"The Taken Ones" kept me turning the page till the end, which is honestly the #1 thing I look for in a book. There were good twists and mystery and a seriously creepy vibe through the whole book. Overall a good read with interesting characters. Will be interested to see how the Van storyline continues. Great for true crime fans or those who love a good detective story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

Having just discovered the author and finishing “The Quarry Girls”, I was so excited to see this in my approvals for an advanced reader copy via NetGalley!
This book was great and I am hopi g we continue to see more as this is billed as the first in a series! I’m off to find Jess’ other prior work while I keep an eye out for any future ones! A new addition to my “authors I love” list!

In 1980, three girls go into the woods on the outskirts of town, when only one comes back out, but is so traumatized that she doesn't speak. Fast forward to 2022 when a woman is found buried alive clutching a necklace that one of the missing girls was wearing when she disappeared. When cold case detective Van Reed and Harry Steinbeck are assigned to the case, can they find out how the cases are connected before anyone else gets hurt?

This is a fast paced thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat for the entire book. This author seems to keep getting better with each new book.

Highly recommend reading this one.

Book Review!!!

Thank you so much @jesslourey and @netgalley for the eARC of this in exchange for my review! Swipe for the synopsis ➡️

There are few people that can write a small town thriller like Jess Lourey. She manages to create such a tense atmosphere that it feels like it is a character itself. That is especially true in her latest, The Taken Ones. The forest becomes a living, breathing monster and it added an extra layer of fear.

The story starts with 3 little girls walking into the woods. Only 1 comes out of them and she is frozen with fear, unable to communicate what happened to her sister and friend. The case grows cold until 20 years later when detectives are called to a disturbing homicide that is linked to the missing children.

I really liked the main character, detective Van Reed, and her partner Harry. Their relationship was interesting as well as the secrets they both hold. I flew through this one and cannot wait for the next in what will hopefully be an ongoing series!

Highly recommend you pick this one up when it comes out 9/19!

#TheTakenOnes #NetGalley #review #bookreview #murder #crime #thomasandmercer

The synopsis just sucked me in and from reading the very first paragraph I knew my choice to delve into this novel was a good one. Time just flew by and I lost track of my life as I read this exceptional novel. It kept me up all night long turning the pages.

Must, must read.

Two girls go missing in the woods. Twenty years later, one of them is found recently murdered? Where has she been all this time, and is the other girl still alive? I really liked the dynamic between the two main characters–one a hot mess with a past and the other a buttoned up, straight forward scientist. My only issue is that the book is billed as the first in the series. BUT it is a follow up to a different series…so there’s a storyline that’s mentioned quite a bit that the reader has no clue to the references. Recommended, but annoyed.

I have read this book twice already . Repeating this book feeds my soul . It’s beyond disturbing, twisted, dark and has given me nightmares since the first time I read it. This is will be my go to book suggestion for anyone who asks for the most traumatic book I have ever read .

This is one of those books everyone says they can handle and then the minute they conclude they find their hands shaking in fear . I won’t lie to you. There was no “walks around the neighborhood” for months after this one .

So although you may call yourself a psychological thriller lover please proceed with caution, this is not the book for anyone looking for a boy meets girl and maybe gets annoyed and disappears for a bit kind of thing .

Teaser:

Summer 1980: Despite the local superstition that the Bendy Man haunts the woods, three girls go into a Minnesota forest. Only one comes out, dead silent, her memory gone. The mystery of the Taken Ones captures the nation.

Summer 2022: Cold case detective Van Reed and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck are assigned a disturbing homicide―a woman buried alive, clutching a heart charm necklace belonging to one of the vanished girls. Van follows her gut. Harry trusts in facts. They’re both desperate to catch a killer before he kills again. They have something else in common: each has ties to the original case in ways they’re reluctant to share.

As Van and Harry connect the crimes of the past and the present, Van struggles with memories of her own nightmarish childhood―and the fear that uncovering the truth of the Taken Ones will lead her down a path from which she, too, may never return.

This was my first Jess Lourey book, and I LOVED it! Harrowing, a dark adventure, even a bit supernatural at times, but there's still an overwhelming feeling throughout the read that good will overcome evil in the end. The characters are flawed but brilliant, relatable yet come from traumatic backgrounds. Y'all, this one was GOOD good.

Synopsis: We're in Leech Lake, Minnesota, in July 1980 - three girls (Rue and her sister Lily and Rue's friend Amber) venture into the woods to swim on a hot day. But only one makes it out, and she has no memory of what happened - the others are dubbed "The Taken Ones." Fast forward, Van Reed, a cold case investigator at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, responds to a homicide, and shockingly, the woman buried alive, with DNA testing, is named as one of the missing girls. The rest of the novel follows Reed and her partner Harry Steinbeck as they sift through the past and present to uncover the truth about The Taken Ones while keeping secrets of their own at bay.

I have no complaints about this book - there was just enough mystery for me, and as a crime enthusiast, I loved all the details about crime scenes, interviewing suspects and witnesses, etc. The ONLY thing I'll say is that {spoiler, do not pass if you want to be unspoiled} I knew who the "bad guy" was the moment Van visited him, and she mentioned him "bending his fingers really far backward." When the contortionist conversation started at the BCA, I thought, "Yep, that's her guy." Because of that, I didn't feel that "wow" at the end because of that one short line. And that was quite a bit before the resolution occurred - not the worst thing in the world; if anything, it made me feel like, "Hey, I can catch on to things," ha!

