The Laughing Dead was the third instalment in the Steinbeck and Reed series. The last book ended with a bit of a cliffhanger so I was excited to pick-up where we left off.

There was a lot less interaction between the crime-fighting duo, Harry and Van, in this book. This was done with intention, but it was a bit of a bummer. They balance one another out so well that it felt like something was missing.

However, we were introduced to a new character - Van’s foster dog, Owl. She was the sweetest little angel baby and I loved her immediately🥹. She was the true MVP in this book, and nobody can convince me otherwise😉.

The first 75% of the story was good, but a definite slow burn. However, the payoff in the final stretch was well worth it. It moved at breakneck speed, and the twists were insane!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Book number 3 in the Steinbeck and Reed series. This book gives us quite a bit more insight into the background of Reed's childhood. This story was more character driven, then plot driven. There wasn't as much going on as the two previous books. However, I have grown to really enjoy and love the characters and so this was still an enjoyable read. Definitely more of a slow burn.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Jess Lourey’s “The Laughing Dead” is the third book in her Steinbeck and Reed series. I was thrilled to be approved for an ARC because I’ve been enjoying the series. This book focused on the aftermath of the case and events that occurred in Alku, Minnesota.

This book can be read as a standalone, but I would highly recommend anyone new to the series to go back and read the first two books. There are things about Harry Steinbeck and Evangeline (Van) Reed that may not make a lot of sense to anyone who hasn’t read the first two books.

The description does a good job of giving the reader an overall idea of the plot. Three female teenagers were found dead in central Minnesota decades ago under similar circumstances. Their mouths were fixed in a ghoulish grin. At the time, the deaths occurred near each other, but in different localities. The police in each of the localities deemed their deaths to be suicides, not murder.

In the present day, Van is called to the scene where a woman has died under similar circumstances as the three teenagers. Van’s police ID was found near the body and the lead investigator wants to know why. As Van begins to investigate what happened to clear her name, along with the help from Harry, she begins to reexamine the teenagers’ deaths from a cold case perspective. She’s also trying to see how, and why, both cases may be connected.

There are dual timelines for most of the book. Some chapters talk about the events that occurred in the past. Other chapters are set in the present day. In addition to the two cases, Van is also looking into the disappearance of Harry’s younger sister.

Overall, I recommend this book. The ending had me a little misty-eyed, but in a good way. I certainly hope there are more books to come in this series. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

Jess is an autobuy author for me & this book is the exact reason why. Round 3 of Van & Harry & I just love their characters.

I found myself almost trembling while reading this…the fear. The intense storyline. I couldn’t put it down. One of her best. I’m looking forward to more in this series because they’re phenomenal.

I would like to start off by saying that I typically stick to stories with a focus on queer romance, but Jess Lourey has turned me into a loyal fan. I started off with her novella, a prequel to the Reed and Steinbeck series, and absolutely fell in love with the depth these characters hold. I don’t know a whole lot about the criminal justice world, but I can tell that Lourey has put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into her research to make her stories as accurate and realistic as possible. These don’t read like Criminal Minds or The Rookie; they read like what I’d expect from a team of people dedicated to cold cases.

Jess Lourey has me by the throat, I fear. I want to read everything she’s ever written and then some. Book three, The Laughing Dead, is easily another book I’m more than happy to give a 5 star review to. Riveting, suspenseful, and full of intrigue, I am insatiable when it comes to Evangeline Reed and Harry Steinbeck.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Jess Lourey for this eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well this one left me afraid and reaching to turn the lights on more than once. It was great to be back with Van and Harry, although I wish we could have had more moments of the two of them together (I love their dynamic).

When a woman is found dead with a connection to Van, she and Harry soon uncover past deaths that look to be linked. All the while, Van begins looking into her own past, trying to put pieces together and causing her personal life to unravel. Between the eeriness of “the laughing dead” crimes and the raw and vivid “nightmares”’and visions Van has, I was tense the whole time. I did find the main mystery predictable, but it was the nuances and the atmosphere that kept me on my toes.

I was afraid we’d see Van stagnant again in her personal growth and so was excited to see that as the story wound down, she began to make progress. I’m eager to seem this continue and am hopeful this won’t be the last we see of Van and Harry.

