Echo McCool - "Enchanting" - Sammi Williams Review

I picked up this book after seeing some recommendations that fans of Stig of the Dump would enjoy it. So, being the Stig fanatic that I am, I decided to give it a try. Echo McCool (a twelve-year-old half dryad girl from the 13th Century) gets chased through a forest and shot by a poisoned arrow. But she has a magical card to play, she hides inside a hollow tree that, in time, will cure her of the poison. But the spell lasts a lot longer than she thought and she finds herself in the 21st century, when she is awakened by a boy called Jason Fleeting. Then the story becomes an enchanting tale of a unique friendship. Although Echo and Jason have had very different lives they learn a lot from each other. They have many adventures, some funny and some exciting. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages.

Echo McCool - "Excellent Adventure" - Rich Evo Review

I don't usually write reviews but the setting for Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time is inspired by the area where I live so I decided to go ahead and give it a read. The author starts out in Medieval times when the half-dryad girl Echo McCool escapes death from a poison arrow and hides inside a magical hollow oak tree. Then there is a clever time twist when Echo awakes in the present day and teams up with Jason Fleeting, a boy with plenty of problems that Echo helps him to solve. The story builds up to a spectacular and heart-stopping climax. I don't want to give away the ending but this book will have you glued to the pages and will keep you thinking about it long after you've finished.

Echo McCool - "Truly Loved this Book! Classic Adventure - J Malliet Review

I bought this book on a recommendation and my son and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so I'll recommend it to you. A great book knows no age barrier. It reminds me of the Lemony Snicket books. The author combines crisp narrative with sharp, witty dialogue and not a word is wasted. The characters stay true throughout in this classic adventure story. This is a perfect example of well-written, well-edited fiction for 'tweens. There's nothing too graphic here so no worries for parents. The mystical parts aren't too complicated and the author weaves them effortlessly into the story without pulling you out of the narrative.

Well done. We are looking forward to more adventures from Echo and Jason!

Echo McCool - the Next Rising YA Novel - S Keller Review

It's about time something comes out that rivals some of the top YA novels on the market. Echo McCool is a magical, epic coming of age journey. I was gripped from beginning to end and fully immersed in the world. The book is very well written and swept me away into an adventure I only wish I could be a part of.


Echo sets apart from most characters by having a perfect blend of magical qualities with a very tough, fighter persona. I've never come across any character quite like her in a single fantasy I've ever read. Very well played.


Echo McCool will take you on a wild ride of emotions and leave you craving more (There will be more....right? I hope so!!!!)

Kids' book sells out

BEVERLEY: WHSmith in Toll Gavel has had to restock with new copies of Molescroft author Roger Driscoll's children's book Echo McCool Outlaw Through Time after selling out.

The story about a magical medieval girl is set in a mythical place called Oswaldley but based on locations in and around Beverley.

It was named in the top ten best reads of 2011 by the website www.goodreads.com

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Kids-book-sells/story-12729951-detail/story.html 

Echo McCool - Beverley Guardian 13 May 2011

Losing his job helped Roger realise dream

Published on Friday 13 May 2011 12:26

REDUNDANCY forced a Beverley man into realising a life-long dream of becoming an author.

Roger Driscoll’s first book, Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time, is now rated as one of the top 10 best reads of the year by the website www.goodreads.com.

The book is the tale of Echo McCool, a magical, medieval girl with attitude.

In her own time, Echo escapes death from a poisoned arrow and hides inside a hollow oak tree. She lies dormant for hundreds of years, until the present day when she is awakened by Jason Fleeting, a 12-year-old runaway from a children’s home. Together, they set out to solve the murder of Jason’s mother and to rescue his kidnapped sister.

Roger’s work is heavily influenced by 1970s TV writer Richard Carpenter, who created series including Catweazle and Dick Turpin.

After some success in England when he was first published in January, Roger’s Amazon rating in America started to go up.

More recently, the book was rated in the top 10 best books of 2011 by the users of American site goodreads.com.

“That was quite unexpected,” Roger said. “I thought it would start in my own back yard and spread out, but it’s done the opposite and really taken off in America.”

Roger said being made redundant from a large law firm in Hull was the push he needed to finish half-written manuscripts he was storing under his spare bed.

“Trying to write on a weekend and evening takes its toll. Being made redundant gave me the chance to write full-time, which is so much better for me,” he said.

Roger first became interested in writing after meeting a children’s author whilst on holiday as a child in the Yorkshire Dales.

“I thought ‘that’s the life for me’,” he said.

However, Roger turned to law, although he did complete some writing work during this time and sent it off to various publishers.

“It’s very difficult in this country to get taken on by the big guys, so many people aspire to do it,” he said.

Roger eventually had success with Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time, seeing the book picked up by Grosvenor House Publishing, a small company based in North Yorkshire.

He is now working on the sequel to Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time and also plans to write a short novel.

Echo McCool - Brittany's Video Review

Echo McCool - Kindle Book Review

I've been watching Roger K. Driscoll's, Echo McCool at Goodreads for a very specific reason. The cover caught my attention when I found it on Goodreads.com's Best Books of 2011. Since then I kept my eye on it, because it rose so quickly up the charts. He is now #8 in Goodreads Best books of 2011 and has all 5-star ratings and there are 98 of them. Did you hear that? Roger has ninety-eight (98)  5-star ratings and not one single 4, 3, 2 or 1. Other readers questioned this, but then after reading it they admitted that it certainly was a great book. Those ratings grabbed my interest and so I am posting Echo McCool: Outlaw Through Time as The Kindle Book Review's second book that we recommend. This book was written for the 12-15 year old in mind and is a time traveling, adventure story that not only seems to grip the imaginations of young teens, it has also "WOW'ed" adult readers as well. What's best...and honestly, quite amazing is that this book, with higher ratings than most bestsellers is only 99¢...for now. Better hurry and get yours before the price goes up. Echo's Amazon rating is low because this book has obviously been overlooked or under marketed, but with ratings like that, Roger deserves some recognition. You can give him the recognition he deserves by purchasing and reviewing Echo McCool in the Kindle store. After you've read Echo McCool, be sure to report back here and tell us if it lived up to the hype. And Roger, who btw, is on facebook and Goodreads, you are welcome to guest blog here anytime and tell us how you captivated 104 readers (Amazon included). Best of Luck Roger. Now go get Echo McCool by Roger K. Driscoll! You can check out the Goodreads ratings and reviews HERE. http://thekindlebookreview.blogspot.com/2011/06/echo-mccool-has-cool-98-5-star-ratings.html?spref=tw