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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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 love and would recommend this whole series, but this one was particularly poignant! š„²š
5 Stars āāāāā
Jess Lourey has done it again! The Laughing Dead is an absolute knockout and easily one of my favorite reads this year. From the very first page, I was completely hooked. The atmosphere is chilling, the pacing relentless, and the emotional payoffāwow. Iāve loved the Steinbeck and Reed series from the start, but this installment brings so much closure and depth, it genuinely left me stunned.
The dual POVs work brilliantly, with Lourey balancing darkness and hope, fear and grit. The character development is so strongāeach moment with Steinbeck and Reed is earned and emotionally rich. Their bond, the tension, the backstoriesāitās all woven into a heart-pounding, unforgettable thriller. This book doesnāt just entertaināit lingers.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read an advance copy. I couldnāt put it down, and Iāll be recommending this series to everyone who loves smart, gripping thrillers with real heart.
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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 āVanā 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.
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 āVanā 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.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
When Van's ID is found at a crime scene, she is pulled back into a forgotten cold case that happened in 1984 named The Laughing Dead killings because of the gruesome smile left on the victims faces. As time goes on, Van's past is slowly creeping back in to haunt/harm her.
This was a creepy yet fascinating read. Van is still such an interesting character to me. Her past is chilling (and her secret... very chilling!). The place and way she grew up and her special ability. Harry, though not knowing her biggest secret, is a great partner for her. I didn't get a chance to read book 2 yet so I don't understand some of the tension between the two in this book, but I felt satisfied anyway (after all they go through in this) at the end with how it left off.
This was a creepy yet fascinating read. Van is still such an interesting character to me. Her past is chilling (and her secret... very chilling!). The place and way she grew up and her special ability. Harry, though not knowing her biggest secret, is a great partner for her. I didn't get a chance to read book 2 yet so I don't understand some of the tension between the two in this book, but I felt satisfied anyway (after all they go through in this) at the end with how it left off.
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
highly recommend you read book 1 and 2 in this series before starting āThe Laughing Deadā. Everything will definitely make more sense if you do.
I enjoyed reading this book. I found it to be a smart, taut, mind blowing thriller. Iāve found the whole series quite interesting actually, especially Vanās upbringing and physic abilities and Harryās missing sister. And this book finally delivers some answers for both Van and Harry. The twist at the end caught me by surprise, I wast expecting the second perspective to belong to that person.
I do wish Harry was featured a bit more in āThe Laughing Deadā, he didnāt get as much time here as he has in previous books. But I understand why it was a more Van focused storyline. And I love a book with a dog as a supporting character. A 4 star read for me.
** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher**
I enjoyed reading this book. I found it to be a smart, taut, mind blowing thriller. Iāve found the whole series quite interesting actually, especially Vanās upbringing and physic abilities and Harryās missing sister. And this book finally delivers some answers for both Van and Harry. The twist at the end caught me by surprise, I wast expecting the second perspective to belong to that person.
I do wish Harry was featured a bit more in āThe Laughing Deadā, he didnāt get as much time here as he has in previous books. But I understand why it was a more Van focused storyline. And I love a book with a dog as a supporting character. A 4 star read for me.
** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher**
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Minnesota mentioned! Somehow this is my first Jess Lourey book, but it absolutely will not be my last. I was a little disappointed to find that The Laughing Dead was the third in a series that Iāve now spoiled for myself a bit - but I am still going to go back and read the others in the series. I have no doubt that Iām going to love them just as much, even if I know the end!
Though I feel like we didnāt get a whole lot of Harry in this book (one half of the team for whom the series is named), Van Reed is such a fascinating character. Growing up in a cult led by your own father and becoming a cold case investigator is an absolutely wild life trajectory! I think I could read 8 more books just about Vanās life and still not be bored.
The way that this story weaved together Vanās life with a decadeās old cold case and more recent murders was fantastic. Lourey paced this perfectly, only revealing just enough to hook you and get you hypothesizing without actually spoiling the reveals. Truly gripping and so difficult to put down!
One thing about Minnesotans, we are absolute nerds about our love for our state. My favorite Minnesota call outs were: The State Fair (the best one in the country, no contest!), Chi-Chiās (oh, the things I would do to have a Chi-Chiās taco salad again...), and the Old Dutch Double Box (noticeably missing some Top the Tater, though... the most elite snack combination!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol