Jess Lourey's The Reaping is twisted and to those who haven't encountered small towns, centred on aberrant supernatural beliefs about conventional deities or less mainstream mythological creatures, a story like this may seem fanciful. The families that Jess writes about are usually what are considered 'normal', and she ever so delicately slices into their soft underbelly to expose the rot that festers within.

In The Reaping, as the connection, based on respect and trust, grows between two damaged souls we've met in previous books, Van and Harry, a recent murder connected to a cold case, shows what happens when a whole twisted community happens to be 'family'. All over the world, there are pockets of cult like groups associated with belief systems that give them permission to do the most awful things to one another. And awful things they do, especially to children.

Jess Lourey's books are the honest antidote to the concept of 'stranger danger'. Because it is almost never a stranger.

The Reaping is the second book in The Steinbeck and Reed series, though I think you can read them as a stand alone. Steinbeck and Reed are working a cold case that seems to have a strange connection to a new case. They have to head out to this small strange town but for Steinbeck it’s too close to his home town that holds a lot of ghosts for him.

The tension of this town was insane. You just knew they had so much to hide. The way they didn’t like outsiders and just the evasiveness! It was great! The town creeped me out, along with the founding families. I loved that sense that you just didn’t know what was going on but you’re sure someone’s lying! Add in the mystery of Steinbecks family it had it all!

Thank you Jess Lourey and Netgalley for my copy for honest review

Wow, what a ride! This book is a total game-changer. It's got everything you could ask for: gripping plot twists, characters you'll root for, and writing so vivid you'll feel like you're right there in the story. Trust me, once you start, you won't be able to put it down. 5 stars all the way!

The Reaping by Jess Lourey is a follow up to The Taken Ones but can be read as a standalone novel. Steinbeck and Reed are back at it again trying to solve a case that occured in Northern Minnesota. It's about a group of people who have had children disappear in the past and now it's happening again. They will do anything to protect their traditions and their way of life. What secrets are they keeping and can Steinbeck and Reed figure out what is happening before it's too late? Another hit from Jess Lourey! All of her books have me losing sleep but I keep coming back for more!

This has several ingredients that are pretty much guaranteed to make me enjoy a book. A continuation of a series I'm already into? A weird town? Secret rites and rituals? Buddy cops with their own individuals demons and/or baggage? Sign me the eff up. This kind of reminds me of Graham Masterton's Patel and Pardoe series, but with less supernatural accoutrements (and gore). I love that series and I'm starting to love this one, so I hope it continues.

I really loved this book but I had a really hard time connecting with the story at times and the pacing was slower than I preferred because I didn't read the previous novel accompanying it.
It was still enjoyable to read. I would definitely give it 5 stars for creep factor.

I'm a huge fan of Jess Lourey and after reading The Taken Ones, I was hooked on the characters in that book! When I got the opportunity to read The Reaping early, I jumped at the chance and was definitely not disappointed! It was wonderfully mysterious and my mind was not only horrified but continuously trying to figure out who (or what) was the guilty party! I'm thrilled to say that the ending was as satisfying as I knew it would be (Jess Lourey books always are)!
I'm absolutely excited to report that the author told me there will be more books in this series and I personally cannot wait!

I’m disappointed to DNF this book since I saw so many good review for the first book in this detective series, but The Reaping was so slow and offered very little tension/suspense for a mystery/thriller and for me to stay engaged. Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc.

Obsessed! I was on the edge of my seat turning the page needing more. I was completely captured by the story and drawn in. I was hooked from the first chapter! Jess is a favorite author of mine and I’m always waiting for her next book. I’m always pushing her books on others and they never regret picking her up and this will be no exception

The dark path which forms the plot of The Reaping gets darker and darker as Reid and Steinbeck work frantically to prevent more murders. Again, Jess Lourey has given us a thrill a minute with clever plotting, sharp dialogue, incredible characters and further growth in internal relationships which will no doubt add much to the series as it develops (which I am so hoping it does). The back stories to the main characters are fascinating and how they influence their work as detectives is immensely satisfying to observe. Another winner from this talented author.

I applaud Jess for diving deeper into the characters --- not only does The Reaping detail horrifying lore, death and secrets in this small town we are allowed into the mind of one of our main characters, forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck. The cold case he and BCA agent Van Reed are on challenges them on personal levels, we cannot imagine .... this alone has me excited for another in this series!!!
The cold case our team has been assigned to has elements of horror, mystery, monsters, creepiness ... in the distant woods along Minnesota's Lake Superior.
I found it hard to put down at times as the unexplained creepiness had me literally creeped out.
Best of all, the tone of this story had me leaning one way with the who/what done it and I was WAY off .... (thankfully)
I'll leave the detective work to Agent Van Reed - and Harry Steinbeck.

