What do you think?
The Crying Killer
A woman’s secret. A small town with a dark past. A serial killer bent on revenge. Lies kill in a shocking true crime–inspired thriller by the Edgar-nominated author of The Quarry Girls.
Tuesday Hendrickson has spent eight years running from memories of that night. Her sister’s screams. Blood on the walls. And Arsen Bauer, a monster known as the Crying Killer, shot down in a barrage of bullets as he fled. Case closed.
Intending to build a safe new identity out of the ashes, Tuesday changed her last name and moved away. She’s now a private investigator who guards herself and her daughter, Julia, like their lives depend on it. And maybe they do. Because unless she’s imagining things, Tuesday has seen Arsen on the streets of Saint Paul. She’d know her sister’s killer anywhere.
When bodies begin surfacing bearing the Crying Killer’s brutal and unmistakable signature, Tuesday is certain he’s coming for them. Except no one believes that but her. As her paranoia intensifies, she is left with a terrible unearth the shocking secret she buried with her sister, or become the Crying Killer’s next victim.
Tuesday Hendrickson has spent eight years running from memories of that night. Her sister’s screams. Blood on the walls. And Arsen Bauer, a monster known as the Crying Killer, shot down in a barrage of bullets as he fled. Case closed.
Intending to build a safe new identity out of the ashes, Tuesday changed her last name and moved away. She’s now a private investigator who guards herself and her daughter, Julia, like their lives depend on it. And maybe they do. Because unless she’s imagining things, Tuesday has seen Arsen on the streets of Saint Paul. She’d know her sister’s killer anywhere.
When bodies begin surfacing bearing the Crying Killer’s brutal and unmistakable signature, Tuesday is certain he’s coming for them. Except no one believes that but her. As her paranoia intensifies, she is left with a terrible unearth the shocking secret she buried with her sister, or become the Crying Killer’s next victim.
317 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2026
About the author
Jess Lourey
49 books5,021 followersMy name is Jess Lourey, and I write about secrets.
The story of my first published novel is both devastating and transformative, something I speak about in my TEDx Talk (https://youtu.be/a5vSLh3oPXI). I've come a long way since then. I'm proud to call myself a bestselling, twice Edgar-nominated, and twice Goodreads Readers Choice Awards shortlisted author who has won the ITW Thriller, Minnesota Book, and Anthony Awards. I write crime fiction, young adult, nonfiction, children's books, and book club fiction.
I've reached over a million readers since 2020. I'm also a former writing and sociology professor who still loves to teach transformative creative writing workshops built around my Rewrite Your Life method.
I live in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man those goobers are a lot of work). Pop on over to Lourey's Literati, my VIP Reader group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/38538...) and/or sign up for my molasses newsletter (https://jessicalourey.com/newsletter) for the latest news, giveaways, and insider information.
p.s. You can find the Unspeakable Things epilogue here: https://jessicalourey.com/survey-two.
The story of my first published novel is both devastating and transformative, something I speak about in my TEDx Talk (https://youtu.be/a5vSLh3oPXI). I've come a long way since then. I'm proud to call myself a bestselling, twice Edgar-nominated, and twice Goodreads Readers Choice Awards shortlisted author who has won the ITW Thriller, Minnesota Book, and Anthony Awards. I write crime fiction, young adult, nonfiction, children's books, and book club fiction.
I've reached over a million readers since 2020. I'm also a former writing and sociology professor who still loves to teach transformative creative writing workshops built around my Rewrite Your Life method.
I live in Minneapolis with a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies, but man those goobers are a lot of work). Pop on over to Lourey's Literati, my VIP Reader group on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/38538...) and/or sign up for my molasses newsletter (https://jessicalourey.com/newsletter) for the latest news, giveaways, and insider information.
p.s. You can find the Unspeakable Things epilogue here: https://jessicalourey.com/survey-two.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 399 reviews
August 19, 2026
Stealthily building the truth from the very start of this brilliant novel, Lourey delivered a true knockout with The Crying Killer. Intense, dark, and gritty, this serial-killer thriller-meets-dark mystery was a haunting look at the victims’ side of things but with this insanely talented author’s classic fictional flair. You see, thanks to an unreliable narrator who imbued paranoia and fear into every scene, I didn’t know what was real and what was imagined until the perfectly set up, twist-heavy ending threw my brain into an absolute tizzy. Jaw-dropping and plot-shifting in the best possible way, it took all of my well-educated armchair-sleuth guesses and laughed in their face. Oh, yes. It not only blew my mind, but it made me see the whole plot in a brand-new light. Leveraging my own emotional connection to the story against the subtle yet ever-present clues, I immediately wanted to re-read the whole darn thing as soon as I flipped the last stunning page.
As much as I loved the twists, though, I do have to say that Tuesday’s character was why I wanted to read “just one chapter” over and over. Strong, complex, and yet also oh so very morally gray, her past traumas came to life in her every thought, feeling, and action. Paired with the found-family vibe and impressive array of supporting characters, and I became more immersed in this atmospheric true-crime-inspired novel with every single page. I mean, who wouldn’t get caught up in the dual POVs—one of whom was the killer—and the alternating past and present timelines? Milking the suspense through a series of short, punchy chapters, it was an edge-of-your-seat ride as I questioned everything and everyone—including Tuesday. So if you love books that just get darker the more you read while focusing on the victims instead of the killer, grab this one now. It was a relentless tale that shocked me but good. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Books inspired by real-life events
- Serial killer mystery/thrillers
- Ratcheting suspense
- Short, punchy chapters
- 80 & 90s nostalgia
- Morally gray characters
- Stories from the victims perspective
- Small-town secrets
- Unreliable narrators
- Plot-shifting “WTF?!” twists
- Found-family vibes
- Dual timelines (past/present)
- LGBTQ+ characters
- Dual POVs (including the killer)
- A sense of paranoia
SYNOPSIS:
Tuesday Hendrickson has spent eight years running from memories of that night. Her sister’s screams. Blood on the walls. And Arsen Bauer, a monster known as the Crying Killer, shot down in a barrage of bullets as he fled. Case closed.
