Two thumbs up for this quirky murder mystery. 6th in the series but can be read as a standalone.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer publishing for the revised edition of this book.

From what I can tell, these books are being republished and I for one am glad for it. The original is from 2011 but it does not feel as if this book is already 13 years old and taking place in another decade. Mira is one of the quirkiest characters I've read. And plainly put, all the character in this story are quirky. I'm more for the mystery and didn't pay attention to the rom-com part of the description but didn't mind it. It's where all the quirky came in. I had set the bar low for this one. I'm not sure if it's because of the title or maybe it was the description that made me think it wasn't something I would like. But I took the chance and from the first paragraph I was hooked. It is quirky and zany, bizarre at times, eccentric, comedic and mysterious and I could see it as a TV series. The first book I have read in the series and can definitely be read as a standalone. Is it over the top? Yes and no. The murders kept it grounded but there was definitely a lot of off-beat situations and probably a few that felt absurd but to be honest, has probably happened to a few people in real life. If you're a straight up mystery reader who doesn't want any comedy, I can't guarantee you'll like this. If you like a little mystery with your rom com, you'll love this. I'm going to continue with the series.

#OctoberFestMurderbyMonthMysteryBook6 #NetGalley #Thomas&Mercerpublishing

I am late to the party, as this was my first of Ms. Lourey's series featuring part-time librarian Mira James and local spirtfire Mrs. Burns, but I immediately got Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series vibes (and I love that series, so it was good vibes!) The imperfect, almost bumbling heroine that always seems to be in the middle of the mess and her feisty elderly cohort tackle a murder in a small town where everyone knows everyone. You know from the first few chapters that you are going to laugh your way all the way to finding out "whodunnit"!

There were three different main plotlines to follow...our girl Mira had a lot to juggle in her life in this one! Several local politicians and the press that comes with them are in town for October Fest...and big surprise, someone ends up dead! Mira seems to be a dead body magnet and she is thrown into the fray when she stumbles onto the dead blogger. Meanwhile Mrs. Burns is throwing things further into chaos by announcing she is getting married to a much younger guy that she just met! Hilarity ensues as Mira tried to get to the bottom of it all. I'm not sure that the amount of time spent with Mira deciding whether or not to chase the boy who likes her was necessary (the third plotline), but I suppose it is meant to make her more down-to-earth and likable. Again, as this was my first book in the series, there may have been some back story that I had missed, but it seemed totally readable on its own.

I appreciated that this was a "cozy" type mystery with a little bit of sass and that the author did throw out some red herrings so that the plot wasn't totally predictable. It was an easy read and I'm a huge fan of Mrs. Burns already and can't wait to see what other trouble she will get into in future books.

i love jess lourey so much!! her writing is SO good. easy to follow, captivating and it makes you feel. i've lost count of how many times i cried reading her books.

this was a fun fall cozy mystery. small town? check! fun characters?? Big check!!

This book was a bit hard to follow - I love the idea of reimagining mysteries into the 21st century but I found it a bit jumbled at times.

I really didn’t connect with the characters and felt myself not caring about what was going on. I also didn’t love the way she bashed conservative viewpoints.

Another irreverent and whimsical murder mystery of the month by Jess Lourey! I love how Minnesota Nice is transformed into Minnesota Weird in the persona and through the eyes of Mira, the protagonist. What I like most is how this goes against the grain of most murder mystery/thrillers and makes for a refreshing take on the genre.

I'm looking forward to see where November takes us next!

The theme was quite ideal for the timing, and overall I found the writing style pleasant.
However, the plot ended up not drawing me in. I found myself completely uninterested by it, which is a pity.
I'm hoping to click with the next installment!

October Fest is one of the books in the Murder by Month series by Jess Lourey (the first book in the series is May Day). It’s October in Battle Lake, Minnesota and that means fall festivals, colorful foliage, crisp days, and politicians meeting and greeting in hopes of snaring a few more votes. What’s unexpected is the murder that also occurs.

This is an enjoyable mystery with a good plot and setting. I enjoyed the time I spent with Mira, the town’s librarian, and, especially, feisty Mrs Berns who is one of my favorite characters in all of Battle Lake. I’m looking forward to reading more. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

Loved this next installment in the series. Can’t wait to see what happens next for Mira & friends. There were parts of this one that had me a little teary!

Lourey’s storytelling is so satisfying. She writes with descriptive detail and clarity, and her characters really come to life as a result.

Can’t wait to read the next installment in this series!

This is the 6th book from the murder by month series. I have been loving these! Another great mystery and I love how the characters are developing over the series. I am excited for the next one!

Mira finds yet another dead body when she's set to cover a political debate.

Jess Lourey writes fantastic dialogue that's witty and fast, and fun to read. The beloved characters that haven't met their ends in the previous books in the series are back along with Mira.

