The Reaping was like diving into a pool of old-school creepiness and mystery, with a splash of thrill to keep you on the edge of your seat. Even though I hadn't cracked open the first book featuring Detectives Steinbeck and Reed, I was totally hooked from the get-go. These two are hot on the trail of a murder in a sleepy Minnesota town that's got more secrets than a treasure chest. Turns out, it was settled way back when by a bunch of Finnish families running from who knows what. And get this, their descendants still run the show, making the whole place feel like a living history lesson. But it's not all quaint cottages and friendly smiles—there's a spooky rumor swirling around about a blood witch lurking in the shadows. Talk about giving you the heebie-jeebies! But honestly, that's what made it such a satisfyingly spine-tingling read. You'll want to keep those lights on for this one!

*Thank you to NetGalley, Jess Lourey and Thomas & Mercer for providing the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for a review, but all thoughts are my own*

Jess Lourey has a way of making the old feel new and fresh. I was instantly transported back 20+ years into this story with these characters who some I have come to love in past books. The child's perspective in this book was so smartly written and genuine. I had the feeling of someone watching me every time I picked up this book. Immersive to say the least!!

old-case detectives Steinbeck and Reed are back and on the case. This time, they are looking into the village of Alku, a remote and insular village, that is a step back in time.

Alku was founded by seven Finnish families and they have their own way. They all own the town and are ruled by a board of '7 Families'. They are also ruled by a Blood Witch, who will often call for a 'reaping'. A terrible murder of an entire family 25 years ago has the same details as a murder that just happened to a guard at the private prison/nursing home in the town of Alku.

As expected Van and Harry are plagued by their own issues - Harry and his missing sister, Van with her nightmares/predictions. Using the motivation from both of these, they work together to save the children of Alku from the long tradition.

As with The Taken Ones, both Harry and Van are complicated characters. Complicated and the kind of book characters that I love. I'm rather avoidant of any series after devoting so much time to Game of Thrones, but I will be the first in line for the Steinbeck and Reed partnership. With every book, we peel back the layers on each of our leads.

I HIGHLY recommend reading The Taken Ones and then digging into The Reaping. Jess Lourey has a fantastic duo on her hands.

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

The Reaping was a good, old-fashioned creepy, mystery, thriller. It probably would have helped if I had read the first book of this detective series but not knowing the background of Detectives Steinbeck and Reed did not affect my enjoyment of this story, though there is some character development as his past trauma is interjected throughout the story. They are called investigate a murder in a small Minnesota town that was settled by seven families fleeing Finland over a hundred years ago under tragic circumstances. Descendants of the seven families still run the town and the prison now housed within it. The town is distrustful of outsiders and a rumor of a blood witch haunting the town adds to the uneasiness Steinbeck and Reed feel when investigating. Satisfying, but creepy, read!

This spine-chilling book permeated my soul in a trance-like state as I read every detailed word. Through the author’s descriptive words, I could see how the Alku clan looked, feel the horror of the scared children, smell the prison, experience the chill in the prison tunnel, the heart warming subtleties in the relationship between the detectives and more. This cold case was an eery one with a witch, children disappearing and a strange culture centered around a sanitarium/prison. Thank You for another great read, Jess Lourey!!

Creepy, shiver inducing tale. Set in a Finnish community in Northern Minnesota it introduces mysterious murders, missing creatures and fabled monsters

Loved it! I love a book that keeps you guessing who the villain is. Couldn’t stop reading it. Enjoyable to the very end.

Bam...Lourey knocked this one outta the park! So hood and creepy...what a twist! I loved the ending as well! Can't wait for the next Harry and Van story!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Thomas and Mercer, and NetGalley, for the digital advanced readers copy of Jess Lourey’s book, The Reaping, due for publication in September 2024.
This is a story unlike anything I have read - and I’ve read and loved all of the authors previous books! Jess Lourey has a way of weaving absolute heartache with the most tender moments of human connection. This is a story of a murder in the present day that has links to a cold case from 25 years ago; a cult- like community with secret and dark traditions - and lots of secrets.
I enjoyed meeting Harry and Van in the previous books but their partnership continues to be develop organically and beautifully in this story. Based on the ending, there seems to be an opening for another story featuring these two and I am already looking forward to it.

