FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
Oct. 1, 2024  

**Debut Author Releases Thriller 'Echoes in the Dark'**  

*Former journalist John Smith’s novel launches Oct. 15 through Penguin Random House.*  

NEW YORK -- John Smith, a former investigative journalist, will release his debut thriller “Echoes in the Dark” on Oct. 15 via Penguin Random House. The 320-page novel centers on a detective exposing a corporate conspiracy in a rural town. Smith based the story on events from his reporting career.  

The book has garnered early praise from mystery reviewers, with Kirkus Reviews noting its “taut pacing and authentic dialogue.” Advance orders have exceeded 15,000 copies through major retailers, according to the publisher.  

“I started writing this after covering a real whistleblower case that never saw daylight,” Smith said. “It’s about the cost of silence in places where everyone knows the secrets.”  

Penguin Random House reports strong pre-publication buzz, including selections for two indie bookstore fall reading lists. An audiobook version narrated by award-winning actor Laura Vance will follow in November.  

“Echoes in the Dark” is available for $26.99 in hardcover, e-book and audiobook formats at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores and penguinrandomhouse.com. Smith will appear at events in New York on Oct. 20 and Los Angeles on Nov. 5.  

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ABOUT JOHN SMITH: John Smith is a former journalist who covered business and crime for The New York Times and local outlets across the Midwest. “Echoes in the Dark” is his first novel. He lives in Brooklyn with his family.  

MEDIA CONTACT:  
Zara Thompson  
zara@crimsonleaf.com  
(212) 555-0198