I had the absolute honor of reading an ARC of The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey, and I’m still sitting with everything it made me feel. I’m completely in love with the Steinbeck and Reed series, and this installment took things to a whole new level. It’s emotional, raw, and so deeply rooted in these characters’ truths—it digs into their pasts, their pain, and the strength they keep finding to move forward.

This isn’t just a mystery. It’s a layered, character-driven story that keeps you guessing with every chapter. Just when you think you know where it’s going, it turns. The emotional weight of this one hit hard, and the writing is absolutely stunning. Jess Lourey has such a gift for creating characters you care about on every level, and she does it with so much heart and honesty.

The Steinbeck and Reed series has become one of my all-time favorites. These books stay with me, and The Laughing Dead is no exception. I can’t recommend it enough—and I can’t wait to see what’s next for these characters.

First off, a HUGE thank you to NetGalley, Jess Lourey, and the Thomas and Mercer publishing team for providing the eARC of The Laughing Dead in exchange for my honest review! 🎉💖 When I say I finished this book in LESS THAN 24 hours after it landed on my Kindle, I mean it! No exaggeration here, folks! 📚💨 Jess Lourey has done it again! This exceptional thriller has easily become the BEST thriller I’ve read this year! 🏅

Mark Your Calendars! 📆
This gripping read is anticipated to be officially published on July 22, 2025. You won’t want to miss it! 🗓️✨

Standalone Potential? You Bet!
While this is the third book in the Steinbeck and Reed series, I genuinely believe you can dive right into it without reading the first two books. Jess does a fantastic job providing just enough backstory through flashbacks into Evangeline’s history. Of course, if you prefer to explore the full world, I highly recommend picking up The Taken Ones and The Reaping for a richer experience! However, rest assured, you can absolutely enjoy The Laughing Dead as a standalone! 🎊✨

Synopsis Breakdown 📖🔍
The story kicks off with the chilling discovery of three teenage girls in central Minnesota, each wearing a haunting, fixed grin that suggests they’re in on a sinister joke. As the case slips into the shadows of cold cases, we fast forward decades later, where our courageous cold case agent, Van Reed, finds herself connected to a new murder that echoes the horrors of the past — with her police ID turning up ominously at the scene! The stakes are incredibly high, and so are the secrets! 🤫💔

Why I Loved It ❤️💭
The Mastermind Behind the Madness: Jess Lourey has an incredible knack for crafting villains with bizarre and fascinating medical anomalies. It makes for a chilling yet captivating read! 🤯🩸 Her genius mind knows no bounds when it comes to the most sinister criminals, which keeps you on the edge of your seat!

Complex Characters:
Van Reed is such a compelling protagonist with her deep, dark secrets. As her layers unfold, I found myself rooting for her even while I questioned her choices. Her relationship with forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck added so much depth and emotion, perfectly balancing the suspense with a pinch of tenderness. 💔💼

Tension and Twists Galore:
As the past and present collide in unpredictable ways, each chapter had me biting my nails in suspense! Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Lourey threw in another twist that knocked me right off my feet! 🤯📈 You will NOT want to put this book down!

Final Thoughts 🌌✨
The Laughing Dead cements Jess Lourey’s status as a master of thrilling fiction! The pulse-pounding plot, rich character development, and eerie atmosphere combined to create a reading experience that I will remember for a long time to come. This book is one you’ll want to add to your TBR pile ASAP! 🤩📖

Have you read The Laughing Dead yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Grab your copy on July 22, 2025, and let Jess Lourey take you on a whirlwind ride you won’t forget! 🚀💖🤗

I adore most of this authors books and this one is no exception. It was great. The back and forth between perspectives was a little blurry since the stories were so similar and I did find that to be a bit distracting having to really think about which character you were reading about. The overlap does come into play later though.
I also disliked the constant reference to “The Taken Ones” I have read the book but I don’t remember all the details and while it was constantly referenced it was not very well summarized. If you haven’t read that book you will be lost with the references.
I love Van and her crew they are great characters, her background also makes for some seriously great plot info. The ending to this was phenomenal and I was in tears.
I’m giving this a 4 stars as it’s a great read. Just those two bits I noted about cost it a star for me

Book 3 in the Reed and Steinbeck thrillers, The Laughing Dead met all my expectations! I have fallen in love with the characters of Van and Harry, the their story and characters develops more in each of the books. Great read, loved every minute of it. Please tell me there will be more books in this series, I didn't want The Laughing Dead to end.