Intending to build a safe new identity out of the ashes, Tuesday changed her last name and moved away. She’s now a private investigator who guards herself and her daughter, Julia, like their lives depend on it. And maybe they do. Because unless she’s imagining things, Tuesday has seen Arsen on the streets of Saint Paul. She’d know her sister’s killer anywhere.
When bodies begin surfacing bearing the Crying Killer’s brutal and unmistakable signature, Tuesday is certain he’s coming for them. Except no one believes that but her. As her paranoia intensifies, she is left with a terrible choice: unearth the shocking secret she buried with her sister, or become the Crying Killer’s next victim.
Thank you Jess Lourey and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 18, 2026
Content warning: gun violence, murder, death, violence, stalking, mental illness, domestic abuse, child abuse, toxic relationship, grief, gaslighting, addiction, mention of: abandonment
As much as I loved the twists, though, I do have to say that Tuesday’s character was why I wanted to read “just one chapter” over and over. Strong, complex, and yet also oh so very morally gray, her past traumas came to life in her every thought, feeling, and action. Paired with the found-family vibe and impressive array of supporting characters, and I became more immersed in this atmospheric true-crime-inspired novel with every single page. I mean, who wouldn’t get caught up in the dual POVs—one of whom was the killer—and the alternating past and present timelines? Milking the suspense through a series of short, punchy chapters, it was an edge-of-your-seat ride as I questioned everything and everyone—including Tuesday. So if you love books that just get darker the more you read while focusing on the victims instead of the killer, grab this one now. It was a relentless tale that shocked me but good. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Books inspired by real-life events
- Serial killer mystery/thrillers
- Ratcheting suspense
- Short, punchy chapters
- 80 & 90s nostalgia
- Morally gray characters
- Stories from the victims perspective
- Small-town secrets
- Unreliable narrators
- Plot-shifting “WTF?!” twists
- Found-family vibes
- Dual timelines (past/present)
- LGBTQ+ characters
- Dual POVs (including the killer)
- A sense of paranoia
SYNOPSIS:
Tuesday Hendrickson has spent eight years running from memories of that night. Her sister’s screams. Blood on the walls. And Arsen Bauer, a monster known as the Crying Killer, shot down in a barrage of bullets as he fled. Case closed.
Intending to build a safe new identity out of the ashes, Tuesday changed her last name and moved away. She’s now a private investigator who guards herself and her daughter, Julia, like their lives depend on it. And maybe they do. Because unless she’s imagining things, Tuesday has seen Arsen on the streets of Saint Paul. She’d know her sister’s killer anywhere.
When bodies begin surfacing bearing the Crying Killer’s brutal and unmistakable signature, Tuesday is certain he’s coming for them. Except no one believes that but her. As her paranoia intensifies, she is left with a terrible choice: unearth the shocking secret she buried with her sister, or become the Crying Killer’s next victim.
Thank you Jess Lourey and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 18, 2026
Content warning: gun violence, murder, death, violence, stalking, mental illness, domestic abuse, child abuse, toxic relationship, grief, gaslighting, addiction, mention of: abandonment
August 20, 2026
I may need to remove Jess Lourey from my auto-buy list. I loved Lourey's The Quarry Girls and the Steinbeck & Reed series, but Bloodline was a letdown, and this most recent release also proved disappointing.
Lourey tells us in the epigraph that The Crying Killer is based on Paul Michael Stephani, the "weepy voiced killer," who terrorized Minnesota in the early-80s. Unfortunately, Lourey's account isn't thrilling or interesting.
The majority of the narrative is set in the 90s, long after the murders. There are flashbacks to Tuesday's and Trixie's childhood, but the story feels flat and disjointed. You can skim half of it and not miss much.
There is no emotional build-up or character development. Even Julia, the child everyone is willing to die to protect, is a one-dimensional puppet. No child is that docile and agreeable.
Warning: serious spoilers below! Do NOT view if you haven't read the book.
I pegged the killer early on. I mean,
Plus, much of the story made not a lick of sense:
The police just accepted that Arsen
Also, Trixie
Why would the killer be so gung-ho to
And why wasn't
What kind of absurdities is Lourey spinning?
Lourey tells us in the epigraph that The Crying Killer is based on Paul Michael Stephani, the "weepy voiced killer," who terrorized Minnesota in the early-80s. Unfortunately, Lourey's account isn't thrilling or interesting.
The majority of the narrative is set in the 90s, long after the murders. There are flashbacks to Tuesday's and Trixie's childhood, but the story feels flat and disjointed. You can skim half of it and not miss much.
There is no emotional build-up or character development. Even Julia, the child everyone is willing to die to protect, is a one-dimensional puppet. No child is that docile and agreeable.
Warning: serious spoilers below! Do NOT view if you haven't read the book.
