Thank you NetGalley! I absolutely love Jess Lourey’s books! This was another great addition to the Steinbeck and Reed series. I was sucked into the story immediately and could not stop until I was finished

...𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒔...𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒅𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕, 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆.

The third installment in the Steinbeck and Reed series was much more personal than the first two. While the first two are stellar reads, the main focus is the mystery with little threads of who Harry Steinbeck and Evangeline Reed are woven in. With the bombshell ending of book two, I couldn't wait to dive in to see the latest development. This book flipped the script--Reed is front and center, and the plot and its mystery form around her.

Told in alternating timelines, we begin back in the 80s when the bodies of three teenage girls are found in central Minnesota—each with her mouth fixed in a ghoulish, macabre grin. Authorities are shocked and puzzled but can never close the case they label The Laughing Dead. Reading these scenes was like watching an episode of Cold Case--everything was frozen in time. The nostalgia was fierce, even in such a ghastly setting.

In present day cold case agent Evangeline 'Van' Reed is called to the scene of a crime where the victim wears that same ghastly smile. But when Van's police ID is found at the scene, making her a prime suspect, she knows someone is playing with her. She even knows who it is and is desperate to keep the secrets she's so carefully hidden from everyone, especially Harry, buried in the past where they belong. But when her past and present implode, it will put her on a collision course that may very well alter her future doing the job she loves with the partner she so deeply respects.

I implore you to start at the beginning of this series as this cannot be read as a standalone. The author gives such depths to all of her characters, but what she did with Van in this book was a work of art. Many thanks to the author for sending me an early copy. Look for this one July 22, 2025, from Thomas and Mercer Publishing.

One of my favorite books of the year! The dark openings introducing the 1980s victims gave me chills and I could not get enough of this dual timeline/POV. The cast was sensational and the pacing was fantastic. This is easily my favorite in the series so far - Jess Lourey can do no wrong!

The Laughing Dead is an interesting take on the serial killer trope. The story follows Van who has escaped from a cult and is now a police officer investigating murders of young girls. As expected, her former cult plays a big part in the story. 3.5 stars

This reminded me of the movie Smile. I wasn’t sure if people were getting murdered or if it went something more sinister. I also liked the cult aspect of the book. It didn’t feel rushed at the end and it all wrapped up nicely.

This is the 3rd book in the Steinbeck and Reed series and boy, does it go out with a bang! This can be read as a standalone, however, I think reading the first book would help immensely with following along.

In 1986, three teenage girls turn up dead with a ghoulish grin across their faces. They are ruled as suicides and dubbed The Laughing Dead.

Decades later, a body is found dead with the same horrific grin across their face. Reed’s old police ID is left at the scene as a message. However, what’s the message? Is she being set up for murder?

This is a very intricate crime novel that travels through different timelines. You have to pay attention to detail. Yes, detective Reed’s secret past is explained but I feel more will be understood by reading the first book.

I loved that the story showcases a dog named Owl! I love it when pets are involved. I also enjoyed seeing how Steinbeck and Reed’s relationship evolved. Minnesota crime novels are some of my favorites! I definitely recommend giving this crime series a read!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve been so excited to read this newest installment of this series. Ever since I read the prequel of this series, I’ve been infatuated with the series, especially that ending in the last installment. Without giving away any spoilers for those that haven’t read the second installment, this one picks up a few weeks later and Van is still getting the flashbacks and nightmares of the cult she grew up in as a kid and escaped when the psychotic cult leader was captured. Van also got a real bad feeling that her father, Frank, may have kidnapped Harry’s sister, Caroline, many years ago and that Caroline may have been one of the cult mothers that Van knew as Cordelia.

The book summary basically introduces the primary storyline of the two present day investigations: one the death of a woman, Biggs (that Van knew), who was murdered while staying in a women’s shelter and hiding out from her abuser. The other investigation is of three girls who were killed the same exact way, back in 1986. There is also a secondary storyline of a woman, Judy, who was kidnapped back in 1986, and has been held hostage by a psychotic man, who is holding several other women hostage along with all the kids he has fathered with the women, as well as the kids he has fathered with other women who have disappeared from the compound over the years.

The story flips back and forth between Van and Harry’s present-day investigation of all the women who were murdered by poison and the past story of Judy being held hostage and the horrors and brainwashing she goes through over the years. Throughout the story, Van’s mental and physical state becomes increasingly precarious. She’s sleep deprived and is certain that someone is stalking her. Her one saving grace is the dog, a Boxer named Owl, who belonged to one of the victims that Van ends up fostering. I LOVED that about Van, despite everything she was going through, she rescued a doggie in need.