The other thing is that there are a lot of subplots going on in the middle of the book that I don't think added to the story and took away from the main plot.

And lastly - the little romantic bit at the end? The flirtation? I live for it! Give me all the Reed and Steinbeck - we need a follow-up! A long-running series, please!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Make sure to grab this book when it releases on September 19, 2023.

This book definitely kept me on my toes and at times was a bit spooky. There were great moments of tension and Van as a main character contrasted against Harry kept the storyline not only moving but interesting. I enjoyed the flashbacks that we would get here and there to give us more insight into Van, and will definitely be picking up the second book after the ending.

Some of the writing wasn't my favorite, but I honestly think it may be because I am not from the midwest and that persona was shining through in our characters' dialogue.

If you are not a fan of true crime/cold case/detective books, this will not be a mystery/thriller for you.

Jess Lourey does it again. I have loved everything I have picked up from her and I am excited to see what she comes out with now. I love that her stories take place in Minnesota and recognizing some of the places. Also, partial to the fact one of her characters is named Johnna, I don’t ever see my name in anything!

Two girls disappeared 42 years ago in the woods, leaving 1 girl who doesn’t remember what happened. Present day, a woman is found buried alive and it turns out she is attached to “The Taken Ones”. Is Van going to be able to solve the case before it’s too late?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jess Lourey is an auto-read fave of mine, and after reading her short story, "Catch Her in a Lie" (which was by far my favorite of the six stories from the Kindle Unlimited "Getaway" series) I was DYING to read more about Evangeline (Van) and Harry -- and here we are! Lourey knocks it out of the park with this one and delivers an un-put-downable thriller starring a cold case investigator with a traumatic past and A LOT of secrets (I mean... our girl Van has got ALL of the things going on) and a handsome (maybe some Will Trent-ish vibes?) forensic investigator.

I love Lourey's writing. She never shies away from getting gritty and graphic and always manages to create such a strong sense of dread -- and I loved how she brought the story to a tidy resolution, but still left us with a giant cliffhanger -- the next book in this series cannot come fast enough!

Five stars! Read this (and read all of her other books if you haven't yet)!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advanced copy!

3.5 solid stars for this great thriller. It's conventional, yet interesting enough to keep you invested. Good rhythm and prose show that the author knows her conventions and structure. The only things that threw me off, personally, were the "supernatural" elements to the story, since I felt they were "unnecessary" details to an already great character/plot synergy.

Sign me up for all books with cold case detective Van Reed! Plus the end has me needing answers yesterday. I loved the twist on Van’s unique ability in helping solve cases. There is no holding her back when she’s on the path to cracking a case. From a nightmare past to a determined detective on a mission to save others before time runs out. If you love a good detective case please consider adding this to your future TBR! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is my first book by Jess Lourey and I can tell you it won’t be my last! Jess really knows how to tell a story to get you hooked from the start. A great thriller that will have you guessing “whodunit.” I will be patiently waiting to read more about Reed and Steinbeck. 🤞🏽

Thanks NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer/Lourey for the e-ARC.

I will read ANYTHING by Jess Lourey. This kept me gripped the entire way, and I love the way Ms Lourey writes. I will definitely be buying a physical copy.

4 stars!

Thank you @netgalley @Thomas&Mercer

A true crime mystery that reads like a popcorn thriller. Was I here for it? Absolutely.

It’s creepy, mysterious, heart wrenching (check trigger warnings), and strong female leads. I was trying to out the puzzle together but ultimately didn’t figure it all out! A quick read. Past and present.

Definitely add this to your TBR if you like crime fiction/mysteries!!

Thank you to Netgalley for a review copy of Jess Lourey's newest thriller. I love her work, but almost didn't take this one to review. The cover made it look like horror, and I don't read that genre. However, it isn't at all. Yes, the content/subject is horrific, but it's delivered in Lourey's outstandingly twisty thriller technique.

I'm so glad I took a chance on this one. The twists and turns are earned and not just thrown in for theatrics. The plot is believable. Jess really did her research on this one to come up with a character trait so unique, but realistic it made me do a little research of my own. Wow.

Jess is a master of broken but functional characters, sprinkling in little bits of backstory in a seamless manner that allows us to get to know the character without hitting us over the head with a detail.

I hope this one becomes book one of series because I absolutely LOVE the main characters and can't wait to see what crime they solve next.

I raced through this on on the drive back from Colorado and it did not disappoint!

Set in Minnesota (my home state!), it follows Van Reed who works for the BCA cold case division - she’s the point person in charge of solving a case from the 1980’s in which 2 girls went missing. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a good mystery that kept me interested. This one definitely fit the bill! It also looks to be the first of a series in which each book is a difference case. I’ll definitely be adding book 2 to my TBR on Goodreads when it becomes available!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! It releases Sept 19 - be sure to add it to your TBR!

I thank Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I was hooked right from the first page. The MC is so flawed, brilliant, and so...human which I love very much. She is also very relatable. I also loved Harry.. I wish Harry will be in the 2nd book. I also love the thriller mystery vibe going on all through out the book. I will surely pick up the next in this series.

This is the first I’ve read by this author. I enjoyed the slow burn, yet pulpy and tense atmosphere created. Kept me engaged throughout and shocked me with some intriguing twists and turns. Keen to read some more of this author’s books now!