I pegged the killer early on. I mean,
Plus, much of the story made not a lick of sense:
The police just accepted that Arsen
Also, Trixie
Why would the killer be so gung-ho to
And why wasn't
What kind of absurdities is Lourey spinning?
August 18, 2026
the setup…
Eight years ago, Tuesday Hendrickson suffered a horrendous tragedy when her younger sister Trixie was murdered by her boyfriend Arsen Bauer who was shot and killed in the melee. Tuesday was able to escape and save infant daughter Julia but was also convinced the man identified as Arsen was someone else. Since he’d also been exposed as the serial killer known as the Crying Killer and knowing no one would believe her, she left town with Julia, changing her name to Tuesday Ken. Now a private investigator and former police detective, she’s convinced Arsen is back after a several recent murders that have his signature, an X.
the heart of the story…
Tuesday is hyper vigilant in protecting Julia and herself, obsessive about it. I wasn’t always certain about her as she seemed mentally fragile at times. But I shared her fear as it was clear someone was tailing her.
the narration…
Megan Tusing was so convincing as Tuesday and gave nothing away. She brought the tension with her storytelling and I thoroughly enjoyed her performance.
the bottom line…
There are reasons to question everything, which made this story compelling. It’s a bit twisty and I’d figured out some of it before the reveal but not the ones that counted. This was a true mind bender through the end!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Eight years ago, Tuesday Hendrickson suffered a horrendous tragedy when her younger sister Trixie was murdered by her boyfriend Arsen Bauer who was shot and killed in the melee. Tuesday was able to escape and save infant daughter Julia but was also convinced the man identified as Arsen was someone else. Since he’d also been exposed as the serial killer known as the Crying Killer and knowing no one would believe her, she left town with Julia, changing her name to Tuesday Ken. Now a private investigator and former police detective, she’s convinced Arsen is back after a several recent murders that have his signature, an X.
the heart of the story…
Tuesday is hyper vigilant in protecting Julia and herself, obsessive about it. I wasn’t always certain about her as she seemed mentally fragile at times. But I shared her fear as it was clear someone was tailing her.
the narration…
Megan Tusing was so convincing as Tuesday and gave nothing away. She brought the tension with her storytelling and I thoroughly enjoyed her performance.
the bottom line…
There are reasons to question everything, which made this story compelling. It’s a bit twisty and I’d figured out some of it before the reveal but not the ones that counted. This was a true mind bender through the end!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
September 10, 2026
Okay, 3.5 ⭐️’s for this one. I mean the author did a good job as far as storytelling goes. It just fell a little flat for me. I get it, but at the same time I don’t. I hated that I felt nothing emotionally for the MC, she just seemed repetitive with her internal conflict that never evolved to anything. Then when the final twist came to light, I was just like “Okay,really?” I just wanted more from a great plot that seemed to never really take off.
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller, with mental illness, being its baseline here you go. It’s a good story just not for me. I still appreciate the time and work that went into creating an artfully written story and for that I say….thank you.
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller, with mental illness, being its baseline here you go. It’s a good story just not for me. I still appreciate the time and work that went into creating an artfully written story and for that I say….thank you.
August 22, 2026
What a well developed and heart wrenching thriller!
A serial killer seemingly back from the dead. Based on true crime and set in a small town. Family ties and unwavering love between mother and daughter. A driven and intelligent FMC with lingering trauma and a growing sense of paranoia about everyone and everything around her...Sounds like the perfect thriller set up to me!
I thought this was such an extremely tense and thought provoking story! I love that it was based on a real life case and the author repeatedly highlighted the important of remembering victims and making sure the story focuses on them: "The most interesting person in the room isn't the monster. It's the person who survived them."
I loved the beginning of this book, then became impatient in the middle, and devoured the last 100 pages! If you love a story that builds slowly and steadily but then one thousand percent delivers on the ending, this one is for you!!
Worth noting- this thriller takes place exclusively in the dead of winter in Minnesota, which I thought really helped play up the foreboding and harsher emotions of the story.
A serial killer seemingly back from the dead. Based on true crime and set in a small town. Family ties and unwavering love between mother and daughter. A driven and intelligent FMC with lingering trauma and a growing sense of paranoia about everyone and everything around her...Sounds like the perfect thriller set up to me!
I thought this was such an extremely tense and thought provoking story! I love that it was based on a real life case and the author repeatedly highlighted the important of remembering victims and making sure the story focuses on them: "The most interesting person in the room isn't the monster. It's the person who survived them."
I loved the beginning of this book, then became impatient in the middle, and devoured the last 100 pages! If you love a story that builds slowly and steadily but then one thousand percent delivers on the ending, this one is for you!!
Worth noting- this thriller takes place exclusively in the dead of winter in Minnesota, which I thought really helped play up the foreboding and harsher emotions of the story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book kept me on my toes the entire time.
We get murder, stalking, dangerous situations, paranoia (or not?) and that constant “am I losing my mind right now?” feeling ...
As the blurb says, eight years earlier Tuesday Hendrickson survived an attack from the serial killer known as the Crying Killer, while her sister unfortunately did not. The killer supposedly died that same night after being shot by police while fleeing the scene. They knew the killer very well though, it was their friend and her sister's on and off bf, Arsen.
Case closed… oooor maybe not.
Because Tuesday never fully believed the police killed the real Arsen Bauer. The man shot that night was wearing his clothes, yes, but his face was completely destroyed, making identification impossible. Everyone else accepted it and moved on. Tuesday didn’t.
So for years she’s lived with paranoia and fear that one day he would come back.