This series is cozy, comforting, and a hell of a lot of fun to read. They're fantastic to curl up with, and will be even more cozy in the fall. Everyone that loves mysteries should jump in and meet Mira- I guarantee they'll love her, and Battle Creek.

I enjoyed the story it really had me guessing who the killer was I kinda wasn't expecting who it was. So, I would consider it a good thriller.

Book #6 in the Murder by Month series featuring Mira James, a Battle Lake librarian who is also a reporter on the Battle Lake Recall, the local newspaper. Jess Lourey built a small town community and populated it with the kind of characters that small towns are known for. In OCTOBER FEST, the town is celebrating Octoberfest with all the usual foods and thrills plus a debate between the two congressional candidates. Mira's reporting is following the subjects and their opinions when candidate is murdered. After all, you can't have a Murder by the Month series without a murder! Mira and her usual cast of cohorts will dig until they find clues that confuse us all until the fog clears and the murderer is revealed. Lourey has completed 6 excellent books in this series that is a cross betwenn a cozy, a romcom and a thriller. Just what the doctor ordered for a chilly October.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
This, my 2nd in the series, was another fun read featuring Mina and her group of motley friends. I have a third one waiting on my Kindle!
The chuckles and laughs are a welcome escape from the
world and its problems, plus the mysteries are pretty good! I really like this series, highly recommended.

I enjoyed this addition to the Murder by Month Mystery series. I’ve said “I love Mrs. Berns” in every review, but it’s still so true. She’s an icon! I’m so happy that Mira finally let herself be with Johnny! I hope they get a happily ever after. The killings in the book were interesting, and I really didn’t know who the killer would be. I was surprised by who it was!

Mira James does it again. Once again mysteries and murder just happen to land in her lap. With October brings last minute political campaigning in Battle Lake. But not everyone likes the candidates. This also shows Mrs Berns in a different light we aren't quite used to. With her past wild ways, her son wants her moved to a different retirement home, one that is very strict with outtings. But she has other plans, a wedding! And white she's planning that, she's also busy matchmaking the two star-crossed lovers, Mira and Johnny. This was another great book in this series. There are so many things to keep you interested, but not so much so that it's overkill. I can't wait to read November's mystery.

October Fest is book six in the Murder by Month Romcom Mystery series by Jess Lourey.
This is the perfect lighthearted mystery.
I loved this fresh take on the traditional/cozy mystery. The characters are a lot of fun and I didn't want to put the book down -- it's got a strong heroine, lots of humor, quirky locals and a twisty plot. I'm already hooked on this series and will be reading more.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Mira is the main character in these monthly installments of Lourey's books. She is a delight.

This one, set against the Oktoberfest with polka's and beer, sees two congressional candidates having a debate. Swydeck and Glokkman both have bloggers that follow them and unfortunately Glokkman's blogger ends up dead. Glokkman meets her own disturbing fate.

A whodunit for Mira who was formerly a reporter and gets involved to save the suspect.

The book is funny with wonderful characters. Lourey knows how to write succinctly with great depth and a delightful funny bone.

This is such a fun, easy-going series! I love the way Mira bumbles through life - and murder - month after month, gradually coming into her own in Battle Lake! The political angle was handled with a light touch here, which was a pleasant change after the more serious issues of the previous two installments. I confess, I enjoyed it more as a result. These are escapist books for me, and I most enjoy the hijinks (yes, Mrs. Berns, I'm talking to you!) and character development, and it was great to see more of both here. It's nice to see the relationships deepen and Mira grow at least a little as a person - although the forced feel of the back-and-forth with Johnny is starting to get on my nerves and I'm hoping we're not going to have to watch it drag on throughout the full year!

Looking for a fun, entertaining, and ‘whodunnit’ book? Then read October Fest by Jess Lourey!

Mira lives in Battle Lake where she is a journalist and manages the local library. During the local Octoberfest, a debate takes place between two congressional candidates. There is a lot to say about the candidates and so a lot of press is present to report on the debate. Unfortunately, the debate does not end well for everyone; Bob the blogger is found dead in a hotel room around the time of the debate. The cleaning lady finds Bob, but Mira is also there. It then becomes Mira’s mission to find out what happened. Did Bob really commit suicide like the local sheriff calls it or is there more to it?

October Fest is a wonderful ‘cozy mystery’, it is not too gruesome and sinister, I actually laughed out loud several times. Mira takes her job as a ‘detective’ very seriously and while she tries to solve this mystery we get to know her better; we find out how important the old Mrs. Berns is for her (and that her fiancé is one of Mira's suspects), and her relationship with Johnny also provides the necessary entertainment.
October Fest is part 6 in the Murder-by-Month Mystery series, but can be read on its own. I thought it was a great book for in between and I would definitely read more books from this series.