★★★☆☆ (3.5)

Ahhhh Jess Lourey, my go-to. It was fun to be back with Steinbeck and Reed, and as usual this was a very easy-to-read, well-paced thriller. However, I do think that was the weakest of the series so far. Steinbeck isn't really in it a whole lot, and it's mainly regurgitating Van's past which we largely know about, rather than the live case at hand. I'm interested to see if the series continues from here!

cw// murder, mentions of cult, mentions of child abuse, mentions of sexual abuse

Last year I stumbled upon The Taken Ones and fell in love with chaotic Evangeline (Van) Reed and follow-the-rules, stoic Harry Steinbeck. The Taken Ones was told mainly from Van’s POV but it became very clear quite quickly that there were more secrets under the surface belonging to both characters. The second Reed & Steinbeck book, The Reaping, brought this perfectly mismatched duo back for another slightly creepy, X-files-ish case told mostly from Harry’s POV.

I took my time with The Laughing Dead – I knew the characters and I knew that no matter where Lourey took us it was going to be a bit of a crazy ride. So I decided to sit back and enjoy it page by page. I was not disappointed. Part murder investigation, part cold case, part thrill ride and all emotional rollercoaster. I mean, any book that can make me cry is a winner and this one did that more than once.

"Four paws up." -Owl.

Three teenage girls are found dead in central Minnesota—each with her mouth twisted into a chilling grin, as if laughing at a deadly joke no one else can hear. Authorities eventually close the case, and the town forgets the horror. The media dubs them The Laughing Dead.

Decades later, cold case agent Evangeline "Van" Reed is called to a crime scene where the victim bears that same grotesque smile. But this time, the killer has left something behind—Van’s own police ID. Now, she’s not just investigating the case; she’s the prime suspect. And with secrets she’s never even shared with her partner, forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck, she might not be able to prove her innocence before the past comes back to claim her.

I really enjoyed this book—an easy 4 out of 5 stars for me. It had the feel of an old-school detective crime novel while incorporating modern elements seamlessly. The writing was smooth, the story easy to follow, and I found myself flying through the pages. It kept me engaged from start to finish, leaving me wanting more. Overall, a highly satisfying read!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC copy. I’ll definitely be recommending this to other readers!

This is the third in the Steinbeck/Reed series, and I liked it the best so far. The first book focused mostly on getting to know Van. The second focused on getting to know Harry. And now, this third one, it feels a little more like we're off to the races.

The plot of this one was really grabby, with twists and turns and tangles that I was not expecting. Without spoiling anything, we finally get to see a real intertwining of Van and Harry's pasts. I like Harry more and more as the story develops. I like Van, too, but her impulsivity sometimes irks me, although I realize that's important for the story. And Owl! Omg, I love Owl. <3 She really added a lot to the storyline, with the scenes where she's included being used to bring out more of Van's personality and also bringing out more of Harry's.

The confession from Van to Harry at the end did not go how I predicted it would. I did feel like Van was overreacting a bit when she went to see Harry <spoiler>and his sister</spoiler> at his house at the end, but I also felt like that overreaction was consistent with Van's anxiety in general, especially with a male relationship. I'm really looking forward to the fourth in the series.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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

Three 16 year old girls died in one week in 1986 in Minnesota and the only thing linking them was the creepy smile on their corpses. Decades later, cold case agent Evangeline “Van” Reed is called to the scene of a crime where the victim wears that same horror-movie smile. But this time someone seems to be sending a message: Van’s police ID has turned up at the scene, making her the prime suspect.

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. I still find Van to be rash and impulsive and find Harry to be somewhat rigid and stiff at times, but I get it and think they really balance each other out well. I love this series, was very excited to wrap up some loose ends we've been tugging on for the last few books, and I cannot wait to see what is next for Van and Harry.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love this series! A cold case from the 80s collides with a present-day murder, hitting a little too close to home in book three of the Steinbeck and Reed series. I love this crime-solving duo and was glad to finally have some resolution to all of the lingering mysteries from their pasts. Lourey's signature setting of creepiness and terror reigned throughout this story, creating a chilly atmosphere filled with doom. The eerie smiles of the dead, the creepy cult, the nightmarish visions, the paranoia of possibly losing touch with reality...take your pick! This book was downright scary. I felt like I was going crazy at times. The nail-biting suspense and unexpected twists had me flying through the pages. The ending was completely satisfying. I just hope that it's not the end of this series. These characters have grown on me and are now a part of my ever-growing literary family. And now we have Owl!! Owl was my absolute favorite part of this story. This adorable dog stole my heart, and she deserves to have more story time. So. fingers crossed for more books to come. I highly recommend this book and series to all my fellow thriller fans!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