And tbh, after bodies start appearing again with the exact same signature, I started questioning my own sanity alongside her.
At some point I was basically like:
“Okay but ARE we imagining seeing Arsen across the street or not??”
The suspense in this book worked really well for me. Tuesday’s uncertainty and fear felt believable, especially because no one around her truly trusted her instincts anymore.
I also liked that the story constantly kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another twist showed up, especially toward the end.
And huhhh, some of those reveals genuinely surprised me.
This was one of those perfect late-night thrillers where you keep saying “one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 3am or 7am...
I genuinely don’t think I have major complaints here.
⭐ 5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
We get murder, stalking, dangerous situations, paranoia (or not?) and that constant “am I losing my mind right now?” feeling ...
As the blurb says, eight years earlier Tuesday Hendrickson survived an attack from the serial killer known as the Crying Killer, while her sister unfortunately did not. The killer supposedly died that same night after being shot by police while fleeing the scene. They knew the killer very well though, it was their friend and her sister's on and off bf, Arsen.
Case closed… oooor maybe not.
Because Tuesday never fully believed the police killed the real Arsen Bauer. The man shot that night was wearing his clothes, yes, but his face was completely destroyed, making identification impossible. Everyone else accepted it and moved on. Tuesday didn’t.
So for years she’s lived with paranoia and fear that one day he would come back.
And tbh, after bodies start appearing again with the exact same signature, I started questioning my own sanity alongside her.
At some point I was basically like:
“Okay but ARE we imagining seeing Arsen across the street or not??”
The suspense in this book worked really well for me. Tuesday’s uncertainty and fear felt believable, especially because no one around her truly trusted her instincts anymore.
I also liked that the story constantly kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another twist showed up, especially toward the end.
And huhhh, some of those reveals genuinely surprised me.
This was one of those perfect late-night thrillers where you keep saying “one more chapter” until suddenly it’s 3am or 7am...
I genuinely don’t think I have major complaints here.
⭐ 5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
August 24, 2026
Gripping and twisty. I loved this one so much, I got through it so fast because I couldn’t put it down. It was so well written. I love the dual timelines. I would absolutely recommend. I love Jess Lourey’s writing!
September 5, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Jess Lourey has gone back to her earlier style of writing. Back to the style that brought about Quarry Girls and Unspeakable Things.
This thriller had me hooked from the beginning and all the way through to the end.
Authors often add twists and turns simply to have them. Twists and turns that add absolutely no value to the story. This is not the case with this one.
Absolutely recommend.
Jess Lourey has gone back to her earlier style of writing. Back to the style that brought about Quarry Girls and Unspeakable Things.
This thriller had me hooked from the beginning and all the way through to the end.
Authors often add twists and turns simply to have them. Twists and turns that add absolutely no value to the story. This is not the case with this one.
Absolutely recommend.
August 19, 2026
I’m a fast paced thriller girlie. This was alittle slow for me in the beginning. But def sped up! The closer I got to the end the more I annoyed my husband by yelling WHAT! NO WAY! I thought I had it figured out. Then BAM -nope. Then thought about it again and did same thing with the same reaction. I was wrong! I listened and read this book. And both were great. Def worth getting thru what I call slow.
August 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own!
I absolutely loved this. I finished this over a week ago, and I've had plenty of time to sit with my thoughts, and honestly, they haven't changed one bit. This book completely hooked me and kept me locked in for the majority of the story. I loved the plot, the winter setting, the overall atmosphere, and especially the twists. Some of the reveals were absolutely crazy in the best way, and I definitely did not see all of them coming.
Tuesday was such an interesting character to follow, and I loved the constant question of whether she was actually seeing what she thought she was seeing or if there was something else going on. That uncertainty kept the suspense high and made me want to keep reading.
I loved how much this book kept me questioning everything. Just when I thought I had an idea of where the story was going, something would happen that made me rethink everything. The mystery was so well done, and I had so many theories while reading that ended up being completely wrong.
The pacing was also fantastic for me. There was always another piece of the puzzle to uncover, and I never felt like the story was losing momentum. By the time I got to the end, I was completely invested in finding out how everything was going to come together.
This was such an addictive, twisty thriller with an incredible mystery and some seriously wild reveals. I loved the characters, the atmosphere, and the entire reading experience. Easily a 5 star read for me!
I absolutely loved this. I finished this over a week ago, and I've had plenty of time to sit with my thoughts, and honestly, they haven't changed one bit. This book completely hooked me and kept me locked in for the majority of the story. I loved the plot, the winter setting, the overall atmosphere, and especially the twists. Some of the reveals were absolutely crazy in the best way, and I definitely did not see all of them coming.
Tuesday was such an interesting character to follow, and I loved the constant question of whether she was actually seeing what she thought she was seeing or if there was something else going on. That uncertainty kept the suspense high and made me want to keep reading.
I loved how much this book kept me questioning everything. Just when I thought I had an idea of where the story was going, something would happen that made me rethink everything. The mystery was so well done, and I had so many theories while reading that ended up being completely wrong.
The pacing was also fantastic for me. There was always another piece of the puzzle to uncover, and I never felt like the story was losing momentum. By the time I got to the end, I was completely invested in finding out how everything was going to come together.
