This book was very slow. The characters were hard to keep track of. I wasn’t really interested in them or the plot. I also didn’t love the narrator.

*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 💌

I really enjoyed the story. I like cold cases and seeing them solved is the best. It was interesting seeing this town. Wild. I liked hearing about his sister and was so curious about that as well as the investigation they were on.

I wasn’t really fond of the narrator tho. He grew on me some but he was just ok.

This is the second book in the series but my first and I had no trouble following the plot. Either the books don't intertwine or the author does a good job of explaining what was needed from book one.

This is the perfect time to read this as we are heading into spooky season and this book is creepy. A current murder that resembles an old cold case. In an odd town that has founding families like in the olden days. This book really plays that up making it feel like it is historical rather than current.

Everyone has a secret and seems to be harboring everyone else's secrets. It's an atmospheric read with a horror vibe. That cover really sets the tone in this police procedural that feels more than that.

James Daniels is a new to me narrator. He helped bring the creepy, eerie atmosphere to life. The story was easy to follow and kept me engaged.

I listened to this one and I think I would’ve liked it better if I would’ve eyeball read it or read while I listened. The concept for this story is so cool and unique and I was excited to dive in and read another Jess Lourey story. I have loved all of her thrillers and I enjoyed this one as well it was just a little harder to keep up with while only listening to. This is definitely no fault of the authors and more so my personal flaw because I was distracted and couldn’t understand the depth of the story while listening. I also was confused because it is apart of a series, that I have read the first book of, but I was having trouble remembering anything that related to the characters or that first book. Overall I think if I were to read this series back to back and eyeball read instead of listen I would have understood it more and the twists and turns would’ve had a bigger impact.

The 2nd installment in the Reed & Steinbeck series was a win for me! THE REAPING follows Harry Reed and Evangeline Steinbeck’s first investigation as partners. I loved their dynamic, especially when they started to warm up to each other and crack little jokes. We get a peek in Harry’s traumatic past, adding a lot of depth to his character. The investigation takes place in Alku Minnesota, a HAUNTING insular small town filled with very secretive inhabitants. The setting made this crime fiction thriller feel incredibly unique to me. This is my third Jess Lourey book and I have enjoyed each one!

I thought James Daniels was the perfect narrator for this book. His tone and narration style really captured the Finnish folk vibe in a way that felt authentic. His delivery intensified the action scenes and added to the overall creepiness of Alku. He was also very expressive and made each character feel unique.

Thank you very much Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to read this ALC!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.5 hearts

I was surprised to see this was a different narrator than the first book until I realized the point of view is Harry Steinbeck rather than Van Reed. It's quite fascinating to have it and I wonder if all the books in the series will alternate this way. They both have secrets and fears on which we are getting more information.

I love that Harry is a germophobe. As a scientist, he knows the risks. He is the point of view here and I love that we get to know him and his past in The Reaping, as we got Van's in The Taken Ones. The Epilogue has always been in the other's point of view. I would highly recommend reading the books in order.

This team is part of a cold case squad at the BCA in Minnesota. Van has 10 years experience as a homicide detective in Minneapolis and made the switch to the BCA when her partner died (of a heart attack). Harry is a highly respected forensic scientist. They travel to a small Finnish village outside Duluth (Harry's home town) when a recent murder has similarities to a cold case of 25 years ago.

The investigation, as in the last book, is more difficult because the local homicide detective on the case is not helpful at all. The town is very insular and no one will provide information or answer questions beyond the small amount of details already known. Everyone in town is involved in their main business a psychiatric prison for serial killers Harry and Van keep looking at things and Van keeps having nightmares which lead her to ask about certain things.

When the town's children start disappearing, they dig deeper and try to work faster to save them. The Finnish legends and rituals holding the adults in solidarity. The horrors of the case are enough to make the team of Harry and Van even stronger.

I absolutely LOVE the alternating point of view which suits the presentation of Harry and Van between the books. The plots involve frustrating ignorance of the truth for the ease of overlooking it. The children force the light and improve the future. For me, the Minnesota settings are really fun since I have lived there. I appreciated the author's note on how she came to write this story and created fictional scenarios on top of some real places. I can't wait for more in this series!

Narration:
I am new to this narrator. It's a different narrator than the prequel and first book The Taken Ones. At first I didn't like that; I don't always do well with a narrator switch, particularly because I finished listening to the first book and went right on with this one. BUT then I found this book will be from Harry's point of view instead of Van's so it makes sense to have a male narrator. I enjoyed the performance of the male and female voices although it was mostly Harry's thoughts with a little dialogue between him and Van and some of the witnesses they questioned. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.

