Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Reaping by Jess Lourey in exchange for an honest review. I found a new author to read! I really enjoyed this book and the series. I liked that it felt like a dark Nordic book, similar to Sten or Nesbo. Definitely an author to keep an eye on.

I always seem to devour her books no matter what their about. I loved both of the MCs in this series, they very easily could be so annoying and uptight and really piss you off… but the way the author writes their personalities makes them likeable. They are not perfect and they have some secrets but they are believable and they make them human. I liked that they cared about each other. Van was hanging shit on Harry the whole time and because this book was largely told from Harry’s POV it was great because we got to see what his mind was doing. The case was creepy AF!!! The people in the small town…eeek I would run a mile and need an exorcism to get the creep factor away from me tbh!! It was so good though I guessed this and then that and honestly she got my ass… I didn’t know who did what and I love that for me. I don't feel as if there is anything negative about this book as I loved the entire thing. I just wish it was longer!

This is my new favorite series. Jess Lourey can’t write the next one fast enough. The two detectives are great characters, each harboring secrets of their own. The mystery was great. I love don’t know how she comes up with her ideas but they are original. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and author an eARC of this book, I regret not getting to read it prior to publication day, but am so glad that I finally got to enjoy it!

Harry Steinbeck and Evangeline Reed are unlikely partners- Harry as a rule following forensic scientist and Evangeline as the rule breaking BCA agent. After a recent death is linked to a cold case from 1998 in Alku, Minnesota, Steinbeck and Reed are tasked with investigating these crimes. The people of Alku are stuck in their traditions, ultimately living a life of isolation and having a deep mistrust of outsiders. Steinbeck and Reed seem to be hitting dead ends at every turn of their investigation, but once the children of Alku begin disappearing, they know they have to ramp up their efforts to catch the monster responsible.

This is the second book in the Steinbeck and Reed series- (the first book is The Taken Ones)- but it definitely works as a standalone as well. I read The Reaping before reading The Taken Ones and though there were mentions of things that had happened in the first book, Lourey gives the reader enough information to get a full picture without completely re-capping the first book. Harry and Evangeline work well as partners and I found them both to be likable characters. I found the people of Alku fascinating and I was really intrigued to find out more about their traditions and what secrets they were keeping buried. I enjoyed reading Rannie’s point of view, it felt well done and gave the reader a good understanding of him and his limitations. (I especially enjoyed all of the rhymes he makes up, a few of them made me chuckle).

This book was a really fast read, I didn’t want to put it down! The ending definitely had me surprised, and the epilogue actually made my jaw drop.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this eARC of The Reaping by Jess Lourey.

I didn't realize this was a sequel! I wish I hadn't read this book before reading the first one. I may have enjoyed the first one before reading this one. I feel like I missed a couple of things that may have been mentioned from the first book. I've have that book on my next read to see what I missed out on. Overall, the book was pretty good and the suspense got me. Just wish I read in the correct order.

I feel like I can't properly rate this since I didn't realize it was part of a series. I haven't read the first one and if I had I think some things would've clicked in place better. It was a good book with great suspense but it took awhile for the suspense to build. But I want to read the first so I can better evaluate. I liked the partnership of Harry and Van. Polar opposites but they both have their secrets and somehow gravitate to each other. I really warmed to the kids in this story. You just want to protect them.
It wasn't predictable which I appreciate and the ending was great. Nice cliffhanger.

I didn't realize this was a sequel and I hadn't read the first book. I wonder if I might have enjoyed it more if I had. 3 stars.

The Second book in the series we follow forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck and agent Van Reed that are a team trying catch a kidnapper who has returned to Alku, Minnesota. Twenty-five years earlier, a family was murdered there and now kids in Alku start to disappear. TAs they are trying to find the truth to what happened, Harry has to face memories of his sister being taken. This has scary elements along with suspense and mystery. I love small town settings.

I hope the series continues as I enjoyed both books.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Reaping by Jess Lourey.

I know that I enjoyed the first book of this series, but I just couldn't get into this one. It could be a me problem, but there was just way too much going on, and it hedged on the side of supernatural, which just isn't my thing. The ratings are great though, so I believe that it was an enjoyable book, just not for me.

In The Reaping by Jess Lourey, forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck and agent Van Reed join forces to catch a kidnapper who has returned to the quiet, mysterious town of Alku, Minnesota. Twenty-five years earlier, a family was murdered there, but no one was ever caught. Now, as they investigate this old case, kids in Alku start to disappear. To find the truth, Harry has to face painful memories of his own sister being taken. This scary, suspenseful story explores the dark secrets hidden in a small, creepy town.

I really enjoyed the second installment of the Steinbeck and Reed story especially as readers were able to learn more about Harry.