Book two in the Steinbeck and Reed series follows Harry and Van as they investigate a recent homicide linked to a 25-year-old cold case involving the murder of a family of five in the secluded, creepy, and uncooperative community of Alku, Minnesota. The case intensifies when the children of Alku start disappearing, causing tensions to escalate as the residents of the town close ranks even tighter, insisting that the children are not missing, but refusing to let Harry and Van see them.

The secondary plot involves Harry’s back story and sheds light on how his by-the-book persona came to be.

What I like about this book is that it is a wonderful rollercoaster of twists and turns that will captivate you from start to finish, and just when you think you've got it all figured out, think again!

I look forward to reading the continued adventures of Steinbeck and Reed and cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment of this fantastic series. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and author Jess Lourey for the advance read copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

#24. What a story. This is book 2 in the Reed and Steinbeck series. You do not need read the first one (The Taken Ones), but it does help you to know and understand the two BCA agents, Reed and Steinbeck. Just when you think you figure out what's going, you don't. This is about a small town/village/settlement of a group of people originally from Finland called Alku. This place happens to house a prison for aging serial killers: the worst of the worst. In this village, people are going missing and being murdered, their heads completely caved in. This group of people are very much into keeping their lives private and living like they are in the 1800s and they are very tight-lipped and will not help law enforcement. Time is running out for these agents to figure out who is behind the gruesome murders and missing people. I'm really hoping there will be a third in this series, as these two characters are completely different but are so great together. I definitely recommend this one and the series in general. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Be still my folk horror loving heart!

The Reaping, by Jess Lourey, melds Folk Horror and Crime and gives you a small town you will NOT want to visit.

While the book has a slower start to it, it’s very atmospheric and I found myself loving our two main characters.

I will say that it took about 40% of the book before I was truly in, but once I was, I was truly invested.

Definitely uncomfortable and, at times, heart rending.

A good read!

• ARC via Publisher

I freaking love Steinbeck and Reed so much! I had no idea where this book was taking us, but man was it a fun ride. I love getting to know both characters more and loved the somewhat paranormal aspects of the book.

I read "The Quarry Girls" and loved it, so I was excited to see this one available. I didn't realize this was #2 in a series so it took me a little to get comfy with the characters. I did find it to be well-written and even though I'm not a huge fan of detective stories the plot kept me engaged. Some things did seem a little repetitive but overall I enjoyed the book and will go back and read the first one before continuing the series!

Harry and Van are back! The Reaping is the follow up to The Taken Ones and provides a lot more of Harry’s backstory. As usual, I would suggest reading the books in order. These characters are very different. Harry is extremely regimented and goes by the book. Van, well wherever she goes it’s like a tornado surrounds her. Things wind up everywhere and she is more than willing to break some rules to get results.
The case they are investigating, takes us very close to where Harry grew up. Alku is a very small town, with rather strange customs and beliefs. As the story progresses, things get more and more complicated and bizarre the longer they are here. We also travel back in time and learn more about Harry and the sister he lost.
I was reading this while exercising on my treadmill and logged a few extra miles so I could find out what was going on in this town. The ending appears to set these two up for the next book. This town was definitely creepy, and I did not guess the correct identity of the killer. There’s just something about cold cases that fascinates me, and this story was no exception. An enjoyable read.

It took a bit for me to get into, but then I was hooked by the strange town and weird people! The two detectives are good opposites that balance each other out. The plot was unique and tied in multiple timelines, which slowly reveals what's going on.

There are a TON of characters, which does make it a bit confusing and hard to follow at times. This was a bit gorier than I usually like, but thankfully it wasn't often.

You definitely don't need to read the first one to fully understand this one, it's standalone!

A tense and gripping read. Small town - encased in mystery, secrets, blood ties, common history, and no outsiders allowed. An almost claustrophobic nightmare with obstacles everywhere and personal demons scratching for release. A satisfying end, and could lead to a sequel ...

This has several ingredients that are pretty much guaranteed to make me enjoy a book. A continuation of a series I'm already into? A weird town? Secret rites and rituals? Buddy cops with their own individuals demons and/or baggage? Sign me the eff up. This kind of reminds me of Graham Masterton's Patel and Pardoe series, but with less supernatural accoutrements (and gore). I love that series and I'm starting to love this one, so I hope it continues.