This is my first read by Lourey and won't be the last. I enjoyed it. It was an easy read that was hard to put down. I was invested in Van and her story, past and present. The author created a world that I was weaved into.

We follow Van as she tries to solve a cold case of murders that happened in the 80s only to repeat in the present. She has to come to terms with some pretty harsh memories of the past as well as focus on the issue in the present. While a lot of authors muddy the story by bouncing back and forth between time lines, Lourey does not. She transitions flawlessly.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for this opportunity to resd this ARC.

Third in the Reed/Steinbeck series. This one returns to Van as the main character. A woman she knows is murdered, with Van's own ID left at the scene. The case is similar to several deaths that happened in the 80s. She and Harry investigate the cold case, while she also searches for answers about Harry's sister. This was really good and I hope there are more in the series, though it ended in a way that wrapped up a lot and could be a finale. 4 stars.

What? Another Steinbeck and Reed book by the fabulous Jess Lourey? SIGN ME UP! The third book (plus a short story prequel) in the Evangeline "Van" Reed and Harry Steinbeck series finds the duo coming together again in yet another creepy and weird murder mystery caper. Author Jess Lourey is the best at weaving a tale of horror, mystery, intrigue and all over fabulousness and this book does not disappoint.

I loved the way the story had a 1980's bent as well as current day and the level of creepiness and mystery --whew. It left me with an open mouth at times as I finally figured out the connections. Van has visions that lead the reader to wonder....did she do it? Is she losing it? Was her previous life the reason that she is the person she is today? Patience, my friends, it will all be revealed. If you have been reading this series so much will be answered for you but it will leave you gasping. I guarantee it.

Who doesn't love a story with a rescue dog in it? Way to tug at the heart strings. Lourey must stay awake at nights coming up with these amazing stories that flow so expertly from her computer to paper form. She has become one of my favorite mystery writers and that is saying a lot in this day of some really superb mystery writers.

No spoilers here if you have been a fan of Steinbeck and Reed but trust me--you won't want to miss this one. It is phenomenal and will stick in your mind long after you finish the final page. Well, done, Jess Lourey, well done. Please write another one.

Big thanks to the author, NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

10 out of five stars!!!!
I love so much about these characters, this installment in the Reed and Steinbeck series, and the conclusion of this book!
I don’t know how she does it, but Jess Lourey must weave creepy dream blankets with her words. I was so creeped out in at least 2 specific moments in this one (no spoilers). The MN setting, the throwback memories to the ‘80’s, the cold case aspects, the sweet love from Owl the fostered doggo, all of it!!
Thank you to Jess Lourey, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an Advanced Copy.

As Van Reed looks into the 1986 cold case of “The Laughing Dead”, three girls found dead with unnatural smiles on their faces, she uncovers horror that hits way too close to home.

Jess Lourey is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and I can’t get enough of the Reed and Steinbeck series! This third installment was phenomenal, and I hope to see these two again. I wish we had seen more of Harry in this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this captivating eARC.

Police procedurals are my bread and butter, and if you love mysteries and you haven't yet read Jess Lourey's wonderful Steinbeck and Reed stories, you should read this one. A heartfelt series where good and bad can get a bit murky, but it is somehow entirely relatable.

Jump in with The Laughing Dead, and I can almost promise you that you will want to catch up. Van finds her true family in this story, even though she must turn her back on her birth family. I loved every word.

I’m definitely still trying to wrap my head around this book and what I feel for it. When I saw that I was approved to read this ARC through netgalley, I quickly read the first book in the series and then attempted to read the second(though it became a DNF). Thankfully, this book was still easy to understand without having read the second in the series. I really enjoyed Owl the dog, he was probably my favorite part of this book. I liked how we were able to get some closure on Van’s childhood, but there’s something about this book that just doesn’t sit right with me and I’m not too sure how to explain it or what it really is. Because of this, I’m rating it a 3/5.

