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.

This was a strong sequel in the Steinbeck and Reed series, it had a great overall concept that I enjoyed from the thriller element. I enjoyed the overall story going on and thought the tension raised throughout the book. Jess Lourey has a great writing style and left me wanting more.

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.

I absolutely LOVE Jess Lourey's books. The Reaping is another great story in her Steinbeck and Reed thriller series.. The characters are vivid. I had a difficult time putting it down so I could sleep. Once I finished, I missed it terribly. There is no author out there today except Jess Lourey that can keep me so interested in a story. Strange characters but a great read!

This book was a bit creepy!
Steinbeck and Reed are called into a town called Alku because of a murder that resembles another case, however the person charged with that murder is currently incapacitated in a prison. What follows is a very harrowing story about an old towns morals and just how far it will go to keep their secrets buried.

This was a very interesting story, but I felt it had a very slow start. The last 30% was very captivating and I could not put it down until I finished! I did end up really enjoying this book, and seeing how everything tied together! The characters of Harry and Evangeline made me enjoy the story even more they really are an interesting team! And that epilogue makes me wish I didn’t have to wait so long til the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercier publishing for the arc!!!

Started to read this. I couldn't finish it. I completely lost interest in the book. This is disappointing because I have read and loved all the author's other books.
Did not get past pg 45.

I rated this book 5 stars. It did take me a little while to get into it but the last 50 or so pages made everything worth it. And the last page of the epilogue gave me chills, learning about Harry’s sister’s abductor. I wonder if we will hear more about that in the next book?

Unique town, creepy story line and very interesting concept. Can one town have an unusually high deviance rate? Why? How?
Another great Steinbeck & Reed thriller!
Thank you to the author Jess Lourey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this!!

Thank you NetGalley, Jess Lourey, and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I tried so hard to enjoy this book. The Taken Ones was very good and I had high hopes for this one. However, I couldn't get past a few things in this book. I do like the strengthening relationship between Harry and Van and how they both have a huge passion for their careers. Both are struggling with events from their past that keep coming up as they solve current cold cases. The overall plot and setting of this book, I found really hard to enjoy.

The Reaping is the second book in the Steinbeck and Reed series of books written by author Jess Lourey. I have to preface this review by stating that I am huge Jess Lourey fan and have loved every single book I have read of hers. Her diverse writing style is commendable and I have become a huge fan of her true crime books that are some of the best out there.

This book features Agent Harry Steinbeck and cold case agent Evangeline (Van) Reed as they focus on a somewhat odd cold case that becomes linked to a present day ongoing situation with the Alku, Minnesota people. I must admit it took me a few chapters to get engaged with this book as it seemed slower paced than the previous book but once I did, I was hooked.

The Alku people have some quirks and oddities of their own and understanding that was critical to understanding how this story comes together but Lourey, once again, masterfully weaves the tale of intrigue, mystery, gore and suspense to create an unforgettable story. The main characters are as entertaining as they were in the first of the series, The Taken Ones, and I found their interaction believable and completely entertaining.

Some of the parts of this book were disturbing and creepy but then that is what makes a book memorable, right? If you are prone to being frightened by reading scary books this is probably not the book to read before bedtime. It might give you nightmares.

As always, the writing by this author is top notch and I was thrilled to be able to read an ARC well before publication time. Thanks to the author, NetGalley and publisher for providing me a copy of this book for review. I loved it and can't wait to see what happens with this duo in the future.

Forensic scientist, Harry Steinbeck and Agent Evangeline Reed are tasked to catch a killer of children.
It is believed that the murders are linked to a 25 year old cold case.
Harry has to travel to his home town, which he is reluctant to do

Consumed by guilt for the disappearance of his 9 year old sister, the secrets of his past are haunting him.

I read the first book in this series and loved it. Harry Steinbeck is a very complex character. Serious and fastidious in his ways.
Evangeline is a very different character.

Creepy, menacing and downright scary, this book will grip you from the first page to the very last.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this book

This review is that of my own.

Jessica does it again. This time the novel takes place in a small town in Minnesota. A murdered nurse has ties to this small town. Once Van and Harry noticed that past murders occurred, they take a trip to investigate.

Arriving in Alku, Harry and Van are confronted with a a possible blood witch and a town rich with lore.

The Reaping also focuses on Harry’s life. Harry hides a secret that involves his sister and being so close to Duluth, his hometown, makes him uncomfortable (he’s also harboring a lot of guilt).

This novel definitely makes me want to rethink about living in a small town. If you’ve lived in one, it’s hard to describe the ‘family’ values. However, the small town of Alku takes these family values a bit too far.