4.75/5 stars! Jess' books are always so raw and honest that I struggle to put into words how I feel. There is no way to put this book down once you grab it, because the horrors of mankind are addictive to read. It features a cold case story and agent Van Reed trying to tie the past and present together. The final twist just about wrecked my life in how good it was.

Let me begin by saying that although this was the first novel in this series that I have read, I had absolutely no trouble understanding these characters or their complex histories. What I did have an issue with was the way I had to completely suspend disbelief in order to get through this one. Because there were times (to borrow a phrase from this story), "I rolled my eyes so hard, I saw yesterday."

Here is the thing, when I read a novel that sounds like a police procedural, I do not expect there to be supernatural elements. AKA I don't expect the lead investigator to have "visions" of murders before they happen. Chalking this up to I might have known better had I read the other books first, I kept reading.

And then it went completely off the rails with the introduction of a certain gene mutation. Yes. That mutation actually does exist and does result in bones having a higher density than what is considered "normal." And sure, it does make the person with this mutation less likely to break their bones.

*** SPOILER ALERT ***




However, it does NOT mean that someone can leap off a third story roof and walk away completely unscathed. Nor does it mean that the beholder of this mutation can walk away from a plane crash with nothing more than "burn scars" on their skin. And then you add the same man having some kind of "gift" where he could "follow a girl with his mind's eye" while also "having visions"? I lost interest completely.

Also, since we are in the spoiler zone, HOW did Reed NOT make the connection between a "man who looked like Tom Cruise", the posters on the dead girls wall and her own past? I would have thought, even if she hadn't known who Tom Cruise was back then (or even still didn't know who he was when she went to investigate) the THREE posters on the dead girls wall of the man should have been enough to make her pause and go huh... you know he kind of looks like someone I used to know....




***END SPOILER***

Now if we had taken that out of the equation altogether? This would still have been a highly engaging novel. I enjoyed seeing the POV of "Just Judy" as she was the only one from the past who (in my opinion) actually moved the story forward. Even the chapters of the girls who ended up dead didn't seem to matter in the grand scheme of things because we learned about their final moments once Reed interviewed their friends and family.

The ending seemed to be tidy enough, but I've read enough novels like this to know there is potential for this not only to be the last of the series (it currently reads book 3 of 3), but also that there is the potential for some of those ..... flowers to not only blossom but grow, and show up in future books to cause trouble for Reed.

And you know what? I would be interested to see if that happens and what form it takes.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Thank you Net Galley, Jess Lourey, and Thomas and Mercer for an Earc copy of the Laughing Dead.

The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey is the third installment in the Reed and Steinbeck thriller series.
Rising Shadow. This novel follows FBI agents Reed and Steinbeck as they delve into a chilling case involving a grisly homicide linked to a decades-old mystery of three smiling corpses.

I really enjoyed this book out of all the Reed and Steinbeck series. For readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric mysteries with intricate plots and well-developed characters, The Laughing Dead promises to be an engaging read.

😁 BOOK / REVIEW 🌿

While this book may be called #thelaughingdead, there is literally nothing to laugh about while reading this 😵!

@jesslourey does it again, and the Reed <> Steinbeck duo is better than ever! I adore #thriller #bookseries because there is so much character growth when the two MC are in law enforcement. Lourey does a great job of slowly building out their backgrounds, but giving the reader enough of a bone to make their own conclusions and judgment.

We are thrown back into Reed's chaotic life growing up, and I feel like this one clicked a lot of puzzle pieces into place for me. And the actual character connections in this book are insane. I loved how this ended, with closure, but enough to keep me guessing if this series will continue (plzzzzz 🙏).

This wasn't gory or too intense to read. Instead, it's way more psychologically challenging.

This book drops July 11th, but I had to pick it up ASAP.

Easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 - thanks for my #ARC @netgalley and #thomasandmercer!!

Evangeline “Van” Reed and Harry Steinbeck are back in another thriller, this time circumstance tosses Van into a cold case from 1986 involving 3 teenage girls. The news dubbed them “The laughing dead” because each was discovered with a gruesome smile on their face. Van continues to be plagued with vivid dreams, that feel too real. So when her ID shows up at a new crime scene, where the victim is not only someone she knows personally, but they also have the gruesome smile on their face- things start to get intense.

Evangeline can never fully shake the feeling that she’s being watched and followed. Her past, being raised in a cult and abused- has shaped her despite her best efforts to put it behind her.

Harry is never too far out of reach in this story and Van fears that her past and present are about to collide and change everything between them.

I enjoyed watching this story unfold. The alternating POVs would oftentimes reveal clues and then when they were matched to the case it felt exciting. I did not imagine it would turn out the way it did, looking forward to more Steinbeck and Reed in the future.

Thank you Jess Lourey and NetGalley for the advance copy and opportunity to review this book.

Van and Harry’s story continues when Harry calls her to a new scene, which she is tied to. If her team can relate it to a past investigation, then she can work the case as well. However, Van has a lot on her plate and is keeping secrets from Harry. As it turns out, the past she escaped is coming back to haunt her. While her team works to solve the case, there are glimpses of the victims, and Van’s nightmares ramp up. What if she and Harry are tied together more than they thought? I really hope this isn’t the last we see of Steinbeck and Reed, but if it is I enjoyed their journey.

This book was great! I will go back and read the first 2. The author did a great job providing a lot of back story do I didn't feel like I missed much and knew what was going on with Val's history as I read.

Positives:
a compelling protagonist
Very suspenseful with great twists
Terrific character development of both major and minor characters.
an eerie setting

I think I found a new favorite series and will definitely be going back to the prequel.

