The Laughing Dead (Steinbeck and Reed Book 3)

The Laughing Dead (Steinbeck and Reed Book 3)

by Jess Lourey

4.6 (5,308)

4.6 stars from 5,308 reviews. One of the highest rated Contemporary Fiction books we track.

Published by Thomas & MercerPublished 2025-07-22

$2.49KU50% off peak

Last checked: May 1, 2026

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Fans of these authors will like this...

  • Tessa Wegert
  • Lucy Foley
  • Simone St. James

Fans of these books will like this...

  • The Taken Ones
  • The Still Point
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold

Perfect for you if...

  • You love crime procedurals with genuine twists where the detective's personal stakes are as high as the case itself.
  • You're drawn to stories where past trauma bleeds into present danger in ways the protagonist didn't see coming.
  • You appreciate series with real chemistry between partners and slow-burn character development across multiple books.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You need graphic violence or gore to feel engaged; this thriller works through psychological tension rather than visceral shocks.
  • You prefer standalone books; this is the third in a series and relies heavily on established dynamics with Steinbeck.
  • You want a protagonist you can root for without moral ambiguity; Van's secrets and past actions complicate any easy sympathy.

About this book

Two murder investigations separated by decades threaten to expose a cold case agent's darkest secrets. Three teenage girls are found dead in central Minnesota, each with her mouth fixed in a ghoulish grin. Authorities eventually close the case, which becomes known as the Laughing Dead, and the investigation is forgotten. Decades later, cold case agent Evangeline "Van" Reed is called to a crime scene where the victim bears that same horrifying smile. Van's police ID is found at the scene, making her the prime suspect. Van has secrets she has never shared with her partner, forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck. Feeling pressure from investigators, Van reopens the mystery of the Laughing Dead to find a connection that will clear her name. But as she digs deeper into the past, she uncovers a terrible truth: everything she has spent her life hiding is returning to haunt her.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

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Free$2.50$4.99Sep '24Dec '25Jan '26May '26
$2.49$4.99

Currently on sale at $2.49 — 50% off peak. Price has dropped 2 times over the last 20 months. Goes on sale roughly every 130 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

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#227#12,891#25,554Feb '25Oct '25Jan '26May '26

Currently #7,688 in the Kindle store — a top-10K bestseller. Sales have softened 83% recently.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

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4.0★4.5★5.0★Nov '25Dec '25Jan '26Jan '26Feb '26RatingReviews

Currently 4.6★ from 5,308 reviews

Gaining approximately 4 new reviews per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.6 over the tracking period.

Sale Prediction

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Free$2.50$4.99Sep '24Dec '25Jan '26May '26PredictedMay '26

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $2.49. It typically returns to around $4.99.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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Jess Lourey

1 book on Vagrant Press

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