The Crying Killer - by Jess Lourey (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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 choice: unearth the shocking secret she buried with her sister, or become the Crying Killer's next victim.

(c) 2026 by Jess Lourey, all rights reserved.

Review Quotes

"With each time shift, Lourey subtly alters readers' perceptions, dropping breadcrumbs that suggest not all is as it seems. Complex characters, unpredictable twists, and a grounding in true-crime history make this equal parts exhilarating and frightening. It's a ride worth taking." --Publisher Weekly

"A powerful story of resilience, raw emotion, and the fierce determination to survive against impossible odds. Packed with twists that genuinely surprise, this is the kind of book that demands to be read in a single breathless sitting." --FirstCLUE

"One of her best novels thus far. This twisty and 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." --Bookreporter

"Long-buried secrets, complicated family dynamics, and a chilling serial killer that returns for more blood...The Crying Killer has everything a thriller lover could want. Perfect for fans of Alex Finlay's The Anniversary." --Jennifer van der Kleut, Author of The Better Mother

"Jess Lourey has an extraordinary talent for creating characters I care about deeply--and villains that terrify me to my core. The Crying Killer is both a moving story about the life-changing sacrifices we make to protect family, and a breathtaking, twisty thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I loved every heart-stopping moment." --Hilary Davidson, bestselling author of Every Lie I Told

"Lourey builds tension from the first page, weaving past and present skillfully to give readers a full sense of the lives of the two sisters." --Mary Ann Grossman, Pioneer Press

"The Crying Killer by Jess Lourey (Thomas & Mercer, Aug. 18) is a mind-bending, true crime-inspired thriller with twists so good, you're going to want to get out your paper and pen for this one." --The Big Thrill