Jess Lourey does it again. Another great Steinbeck and Reed mystery. I truly enjoyed getting to read from Van's viewpoint and learn her story. Fantastic storyline and plot. The flashbacks to the 80's were perfect. Being able to picture every word was refreshing. The twist in this story had me gasping. The ending has me hoping there's more.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer, Jess Lourey & Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Fast paced !!! Clever twists, and a lovely opportunity to tie together our character's stories. A rollercoaster of emotion, truths and empathy.

Jess Lourey is one of my favorite authors and the Steinbeck/Reed series is also one of my favorite series by her. There is something very appealing to me about their painfully opposite personalities that somehow works so perfectly well together. This time Lourey has added a drooling, wiggly overly expressive pooch to the duo that only added to my fondness of this series.

In previous books we learned of Reed's nightmarish upbringing in a cult and her abusive father who was the leader of this cult. In the last book Reed suspected that Steinbeck's sister was abducted by Reed's father years ago. Both of these factor into this new novel as the pair investigate a new case where the victim has been poisoned that is remarkably similar to three cold cases from the 80s that Reed is investigating. As Reed and Steinbeck further investigate, not only do the cases begin to converge together, so does Reed's past begin to catch up with her present.

This story has so many timelines and then/now characters that I did find parts of it a bit confusing. That said, I was reading it straight through and it was late. It could have just been me. Obviously I gave it the highest rating possible so it wasn't that much of a problem for me. I loved the twisty plot that resolved so brilliantly in the end and that ending was, indeed, absolute perfection. Honestly, for a thriller/police/crime book, I thought The Laughing Dead was great from beginning to end. I recommend the entire series but do suggest you start at the beginning. You'll be fairly lost otherwise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a chance to read this early!!!

I really really enjoy this series. I’ve always loved crime thriller shows like criminal minds and SVU so this is always right up my alley.

I feel like this is the conclusion but I’m not sure but either way it was great. I really enjoyed how a little unhinged Van got in this one. Her desperation to help her friend, the victims family’s was chaotic but it was her way of showing she cared. I also really enjoy Van’s internal struggles with how she feels about how she grew up and with who she grew up with. They were the only family she’d ever known and had good times with them even tho the trauma outweighs that she still remembers that they were all just scared children trying to get by.

My heart is so happy about the ending. THE ENDING. Oh Harry Steinbeck you sweet sweet man. Oh and there’s a dog too in this one.

The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey
Steinbeck and Reed #3

I've already enjoyed the first two books (and one short story) in this series and was delighted to be able to read this one. With the ending of the first two books, it was obvious more was to come. With this third book, I'm left wondering if there will be more. This is a great place for the series to end, there is a feeling of closure for me, but if this is the end, I'll miss the characters we've come to know.

Cold Case agent Evangeline “Van” Reed and forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck both have issues although one of them keeps their issues much better hidden than the other. Van is a wild child among her peers. Harry is very well respected and as Van's best friend (practically, only friend) Harry has Van's back in her times of need. After their last case (book 2, The Reaping), Van has distanced herself from Harry. Van has always been afraid of people knowing the real her and she's terrified if Harry finds out about something she's done, she'll lose her best friend.

But now, the horrid past is coming to the present. Van has stirred up too much of the past to be left alone, someone is teaching her lessons on meddling and others are suffering for Van's actions. The past involved Harry, too, whether he knows it or not. Van is walking a tightrope of letting out too much but knowing that stopping what is happening is more important than protecting herself.

There is an adorable dog, a boxer named Owl, in this story. I loved every minute of hanging with Owl, she is so well written and I'd want another book just to hang out with Owl some more. If this is the end of the ride for this series, it's a good way to end, although I'm always ready for another book in the series if Jess Lourey makes it so.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

Luckily I read the "Taken Ones" by Jess Lourey before reading the "Laughing Dead" Both of these books can be read as standalone but I enjoy getting to know the characters. In "Laughing Dead", we really get into Van's head -and dreams. I love how the author just barely steps into supernatural. And I mean, just barely.
4 stars because I love how the author wove together the mysteries-and connected the people. In my opinion, this book could have scrapped a few characters and still achieve the same effect.

I love this series. The combination of Steinbeck's and Reed's unique personalities and perspectives blends together so well to create a well-rounded universe of investigation that comes at murder from disparate yet complementary angles. I really enjoyed seeing the intersections between their lives come together full-circle in this book, and hope it doesn't signal the end of their novels.

The writing is crisp and engaging. The characters are fabulous and their backstories are compelling. The three book series really should be read in order, or you will miss out on a LOT of the meaning behind the revelations in this installment. This is a great series and I do hope it continues!

As someone who absolutely loves crime mysteries, this book was right up my alley. It was fast-paced and kept me guessing. The only reason I rated a 4 star and not 5 is because I wasn’t really blindsided by any twists. Still a great read, nonetheless!

Okay, but wait. Can we count on another book in this series or is this as good as the end? Because either way, I AM ALL FOR IT! I have been a huge fan ever since I finished the Taken Ones, so best believe when I say that the newest addition does not disappoint. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes their mystery-thrillers with a modern take.

The Laughing Dead is phenomenal from start to finish! Jess Lourey knows how to do suspenseful thriller like no other! Cannot wait for the next book in this series!

Wow. What. A. Wild. Ride.

I have a feeling this series is done and I’m sad. I have come to be attached to these imperfect characters. I will say how the author ties it all together was absolutely brilliant. And while I want more of these characters, this was truly a great ending. I’ll say it again. WOW.

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! 🚀💖🤗