I’m a big fan of Jess Lourey’s work, and eagerly await each of her new releases! This was a great read, even though it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I loved following the cold case, and enjoying getting to know Van and Harry as characters. Hoping there’s another book coming after that ending!

Detective Van Reed and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck form an alliance as they delve into a criminal investigation that unveils a gruesome revelation: a woman buried alive 42 years ago. This book left an indelible impact, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The narrative transports us to the summer of 1980, set in the scorching heat of Leech Lake, Minnesota. Three young girls, Rue and her younger sister Lily, are joined by their new friend, Amber, as they venture into the woods for a refreshing creek swim. However, a horrifying incident occurs, and Rue emerges from the woods with a memory gap, unable to recall the events that transpired. Lily and Amber have vanished, earning the collective name "the Taken Ones." Rue, traumatized and unwilling to communicate, is discovered walking barefoot with scorched feet from the blistering pavement.

Fast forward to the year 2022, where the police are called to a gruesome homicide scene. A woman has been found buried alive, clutching a necklace that shockingly links back to the Taken Ones case from 1980. The Cold Case detective, known as Evangeline but referred to as "Van," and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck are assigned to the case. Van grapples with her own troubled past and has the ability to experience visions. She is determined to unravel the mysteries surrounding that fateful day in the woods and discern the connection between this buried woman and the missing girls. As their investigation deepens, they encounter mentions of the elusive urban legend known as Bendy Man and question his relevance and existence.

The story unfolds through the perspectives of Van and Harry as they methodically investigate, interspersed with the point of view of the unidentified killer. This book serves as a promising beginning to a new detective series that has left me eagerly anticipating more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jess Lourey's "The Taken Ones" is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that delves into the darkest corners of the human psyche. This novel weaves together elements of mystery, suspense, and psychological drama, creating a narrative that keeps readers enthralled from the very first page.

The story centers around the lives of two women, Liv and Cam, who share a tragic connection: they were both abducted and held captive in a remote cabin by a sadistic kidnapper. After enduring unimaginable horrors, they manage to escape, but the scars of their past continue to haunt them. Years later, they find themselves drawn back to the cabin, driven by a shared determination to uncover the truth about their captor and find closure.

One of the novel's standout features is the way it handles the complexities of trauma and its aftermath. Lourey does a commendable job in portraying the emotional struggles and resilience of the two main characters, Liv and Cam. Their narratives are both heart-wrenching and empowering, providing an authentic portrayal of trauma survivors reclaiming their lives.

The plot is expertly structured, with a dual timeline that alternates between the past and the present, revealing the harrowing events of the abduction alongside the characters' current journey of investigation and self-discovery. This narrative approach heightens suspense and keeps the reader engaged, with each revelation shedding light on the enigmatic kidnapper's identity.

Lourey's writing is both atmospheric and suspenseful. She effectively creates a sense of dread and tension, transporting readers to the eerie and isolated cabin where the most horrifying events of the characters' lives took place. The remote Minnesota wilderness becomes a character of its own, adding to the overall unsettling atmosphere.

While "The Taken Ones" is a compelling and well-crafted thriller, some readers may find the pacing slightly uneven, with moments of intense action followed by slower, introspective segments. Additionally, the novel occasionally relies on certain thriller conventions and tropes, which may make some aspects of the plot feel somewhat predictable.

Overall, "The Taken Ones" is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged thriller that explores themes of survival, resilience, and the enduring bond between survivors. Jess Lourey's sensitive treatment of the effects of trauma and her ability to maintain suspense make this novel a worthy addition to the psychological thriller genre. If you're a fan of thrillers that delve into the human psyche and celebrate the strength of survivors, "The Taken Ones" is a compelling and unforgettable read that will keep you hooked until the very end.

The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey
Steinbeck & Reed #1

Terrifying, twisted, and terrific ~ Couldn’t put it down.

What I liked:
* Evangeline “Van” Reed: difficult childhood, bright, left police to work cold cases at Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, lucid dreams that prove to be true, has a bit of PTSD, has a secret, Intriguing
* Harry Steinbeck, forensic scientist, seeks facts, dapper dresser, caring, kind, tenacious, has a secret that I want to know
* That Van and Harry seem opposites who work well together – eager to see what they tackle next
* The supporting characters that work with Van and Harry – would like to get to know Kyle, Johnna and Deepty better
* The police procedural aspects of the story and how the cold case was solved
* That the cold case of the girls kidnapping, and the case of the woman buried alive were both solved by the end of the story
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to
* Thinking about how warped and twisted the criminals were…and there were quite a few in this book
* The closed ranks of the police and the way they treated Van

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Thank you Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer & Jess Lourey for the ARC of The Taken Ones.