If the idea of a nursing home for serial killers doesn’t immediately peak your interest, I don’t know what will!!

Lourey has such a knack for using her hometown of Minnesota to create such haunting and incredibly atmospheric small town thrillers! I also loved how this one teeters a bit into folklore and horror as well! Truly unsettling and equally horrifying.

This story is a follow-up to *The Taken Ones* and also features the dynamic duo of Steinbeck and Reed. Although it can be enjoyed as a standalone, I always recommend reading the entire series for a fuller experience of the characters' development and backstories.

If you’re looking to build your #SpookySZN TBR, this is one you’ll want to include!

Be sure to stay for the author’s note, where you'll learn how a visit to a regional treatment center originally inspired this story!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

This was such a good book. I really enjoyed it. More than I thought I would. I loved the writing style. This book had me hooked from page one. This is a first for me by this author but will not be my last!!

This audiobook presents a captivating blend of mystery and darkness, offering a richly atmospheric experience. The story's intricate plot and deep, brooding themes create a compelling narrative that pulls listeners into a shadowy world filled with suspense and intrigue. The narrator’s delivery enhances the overall mood, adding depth to the suspenseful and sometimes unsettling moments.

The exploration of dark psychological elements and intense situations may be intense for some listeners, making this audiobook best suited for those who enjoy a more immersive and emotionally charged experience. The combination of a gripping plot and atmospheric narration ensures a memorable, if occasionally heavy, listening experience.

This audiobook captured my attention from the very first chapter and kept me on my toes and hooked the entire time. I did not wanna stop!

Another great book from Jess Lourey 😊 I’ve really been loving this authors books this year and this was an exciting sequel to book 1. Watching the mystery unravel was interesting and the narration was great. Def recommend for your next crime thriller read !

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate this thing called The New Jess Lourey Book! Let us rejoice.

Seriously folx, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: these books just keep getting better and better.

The Reaping is the second (well, second and a half if you count the short story that started it all) book in the Steinbeck and Reed series that began with “Catch Her in a Lie” and The Taken Ones. Whereas The Taken Ones focused on the current life and backstory of Agent Van Reed, The Reaping highlights Agent Harry Steinbeck’s past growing up in Duluth and how that shaped his current self. Both characters are intriguing, and only become more so when we read more about their pasts. Lourey is excellent at switching timelines, switching from past to present in a way that moves the plot forward while showing us how her protagonists got to be the way they are and WHY they do what they do.

I love the rapport between Van and Harry. I want to read many more of their cases, as their differences really work to their team advantage. Kinda like Mulder and Scully for the 21st century.

For those of you who’ve read and enjoyed Lourey’s other thrillers, there are some familiar themes here. Of course the book is set in Minnesota. Duh! Exploitation of children (Unspeakable Things, Litani), culty small towns (hello, Bloodline), and serial killers (The Quarry Girls) all make appearances in The Reaping, and it couldn’t make me happier. My peeps, there’s even an old asylum functioning as a sort of retirement home/assisted living facility for criminals. Which reminds me…tunnels (Quarry Girls again) are another familiar, super creepy, and claustrophobic setting. The dread is palpable!

I haven’t listened to many audiobooks in my time, but I’m really happy I listened to this one. I was initially on the fence about the narrator; wouldn’t the themes of the book be better with a woman narrator? But then I heard James Daniels’ different voices. The one he uses for Finnish Americans especially held my attention. Do I know how Finnish Americans speak? Nope, but I liked it. I also admired the way he embodied Ronny, the neurodivergent child of the earlier timeline.

If, however, scary things aren’t your jam, you might want to check out Lourey’s Murder by Month series featuring Mira James, which is a neat set of cozy mysteries set in, you guessed it, small town Minnesota, this time Battle Lake. But these are hilarious cozy mysteries, not super scary and creepy. AND they’re being reissued as I type this, one per month until next April. If you’re not addicted to Nut Goodies by the end of book one, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.

Many thanks to Thomas and Mercer for the ARC. All of the opinions above are entirely my own.
Five out of five really big stars!

I read the first one in this series and loved it. The second book was so hard to get into. It was slow and it felt like not much was happening. It just didn't hold my attention enough. The ending has a big twist but it takes so long to get there.

2.5⭐