Book: The Laughing Dead

Author: Jess Lourey

Thank you, NetGalley and Brilliance Audio, for an advanced audio copy. 

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The Laughing Dead is the third book in the Steinbeck and Reed series. This was my first book, so it worked fine as a standalone, but I do wonder if having a proper introduction to these characters would have helped me. 

Two murder investigations that are decades apart take the spotlight in this mystery thriller. A cold case agent, Evangeline Reed, is called to the case to investigate. At the newest murder, Reed’s old police ID is found at the crime scene, making her a suspect. This follows the typical trope of “ I need to solve this case to clear my name.” 

I was excited for this book for many reasons. One being the location. I love Minnesota and have been there many times. This book definitely nailed the atmosphere. 

I was also excited for a sinister investigation. The bodies were all found with a smile on their face, like they were laughing as they died. This drew me in, but personally, this failed to execute in a way I found interesting. 

Overall, this is a fun mystery and does work well as a standalone. I just feel that if I had known more about the characters, I would have liked the book more. 

Final Score: 3/5