The Laughing Dead Audiobook By Jess Lourey cover art

The Laughing Dead

Steinbeck and Reed, Book 3

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The Laughing Dead

By: Jess Lourey
Narrated by: Carly Robins
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Two murder investigations, decades apart, threaten to expose a cold case agent’s darkest secrets in a pulse-pounding thriller by the Edgar Award-nominated author of The Taken Ones.

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.

©2025 by Jess Lourey. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Crime Crime Thrillers Mystery Police Procedurals Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Exciting Scary Fiction Murder Cold Case

Critic reviews

“Turn on the lights and check your locks before settling down with Jess Lourey’s latest thriller. The Laughing Dead is a tense, twisty read that will grab you by the throat and won’t let go until you race to the very last, spectacularly creepy page.”—Melinda Leigh, #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author

“Jess Lourey slays in this spellbinding, spine-tingling mystery and thriller about Evangeline Reed, a complex and intriguing protagonist whose personal history and desire for justice make her perfect to take on the case of the Laughing Dead. The story explores Van’s dark and tragic past, her struggles with guilt and forgiveness, and her fight for redemption and deliverance from evil. Writing from multiple perspectives, Lourey weaves an intricate tale of despair and hope, leading to an explosive and gripping climax that had my jaw dropping to the floor.”—Yasmin Angoe, author of the Nena Knight trilogy and Not What She Seems
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Narration was great. Well worth the credit and listen time. Characters keep on developing and perfect conclusion to the tale that ties them together. Yet, hoping that more books will be penned by author about these characters.

Unexpected, emotional and unpredictable

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I’ve loved this thriller/mystery from the start. Became wrapped up in Harry and Van’s complicated lives. I was affected by each mystery they solved. By the ending I had tears running down my face. The perfect ending to this well written, well researched thriller mystery.

A Heartbreaking Thriller Comes To An Emotional End!

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I Love the characters in this series and the stories. This book and the series is a must read.

A great series

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Loved this. Great follow up to the previous books, and I’m hoping against hope that there will be more in the series.

Stellar follow up!

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I thoroughly enjoyed the conclusion of the story and how all the threads came together seamlessly. Van’s humor and sharp wit were delightful. Her dilemma about her actions and the right course of action was evident throughout the story. Harry provided excellent support, and I appreciated how their story concluded. I’m delighted that Van finally found her true family.

Satisfying Finale

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