Van and Harry are back! In their latest case, they’ve uncovered deep secrets about one another. But do these revelations bring them closer or drive them apart? Van has a strong feeling, and her dreams have returned—could they actually reflect real memories?

Could it really be true that their traumatic histories are intertwined? This case delves into the murders of women found with unnervingly large smiles, spanning both past and present. The author masterfully integrates science and medical knowledge, giving the story a unique edge. What may seem supernatural always comes with an explanation.

Do you need to read the previous 2.5 books in the series? Not necessarily. This installment effectively ties up past events and backstory without slowing the pace. However, reading the books in order helps better understand Van and Harry’s nuanced relationship.

I can’t help but feel bittersweet—this might be the end of the series. (Just a heads-up: the death of a dog is part of the narrative.)

This has been posted to Goodreads.

"The Laughing Dead" by Jess Lourey is the third installment in the Edgar-nominated Steinbeck and Reed series, set to be released soon. While I don't have specific details about the plot or characters from the search results, we can glean some information about the author and her writing style that may be relevant to this book.

Jess Lourey is known for writing about secrets and creating stories that feature girls and women overcoming challenging circumstances. Her works often explore themes of trauma, resilience, and the power of breaking silence. Given this context, "The Laughing Dead" is likely to be a gripping mystery that delves into dark secrets and complex characters.

Lourey's writing has been praised for its ability to create compelling narratives that keep readers engaged. Her previous works have received critical acclaim, including Edgar nominations and bestseller status. This suggests that "The Laughing Dead" is likely to maintain the high quality of storytelling that readers have come to expect from the series.

The Steinbeck and Reed series features Agent Evangeline Reed as a protagonist. Based on the author's track record, we can anticipate that this new installment will further develop Reed's character while presenting her with a challenging new case to solve.

While specific plot details are not available, Lourey's background as a retired professor of writing and sociology often informs her work, potentially adding depth to the social and psychological aspects of the story.

Readers who enjoy mysteries with strong female leads, intricate plots, and explorations of human nature are likely to find "The Laughing Dead" an engaging and thought-provoking read. As the third book in a series, it may also offer satisfying character development for those who have followed Steinbeck and Reed's previous adventures.

Jess Lourey had done it again! The Laughing Dead was a thrilling addition to the Van and Harry series! The methods used for murder in this book are terrifying and you CANNOT put it down! I HAD to know who was bringing Van's Past and Present together! The hard truths that must be faced and the sorrow as well! THIS BOOK HAS IT ALL! *Chef's Kiss*

I’m still somewhat new to this author but when I saw this was available to read I was so excited.from what I have read of hers I really enjoyed. I love how she writes her characters, and sets the scenes. This one was full of suspense! Almost a 5 star read

he Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey. A well-paced solid mystery/police procedural. Much of Van's backstory is featured during the course of the investigations. The bright spot was Owl the dog, he was my favorite part of this book.
Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

3.5 - This is the third novel in the Steinbeck and Reed series. My suggestion is to read them in order as I feel like a reader would be lost without background. This installment picks up right after the last. Van is having visions and the book opens with a current murder with evidence of Van at the scene. Ties are quickly found to some cold cases and the team is off and running. I enjoyed the background on the cold cases, but found the present day mystery less engaging. Ultimately, the book wraps up some loose ends and I am excited to see where book four will go.

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

This one was an interesting read. I have mixed feelings on it. I have been following Van's journey and her story. I just felt like she was somewhat annoying in this one where she seemed to want to take the blame for what her father did and just wasn't as strong a character as usual. Now I guess growing up in a cult and being made to feel like you're losing your mind would do that to you so I'll cut her some slack. I think some of the details in this story didn't make sense to me or seem believable and thats why I have mixed feelings. I'm still rooting for Van and Harry though and hope they get together!