Wow another winner by Jess Lourey. She never misses at grabbing my attention from the get go and this book was no different. A master at pulling at my heart strings and dealing with unsettling themes while providing a really entertaining thriller from start to finish.

Summer 1980: Three girls go into the woods, only one comes out.

Summer 2022: A woman is buried alive and found clutching something that goes back 42 years to the Summer of 1980.

Are these crimes connected? Can Van and Harry and their team figure everything, despite mountains of obstacles in their way?

This book was VANtastic! I honestly loved everything about it - the pacing, the characters, their backstories, their relationships. Everything struck a wonderful balance that kept me turning pages late into the night. While I did find Van to be impulsive and childish at time, her backstory made me understand a lot and I thought she was a very well-written character. I love that this is going to be a series and I cannot wait to see what is next for Van and Harry and Kyle.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Great read!
If I didn’t have to adult, I could have easily read this in one sitting. Fantastic pace, great character development. I did vibe with Van, even though I understood her past and trauma I found it very difficult to support some of the things she did, therefore losing some respect which made if difficult to vibe with her at times. I did admire her tenacious nature, which made her a great cop/investigator at times which is what you want when it comes to hunting a killer, but still…
I really loved where the author took the killer in terms of his development. I loved that she had obviously done her research and gave us something a little different than usual when it came to him. I like it when I have to google 😂 I also really loved Harry’s character, i especially loved that last two sentence he gave us, which make me suspect we’re going to get another instalment of these two detectives, and I’m down for that!

Wowza. That was dark! It was also incredibly unique into storyline. I won’t go into details, because that would be a spoiler, but it was very unique and not one I have seen before. The writing was excellent and the plot was nicely paced. This was chilling and a great spooky season read!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

• cold case thriller/procedural
• multiple POVs & timelines
• excellent writing

I didn't want this book to end. I loved it. The author creates a fantastic atmosphere, amazing characters, and the story sucks you in. I was so disturbed while reading! I really enjoyed the forensic & police work... it's presented in a way that's digestible and easy to understand. And that Epilogue? Ummm I need more Steinbeck and Reed!!! I also highly, highly recommend this author's other work. Especially Bloodline and Unspeakable Things.

🗣️ Thank you to Jess Lourey for the opportunity to read and review your book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

First in a new series from Lourey, where the female lead reminds me a lot of Carol O'Conner's Mallory. When a woman found to have been very recently buried alive turns out to be one of a pair of missing girls missing for for several decades, the obvious question is the other missing girl still alive. Agent Reed from the BCA's Cold Case department has shift through a lot of red herrings, many from her own past. Reed's own tragic childhood has left her suffering traumatic visions, sometimes leading her to amazing (almost psychic) guesses, but leaving her colleagues to treat her with disdain and distrust.
Reed is very much the flawed hero on a quest for redemption.
While the case is solved, the readers learn there is much for Reed to hide from her fellow Agents. Looking forward to the next case.

I enjoyed this book and found the concept of a supernatural twist on a police procedural to be a good suspenseful read. The book started off with a bang and somewhat lagged in the middle but finished strong. I look forward to more books by Jess Lourey.

3.5 ish stars...

I think these type of police procedurals are just not for me. I find there are too many characters (past and present) to keep track of, in addition the back and forth (1980, 2001, and 2022) timelines just made this confusing. I was halfway through, and realized I wasn't feeling invested at all. I read her previous book [book:Bloodline|50416762], and also wasn't that into that one. Perhaps it's me, and this author just isn't for me.

I can see how others would devour and binge this. Being around 300 pages, it was at least a quick read.

Thank you to netgalley & the publisher for my e-arc.

Cold case investigators Van Reed and Harry Steinbeck get pulled into an investigation when a recent murder has ties to a unsolved missing girls case from 1980. Van is an interesting character, with a traumatic childhood involving growing up in a cult. Her and Harry could not be more different, which makes their partnership quite interesting. She is chaotic and messy, with psychic dreams that help her to solve crimes. Harry is buttoned up, by the book and extremely detail oriented.

