The Reaping

By-the-book forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck and rogue BCA agent Van Reed must catch a cold-case killer who’s returned to abduct a small town’s children one by one in this heart-stopping novel from the Edgar Award–nominated author of Unspeakable Things.In 1998 an Alku, Minnesota, family of five was brutally murdered in their sleep. The event shook the insulated community but, without any solid leads, was relegated to the cold case files, where it moldered for twenty-five years. Until today.Agent Harry Steinbeck hoped never to return to the northland, a place that holds terrible memories of his sister’s abduction. But when a recent homicide is connected to Alku’s unsolved mass murder, he and cold case agent Evangeline Reed have no choice but to investigate.The case grows impossibly darker as, one by one, the children of Alku begin disappearing. And Harry and Van can’t shake the sensation that someone is watching every move they make.

“Mystery and horror mix in a creepy novel whose suspenseful ending hints at a very special sequel.” —Kirkus Reviews

“With the Fall season quickly closing in, readers are scrambling for their next haunting read. And readers will find nothing more delightfully twisted than Jess Lourey’s latest chilling thriller, The Reaping.” —BookTrib

“The novel’s setting in fictional, Alku, Minn., an insular community founded by seven immigrant Finnish families, is truly creepy, and Lourey’s skillful manipulation of flashbacks cranks the suspense.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

“There are just some books—or series—that grab you and don’t let go, and this is one of those…” —Madison Daily Leader

“What Lourey does so well is blend police procedural with horror vibes that hark back to long-ago beliefs in blood sacrifice.” —Pioneer Press

“A new novel from Jess Lourey is always something to celebrate…[and] The Reaping is so much more than a mere thriller. There are complex characters, unpredictable settings and a mix of supernatural and mystery elements that drive this tale to a unique finale.” —Bookreporter

“A gruesome murder. A bizarre town. And one of fiction’s best new detective pairings. Jess Lourey weaves together an incredibly unique story, taut with suspense and filled with odd characters you’ll find creepy, fall in love with, and suspect—all at the same time. I tore through this book.” —John McMahon, Edgar Award Finalist, The Good Detective

“In The Reaping, Jess Lourey, a master at digging into the dark underbelly of Minnesota Nice, has created a riveting, intense, and disturbing tale with nightmarish killers and deeply relatable detectives. This twisty, heart-filled masterpiece set in an isolated town will haunt you long after you turn the last page.” —Kristi Belcamino, USA Today bestselling author

“Jess Lourey cements herself as the master of creepy small towns with The Reaping, a twisted and twisty tale through Alku, MN, an insulated community where secrets govern everything. With her uncanny ability to mine real-life horrors and blend them with an unmistakable brand of breakneck storytelling, Lourey will keep you up late—and terrified to turn off the light.” —Tony Wirt, bestselling author of Just Stay Away