3.5 Stars • "The Taken Ones" by Jess Lourey introduces detectives Reed and Steinbeck in Edina, Minnesota. Two women vanish during a snowstorm, leading to an investigation that uncovers a link to historical disappearances. The duo navigates community secrets and personal histories, confronting a possible serial abductor. The novel blends thriller elements with themes of trust, past trauma, and small-town secrets.