This was such an addictive, twisty thriller with an incredible mystery and some seriously wild reveals. I loved the characters, the atmosphere, and the entire reading experience. Easily a 5 star read for me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⤷ 3/5 stars ── .✦
as someone who loses interest quickly if a chapter spans over dozens of pages, i loved how short the ones in this book were. the writing style was nice, and the characters were fairly solid. i personally loved julia, she was such a sweet little girl. bonus points for the diversity rep too.
that being said, for a thriller, this wasn't all that thrilling. i could see about 90% of the plot twists, with only one leaving me briefly surprised- and mostly confused, though maybe that's just a me problem. there were also multiple moments throughout the book where the main character frustrated me to no ends with her decisions, but then again, maybe that's just a me problem again.
a solid read, maybe even something i'll pick up for a second re-read like a decade later.
as someone who loses interest quickly if a chapter spans over dozens of pages, i loved how short the ones in this book were. the writing style was nice, and the characters were fairly solid. i personally loved julia, she was such a sweet little girl. bonus points for the diversity rep too.
that being said, for a thriller, this wasn't all that thrilling. i could see about 90% of the plot twists, with only one leaving me briefly surprised- and mostly confused, though maybe that's just a me problem. there were also multiple moments throughout the book where the main character frustrated me to no ends with her decisions, but then again, maybe that's just a me problem again.
a solid read, maybe even something i'll pick up for a second re-read like a decade later.
September 8, 2026
*audiobook via Audible*
I enjoy how this author ties in actual cases with many of their stories. It adds an extra layer of intrigue.
This was beautifully haunting and sad despite the relatively best case scenario resolution.
I suspected about Nick/Nic but wished with all my heart it wasn't true. How Tuesday saw them was special and made the truth hurt that much more. And Corn. *hiccups a sob*
The twists that came to fruition at the end had been set up so well, and the reveals broke my heart for Tuesday. She overcame everything, even her own mind, and she was one tough chick who deserved better than what life dealt her.
I enjoy how this author ties in actual cases with many of their stories. It adds an extra layer of intrigue.
This was beautifully haunting and sad despite the relatively best case scenario resolution.
I suspected about Nick/Nic but wished with all my heart it wasn't true. How Tuesday saw them was special and made the truth hurt that much more. And Corn. *hiccups a sob*
The twists that came to fruition at the end had been set up so well, and the reveals broke my heart for Tuesday. She overcame everything, even her own mind, and she was one tough chick who deserved better than what life dealt her.
September 8, 2026
This book starts off promising, but there are far too many silly plot points that make no sense/aren’t logical in real life. I felt like this was somewhat silly and had a ridiculous ending. However, I absolutely love this author and look forward to her next novel.
2.5 stars.
2.5 stars.
August 30, 2026
4.5 ⭐️. Not complete review but more of a book dump lol. The trauma and PTSD Tuesday carries while carrying out motherly roles is admirable. I loved her relationship with Corn. Figuring out who the serial killer was, I kept going back and forth between Arsen and her dad. The stalking. Loved Smith. Her mom’s mental illness made me sad. The loss of her sister made me really sad. Nick/Nic got me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What an incredible read this was, this author is pretty new to me but came highly recommended from a good friend of mine. I was immediately drawn into this one from the synopsis and let me tell you this one didn’t disappoint. I thought I knew what was happening but nope I was way off 😅
August 7, 2026
*audiobook
💧😭𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎😭💧
THE CRYING KILLER by JESS LOUREY
Publisher: Brilliance Publishing / Brilliance Audio
Pub Date: 08/18/2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.5/5)
“Sometimes people make choices we don’t understand.”
Thanks to Brilliance Publishing / Brilliance Audio for my gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I loved the narrator (Megan Tusing) that was selected for this one.
I also loved the concept as I love true crime. The idea of The Crying Killer for a novel wasn’t what immediately drew me to this book.
I was a decent read but I don’t feel like it was necessarily a thriller, maybe more of a mystery. I was invested in the beginning but it didn’t keep me sucked in like I thought it would.
The ending was pretty solid though.
If you like a slow burn mystery and true crime this one may be a great choice for you.
QOTD: Do you watch/read/listen to true crime?!
#thecryingkiller #jesslourey #brilliancepublishing #brillianceaudio
💧😭𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎😭💧
THE CRYING KILLER by JESS LOUREY
Publisher: Brilliance Publishing / Brilliance Audio
Pub Date: 08/18/2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.5/5)
“Sometimes people make choices we don’t understand.”
Thanks to Brilliance Publishing / Brilliance Audio for my gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I loved the narrator (Megan Tusing) that was selected for this one.
I also loved the concept as I love true crime. The idea of The Crying Killer for a novel wasn’t what immediately drew me to this book.
I was a decent read but I don’t feel like it was necessarily a thriller, maybe more of a mystery. I was invested in the beginning but it didn’t keep me sucked in like I thought it would.
The ending was pretty solid though.
If you like a slow burn mystery and true crime this one may be a great choice for you.
QOTD: Do you watch/read/listen to true crime?!
#thecryingkiller #jesslourey #brilliancepublishing #brillianceaudio
August 12, 2026
The Crying Killer
by Jess Lourey
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½ /5
Jess Lourey's The Crying Killer is a masterclass in structural misdirection built on a foundation most thrillers wouldn't dare attempt: an unreliable narrator whose unreliability isn't a gimmick but the entire architecture of the book. Tuesday Hendrickson — a private investigator convinced her sister's killer has resurfaced nine years after his supposed death — spends the novel navigating a present-day threat while the "Before" chapters slowly excavate exactly what happened the night her sister died. Lourey plays a long, patient game with what the reader is allowed to know, and the payoff is genuinely earned.
