The story opens in 1980, where three young girls go into the woods but only one comes out. With no memory, no trace of her friends. The superstition of the Bendy Man haunting the woods continues.

Present day, 2022, cold case detective Van Reed and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck are assigned to a homicide, with a woman buried alive, holding the charm that belonged to one of those girls. Van follows her gut but Harry trusts science and the two must work together to find the killer.

The author did an amazing job of taking us between the past and present in this story, that blended seamlessly, while still keeping me intrigued. There was also the superstition incorporated, which made it quite spooky. Wonderful atmosphere and another enjoyable read by the author.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the gifted advance copy.

This was a fantastic read! I am a big Jess Lourey fan and this book just sealed the deal. I am really hoping for another installment of the BCA and these main characters. There were many layers to this story and each one suspenseful. There were definitely some serious CREEPY vibes going on as well. I finished this in two sittings and am eagerly awaiting the next book. Grab a copy now , you will be hooked!!

A serviceable crime novel following a investigator duo. Van, the primary protagonist, had a deep and well-defined traumatic background that drives her motivations and explains her personality. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing, and the pacing was decent, with no significant lulls. That said, I thought the actual writing was a little on the flat side, style wise, with a lot of the details reading as more "matter of fact" than I like. I prefer prose with a bit more emotion and "flavor."

I read this in one evening because I couldn't put it down! Such an intense book! It's rare that a book actually scares me, but this one did, right from the start. A cold case and a new homicide case are connected, but how? Can Van find the connection and the killer before he does it again? This was a fast paced thriller with complex characters working through layers of trauma. I didn't want it to end and I'm hoping there's a 2nd book in the series very soon!

Being completely honest, I didn’t really expect to like this book as much as I did. I’ve had a very hard time getting into one of her other books. After reading this one, though, I am definitely going to try again. There are some slow parts, but the more I read the more excited I became that this is actually going to be a series. It’s well written, really good character development, and I found myself completely invested in the story and in their lives. Thank you so much NetGalley!!

Jess Lourey has such a powerful and unique voice. Her style is completely her own. I read this book in 2 days, I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I truly hope we will see more of Van and Harry.

The cold case angle is the perfect way to bring in her nostalgia writing that she does so well, but to have the stories modern also. And Minnesota FTW! I got a thrill at seeing my hometown of Moorhead mentioned.

One factual error that snuck through: Harry calls her Van at the end of chapter 45 then again in 48 before she questions his use of her nickname in chapter 61. I remember this because in chapter 6 she says he never used her nickname and I wondered why it wasn't called out until chapter 61 despite him saying it 2x before that.

Received copy from netgalley, review is my own.

I need to be sure that I get the next book in this series the day if publishes. Van and Harry are such an interesting and unusual duo, Van as an investigator of cold cases after being bullied out of the police department. Harry, a forensic investigator who is always operating inside the lines. Van has a background of abuse and isolation, so trust is not something she understands or gives lightly. She also has very clear views on evil, and the unrelenting pursuit of perpetrators. The evil and depravity of society is baldly displayed in this book. Van is unique, talented and dedicated, all traits that are not appreciated by everyone. The merciless bullying she is subjected to is so raw I felt pain for her. There are so many plots at work in this book, and they are seamlessly brought together. You literally will not have any idea of the next path the investigation will take. I cannot imagine any thriller fan who will not enjoy and appreciate this book.

Jess Lourey does not disappoint. I deliberately paced myself to read this over two evenings because I did not want it to end. This is a haunting thriller with a good dose of creepiness. As well, a disturbing tale of a creature lurking in the woods came to an unexpected and satisfying reveal that made my toes curl. Highly recommended for mystery/suspense fans, and fans of Jess Lourey. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. #TheTakenOnes #NetGalley

Van is a cold case agent brought in on a disturbing murder that just may tie back to a mystery from 1980. Harry is the forensic scientist that is brought in on the case. Van Reed and Harry Steinbeck are an unlikely duo, but somehow they make it work. Jess Lourey has quickly become one of my must read authors. Can’t wait to find out all of Harry’s secrets!!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

This book was one of the best thrillers I've read in a while. I loved all the plot twists and could not stop reading. I'm looking forward to the next book! Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced reader copy, all opinions are my own.

Thank you Jess Lourey, Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book!

"The Taken Ones" is a dark, gritty, creepy and Suspenseful Mystery Thriller. I was immediately pulled into the story and didn't put the book down until it was finished.

This story will take your emotions on a rollercoaster ride. There is heartbreak, tragedy, trauma, horrifying experiences, spooky elements and so much more.

