October Fest (The Murder-By-Month Mysteries)

I've enjoyed all the books and the author just gets better and better with each one. October Fest raises Ms. Lourey's game to a new level. In addition to her trademark humor, colorful characters and a heroine who's likeable but not perfect, she is showing more depth which only adds to its appeal. Just when you think you have a pretty good idea from book to book where Mira and crew are headed, there are subtle hints that things may go in a completely different direction. It's an intriguing hook that has me looking forward to the next one: Dec 18, Reggie Billingsworth rated it really liked it.

Lourey indulges her protagonist so that her natural bent at being a consummate smart-ass means readers can enjoy and yet constantly be happily startled by the regular trips to the OMG-I-can't-believe-she-said-that fountain. In October Fest, Lourey's descriptive passages feature gems like: Instead, the sardonic image in the midst of tragedy was so realistic and typical, it kept me chuckling for days.

October Fest's momentum slows into a bit of a circle mid-stage, but overall it delivers the goods. Laconically toned, sharply observed and yet well balanced between crazy behaviour and sensitive pathos, Lourey's sixth entry in this series manages to stick handle it's way through a reliably complex and entertaining plot, rife with vividly eccentric characters, well steeped in genuine tater-tot Minnesotan culture.

Too bad there are only 12 months in the year for this Murder-by-the-Month series. Oct 16, Nishant rated it really liked it. Wasn't as good as December Dread, but still was a nice read This an overview of the book. Alcohol and polka music are popular at Octoberfest, Battle Lake's premier fall festival.

But the festive mood turns sour when a well-known Glokkmann-bashing blogger is found dead and the congresswoman herself meets a gruesome fate. Mira James investigates this crime to keep the heat off her best friend's fiance--an ex-con reporter--Mira wades through the candidates' dirty pasts, their unsavory secrets, and some murderous mysteries to expose the killer. She almost dies herself, as the killer almost catches Mira by surprise. Mira has to fend off the killer, and expose the killer and their terrible deeds. I liked this book because of the fast pace it went with, but it would have liked it if Jess Lourey described the sequence of events better.

Oct 12, Ashley Dawn rated it really liked it. Mira James is an investigator—okay so she is a part time journalist and part time librarian, but she has investigated her fair share of mysteries. Sarah Glokkman is the incumbent and her opponent, Arnold Swydecker seems to have more support. Mira meets a blogger that is very much against Glokkman and writes a critical blog about her. Mi Mira James is an investigator—okay so she is a part time journalist and part time librarian, but she has investigated her fair share of mysteries.

Mira just happens to be staying in the same hotel as the blogger and her interest is piqued. She begins to investigate and suddenly there are more suspects than she can keep up with. Quirky and entertaining to the last page, this book is a fun cozy mystery.

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Reviewed by Ashley Wintters for Suspense Magazine May 03, Myrna rated it liked it. I have read a few of her "Murder by Month" books. I find them light and fun reading. The stories take place in upper Minnesota near a lake. Mira is there house sitting and working as the librarian. She is covering a political rally for a local paper that she writes for--the description of the various candidates is interesting. Due to an invitation from her boyfriend, Johhny, she ends up at the site of a murder Berns, thinking it would be a romantic ge I have read a few of her "Murder by Month" books.

Berns, thinking it would be a romantic get-together. During all this, Mrs. Berns is injured in an auto accident, has her own romance in addition to her adult children attempting to send her to a senior home. Lots transpires, kind of at the last moment, or last few chapters anyway, but all is solved and comes out well.

There's always a few laughs along the way and the books most entertaining. A thoroughly enjoyable mystery set in small town Minnesota. This is the sixth book in the series, but the first one I've read. Fans of Lake Wobegon and residents of the Midwest will recognize the cozy setting immediately.

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The author does a fine job of getting new readers up-to-speed and into the story world without belaboring the point. This sort of story needs plenty of quirky characters, interesting settings, and seemingly mundane activity surrounding a viable mystery-to-be-solved with multipl A thoroughly enjoyable mystery set in small town Minnesota.

This sort of story needs plenty of quirky characters, interesting settings, and seemingly mundane activity surrounding a viable mystery-to-be-solved with multiple suspects. October Fest provides all of these in a highly readable, fast moving volume. I did find myself wanting a bit more Oktoberfest activity, though, since that is the title of the book. But beyond the immediate context of the murder, much of the story delved into other happenings in town. I am looking forward to many happy returns to Battle Lake, Minnesota. Aug 30, Brian Benson rated it really liked it Shelves: It has been said that 'politics makes strange bedfellows.

Mix in a small city in Minnesota, murder, and Myra James, and you have the perfect recipe for a great read. I just wish I had had started reading the series at the beginning, rather than in the middle. Lourey's characters are crisp and authentic. Her turns of phrase capture perfectly the central Minnesota lifestyle, with all it's quirks, beauty, and humor. Thanks Ms Lourey for an interesting and entertaining read Jun 22, Caitlin Copp rated it it was amazing Shelves: I have not read a Mira James book that I haven't liked but this one was my favorite.