First, I'd like to thank NetGalley, Jess Lourey, and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Oh, how I just love Jess Lourey's books! I adored her Mira James series, but I think I might love the Reed and Steinbeck series even more. The Laughing Dead was an incredible read, and what I appreciated most was how it delved into Van's past and her family history. The story tackled some heavy subject matter, but it also explored mental health and the resilience of surviving trauma in a way that felt deeply authentic.

I loved that Van found her family with Owl, no matter how unconventional the journey was. This book was intense, emotional, and absolutely gripping—I can't wait for the next one! Highly recommend.

I love these characters. They are flawed and rough and so human they break your heart. The mystery just gets better each time. Also we have some answers that we have been looking for in the past 2 books. Just so damn good.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5 ⭐️ This book had me in an absolute chokehold from start to finish, I could not stop reading every time I picked it up. It was atmospheric and set the creepy scene perfectly, and the pacing was great - there was enough suspense to keep you guessing and trudging along. I don’t think I’ve ever read a proper crime/murder mystery based thriller of this nature before but I thoroughly enjoyed this and will be looking for more!

‘Two murder investigations, decades apart, threaten to expose a cold case agent’s darkest secrets in a pulse-pounding thriller by the Edgar Award–nominated author of The Taken Ones.’

I keep waiting, anticipating the same awe I felt when I read The Taken Ones. It really packed a punch for me.

And while The Laughing Dead held my attention well enough, it was a proper slow tow.

For the most part, I found Van to be miserable, borderline self-loathing and unnecessarily guilt ridden. Like she’s punishing herself and refusing any possible chance at happiness. Self-inflicted sorrow. Warmly welcomed gloom. And although I understood it, to an extent, it didn’t deter my exasperation, which that clearly had a mind of its own. Honestly, it threw a damp towel on the whole thriller aspect of the book.

The cult aspect was ripe and the whole chunk on bone density had me scratching my head. That coupled with the eventual crane tidbit, well…. it was just a difficult “purchase” for me. I struggled to buy it.

It hardly matters though, not from where I stand anyway. The conclusion left me hopeful for Evangeline’s future & I’m in for the long haul, especially when it comes to her & Harry. Couldn’t keep me away…

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc in exchange for review.

Pub: 7.22.25.

Thanks NetGalley . This book kept me interested. I was a little confused with the way the story kept going in and out of different times but once I realized why it made more sense to me. I definitely was trying to figure out if everything that was happening and if it was connected or not. Recommend for anyone who is a fan of thrillers and if you are into books that have people who have secrets or books that have religion in them like a cult type of thing.

This installment in the series follows Van Reed, a former member of an abusive commune who now works as an agent investigating cold cases. Although I had not read the previous books, I never felt lost—the story stood well on its own while offering enough depth to make me curious about the rest of the series.

The novel centers on Van’s investigation into several cold cases, including her own past and the disappearance of Steinbeck’s sister. As she pieces together clues, the narrative takes unexpected twists and turns, keeping me engaged throughout.

By the end, the case is solved, and the reader is given satisfying answers. Overall, this book was a compelling read. I would recommend it to fans of investigative thrillers—whether they’ve read the previous books or not.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’d been anxiously and impatiently waiting for this book to pop up on NetGalley so I could read it and lucky me, it came out while I was on maternity leave. Perfect timing!!

When I finished this book, I told my husband “Man, I hope she writes a fourth installment of Reed & Steinbeck so I can continue to enjoy it” but I don’t think Jess Lourey will. This book perfectly buttons up the story we’ve been following for the last two books and I was not disappointed. I will always love Jess Lourey’s writing style and the different characters we get to follow in her stories. This book shocked me and made me love Reed even more.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this arc!

I’m a big Jess Lourey fan. I’ve read several of their books and this one didn’t let me down. I tend to gravitate towards crime fiction thrillers and this is just that! I really have nothing bad to say.

Go read it when it pubs!

This was a fast moving story with an interesting premise. I liked the main character but the flashbacks to the cult and Judy's story were too disturbing for me to suggest for my students.