As a homicide detective working murders, Hank Trescott listened for the voice within the case. At some point, he'd hear what he called the "Echo," the voice of the case speaking back to him. But after leaving the force to care for his terminally ill wife, he left that life behind. After her loss, Hank was in search of purpose, but finding it proved more elusive than he expected. During a fateful trip to a quaint, smalltown bookstore, Hank was posed a question by local officer, Julie Haywood, "Would you help me solve a twenty-five-year-old murder?" Crystal Daws was shot to death after leaving her job one night at the Woodard Theatre. Officer Haywood had a personal interest in the case; Crystal was her beloved cousin. It was because of her death that Julie had become an officer. Reluctant at first, but hoping it would lead to a new purpose, Hank took on the case. Alongside Officer Haywood, Hank uncovers some smalltown secrets that were thought to be long since buried. Together they listened for the echo of Crystal's murder, the COLD ECHO.