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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
Atmospheric, eerie, and emotionally layered—The Laughing Dead gripped me from page one. Jess Lourey delivers a masterclass in suspense with a haunting cold case that echoes across decades. The dual timelines are woven together beautifully, creating a rhythm that keeps you turning pages, even when the subject matter gets dark. And it does. Deliciously dark.
Van is such a complicated, deeply flawed protagonist, and I loved watching her unravel and rebuild throughout the story. Her growth felt earned and real. And Owl, the dog? Absolute perfection. He deserves his own spinoff. I’m not even kidding. Total heart-melter.
The mystery surrounding the original Laughing Dead case is twisted and compelling, and Lourey does a fantastic job of maintaining tension without ever making it feel rushed. There’s emotional depth, unsettling secrets, and a steady pulse of dread that makes the final reveals all the more satisfying.
So why not five stars? Honestly—it was a lot of story. There were moments that felt a bit too stretched, like a few subplots could’ve been trimmed to keep the momentum tight. It didn’t take away from the quality of the writing or the intrigue, but it did make the pacing lag just a touch for me in the middle.
Still, this is a must-read if you love dual timelines, slow-burn thrillers, and cold cases that refuse to stay buried. The Laughing Dead is twisty, chilling, and full of heart.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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
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
I thoroughly enjoyed sharing this audiobook with Danielle, especially since we arranged it last minute. The story is an atmospheric thriller that instantly draws you in with its vivid and gripping mood. The dual timelines are handled masterfully, providing a compelling structure that keeps the suspense building throughout.
The cold case elements add depth and intrigue, unfolding at just the right pace to maintain tension without feeling rushed. The narration brings the characters and settings to life, making the experience even more immersive. Overall, this audiobook is a fantastic choice for fans of mystery and thriller genres, delivering a perfectly crafted and engaging story.
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 just didn’t work for me. The writing style and tone felt too much like a YA novel, and I struggled to stay engaged. By the halfway point, I realized I wasn’t invested enough in the characters or plot to keep going, so I ended up putting it down.
That said, I appreciate the opportunity to read an early copy—thank you to Brilliance Publishing for that. While this one wasn’t a match for my taste, I can definitely see other readers vibing with the storyline and finding something to enjoy.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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!
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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 received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
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 received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
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."