lyrical, atmospheric, and emotionally charged. She masterfully weaves past and present, personal and historical, creating a novel that is both intimate and expansive. The Echoes is a powerful and unforgettable read, illuminating the weight of inherited trauma and the ghosts—both literal and metaphorical—that linger in its wake.