I've enjoyed several of Jess Lourey's Minnesota-based thrillers, so I was pleased to have the opportunity to preview this Murder by Month mystery (my first). The irreverent and whimsically portrayed protagonist is a perfect antidote to the normally very serious characterization found in most murder mysteries, and made for a very enjoyable read. Lourey also did a great job of keeping us guessing "whodunnit" until the very end.

Not only was it easy to start this series months in without feeling lost, I'm now intrigued to check out the upcoming adventures but also the past months I've missed so far. Whether this is your first or most recent read in this series, I highly recommend it!

This continues to be a fun series although I must confess that I have started listening to them in audiobook form, from my local library, and I'm enjoying the audio version more than the book version at this point. This is the second book to feature a more serious topic - this time genetically modified food additives - and I'm not sure how I feel about the shift in focus. The stories continue to be entertaining and full of banter and hijinx, but the shift to more serious issues underpinning the murders does give them a slightly darker tone that I find a little incongruous with the overall nature of the series. On the whole I find it to be a fun series with great narration that really captures the spirit of the characters, and the focus on the Minnesota State Fair made for a fun change of venue!

Another fun installment of the Murder by the Month series — this time at the Minnesota State Fair.

And WOW there's a lot of fair-related stuff. We don't even get a day trip to Battle Lake. Many of Mira's friends come join her at the fair, which was fun and flavorful, but frankly, I tired of this one after a little while. Compared to the others in the series, this one focused a lot more on solving the crime, poking around, and less on character arcs and worldbuilding. But like the others, this one "went there" with a touchy subject, this time, animal exploitation and the inhumane practices of big ag.

Not my favorite so far, but hey, the fair only comes once a year.

Loving this super fun series. The September installment took place at the state fair, which added a fun change of scenery and lots of local flavor to the story.

Mira James is an identifiable character with highly entertaining side kicks. Add in the chemistry with Johnny and the story kept me intrigued the whole way through.

Excited for the next installment!

Mira is once again at the heart of a murder investigation on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. She will delve into the mysterious circumstances surrounding Ashley Pederson, the newly crowned Queen of the Dairy. The narrative promises a rollercoaster of antics featuring eccentric characters, competitive rivals, animal rights advocates, local scandals, and romantic entanglements. Additionally, a suspenseful haunted house tour is sure to leave readers breathless. This engaging and fast-paced story is sure to captivate, and anticipation is high for Mira's next adventure.

This was another fun adventure with Mira and her crazy new town! Mrs. Berns is my favorite character in all the books so far. She’s so hilarious! I can’t believe the murders followed Mira out of town! I cringed anytime I had to read the Milkfed Mary name, but it was an interesting murder added to the list so far. Can’t wait to read more of her adventures. Hopefully Mira and Johnny get together in the next book!

The fifth installment of Jess Lourey's Murder by the Month series perfectly hits every delightfully weird aspect of the "Great Minnesota Get Together," where the murder of a Battle Lake beauty queen draws Mira James into yet another mystery to solve. In her role as a part-time newspaper reporter, Mira is covering one of the state fair's most iconic events: an expert artists sculpts the heads of several dairy princesses in butter. After a hometown dairy princess dies in front of a huge crowd crammed into the dairy building, Mira promises the girl's grieving mother that she'll do all she can to find out what happened - which she does with the help of her salty octogenarian best friend and the mayor of Battle Lake, who both have the hots (big time) for a particular state fair performer. This page-turner is filled with twists, red herrings, and as always, Lourey's thorough research into setting and her authentically Minnesotan characters.

A nice addition to the series, I really enjoy the character and returning to the midwest vibes and strong complex female main character themes. The mystery is once again compelling and the pacing and conclusion are well done!

I have read all of the murder-by-month mysteries so far (6 books), and I love them all. This one takes place at the Minnesota State Fair and Mira finds herself knee-deep in cows, murder, and scandals. She was sent to the Fair by her boss at the newspaper she works for, to cover all things Battle Lake. The newly chosen queen of the dairy is murdered right in front of Mira. She now feels responsible to find out who did it and why. This one takes several twists and turns before the truth is revealed. Mira can take beatings, solve murders, but getting the guy just keeps eluding her. I really hope she finally gets Johnny. I definitely recommend the series.

September Mourn by Jess Lourey is full of murder and suspense, the case twists and turns to keep you guessing right up to the end for a compelling conclusion.

This cozy mystery is book 5 in the Murder by the Month series. It was a quick read. It did feel a little different from the books that I've read in the series so far (maybe from the change in setting?). It still does hit all the points of a traditional cozy mystery, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me, I somehow could not get invested.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Not sure if it's the change of setting for this book, but this seemed different to the rest of the books in the series so far. The characters weren't weighed down by being over constantly over quirky and protagonist Mira had a balance that hasn't existed in the prior books.