The book was set during Octoberfest but we didn't hear much about the festivities, instead it focused on the debate between 2 congressional candidates. Mira starts by reporting the debate but when the bodies start piling up, starting with the death of a blogger aka "blobber" as per Mrs. Berns , Mira switches into investigator mode. Just when things can't get any crazier Mira learns that Mrs. Berns is getting ma I have not read a Mira James book that I haven't liked but this one was my favorite.

Berns is getting married and her fiance is the prime suspect in the murders! Aug 12, Gwen rated it really liked it. I'm happy that I do not run into dead bodies, as Mira seems to do a lot! Many of us are curious, many of us love books and probably dream about working as a librarian, and some of us write freelance or otherwise, beyond book reviews! Following the political intrigue in a small town in Minnesota, as politics are heating up again, and wondering if Mrs.

Berns can return to her non-granny p I'm happy that I do not run into dead bodies, as Mira seems to do a lot! Berns can return to her non-granny pants existence make for a fun read. Jul 15, Susan rated it really liked it Shelves: Librarian and part-time reporter Mira James is sent to cover a debate between incumbent member of congress Sarah Glokkman and her opponent. She meets a firmly anti-Glokkman blogger and, thanks to the scheming of her elderly friend Mrs. Berns, is in the motel room next door when he is found dead.

Mira wants to concentrate on her real life--her attraction to Johnny, Mrs. Berns' planned wedding, the return to Battle Lake of her old foe--but circumstances pull her into the thick of the mystery. Warn Librarian and part-time reporter Mira James is sent to cover a debate between incumbent member of congress Sarah Glokkman and her opponent. There's a major spoiler in the back cover blurb. Oct 10, Curt Buchmeier rated it liked it.

I picked this up sheerly based on the cover on way out of library with my kids. I haven't been a member of either demo for over 30 years now. Not a bad read, in fact I enjoyed many parts of it. I would recommend this to younger readers, teens to 1st year college writing students for sure. Jul 04, Kimberly rated it liked it. I was about to give up on the series altogether but I was pleased by the fact that she finally seems to be over this irrational avoidance of Johnny. With the surprising new development of Gary, I am rather intrigued now and looking forward to continuing on to the next book and seeing where she goes with that.

Also with the PI training, too. How many dead bodies can a librarian continue to find on a month-by-month basis? Sep 09, Georgiana Huizenga rated it really liked it.

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This is another fun mystery featuring part time librarian, part time newspaper woman, and part time sleuth, Mira James, who seems to have a knack for finding dead bodies. The town of Battle Lake, Minnesota is now the scene of a political campaign, and a political blogger is found murdered. Of course, Mira is right in the middle of things with her sidekick, Mrs. Berns, and Mira might actually get together with her crush, Johnny. This is a very enjoyable entry in this series. Sep 14, Anam Cara rated it really liked it Shelves: I really enjoyed the story. I was a little surprised at some of the sexual references.

Cozy Mysteries Coming in October | Cozy Mysteries Unlimited

I didn't remember that from reading the September book. Didn't really like that part much. I knew who id it several chapters before the end. Get started on this Lefty-nominated series if you've previously missed it! Great fun to read and loaded with humor. Libraries will want the entire series! November in Battle Lake, Minnesota, is cold enough to freeze the balls off a pool table. When Tom Kicker is killed in a hunting accident, Mira James is hired to investigate—a job that brings her closer to a P.

Braving subzero temps and shrieking blizzards, Mira uncovers a decades-old scandal that has never quite died, unlike the cold stiffs who are piling up in the town morgue. As she pieces together the clues, Mira discovers that Battle Lake's good-old boys have been up to some bad business.

But with threats and enemies around every icy corner, she may not live long enough to expose the truth.

October Fest

But for Mira James and other Battle Lake-area women, the holidays are marred by something far worse—a serial killer leaving candy canes as his calling card. Thirty-something brunettes who look just like Mira. When a woman from her high school graduating class becomes his latest victim, Mira plows through a case of online dating turned deadly with Mrs. Berns at her side. Will she earn her detective stripes.

Cozy Mysteries Coming in October 2018

Mira James's budding relationship with boyfriend Johnny is definitely warming up her winter. Berns talk her into a visit. On the plus side, Mira will be able to take the trip as a tax write-off by attending the International Private Investigator Conference that happens to be going on at the same time. The only drawback for airplane-averse Mira is that Mrs.

Berns has booked them on the Valentine Train—a route designed to help singles meet and mingle. Relaxing into the experience with a few glasses of champagne and Mrs. Berns's encouragement, Mira begins to enjoy herself Police Chief Gary Wohnt is all too eager to pin the blame on Mira.

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Berns to help her out. Racing against the clock, Mira must unmask the murderer before she either becomes a jailbird or the next dolled up victim. Kennie Rogers and Bad Brad are dating. Best yet, Mira and Johnny are moving in together—in Minneapolis. Mira has a job and a life all lined up. While going through old books to decide if they should be discarded, she finds a clue that could lead to solving a year-old murder.

Against all her instincts, she follows the trail and is horrified to discover that it leads to her father, who died in a car accident 13 years earlier. Berns and Mira take on their final case together, Mira discovers it is more personal than she could have imagined, and that she holds the fates of Battle Lake--including her dearest friends--in her hands.

Read an Excerpt PDF. I loved it from the get-go! All aboard the Valentine's Train