Jess Lourey has been writing heady and addictive psychological thrillers for the last two decades. But I firmly believe that her latest effort, THE CRYING KILLER, is one of her best novels thus far. This highly suspenseful story never lets up after its dynamic start and features more than a few jaw-dropping twists before it finally lets go of you. 

Lourey provides some telling details in her Author’s Note about serial killers. While being shamelessly promoted in countless podcasts and streaming series, they still represent only a miniscule percentage of murders in the world. However, the United States happens to outrank every other country, with states like Alaska, Montana and Nevada leading all others. Lourey’s home state of Minnesota, where THE CRYING KILLER is set, also has had its share of serial killers. To put this all in perspective, the US produces 20 times more serial murders than the UK.

"THE CRYING KILLER succeeds on pretty much every level and is an exhilarating read from the fertile mind of Jess Lourey."

All of this data is very apparent throughout the novel, which features a serial killer who has committed a handful of murders. Many believe he was killed by the police in a hail of bullets following the death of his last victim, Trixie Hendrickson. Trixie’s sister, Tuesday, who has relocated to Saint Paul, believes that the Crying Killer did not die that night and is still in the area seeking revenge on herself and her niece, Julia, whom she has been raising as her own since Trixie's death.

Tuesday is living with Julia and her longtime friend, Nic, who had been Nicholas before a gender change. She had a short stint with the police force before becoming a PI. It turns out she will need all of her investigative skills as she believes she has seen the man who killed her sister. Her big challenge will be to get anyone to believe her and reopen an investigation thought to be completed long ago.

Tuesday’s alleged sightings of Arsen Bauer are quickly accompanied by a series of brutal murders in the Saint Paul area. All of the victims have an X carved into their bodies, which is the signature left behind by the Crying Killer. When Tuesday begins to be taunted by things that only Bauer, who had once dated Trixie and ran with her group in high school, would know, the situation really gets uncomfortable. Tuesday suffers from PTSD, not only from the trauma over her sister’s death but also from her broken family, which was victimized by a father who abandoned them before the murder took place.

It appears that Tuesday finally may be getting the local authorities to consider that Bauer could still be alive and killing again. This unfortunately is aided by very personal attacks on Tuesday and her family. Before the dust settles, many secrets will be uncovered, and the truth is indeed shocking. 

THE CRYING KILLER succeeds on pretty much every level and is an exhilarating read from the fertile mind of Jess Lourey.