Jess Lourey's The Reaping is twisted and to those who haven't encountered small towns, centred on aberrant supernatural beliefs about conventional deities or less mainstream mythological creatures, a story like this may seem fanciful. The families that Jess writes about are usually what are considered 'normal', and she ever so delicately slices into their soft underbelly to expose the rot that festers within.

In The Reaping, as the connection, based on respect and trust, grows between two damaged souls we've met in previous books, Van and Harry, a recent murder connected to a cold case, shows what happens when a whole twisted community happens to be 'family'. All over the world, there are pockets of cult like groups associated with belief systems that give them permission to do the most awful things to one another. And awful things they do, especially to children.

Jess Lourey's books are the honest antidote to the concept of 'stranger danger'. Because it is almost never a stranger.

The Reaping is the second book in The Steinbeck and Reed series, though I think you can read them as a stand alone. Steinbeck and Reed are working a cold case that seems to have a strange connection to a new case. They have to head out to this small strange town but for Steinbeck it’s too close to his home town that holds a lot of ghosts for him.

The tension of this town was insane. You just knew they had so much to hide. The way they didn’t like outsiders and just the evasiveness! It was great! The town creeped me out, along with the founding families. I loved that sense that you just didn’t know what was going on but you’re sure someone’s lying! Add in the mystery of Steinbecks family it had it all!

Thank you Jess Lourey and Netgalley for my copy for honest review

Wow, what a ride! This book is a total game-changer. It's got everything you could ask for: gripping plot twists, characters you'll root for, and writing so vivid you'll feel like you're right there in the story. Trust me, once you start, you won't be able to put it down. 5 stars all the way!

The Reaping by Jess Lourey is a follow up to The Taken Ones but can be read as a standalone novel. Steinbeck and Reed are back at it again trying to solve a case that occured in Northern Minnesota. It's about a group of people who have had children disappear in the past and now it's happening again. They will do anything to protect their traditions and their way of life. What secrets are they keeping and can Steinbeck and Reed figure out what is happening before it's too late? Another hit from Jess Lourey! All of her books have me losing sleep but I keep coming back for more!

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 really loved this book but I had a really hard time connecting with the story at times and the pacing was slower than I preferred because I didn't read the previous novel accompanying it.
It was still enjoyable to read. I would definitely give it 5 stars for creep factor.

I'm a huge fan of Jess Lourey and after reading The Taken Ones, I was hooked on the characters in that book! When I got the opportunity to read The Reaping early, I jumped at the chance and was definitely not disappointed! It was wonderfully mysterious and my mind was not only horrified but continuously trying to figure out who (or what) was the guilty party! I'm thrilled to say that the ending was as satisfying as I knew it would be (Jess Lourey books always are)!
I'm absolutely excited to report that the author told me there will be more books in this series and I personally cannot wait!

I’m disappointed to DNF this book since I saw so many good review for the first book in this detective series, but The Reaping was so slow and offered very little tension/suspense for a mystery/thriller and for me to stay engaged. Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc.

Obsessed! I was on the edge of my seat turning the page needing more. I was completely captured by the story and drawn in. I was hooked from the first chapter! Jess is a favorite author of mine and I’m always waiting for her next book. I’m always pushing her books on others and they never regret picking her up and this will be no exception

The dark path which forms the plot of The Reaping gets darker and darker as Reid and Steinbeck work frantically to prevent more murders. Again, Jess Lourey has given us a thrill a minute with clever plotting, sharp dialogue, incredible characters and further growth in internal relationships which will no doubt add much to the series as it develops (which I am so hoping it does). The back stories to the main characters are fascinating and how they influence their work as detectives is immensely satisfying to observe. Another winner from this talented author.

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.