What elevates this above a simple gotcha is the craft underneath it. Every reliability wobble — a face glimpsed and lost in a crowd, a flicker of recognition that dissolves under scrutiny, moments that read as trauma response until they don't — turns out to be fair-play once the full picture emerges. The novel's boldest structural choice involves a supporting character whose presence, on reflection, only ever exists in scenes alongside Tuesday — a detail that rewards a careful reader without ever tipping its hand prematurely.
The dual-timeline "Before"/"After" structure does heavy lifting, and Lourey is disciplined about planting payoff material in unglamorous places — a shared bag of gummy bears, a father's drunken humming, a jacket style tied to a specific person — that recur with mounting menace rather than being dropped once and forgotten. A late recontextualization of the killer's signature carving is a genuinely unsettling piece of craft, separating one character's actual pathology from another's more performative fixation on real-world atrocity — the latter a specific romanticization of Charles Manson that dresses the book in true-crime iconography without fully folding that real-world material into earned plot purpose, which some readers (myself included) may find more of a discomfort than the book intends.
Where the novel strains is pacing in the back third: the final stretch needs to resolve several major identity and motive questions inside a handful of chapters, and some of these reveals arrive stacked rather than sequenced — a patient reader will want a beat more room to absorb each one before the next lands. The found-family throughline — three friends' private nickname for themselves, and the shared habit of telling "truth but not the whole truth" — is the novel's emotional spine, and it's earned; the violence throughout serves character and grief rather than spectacle, which is where Lourey's control is most visible.
Bottom line: an acquiring editor would keep reading from chapter one and forgive the crowded endgame for the sheer confidence of the central structural gamble. Recommended, with a genre-savvy reader's patience for the final unspooling.
by Jess Lourey
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ½ /5
Jess Lourey's The Crying Killer is a masterclass in structural misdirection built on a foundation most thrillers wouldn't dare attempt: an unreliable narrator whose unreliability isn't a gimmick but the entire architecture of the book. Tuesday Hendrickson — a private investigator convinced her sister's killer has resurfaced nine years after his supposed death — spends the novel navigating a present-day threat while the "Before" chapters slowly excavate exactly what happened the night her sister died. Lourey plays a long, patient game with what the reader is allowed to know, and the payoff is genuinely earned.
What elevates this above a simple gotcha is the craft underneath it. Every reliability wobble — a face glimpsed and lost in a crowd, a flicker of recognition that dissolves under scrutiny, moments that read as trauma response until they don't — turns out to be fair-play once the full picture emerges. The novel's boldest structural choice involves a supporting character whose presence, on reflection, only ever exists in scenes alongside Tuesday — a detail that rewards a careful reader without ever tipping its hand prematurely.
The dual-timeline "Before"/"After" structure does heavy lifting, and Lourey is disciplined about planting payoff material in unglamorous places — a shared bag of gummy bears, a father's drunken humming, a jacket style tied to a specific person — that recur with mounting menace rather than being dropped once and forgotten. A late recontextualization of the killer's signature carving is a genuinely unsettling piece of craft, separating one character's actual pathology from another's more performative fixation on real-world atrocity — the latter a specific romanticization of Charles Manson that dresses the book in true-crime iconography without fully folding that real-world material into earned plot purpose, which some readers (myself included) may find more of a discomfort than the book intends.
Where the novel strains is pacing in the back third: the final stretch needs to resolve several major identity and motive questions inside a handful of chapters, and some of these reveals arrive stacked rather than sequenced — a patient reader will want a beat more room to absorb each one before the next lands. The found-family throughline — three friends' private nickname for themselves, and the shared habit of telling "truth but not the whole truth" — is the novel's emotional spine, and it's earned; the violence throughout serves character and grief rather than spectacle, which is where Lourey's control is most visible.
Bottom line: an acquiring editor would keep reading from chapter one and forgive the crowded endgame for the sheer confidence of the central structural gamble. Recommended, with a genre-savvy reader's patience for the final unspooling.
August 17, 2026
THE CRYING KILLER is a serial killer thriller inspired by the Weepy-Voiced Killer, who would make anonymous calls to the police confessing confess to his crimes in a high-pitched voice. I had never heard of this serial killer from Minnesota, so I appreciated the authors note at the beginning that provided backstory.
Lourey used the Weepy-Voiced Killer as a starting point and her wonderfully twisted writer mind to do the rest. The before/after timelines came together at exactly the right times to build suspense and reveal information. The chapters were short but always packed a punch.
If I wasn’t so busy this week, I would’ve 100% read this in one sitting. It’s that good 🙌
One of my favorite things about Lourey’s books are the midwestern settings! I love being able to recognize all of the towns and picture some of the places.
Lourey used the Weepy-Voiced Killer as a starting point and her wonderfully twisted writer mind to do the rest. The before/after timelines came together at exactly the right times to build suspense and reveal information. The chapters were short but always packed a punch.
If I wasn’t so busy this week, I would’ve 100% read this in one sitting. It’s that good 🙌
One of my favorite things about Lourey’s books are the midwestern settings! I love being able to recognize all of the towns and picture some of the places.
August 28, 2026
Page turner
I am a big Jess Lourey fan and really enjoyed The Crying Killer. There are little innuendos and clues throughout the book as to the plot twists, but it was still surprising when it all came together.
The chapters are set Before and After, which I love. It's so much easier for me to follow, when listening while I'm working, than trying to keep track of dates and times.
I am a big Jess Lourey fan and really enjoyed The Crying Killer. There are little innuendos and clues throughout the book as to the plot twists, but it was still surprising when it all came together.