I was a tad disappointed with this book--it took a really long time for the story to pick up and get going (for some reason there was awkward and overly-detailed attempts at explaining backstory that made the beginning feel clunky. I know what happened already, I read the other two books, and I am here now for THIS story). I also got a little tired of Van's constant self-loathing. BUT the story picked up, and I really enjoyed the almost X-Files like tone to the series. I really hope there is a book 4!

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down, I read it in one sitting. The writing was engaging and I was kept guessing as to what was going on. I will definitely be looking for more by the author

I had no idea this book was part of a series, but it kept my attention. It was a little slow at places, but was an enjoyable read

Fast paced thriller that was an enjoyable read. I liked the characters and was thrilled to see that this is part of a series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Release: July 22,2025
Author: Jess Lourey
Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Rating: 3.75 ★ 

In The Laughing Dead, cold case agent Evangeline “Van” Reed is drawn into a chilling new investigation that eerily echoes an old, unsolved case from decades ago—three girls found murdered in Minnesota, their faces frozen in disturbing smiles. The case was long buried, known only as the Laughing Dead.
Now, a new victim has been found with that same haunting grin—and Van’s own police ID is discovered at the scene. Suddenly, she’s not just the investigator—she’s the prime suspect.
To clear her name, Van is forced to revisit the old case and confront secrets from her past she’s tried to keep buried, even from her partner, forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck. As the lines between past and present blur, Van must race to unravel the truth before the darkness she escaped catches up with her for good. 

This is the 3rd installment of this series which dives deeper into Van’s past while unraveling a new, unsettling crime scene that eerily ties back to her trauma. As always, the writing is sharp, the pacing intense, and the characters continue to evolve in compelling, emotionally charged ways.
Van is especially unhinged in this one—and I mean that in the best way. Her desperation to solve the case and protect those she cares about is raw and messy, but it feels real. Her inner conflict about her childhood and the people she once called family adds another layer to an already gripping story. I really appreciated how her trauma is acknowledged without being romanticized.
Harry remains a solid presence, grounding Van in her chaos, and their bond is one of the highlights of the series. And yes, the dog was a great touch.
The book delivers creepy, complex crimes (there’s a cult angle!) and interweaves past and present masterfully. I will say the ending left me torn—I loved it emotionally, but I need to know if this is really the end. If it is, it was a strong conclusion, but I selfishly want more of Van and Harry. Their dynamic is too good to let go.


Favorite Quote:
"laughter is the sound of survival. Even when it's hollow, it's still survival."

Hold on to your hats, this one is a real thrill ride! No one can write suspense like Jess Lourey. This time Van and Harry investigating a current murder which seems to be linked to three cold cases. This third book in the series digs deeper into Van’s past and answers some questions from the previous books. The characters are masterfully crafted, and there are many plot twists and surprises in this exceptionally well crafted book. Highly recommended! I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

Wow.

This was quite a ride. From the very beginning, the storyline grabbed me and I couldn't stop reading! This series just gets darker and twistier with every book.

Van still rides that fine line between being a captivating and thoroughly irritating character. She just doesn't learn. But at the same time, she fascinates me. Her origins fascinate me. And I love watching the relationship between her and Harry develop. It's so multifaceted and complex, and it creates great tension as the story unfolds.

The Laughing Dead has it all - serial killers, cults, and foster animals. It's a classic Lourey tale. Definitely recommend!

I stumbled upon Jess Lourey when I read The Quarry Girls. It is still one of my favorite thrillers. I quickly read some of the other thrillers that she wrote and realized I love this author’s storytelling! The Laughing Dead is the third book in the Steinbeck and Reed series. While you can read this as a standalone, I do recommend reading them in order: The Taken One’s, The Reaping, Catch Her in a Lie (short story) and then The Laughing Dead. The series is so good. You will fall in love with Reed and even Steinbeck. I especially loved this book because it gave us a clearer picture of Reed’s past, she grew up in a cult. The book is told from many perspectives in the past and present.

Evangeline Reed is called to a crime scene where a young woman has been murdered and her ID is found on the body. The victim is killed in a way that was similar to three murders that occurred decades ago. All four victims were found with their mouths stuck in a smile. As Reed investigates the current and cold case, she struggles with her past and her connection to both cases, all while trying to clear her name on the current case.

Reed is such a great character, and she has grown so much since The Taken Ones. I have loved to see her storyline progress. Her quirks make me laugh, she is incredibly messy. You can tell she is passionate about her job and truly wants to help people! I love Owl, her foster rescue dog. Owl reminds me of Reed. I would love to see Reed get in on some love action with Steinbeck. Their chemistry is 🔥! I love the cult references and hope to see more in future books. This is a fabulous series and I highly recommend it. It will keep you guessing!

