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.

I loved The Taken Ones so much, that I could not wait to get my hands on The Reaping. And it did not disappoint.

Alku is a small town in Minnesota populated by 7 families fleeing persecution in Finland centuries ago. Missing children and grisly murders going back over 20 years with corpses' heads that are absolutely obliterated. 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 Harry to be somewhat rigid and stiff at times, this book introducing his backstory made me understand A LOT and I thought he was a very well-written character. I love this series, was very excited to get more of Harry's perspective/story this time and I cannot wait to see what is next for Van and Harry.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

*The Reaping* by Jess Lourey is a chilling, suspenseful thriller that delves into dark secrets and haunting pasts. When a recent murder is linked to the unsolved massacre of a family in Alku, Minnesota, FBI agents Harry Steinbeck and Evangeline Reed are pulled into an increasingly sinister investigation. As more children go missing and the case turns darker, Harry must confront his own traumatic past to uncover the truth. Lourey weaves tension, mystery, and psychological depth into a gripping story that keeps readers on edge until the final twist.

Having loved the first book in the Steinbeck and Reed series, I couldn’t wait to dive into book two. Although I usually avoid series, this one is an exception. Harry Steinbeck and Van Reed are back with another ominous case which absolutely held my attention.

The overall plot is captivating with shades of creepy vibes. The town of Alku is unsettling Everyone seems to be hiding secrets, adding layers of mystery and tension to the story. While Harry and Van are trying to solve the mystery of children disappearing, they also feel targeted and are struggling with secrets from their own past.

To me, the character development wasn’t as strong as in the first book but I still enjoyed this read. I highly recommend reading the first book before this one to get a better understanding of the characters. Overall, this is another great book in the series. The ending was left open for a book three, and when it happens, I will be there for it.

Jess Lourey has this way of writing about a subject without actually saying the words out loud. She writes of a time before there was social media and every one had access to everyone's business on the internet. 1998 was close to that turning point. I think it's easier to solve crimes today than it was then. That's lucky for Agent Steinbeck!

I enjoy the interactions between the two agents, which is probably why I continue to read their series. This book leaves plenty to the imagination while still taking the reading on a complete journey.

Loved it and would give the book 4.5 stars. Love Van and Harry's chemistry together. Alku is one of the creepiest places and the inhabitants are even creepier. Is anyone living there "normal?" The gene pool is shrinking and it doesn't seem like the people branch out when marrying and having children. Strange doesn't even describe the people. Their rituals and beliefs are scary. Alku is one place I wouldn't want to get a flat tire​, with all the strange, unexplained murders that happen there. ​Who would want to work at a serial killer nursing home? Plus, it was actually next to the school!!! Everything about that town was wrong. ​ From the start I was completely wrong who was behind the killings. With the people of Alku there were ​w​ay too many suspects, the list was extremely long. ​There were so many twists and turns, the story kept me guessing until the end. The poor children. Do their parents really love them? Is family everything? In this book we got to know Harry Steinbeck a bit more and we met his mother. Myrna Steinbeck is something else. Growing up in that house was not sunshine and roses. It seemed like Myrna hated her daughter. Poor Caroline. I really want to know what happened to her. Van definitely has a hunch who might be behind the disappearance. ​

Definitely recommend the book. This was a great mystery/thriller. Loved the characters, writing style and story. I can't wait to find out what's next for Van and Harry. I really hope Van is going to help with the mystery of Caroline's disappearance. The next book can't come fast enough. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

​I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

I love Jess Lourey and will always be a fan and read all her thrillers…..but this one is probably my least favorite. It was slow going and really WEIRD. I was slightly disappointed because I really enjoyed The Taken Ones (book one of the series.) Jess did a great job building up the atmosphere and really nailed the creepy vibe. I liked learning more about Harry’s background! I say still pick it up and give it a shot. It had lots of great qualities about it but could have moved faster.

This was a good addition to the Steinbeck and Reed series. The town they had to go investigate in was so creepy! The serial killer nursing home was also really creepy!! I would not have been okay going there! The killers identity was a surprise to me, so I appreciated that.

*3.5 stars rated up

I really enjoyed The Taken Ones so was excited to read the next in the series. Unfortunately this one didn’t have the same tension as The Taken Ones - not sure I can put my finger on it, but something was missing. Van and Harry are back chasing down an elusive killer.

This had all of Jess Lourey’s signature twists and turns meshed with a little supernatural. It’s a little slow to start but once about 30ish % in it started picking up. Great atmospheric vibes with some very clever writing. Can be read a standalone but you’ll miss some of the main character’s back stories.

I was sent both the ARC and ALC and I have to say once I switched to audio - the narration by James Daniels was brilliant and highly entertaining.

Many thanks to Brilliance Publishing for ALC 💌
Many thanks to Thomas Mercer for digital ARC 💌

OMG wow. I don't do a lot of cop novels but I love this author so I picked this one up. It is gorgeous. I learned some things about forensic science I did not want to learn.
Why does this author write stuff that completely captivates me so much?

The Reaping by Jess Lourey is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The novel masterfully blends suspense, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural, creating a story that’s both thrilling and deeply engrossing. I couldn’t put it down—Lourey’s writing pulls you in and refuses to let go. With its vivid characters and unexpected twists, the book would translate incredibly well to the big screen.

The Reaping is book 2 in the Steinbeck and Reed series by Jess Lourey. The first book, The Taken Ones, was one of my favorite thrillers so I have been looking forward to this book. A current murder up north is similar to a cold case from 1998 in which an entire family of five was murdered in their sleep. Steinbeck and Reed are asked to investigate the current murders with information from the previous murders. Steinbeck is from this area and his mother still lives close by in a huge mansion. She and Steinbeck have a fractured relationship from back when his sister disappeared and was never seen again. Harry doesn't talk about that time to anyone, not even Evangeline Reed, his partner.

As they are investigating, more children go missing. Who is taking the children and why can't they be found? Who would kill an entire family of 5 back in the 90's? What kind of evil is lurking in this town? Why is the prison for serial killers such a weird place? The staff are definitely hiding something, but what? The serial killer that's locked up there did similar killings to the one's they're investigating, but he is supposedly paralyzed. Is he really or is someone covering for him? As Harry and Evangeline get closer to finding out the truth they feel as if they're being watched and are targets themselves. Can they find out what's really happening before there are more people killed? Can they find the missing children before it's too late? What really happened to Harry's sister?

The Reaping is another solid entry to the series as we are learning more about the past of Harry and Evangeline. I rate The Reaping 4 stars with a good recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of The Reaping in exchange for a fair review. There's a creepy vibe to the book and a twist, but I didn't love it like I did The Taken Ones. I do love the characters of Steinbeck and Reed and hope to see them in the future. The book is available now. #TheReaping