The mystery takes place at a state fair, much of the fair being rural in nature. I can relate to that, having grown up in a country area. Maybe that's why I related to this mystery so much. The setting for the murder is inventive and grabbed my attention. But it's not a mystery that will keep you guessing. I think the culprit is quite easy to pick once you meet the character, but the story introduces a lot of new characters that are there to highlight more of Mira's past, a part of the mystery, or a part of the more serious topic of big agribusiness and the methods used to increase animal growth and productivity. Introducing the more serious topic in this mystery gave the story another layer and it's a worthwhile topic to discuss. I do wish the author went even further, but it probably would darken the lighter tone of the story. And the lighter tone did match the setting of the state fair.

I really enjoy this book - it kept me engaged from start to finish and I didn’t have any difficulty understand or relating to the prose. The characters were well developed and easy to like. I’d definitely recommend reading this book!

I love a great murder mystery! September Mourn by Jess Lourey is a gripping thriller that masterfully weaves suspense with emotional depth. The narrative, set in a small town haunted by secrets, is both chilling and engrossing. Lourey’s character development is notable; the protagonist’s journey is compelling and authentically portrayed. While the plot twists are engaging, some may find a few predictable elements. The pacing is brisk, keeping readers on edge throughout. Overall, Lourey's skillful storytelling and atmospheric setting make September Mourn a standout in the genre. It's a captivating read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and suspense.

I love this series, I think it’s so cute that it’s a monthly mystery. This is the second book I’ve read in the series and I am definitely going to read the rest. Any book that is humorous but there’s mystery - is an automatic win for me.

Times flies, and another month is here! Funny crew with plenty of laughs and yes, another dead body under nefarious circumstances. A fast and light cozy read, great for the weekend or vacation.

In September Mourn, the fifth novel in Jess Lourey’s Mira James Mystery series, the excitement of the Minnesota State Fair is overshadowed by a chilling crime that thrusts Mira James back into the spotlight. As she covers the fair for the Battle Lake Recall, the festive atmosphere turns dark when Milkfed Mary, the newly crowned Queen of the Dairy and a local icon, is found murdered amid her butter sculpture. Balancing her investigative duties with romantic moments with her charming beau Johnny Leeson, Mira dives into the case with her trademark humor and tenacity.

I enjoy a good mystery book, and the premise of this story was interesting. Mira is witness to the death of the newest Queen of the Dairy, at the Minnesota State Fair. Who is responsible for this tragic death? The book offers up several possible culprits, and we follow Mira's investigation as she tries to solve this case.

I realise this book is part of the 'Murder by Month Mystery', however it is the first in the series that I have read. I am clearly missing Mira's backstory and the history to her relationships with people like Mrs. Berns and Johnny. I found her indecisiveness with Johnny to be confusing, but believe this is likely due to me not having read the previous books.

It's a rather relaxed murder mystery, previous books I have read have been much more intense. I found whilst I didn't dislike the book, I wasn't as captivated by the storyline. It wasn't a book that had me desperate to finish to find out who the killer was. Thats not to say its a bad book, but I think it's shown me that I prefer murder mystery thrillers that have more complex storylines.

Overall, it was a good read. There were humorous moments throughout, and I thought the characters were likeable. It was well written, touching on important issues without being overwhelming. I'm rating it 3.5/5☆, as I liked the book, but have definitely read better.

**Thank you to NetGalley, for an early copy of the book to read**

I just finished this book, and it was nothing like I expected. From the very first page, you are hooked. I mean, who wouldn't be when a State Fair Queen is murdered in front of people and reporters, and no one knows how it happens. No, I'm not giving anything away. That's the very first chapter. The book follows a reporter on her quest to find the truth and her journey at the state fair. It keeps your attention, and while you think it's one person, the book then gives you hints it could be another. Pair that suspense with two older characters that break the main character out of her shell, and you have a very entertaining story. If you like mystery but also wholesome content and old lady antics, this book is definitely for you. It's a very easy read that took no time to finish. #netgalley #SummerMourn #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookreviewer #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booklover #bookcommunity #booknerd #bookblogger #bookish #bookworm #bookaddict #readersofinstagram #bookreviews #booksofinstagram #bookrecommendation #bibliophile #booksbooksbooks #books #bookphotography #bookblog #bookshelf #bookaholic #booklove #reading #bookclub #igreads #goodreads #bookobsessed #bookreviewersofinstagram