It's deep into the second half that all the storylines collide in a really scary and intense ending that got kind of chaotic and messy. I truly hope this is not the end of the series and this was nothing more than a trilogy for Loury. Did anyone else feel a kind of finality to the series?

The continuing character development of Van and Harry was well done. If the series is continuing, it would have been good to get a little more development on the ensemble characters. The pacing was steady to fast and the continued storyline of Harry’s missing sister and Van’s childhood in the cult was interesting. The writing was on par for the series, but, once again, the ending seemed kind of messy and maybe a little rushed, but still good. I’m looking at a solid overall rating of four for a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #ThomasMercer #TheLaughingDead

My two favorite cold-cases detectives are back. Van and Harry are pulled back into mysterious deaths, this time ones that involve poison and horrifying faces of death.

Jess Lourey has created this detective pair but added backstory and depth to both characters. Van is as confused and conflicted as ever. Still suffering from her visions and now they are starting to blend into her own past, Van is pulled into a murder when her old ID is found at the scene. Harry remains impeccably dressed and stoic, still suffering the pain of his missing sister.

Is this the last that we will see of Steinbeck and Reed? I truly hope not, but if so, enough ends were wrapped up to be satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and Jess Lourey for the opportunity to read and review this book.

THE LAUGHING DEAD is a tense, pulse-pounding mystery thriller. I didn’t realize that it was book three in the Steinbeck and Reed series. It was really easy to follow and I felt like it worked great as a stand-alone. I thought agent Van Reed was a unique character, so now I plan to go back and read the first two books. The dual timelines were blended perfectly and kept me glued to story. I have always been interested in cold cases and although I know this is a work of fiction, it made me feel like this was real. Overall, I found this to be a really great book and I would recommend it to those who like character-driven novels!

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Brilliance Audio for my #gifted copies.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to the publication date.

Decades after three girls were found dead in Minnesota with eerie, smiling expressions—a case dubbed the Laughing Dead—cold case agent Van Reed is called to a new crime scene with an unsettlingly familiar signature. This time, her own police ID is found at the scene, making her the main suspect. With secrets she's kept even from her partner Harry, Van must reopen the long-forgotten case to clear her name. But as she digs deeper, she realizes the past she's tried to bury may be the key to everything—and it’s catching up to her fast. This was a great 3rd book in this series. The author does a fantastic job with this series. Definitely read it if you have read the other books in the series.

As the third book in the series, The Laughing Dead continues to build on Van Reed’s layered character and her dark past, while revisiting the chilling cold case of the “Laughing Dead” murders. Jess Lourey once again delivers vivid prose and an atmospheric Midwest setting that sets the tone for a haunting read. The premise—girls found with eerie, forced grins, and Van’s own ID left at a new crime scene—is gripping and had real potential for a twisty, emotionally fraught investigation.

However, while the setup is compelling, the pacing struggles. The story sometimes drags through exposition and introspection, losing momentum just when tension should be building. The emotional stakes are high, but the payoff isn’t quite as satisfying as expected. Some reveals felt overly telegraphed, while others leaned into implausibility.

Fans of Van and Harry will appreciate the continued exploration of their bond, but as a mystery/thriller, this installment didn’t feel as tight or urgent as the previous books. A decent continuation for those already invested in the series, but not Lourey’s strongest entry.

The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey


Thank you to @jesslourey , @Thomas&Mercer
and Netgalley for my #gifted copy

Publication Date: July 22nd 2025
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Rating:4✨

This is book 3 in the Steinbeck and Reed books! This one starts off right where the last book ended! Van and Harry are back with trying to solve a decades old cold case of The Laughing Girls. You get past and future povs and the spiral of Reed as she try’s to figure out what happened to these girls and why her ID is found at a new scene.
We get to know Reed a lot more in this one, her past that still keeps finding its way back! I love the backstory and the spiral it all goes down! Reed and Harry make a great team, the way they are so different but work so well together! This case is so complicated and twisted, it had me so invested. The many layers and the fast pacing made is it so bingeable! My favorite character had to be Owl the dog 🐕 pets always make a book better! The end of the book gave me Chills, I loved it so much!

The Laughing Dead, book three of the Steinbeck and Reed Thriller series, picks up right where book two left off ensuring that readers never miss a beat. Evangeline Reed (Van), rule-bending cold case investigator, and Harry Steinbeck, non-nonsense forensic scientist, are pairing up again; this time to investigate a mysterious death that Van may be tied up in.