The chapters are set Before and After, which I love. It's so much easier for me to follow, when listening while I'm working, than trying to keep track of dates and times.
September 16, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ RU, because of that juke 🤯
September 2, 2026
A little slow in parts
But this one was really twisted. I love this author and she hasn't let me down yet and this one was definitely.good. its about a sister who escapes a serial killer and one that doesn't. And its sad, and scary and just worth reading.
But this one was really twisted. I love this author and she hasn't let me down yet and this one was definitely.good. its about a sister who escapes a serial killer and one that doesn't. And its sad, and scary and just worth reading.
August 19, 2026
https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcs9-Gikb...
The Crying Killer by Jess Lourey 5 ⭐️
See my face?? That’s the review. 😱
The first part of this book is all about laying the groundwork, and it is done thoroughly. Brick by brick, detail by detail, everything is being put into place… and you don’t even realize how much of it is going to matter. Trust me, it is going to be worth it. When you hit the last 40% and suddenly EVERYTHING starts coming together. The connections. The reveals. The twists on twists. THE ENDING. 🤯
What made it even more fascinating was learning that the story was inspired by a real serial killer from Minnesota known as the Weepy-Voiced Killer, who would call police after his murders in a high-pitched, emotional voice. Thrillers based on real life, always add an extra level of creepiness!
Thank you so much to @booksparks for sending me this one! I never knew I need Jess Lourey in my life, but you better believe I’ll be trying to read more of her backlist in between my arcs!
The Crying Killer by Jess Lourey 5 ⭐️
See my face?? That’s the review. 😱
The first part of this book is all about laying the groundwork, and it is done thoroughly. Brick by brick, detail by detail, everything is being put into place… and you don’t even realize how much of it is going to matter. Trust me, it is going to be worth it. When you hit the last 40% and suddenly EVERYTHING starts coming together. The connections. The reveals. The twists on twists. THE ENDING. 🤯
What made it even more fascinating was learning that the story was inspired by a real serial killer from Minnesota known as the Weepy-Voiced Killer, who would call police after his murders in a high-pitched, emotional voice. Thrillers based on real life, always add an extra level of creepiness!
Thank you so much to @booksparks for sending me this one! I never knew I need Jess Lourey in my life, but you better believe I’ll be trying to read more of her backlist in between my arcs!
August 21, 2026
2.5 stars.
Eight years ago, Tuesday's life was forever changed when her sister Trixie was murdered by The Crying Killer. She was the serial killers last victim before he was killed by police and Tuesday took custody of her infant niece. She's lived the last eight years in fear, convinced the police shoot out wasn't quite what it seemed.
A slow burn, small town mystery with an underwhelming ending. Told in dual timelines, the 'past' centred around the twins bad childhood (abusive father, dysfunctional mother) and Trixie's teenage relationship. I was utterly bored during these parts. The 'present day' chapters focused too heavily on Tuesday's paranoia around her niece. I wanted more suspense, more tension. The killer seemed like an afterthought.
Eight years ago, Tuesday's life was forever changed when her sister Trixie was murdered by The Crying Killer. She was the serial killers last victim before he was killed by police and Tuesday took custody of her infant niece. She's lived the last eight years in fear, convinced the police shoot out wasn't quite what it seemed.
A slow burn, small town mystery with an underwhelming ending. Told in dual timelines, the 'past' centred around the twins bad childhood (abusive father, dysfunctional mother) and Trixie's teenage relationship. I was utterly bored during these parts. The 'present day' chapters focused too heavily on Tuesday's paranoia around her niece. I wanted more suspense, more tension. The killer seemed like an afterthought.
August 18, 2026
I’m familiar with a lot of true-crime cases, so given the title and the fact that this one was inspired by a real-life event, I knew bits of where this was headed. The author’s note in the beginning was a helpful insight on what was to come, as well. The Weepy Voice Killer is a case that always sticks with me because of those phone calls.
THIS BOOK! We get short chapters going back and forth between past and present, and even some in-between chapters from the killer, which was a nice touch.
This writing style was extremely addictive. I didn’t want to put it down! I love the investigative aspects thrown into a thriller, and this didn’t disappoint. I was thrown off multiple times with that ending 🤯 I really thought I had it figured out.
Can I just mention though…the names in this book?? Tuesday, Trixie, Arsen, CORN??? Please 😭
Thank you Booksparks for the gifted copy! I need to read The Quarry Girls asap.
THIS BOOK! We get short chapters going back and forth between past and present, and even some in-between chapters from the killer, which was a nice touch.
This writing style was extremely addictive. I didn’t want to put it down! I love the investigative aspects thrown into a thriller, and this didn’t disappoint. I was thrown off multiple times with that ending 🤯 I really thought I had it figured out.
Can I just mention though…the names in this book?? Tuesday, Trixie, Arsen, CORN??? Please 😭
Thank you Booksparks for the gifted copy! I need to read The Quarry Girls asap.
August 18, 2026
Okay friends, not to be overly dramatic but OH.MY.GAWD!! This book had me, quite literally, staring into space for I don't even know how long. So, I consider myself a devout thriller enthusiast (if you will). When you've read hundreds of thrillers over the years, it gets hard to find a book that blows your mind with the twists. The Crying Killer did just that!!
I loved everything about this book. The characters, the atmosphere and the pacing were all top notch! The twists were mind blowing!! 🤯
I'm going to leave my review right there because I recommend going into this book knowing as little about it as possible. What I will say though is - bump this up to the tippy top of your neverending TBR. I think you will be very glad you did. You're welcome!