Jess Lourey is an auto read for me! I loved the closure we received in this book. She always keeps me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Thank you so much!

This is the 3rd book in the Steinbeck and Reed series, it publishes July 22nd. It follows Detective Van Reed and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck as they look into the cold case of a 3 unalived teenage girls found with a ghoulish grin when a similar case turns up in present day.

While I think it’s best to read these books in order to get the full scope of the character’s backstories to have the best experience, they can technically be read as standalones.

The premise of this book has been my favorite of the series so far. While I think that all of the books in the series have a bit too many coincidences, I ultimately find they’re done in a well done and impactful way.

Van’s character just has such a rich backstory having grown up in a cult that it shines through in the cases she’s working and I find I’m never bored of her character arch. Weaved into the strange and disturbing case, I was fully locked in.

Definitely recommend if you’ve read the rest of the series, probably my 2nd fave behind book 1. 4.25

Woowie this was a good one! I genuinely couldn’t believe the ending I didn’t see that coming. It was so dark and twisted in all the best ways!

The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey had all the potential for a gripping mystery, but unfortunately, it did not hold my interest. I really wanted to enjoy and like this book and these characters as the premise was intriguing: three teenage girls found years ago with unsettling grins and a present-day murder echoing that same horror.

There are lengthy scenes where Van Reed seems to be stuck in a rut, overanalyzing her personal secrets rather than engaging in the investigation. This leads to a lack of tension that makes it hard to stay invested. Van comes off as a stereotypical tortured protagonist, and her motivations often feel forced. The backstory involving her hidden secrets kind of drags the narrative down with predictable twists and turns. When the big reveal finally comes, it feels unearned and rushed.

Overall, The Laughing Dead holds promise but ultimately was not as thrilling for me as the premise described. I like the author and have read other books, but this book just wasn't for me.

#TheLaughingDead #NetGalley @AmazonPub

This book creeped me out! It definitely had me jumping at sounds in the night and squealing when I rounded corners. Jess Lourey delivers another eerie, twist-laced thriller in the Van Reed series that had me checking behind doors and side-eyeing dark hallways. 😬🕯️

We’ve got dual timelines, sinister secrets, and a serial killer case that never really died. The original victims were found grinning — literally — and now, decades later, the same horrifying smile shows up again… along with Van’s police ID at the scene. Talk about personal. 👀🕵️‍♀️

Van is such a layered character , tough, haunted, deeply human, and her unraveling past made this story feel just as emotionally intense as it was chilling. Every chapter had me more on edge, and the writing? Atmospheric and razor-sharp.

This one builds on the creepy foundation Lourey set in The Taken Ones and The Innocents, so if you’ve read those, prepare to be thoroughly spooked again. And if you’re new to the series? You’ll still get the full shiver experience. Just maybe don’t read it alone at night. 🫣

Read if you love:
• Chilling cold cases
• Gritty female leads with dark pasts
• Creepy small-town secrets
• True crime vibes with a twist

This book will give you the creeps and make you pause before looking around doorframes. You’ve been warned.

You won't find me picking up many series. I'm a standalone gal. But I read all of Jess Lourey's thrillers, so I jumped on the Steinbeck & Reed train and haven't looked back. The time between each book feels so long... which is a good sign!

📖: I think this series needs to be read in order, so if you haven't met Harry Steinbeck and Van Reed, go check out The Taken Ones first and then The Reaping. Book three, The Laughing Dead, opens with a present day crime that leads to a deep dive into Van's past. Will her connections threaten her relationship with one of her only friends, partner Harry Steinbeck?

🤝: This may be a good fit if you enjoy:
- creepy crime scenes
- books about cults
- the past and present colliding

💭: I love this series. The characters are flawed and weird, and the crimes are creepy, bordering on Ripley's Believe It or Not. I'm a sucker for clairvoyance, so Van's dreams about crime scenes are fascinating to me. Harry's majorly relatable with his Type A ways (and I picture him being Henry Cavill-like 🥵). The way Lourey writes about the trauma of Van's past is poignant while maintaining a page-turning pace. I'm already looking forward to the next installment of this series!

Note: The dog doesn't die.

Rating: I really liked it! (4.5)

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the early access to this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Pub Day: July 22nd, 2025