I hope Harry and Van continue to work together in the future! Lourey's books can always be trusted to be engaging and thrilling from beginning to end!

This is my seventh book by this author so to say I am a fan is a given. This book was great.

As you follow Steinbeck and Reed through a tough case that involves children in a small Minnesota town you will be holding your breath. Cringing as the pieces start falling into place. It makes you feel like you are in the dark and dreary woods. Along the wet streets. In the motel as they are trying to get some rest. These two stop at nothing to get at the truth. To solve a delicate and very hard case. Starting with a cold case they start with a home for serial killers. For old and what appears to be helpless serial killers.

When Harry and Van start looking into the things that are happening in Alku, MN they are in for a big discovery. More than just the cold case they are there to investigate. More than one man's brutal murder. They visit the nursing home where the serial killers are kept and get to know a few of the people running the place. Employees. The people in this small town are strange. They have a way of doing things that may not be exactly friendly for strangers. Or residents in some cases.

Seems Harry and Van care more about the children of this town than their own parents at times. Harry is dealing with a lot of guilt over his sister's abduction years ago. Van is still coming to terms with what she endured at the hands of a cult leader in a commune. Each has their problems but they are always there for each other too. When the children start disappearing things start to fall into place for these two detectives. They have info that will help wrap things up but is it as they thought. Could it be something else or someone else.... I did not figure this one out. I thought it was one person but I was WRONG... That doesn't happen a lot.

Thank you #NetGalley, #thomas&mercer for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five big stars.

I loved the first book in the series and was super excited for this one - it did not disappoint! A little slower paced in the beginning but definitely delivered.

I really enjoyed this spooky, missing persons read. This book is technically second in a series, and it can be read as a standalone, but given how good it was, I would definitely read the first one before diving into this one. Partners Harry and Evangeline have good chemistry and each has an interesting backstory and their inner demons.

This story takes place in a creepy, isolated town where something isn't right... and people go missing. The community is descended from Finnish folk and live a restricted life with limited access to internet, electronics and the outside world. I really liked the folklore element, with this idea of vampires, witches and monsters. There's also a supernatural element as Evangeline has sorts of 'visions'.

To add, there's the secondary mystery of Harry's missing sister, an unsolved case from many years before, and Harry's continual hunt to find her or what happened to her. The book itself did a great job of misleading the reader so that the end was very surprising. I know I was shocked.

A solid thriller read- I will definitely be reading the next book in the series!

After reading The Taken Ones, I was thrilled to get my hands on The Reaping. While this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the first book in the series. Once again, Jess has reminded me why I love her books.

This book was… strange. That’s the best way I can put it. The characters were strange, the case was strange, the town was strange… it was all just strange. This was book two in the series and definitely stood on it’s own. This was unique, for sure. Ultimately, I enjoyed the first book more and found this one to be just… strange.

This is an excellent story that proves how much weight there is for a series in these characters. Atmospheric, twisty, surprising, and a great exploration of the legacy of trauma.

This book exceeded all my expectations. Initially, I was hesitant to pick it up because it’s written in third-person POV, while the first book was in first-person POV. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the shift, but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. This installment is far more intense than the first, keeping me guessing the entire time as I tried to figure out who the villain was. Both main characters were fantastic, and I found Henry’s backstory—especially the truth about what happened to his sister—absolutely captivating. That ending left me speechless; I’m practically on my knees, eagerly waiting for Jess Lourey to release book three. I highly recommend this—go read it! .

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the Arc . This Arc was provided in exchange for my honest review.

DNF

I absolutely loved the first book of this series, The Taken Ones (5 stars!!). This one started really slow and I just couldn't get into the story. I'm a huge, huge, huge fan of this author's thrillers and I will absolutely look forward to her next one!

🗣 Thank you to netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

After thoroughly enjoying the first book in this series, I was excited to get my hands on book two. This time we get Harry’s perspective, told in third-person, as he and Van head to Northeast Minnesota to work a brutal murder which may be connected to a serial killer who’s been incapacitated and locked up for years.

Once there, they learn the town of Alku is hiding far more than just old world rituals. As they work to uncover the truth behind not only the murder(s) but also the town, Harry also grapples with his past haunting him and the guilt he feels for his sister’s disappearance.

Louery’s continual great development of side characters along with a unique plot makes this book hard to put down. As with book one, I also loved seeing Harry and Van work together, their personalities complementing each other in the way all great crime duos do.

The only downside to being a fan of this series is the waiting for each new book to come out.

If Jess Lourey writes it, I'm reading it. Her books rooted in Minnesota are always so captivating and unique. No one can write a chilling mystery quite like her. I liked this book, but it wasn't my favorite. I failed to connect with the plot and characters through a majority of it. I just felt like I needed something extra to ignite it a little in the middle.