The Echo Maker

The Echo Maker (2006) is a psychological mystery thriller by American author Richard Powers. The novel follows protagonist Mark Schluter in the wake of an accidental brain injury that led him to believe that his sister, Karin, is an imposter. The resulting conflict leads to questions of meaning, perception, and identity. The author of 13 books as of 2023, Powers has won numerous awards, including a Pushcart Prize in 2003, a National Book Award for Fiction in 2006, and a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2019. Powers’s work addresses themes related to science and technology, particularly humans’ interactions with ecosystems.

This guide refers to the 2007 Farrar, Straus and Giroux Kindle Edition of the text.

Content Warning: This novel deals with issues related to addiction, mental health conditions, and brain injury.

Plot Summary

Karin Schluter is driving home to Kearney, Nebraska, the town where she grew up with her younger brother, Mark, who is in his late twenties. Mark has had a car accident and is in the hospital. At the hospital, Mark is disoriented but seems likely to recover. However, he takes a turn for the worse and has to go into surgery.