The Laughing Dead
The Laughing Dead by Jess Lourey, published by Amazon Publishing in July 2025, is a psychological thriller that intertwines two murder investigations separated by decades. The story begins with the discovery of three teenage girls’ bodies in central Minnesota, each bearing a chilling grin, leading to the case being dubbed the Laughing Dead. As time passes, the investigation fades from memory until cold case agent Evangeline “Van” Reed is drawn back to the scene of a new crime, where a victim shares the same eerie smile, and her police ID is found at the location, placing her under suspicion.
Readers will find a gripping narrative that delves into themes of crime and suspense as Van seeks to unravel the connections between the past and present. As she reopens the cold case, the investigation reveals dark secrets that threaten to surface, forcing her to confront her hidden truths. With a page count of 331, this edition offers a deep exploration of psychological tension and the complexities of human nature, making it a notable addition to the thriller genre.
Official synopsis Publisher
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.
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