Narrative shifts back and forth through the past—1986, specifically—when a series of young girls were mysteriously murdered, and the present where the same M.O. pops up. This book dives deeper in to Van lurid and traumatic past so if you loved book one, you're going to love this one too. With short chapters that keep the pace moving, nail-biting tension, and jaw-dropping reveals, The Laughing Dead is sure to delight any thriller lover.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Available Jul. 22 2025

Diving into a Jess Lourey thriller is always a thrill - thank to NetGalley and the author for this opportunity! I most recently worked my way through Lourey's light-hearted Murder of the Month series, and I've enjoyed several other of her other Minnesota-based thrillers in the past.

The Laughing Dead was my introduction to the Steinbeck and Reed series. I didn't feel at much of a loss starting off at book 3, even though there were references to the other volumes - one of which I own but haven't read yet. Combining both the psychological and police/detective procedural genres, The Laughing Dead was an experience that left me both on the edge and amazed at how the various plot points came together in both a disturbing and satisfying way when all was said and done.

I look forward now to diving in to The Taken Ones (book #1) and picking up The Reaping (book #2) to get caught up. I wonder what's in store for volume #4? Can't wait to find out!

The Laughing Dead (book 3 in the Steinbeck and Reed series) 4⭐️

Hands down my favorite in the series! I listened to books 0.5-2 in preparation to reading my ARC copy of The Laughing Dead. I HIGHLY recommend reading/listening in order to avoid spoilers and confusion.

As a recap: I liked the Amazon short story audio (book #0.5) that gave a quick glimpse in Van Reed’s world with her new partner, Harry. In Book 1 and 2 I was distracted by the narrations not fitting what I imagined in my mind. I have a feeling that may be part of the reason I enjoyed this one so much more. I connected better with the characters keeping them contained in my own mind’s eye/ear.

This one felt faster paced and did a great job connecting all the different storylines introduced in the prior books. I still felt like Van and Harry’s relationship felt too “tell-not-show”. I wish I could feel their pull towards each other. I know I’m supposed to feel like they are an amazing pairing, but realistically they interact minimally compared to the books as a whole.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jul 22 2025

The Laughing Dead
(Steinbeck and Reed, #3)
Jess Lourey
Pub: 7/22/25
4.5☆

The bodies of three teenage girls are found in central Minnesota—each with her mouth fixed in a ghoulish grin, smiling at a deadly joke no one can hear. But authorities eventually close and forget the curious case, dubbed the Laughing Dead.

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. It’s not that outlandish, considering her secrets—ones she’s never even told her partner, forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck.

As she feels others closing in, Van reopens the mystery of the Laughing Dead, hoping to find a connection to clear her name. But the search only gets darker. Because the more Van digs backward in time, the closer she comes to a terrible truth: Everything she has spent her life trying to hide is returning to haunt her.

My Thoughts:
I love this series and it felt soooo good to be back in MN w/Harry and Van. I was in the mood for a creepy read. The kind that I know Jess Lourey can deliver and she did! The Laughing Dead was another gripping, twisty, unputdownable read. It had my heart pounding and my mind racing trying to figure it all out. As always I love how heavy handed these books are on MN references. I can visualize the places and it feels like I am right there. Maybe cause I am!? 🤣

I love that we a dog and answers to so many questions but I truly hope there is still more to come from these two! And Owl!

What I loved;
😵 Twisty Thriller
😵 Creepy Mystery
😵 Cult Vibes
😵 Owl
😵 MN Setting

Absolutely would recommend but start from the beginning of the series if you haven't already read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced copy.

The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey delivers a dark and hypnotic tale that plunges readers into the unsettling world of a cult led by a manipulative father figure and his so-called “children.” Lourey masterfully blurs the line between reality and delusion, crafting a narrative that is as psychologically trippy as it is disturbing. Fans of cult-centric stories, especially those with echoes of Manson-era chaos, will find this novel gripping. The twists are relentless, and the eerie atmosphere keeps the tension high, urging readers to keep turning the pages long after they think they’ve figured it out. Lourey once again proves her skill in building suspense that is as emotionally complex as it is chilling.

Nothing better than finishing a book with a big smile on your face.

This book is incredible! Bravo Jess!!
I love this series so much, but this book is so much more! How is this possible?

There are so many closures in this book that made so much sense and I am so pleased with how it ended.

This fast paced, intriguing, suspenseful thriller will keep you turning the pages until the last one, with twists you won’t be expecting.

The alternating POVs were very smart and clever. The writing style is flawless and the characters? Oh wow… who doesn’t love Van and Harry?

You need to read this entire series. It’s really amazing. Highly recommend.

Thank you so much to Jess Lourey and Amazon Publishing for this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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.