Summer 1980: Three young girls walk into the woods in Minnesota. Only one walks out, and she is unable - or unwilling - to speak about what she saw in the woods. The missing girls become known as the Taken Ones.

Summer 2022: Police are called to a homicide, where a woman was buried alive. Cold-case detective Van Reed wonders why she was called until she sees the crime scene and sees that the victim is holding a chain that belonged to one of the Taken Ones. It is up to her and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck to figure out this case before someone else is taken.

I wanted to love this book. The premise sounded so good! But, instead, I liked it, which is really okay. This novel focuses on a morally-gray MC with a complicated past. It read like an old-timey private eye or detective novel, and, while that might sound interesting, it really just felt dated and a little (I’m sorry!) boring. But then! there were moments of straight up creepy ass descriptions, and I wanted - no, craved - more of that! If the whole novel resembled those moments, this would have, no doubt, been a five-star read. As it is, I was interested enough to stick with it, and I didn't guess the ending, and those are both pluses in my book!

This story features characters that were from the Amazon Original Story, Catch Her in a Lie, which, in my opinion, should be read before reading this novel. It definitely puts certain aspects of the main characters into perspective.

I'm a recent, devoted convert to Jess Lourey's novels. Unspeakable Things, Litani and Quarry Girls are some of my favourite books that I've read this year.

The Taken Ones is a more traditional Police Crime thriller, cold case detective Van Reed teams up with forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck. A woman has been buried alive, clutching a necklace that belonged to a girl who went missing over forty years ago.

It's got it all, a gruesome death, girls who went missing decades ago, a flawed cop with a troubled past, great character writing, and intricate plotting and twists.

I love Jess Lourey's empathetic character writing and she does a great job weaving it into a crime thriller. Past and present crimes, characters with deep backstories, plenty of suspects and witnesses forced to dredge up memories they'd rather forget.

It moves at a good pace considering the depth and detail.

Very highly recommended and I can't wait for the next in the series!


Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer

𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨💫

ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ᴏɴᴇs (sᴛᴇɪɴʙᴇᴄᴋ & ʀᴇᴇᴅ #1)
ᴊᴇss ʟᴏᴜʀᴇʏ
ᴛʜᴏᴍᴀs & ᴍᴇʀᴄᴇʀ
ᴘᴜʙ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: sᴇᴘᴛᴇᴍʙᴇʀ 𝟷𝟿 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹
✩✩✩✩

Back in 2019 I read 𝑈𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 by author @jesslourey and absolutely loved it! So when I recieved an early copy of Jess Loureys newest thriller 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑂𝑛𝑒𝑠 I was so excited! Not only did the synopsis sound amazing but it’s the first in a hopefully long series!

The storyline immediately grabbed my attention- missing girls, past & present timelines, and well developed characters. This was definitely a slow burn but it worked for this murder mystery and it was a great whodunit. I really thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong, thankfully(I mean who doesn’t want to be surpised?!). I loved how although this was a dark plot (murder, kidnapping, child abuse) there was a romance aspect as well!

QOTD: have you read any books by author @jesslourey?

SYNOPSIS: “Summer 1980: With no fear of a local superstition, three girls go into a Minnesota wood. Only one comes out. Dead silent. Memory gone. No trace of her friends. 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. Their common ground is the need 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.”

✨Special thanks @netgalley for the early copy! 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑂𝑛𝑒𝑠 is available September 19th!✨

#thetakenones#jesslourey
#thomasandmercer#boosktagram
#bookstagrammer#netgalley#kindle
#bookstabookclub#bookclub#books
#bookish#readersofinstagram#read
#readmorebooks#reading#reader

1am a huge fan of Jess Loure! She is a consistent thriller writer and has some awesome twists in her books! This book was no exception! In the first chapter, I was drawn in wanting to learn more about Rue, Amber and Lily!

This book starts out as Amber, Rue and her little sister, Lily are heading to swim in the creek. Just a short while late, Amber and Lily are missing and Rue comes out destroyed, her feet are burned from the hot pavement and she is emotionally wrecked! The book fast forwards to 2022, a crime scene where a woman is buried alive and a necklace from one of the girls is found and Detective Van Reed is called in from the BCA, cold case unit. Her and her partner
Harry Steinbeck are trying to solve the cold case and assisting in the current case. Both Reed and Steinbeck have a history that is unknown to their partner. Reed has a cult background and some of this is discussed in the book. That, paired with her sixth sense of sorts, make the book so interesting! I really wish we learned a little more about Reeds backstory and the lives of Rue, Amber and Lily! I really hope there will be more Reed and Steinbeck books, especially with that ending! I enjoyed this book! Preorder this book now!!
Great thrilling read!

Thank you to @netgalley @thomasmerceruk and @jesslourey for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for my honest opinion. My opinion is my own and has not been influenced in any way.

This is my second read by this author. I enjoyed it yes but I don't this is my top favorite I feel like that still belongs to The Quarry girls. But still it was good well worth it, kept my attention and wanting more for sure. It was a quick read for me.

"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.