I was so graciously given an ARC of this title.

I found out it was a series and started on the previous books before this one. For some reason I can't connect with this series, I think it may be the pace. I will say that out of all the books, I did like this one the most...so take that as you will.

Van Reed and Harry Steinbeck are back. Told in two timelines where the facts of the then and now are slowly revealed, showing the connection.
Van is questioning what she actually does when she sleeps. Harry calls her to a homicide and something of hers ties her to the crime. As more bodies pile up, Van becomes less and less sure of herself. Oh, and a member of Harry’s family, who was taken years ago, may be tied to this case too.
A lot of information was revealed so I have to wonder if there will be more adventures for these two? If it is the end, it wrapped up nicely. If not, the stage is set a developing relationship between these two.

I get excited when a mystery/thriller has 1980's throwback moments. It takes you to another whole place and time. The Laughing Dead picked up pretty much right after the last book ended. Van, starts having nightmares and visions again which can only mean one thing, crime is being committed. Van is avoiding Steinbeck after the realization of thinking her "father" aka the cult leader abducted Steinbeck's sister Caroline. Van is looking into this possibility while also fostering a dog, which I think is the brightest spot in the book. Of course Van, with her lack of social skills, doesn't let anyone else know what she is doing about looking into her Father when two women are murdered and their cases match some cold cases from the 80's. Twists and turns pursue throughout the whole book but eventually Van solves the case and finds out who her real mother is. I don't want to give much more away but if you are fan of this series, you will love this book.


Thank you Jess Lourey and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. The Laughing Dead is set to release on July 22nd, 2025.

I got so excited when I got mail from netgalley saying I got approved for reading this arc! 📖

"The laughing dead" by Jess Lourey is set to be released on the 22nd of July of this year. For the real thriller girlies, this is it.

Triggerwarning though, throughout the story there will be a backstory weaving through. It's about cult building and being part of said cult.

We follow Van, short for Evangeline whom works for the BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) and is specialised in Cold Cases. When called to a case, she recognises the address; the owner of her temporary foster dog Owl lives there. Her police badge from two years ago has been found at the scene. But how?
After seeing the victim and the specific way she had been "un-alived" catches the attention of her team. After some digging a serie of cold cases pop up. All died within a week, all with the same horrifying smile on their faces. Three in total. One was ruled a natural death and the others suicide. But that can't be true. The only way to get a death mask like that is through some kind of poison.

Van visites the families of the girls that died in '86 to get a better picture. All while juggling with a secret investigation she's kept from her partner Harry. Finding out if Harry's sister, that was abducted.. Was abducted by her father and cult leader Frank Roth.

In the back story we mostly follow "just Judy" who was taken in '86 and how her live mapped out. The unwinding of this story was so good, I seriously didn't know who really was the suspect until the end.

4 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC!

Jess Lourey always hits it outta the park and this Reed & Steinbeck thriller is amazing of course! When a Evangeline "Van" Reed is hit with a new case this time it’s personal. Her ID was found at the scene and she has no idea how what when or where! 👀 loved this new book in this series!!! Highly recommend as always!

OMG!!! I want to give the 5⭐️s five more stars!

The Steinbeck and Reed series is a great thriller series, if you can read from the prequel Catch Her in the Lies to this third book coming in July, do it! Do it right now!

Van is such a complex character built from trauma growing up in a cult commune, escaping and becoming a cold case investigator. You just want her to succeed, to overcome her past, to love and to be loved! And then there’s Harry, broken in his own way yet presenting this scientific suited man. Together they are a great crime fighting duo!

This book brings them both closure to past cases they’ve been haunted by. Makes you not hate certain annoying characters from past books, makes you hate some even more than you did before, that is a job well done by author Jess Lourey!

I can’t wait to see where Van and Harry go now, but I know they will conquer whatever comes their way fiercely!

I love this series, it’s one of my faves.
I enjoyed the hell out of this book, until the last two pages.
Is it over? Is that the ending? If so, I’m left wanting and unhappy. I just need more. Please please please let there be more.