Definitely a gripping read and an excellent start to a new series, I'm looking forward to reading the next book!

Three young girls go into the woods, and only one comes out. Mute and shocked, she cannot recall what happened.
Years later, a woman is buried alive, and does not survive. A necklace is found with her that belongs to one of the missing girls.
Van Reed investigates the cold case, and Harry Steinbeck, a forensic scientist, investigates the homicide.


So tense!! I was gripped by this book. This story will compel you to keep reading. It is creepy and chilling.

I like the main characters, they are real. Very human and have their own secrets which form their personalities.

I have never read Jess Lourey's books before, but will definitely keep an eye out for them.

If you want a spine chilling thriller, this book is for you.
A very solid 5/5 star book.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think I'm in the minority because I really didn't enjoy this book.
It's supposed to be the start of a new series by Lourey, but I felt like I missed something?? There was talk about Bart, Van's previous partner, but not really about what happened to him. Also, Harry and Van had previously worked together on the Sweet Tea Killer case, which was mentioned quite a lot.
I liked Van's personality, but not her "visions" and "lucid nightmares" that gave her breaks with her cases. She is a flawed character, and I was sympathetic to her background.
The twist was not that shocking, just hard to get to because there were so many possibilities as to who the killer could be. And the whole "Bendy Man" superstition was a stretch (pun intended!).

This book had me hooked from the very beginning! The story was descriptive, creepy, mysterious and a fun read for anyone who loves crime solving! Her, Harry, and Kyle along with a few others work to solve two cases; a cold case from the 80’s and a murder that seems to be linked to the cold case of two missing girls. This story had me wondering who done it up until the very end. The characters are complicated and the cases they’re working on are complex and I was in a chokehold until the very end. I found myself completely immersed and couldn’t put this book down! Thanks to Jess Lourey, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me the opportunity to read this!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

The Taken Ones by Jess Lourey was a gripping read. Lourey has written such an exciting, page-turning story Each chapter was written with an adrenaline-fueled, pulse-pounding moment I could not put down!
What I enjoyed in this novel is that it captured my attention immediately and kept it throughout the novel.
This story provides all of the twists, turns, and jaw-dropping revelations that we have come to expect from a Jess Lourey novel, and I devoured every word.
A quick, suspenseful, and nail-biting journey were she kept at an amazing pace throughout the whole novel!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I loved the overall concept of this book. It reminded of the Ariel Castro kidnappings making this a very eerie read as the crime in the book is scarily something that happens in the real world. There were lots of red herrings through out the book to throw me off track and I was not sure what to expect in the end but I was satisfied with the ending! I will say aside from the case being shocking itself it did leave out some shock factor twists for me. However, the epilogue had a decent twist that made me excited for a sequel to learn more about Van & Harry! Thank you for this ARC copy!

Holy shit! I went into this one completely blind & having read Lourey before, I can easily say without checking, this is the first 5 ⭐️ I’ve ever given to any of her novels!
What a ride! This was just so damn good!
Procedural. Female investigative MC is just so well written. I can’t praise this one enough without giving some of the goodness away!
Tragic. Twisted. Vengeful. The unexpected creep factors, especially towards the end, I mean, ughh, just spot on!!
I wish I could forget everything and read it all over again for the first time!🙌🏼 (And this is such a rarity for me!)
Also rare: I’m so happy this is just the beginning of a series!🙌🏼 Gahh, gimme more Jess, gimme more!
5 easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Huge thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review! (less)

Jess Loury is quickly becoming an auto read for me. I devoured and loved her earlier book Quarry Girls so I knew I had to have this is soon as I saw it was read now. And it did not disappoint. The writing is lyrical and the story gripping . Jess Loury had a way of sucking you in and keeping you there. You don't read her books. You experience them. Thank You to the publisher and NetGalley for making this available to read early. I'll be grabbing physical copies to annotate.

I guess now that the "rush" of the read has ebbed, I can now further articulate my thoughts on this book. Jess Lourey's writing makes me FEEL and empathize. No matter how horrible a character in the story is, I'd definitely get a handle on where they're coming from and not be too judgy about their mistakes. I also like the significance embedded in some character's actions towards their own life. I can not wait for the next in this series!

I am so happy this is the start of a series! Cold cases with a touch of paranormal, very creepy, and the suspense builds perfectly. It’s not gratuitous. Van is a great character - I was hooked the second she told off the other volunteer at the animal shelter - and I liked her rapport with the other characters. And obviously Harry! This was a fast read, twisty with red herrings, but it stayed on track and had a very satisfying ending. The second book will be on my must read list.

Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.