❄️Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley for the advance copy!
I loved everything about this book. The characters, the atmosphere and the pacing were all top notch! The twists were mind blowing!! 🤯
I'm going to leave my review right there because I recommend going into this book knowing as little about it as possible. What I will say though is - bump this up to the tippy top of your neverending TBR. I think you will be very glad you did. You're welcome!
❄️Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley for the advance copy!
August 8, 2026
💭: I love books inspired by a true story. Even more if I hadn’t heard of said true story before. Add in short chapters and a writing style that clicks with me and I am golden! The premise is strong, but I found myself guessing some of the twists before the big reveal. I wish the ending was as strong as the beginning. It was an emotional story that focused on trauma, survival and family. I enjoyed this one, but I like this author’s earlier books better.
May 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the gifted ARC!
I’ve loved every Jess Lourey book I’ve read so far and this one was no exception. Jess is genuinely such a mastermind because HOW does she come up with these twists?? I did not see them coming at all. This was one of those thrillers where I kept thinking I had things figured out and then immediately realized I absolutely did not 🤣 The suspense and paranoia throughout the story were so well done and I flew through this.
I also really liked that the story followed both a survivor and the family member of a victim. I have a degree in criminal justice, so I’ve done a lot of research and written way too many papers on serial killers over the years, and I thought that aspect of the story was especially interesting. I also knew about the Weepy-Voiced Killer and his real-life case before picking this up, so I thought it was especially fascinating to see Jess take that true story and build such a twisty, fictional story around it. Knowing the inspiration behind it definitely made the story even more intriguing for me.
The flashbacks worked really well for me too. They added so much to understanding Tuesday and everything she was carrying from her past. Overall, this was twisty, intense, and impossible to predict. Definitely another great thriller from Jess Lourey for me.
I’ve loved every Jess Lourey book I’ve read so far and this one was no exception. Jess is genuinely such a mastermind because HOW does she come up with these twists?? I did not see them coming at all. This was one of those thrillers where I kept thinking I had things figured out and then immediately realized I absolutely did not 🤣 The suspense and paranoia throughout the story were so well done and I flew through this.
I also really liked that the story followed both a survivor and the family member of a victim. I have a degree in criminal justice, so I’ve done a lot of research and written way too many papers on serial killers over the years, and I thought that aspect of the story was especially interesting. I also knew about the Weepy-Voiced Killer and his real-life case before picking this up, so I thought it was especially fascinating to see Jess take that true story and build such a twisty, fictional story around it. Knowing the inspiration behind it definitely made the story even more intriguing for me.
The flashbacks worked really well for me too. They added so much to understanding Tuesday and everything she was carrying from her past. Overall, this was twisty, intense, and impossible to predict. Definitely another great thriller from Jess Lourey for me.
September 16, 2026
3.5 rounding up. The twists at the end saved this book but the bulk of it was a bit too skimmable for me. The serial killer is based off a real one and that was intriguing enough for me to pick this up.
Tuesday lost her sister to a serial killer who is believed to have been shot and killed putting an end to his gruesome run. However she starts to see him everywhere and when women turn up murdered in the same fashion, she realizes her fears may actually be coming true.
The past chapters bored me a bit too much. It didn’t really add much and we had enough suspicion on everyone that I didn’t need more. It just felt like trauma dumping after awhile and it was too much. I also hate a serial killer without a motive and I get that it might be too much to ask at times, but this motive just felt weak and stretched at best.
Tuesday lost her sister to a serial killer who is believed to have been shot and killed putting an end to his gruesome run. However she starts to see him everywhere and when women turn up murdered in the same fashion, she realizes her fears may actually be coming true.
The past chapters bored me a bit too much. It didn’t really add much and we had enough suspicion on everyone that I didn’t need more. It just felt like trauma dumping after awhile and it was too much. I also hate a serial killer without a motive and I get that it might be too much to ask at times, but this motive just felt weak and stretched at best.
August 26, 2026
Wow! Quite a page turner this one turned out to be toward the end. Stayed up late finishing it. I learned not to trust the narrator and learned to look for the lies and there were many of them. Every new twist had me reevaluating everything I thought I knew.
September 5, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
I knew from the prologue this was going to be a banger. It gave me The Nightwatcher vibes early on, and the paranoia throughout this book is SO good. You’re constantly questioning what’s real, who you can trust, and what’s actually going on. The suspense builds with every chapter and the pacing was steady leading up to the main plot twist with a strong ending. Such a quick, bingeable thriller with some genuinely “What is going on?” moments.
I would reccomend if you’re trying to get out of a reading slump!! ❄️ AVAILABLE ON KINDLEUNLIMITED!!!
Expect:
• Serial killer thriller
• Dual timelines
• Morally gray characters
• Short chapters
• True crime inspired
• Minnesota setting
I knew from the prologue this was going to be a banger. It gave me The Nightwatcher vibes early on, and the paranoia throughout this book is SO good. You’re constantly questioning what’s real, who you can trust, and what’s actually going on. The suspense builds with every chapter and the pacing was steady leading up to the main plot twist with a strong ending. Such a quick, bingeable thriller with some genuinely “What is going on?” moments.
I would reccomend if you’re trying to get out of a reading slump!! ❄️ AVAILABLE ON KINDLEUNLIMITED!!!
Expect:
• Serial killer thriller
• Dual timelines
• Morally gray characters
• Short chapters
• True crime inspired
• Minnesota setting
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