“The Taken Ones” by Jess Lourey

 A Pleasant Discovery! -- 5 stars

I came across “The Taken Ones” thanks to one of those If-you-like-Dean-Koontz-you-may-like suggestions. And like it I did! I’m also pleased to learn that it’s the first book in the “Steinbeck and Reed” series. I can only hope that the sequels are just as solid.

In July of 1980, three girls ventured into Blackwood Forest. Hours later, only Melissa Carver stumbled out, her clothes torn, unable -- or unwilling -- to explain what happened to her friends. The case of the missing Holloway sisters gathered dust in county archives for decades. Flash forward to now, when Evangeline “Van” Reed stares at crime scene photos spread across her desk while her forensics partner, Harry Steinbeck, pins up a fresh murder victim’s portrait beside the faded images of the Holloway girls. The similarities are impossible to ignore.

From there, the narrative unfolds as a taut crime thriller, yet transcends the genre through its compelling protagonists, Van and Harry. These characters resonate with remarkable depth. Van’s recurring nightmares hint at her fractured childhood, leaving her wary of human connection. She navigates the world with a quiet unease, finding solace instead in the wordless company of abandoned dogs at the local shelter where she volunteers her evenings away from the precinct.

The psychological depth of the investigators unfolds with each clue they uncover. Just when you think you understand the direction of the story, a revelation at the mid point shatters every assumption you’ve built. I found myself staring at the page, breathless. The author masterfully crafts moments of genuine unease throughout -- the kind that lingers even after you’ve set the book down for the night.

“The Taken Ones” deserves the highest praise, particularly for its enigmatic conclusion that lingers in the mind. The story cries out for continuation. The unresolved fate of Van and Harry’s relationship haunts me, and I find myself craving resolution with surprising intensity. Looking forward to Book #2!