To be honest, the psychic dreams threw me at first, but as I kept reading I got into them. I like the idea of a relationship eventually happening between Harry and Reid, but in this book I just didn’t feel the chemistry.

The setting around the twin cities in Minnesota was interesting, as were the crimes and investigation.

Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable and fascinating read.


Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book to read and review.

This was an awesomely densely packed police procedural with a female investigator. It ended on a huge cliffhanger so I am dying for the next book and I want to scream I KNEW IT.

There were a lot of layers to the plot, which made me really stay focused so as not to miss any important details.

I definitely couldn’t predict where the story was going and “who did it” and I think my mind will be reeling over it/muddling for a while.

There are so big twists that I think will lend to a great series as they unfold.

Have I mentioned I love female lead procedurals??? The FMC is likeable but I also sometimes wanted to shake her and be like WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS ALONE when she would go to question suspects or witnesses.

There is so much to unpack with this book and I think it would make for a great book club read.

This was my first Jess Lourey book and thanks to this novels cliffhanger, it won't be my last! Why must you make us wait for answers! Joking aside, I quite enjoyed this cold-case police procedural. I'm quite a sucker for police procedurals, even more so when there is a forensic scientist included as a main character!

While I enjoyed Van and Harry's relationship and work to solve the cold-case, I did have some hang-ups while reading this book. There were just way too many subplots for me. While they did all come together, I felt a lot of them weren't necessary to move the book along. I found myself audibly sighing at the addition of yet=another-storyline. Perhaps they are necessary to continue the series? I'm not sure. I guess I will find out though because while I had some issues keeping me from LOVING this one, I am invested in Harry and I overall enjoyed the pace and writing of this novel.

3.5 rounded to 4.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced copy of The Taken Ones. This is the second book by Jess Lourey I’ve read and I can say with confidence it won’t be the last. When 3 girls go into the woods in 1980 and only one comes out after hearing the legend of The Bendy Man, well I’m freaked out already. Unfortunately the case of the missing girls went cold until a new crime, which is something out of my nightmares, being buried alive, happens which prompts the reopening of the case if the taken ones. This book has an overall creepy vibe, but mix in solving a mystery crime, forensic science and a touch of paranormal and you have a recipe for an amazing read. This is the first in a new series and I cannot wait for book 2.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

It took me a few chapters to find myself invested in the story, but once the gentleman without a home was trying to save the woman I was hooked. I found myself getting more emotionally involved in the mystery, but just as interested in the detectives, their back and future stories.
Good book with interesting characters, can't ask for much more.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“The Bendy Man, the Bendy Man, if he can’t get you, no one can!”

THE TAKEN ONES, the first book in the Steinbeck and Reed Series, blew me away! This is only my second book by this author and I’m a fan. She has a talent for creating unique characters that get under your skin.

Van is an intense and complicated character with serious flaws that should make her unlikable but I loved her. She’s a cold case detective teamed up with Harry, a forensic scientist, who she describes in a very flattering way. Currently investigating a 40-year-old case involving two young girls who vanished and a local superstition about a man who haunts the forest they disappeared in.

This book provides quite a bit of background on Van. She had an unconventional childhood that has taken her down some dark paths. Not so much on Harry. And it has barely touched the surface of their developing relationship and respective secrets.

After reading the epilogue, I’m dying to get my hands on the next book!! I’m not a fan of series but this one has captured my attention. Not sure when the next book is due to be released, but it’s NOT soon enough!

Sincere thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing this complimentary ARC through NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own and are left voluntarily.

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Some crimes are open-and-shut cases, where the police manage to find the perpetrator and bring him or her to justice in a timely manner. Others, however, remain unsolved for years. And the crime drama The Taken Ones by author Jess Lourey follows a troubled investigator as she races to solve a decades-old mystery.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

OMG this book is so good. It had been a really long time that I had read a good ol' bone chilling thriller. The Taken Ones just had me forget all my priorities and want to find out what the heck actually happened.

I had heard great things about Jess Lourey's Unspeakable Things but I haven't gotten the chance to read it yet. After reading The Taken Ones, I'm a 100% sure I'm reading everything this author has ever written.

^^ Those were my initial thoughts. Now it's been a few days since I've finished The Taken Ones and I still have only good things to say!

The Taken Ones was a unique blend of thrill and paranormal that I was not expecting going in, I already cannot wait to read more of Steinbeck and Reed!! I hope the second book comes out soon.