After reading several previous books in the Murder by Month Mystery series by Jess Lourey, I was disappointed with January Thaw.

It’s difficult to even explain the plot of this story because it seemed so unfocused, with a scattered storyline. And, more to the point, it often was simply uninteresting and sluggish. There are lots of balls in the air and some elements seemed to be more after-thoughts rather than pertinent to the story. This included a paranormal aspect, family concerns, a romantic interest that was going nowhere, and even the murder itself.

The bright dialogue, interesting characters, and even the appealing humor – all things that are hallmarks of this series – are MIA in January Thaw. Overall, a disappointment. But, slumps happen and because I have enjoyed the other books, I’m more than happy to read on and hope to enjoy the next book a bit more. This is a 2.5 star book for me. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

January Thaw by Jess Lourey. There are moments of humor in this book along with plenty of mystery. A light and entertaining read with an interest mix of a quirky characters. Mrs. Berns has many laugh out loud moments and is without a doubt a favorite character.
Thank you to Jess Lourey, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I thought this was an okay book. It was very much the same as all her other books and to be honest has gotten to be a little monotonous. I was hoping for a little more but it was a fun quick read.

Thank you NetGalley! I’m having such fun reading this murder of the month series in order. I love following the storyline featuring make shift detective Mira James. This one has been my favorite so far.

Another great book to the monthly series! I loved the plot in this book, I thought it was very interesting. The characters were great as always. I will always recommend this series!

What do you get when you combine a dead body and no witness? Mira James with the help of Mrs. Berns are at it again in Jess Lourey’s newest romcom mystery. January Thaw comes with the thrills, chills, laughs and tears. Guaranteeing a good time. The characters are relatable. The story well developed and told. The plot is entertaining. Wonderful story and series. Jess Lourey is a mastermind with the murder by month mystery series.

Mugged in the alley!

Mira barely survived her last case. Crime has come to their small town. When she follows the sound of a crying baby into an alley she is ambushed by thugs. The intervention by one of her library patrons saves her. When he is discovered dead later and the sheriff is shot, Mira and Mrs. Berns decide enough is enough!

This review is for the revised version of the book. Mira and Mrs. Berns are a unique crime-fighting duo. The hilarity continues as they bumble their way through another case. I received a free copy but my review is honest and voluntary.

Book #9 in this entertaining series. Part mystery, part romance, all fun, Mira James is still working on her private investigator certification when she finds a body under the ice. Since she had interacted with the man the evening before, she knows his death was not an accident. Mrs Berns is always helpful.....well, mostly helpful.....and always entertaining. The series continues as the characters mature and we get another dose of Jess Lourey's imaginative cozies.

I fall more in love with this series with each passing book. In this book, Mira finds herself still having a lot of anxiety due to the stalker/murderer in December Dread. She takes on a job to track down a missing heir. She and Mrs Berns find themselves at the mercy of a couple thieves. She ends up on the ice, where she stares down into the face of a recent hero, not frozen in said ice. Mira just can't stay away from a mystery, or a dead body. January Thaw will have you on the edge of your seat, right until the very last sentence.

The book starts off strong, immediately drawing you into its story and making you eager to learn more about the characters and their interconnected relationships.

Mira James juggles multiple roles in her small town of Battle Creek, MN—working at the library, writing for the newspaper, and aspiring to become a detective. She's deeply invested in her community but has an uncanny knack for stumbling across a dead body nearly every month. Currently, she's house-sitting for a friend when her latest adventure begins.

Mira and her friend are confronted by two men in an alley, but before the situation turns dire, Maurice—a Black man who has been frequenting the library—comes to their rescue. Maurice recognizes the gang tattoos on the two attackers, hinting at deeper connections and dangers in the town.

The book is packed with drama, action, and crime as Mira works tirelessly to uncover the culprits behind the troubling events plaguing Battle Creek. Along the way, she takes on a new case and navigates a series of unanswered questions.

Adding a delightful dose of humor and mischief to the story are two of Mira's senior-citizen friends. Their antics and resourcefulness often get Mira into trouble but also prove invaluable in uncovering critical information to help solve her cases.

This engaging mystery left me eager to dive into the rest of the series. I’m excited to read more of Jess Lourey’s work in the future!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I just loved this book it was such a good mystery and I couldn’t put it down once I started it. It has such good characters as well. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a good mystery with good characters.

I would like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Having not read any others in this series, I mistakenly thought really that it could it read as a stand-alone. On one level it could but not fully understanding the previous build up in relationships was a negative and I definitely think reading as a series would have added to the story. It was a cozy mystery and was an easy read. I didn’t really enjoy the Mira character but Mrs Berns made me smile. I don’t think I would read more but thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this novel.

January Thaw is a cozy little mystery but left me wanting more. Apparently, this is part of a series which the story will remind you of throughout as many things and or character relationships are referenced to previous times . I felt no connection with the MC, Mira, and/or side characters although Mrs. Berns did make me chuckle a couple times. As far as the mystery goes, it’s pretty straightforward in investigating a mysterious death. There’s nothing really new or exciting going on here. Our MC is the local librarian and has solved several mysteries before in this little town. Perhaps I may have liked this more had I read its predecessors but unfortunately this didn’t grab my attention enough to make me want to read the others.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this to me in exchange for an honest review.

A fun romp through January in Minnesota as our intrepid heroine unravels the mystery of yet another body found in Battle Lake. I've come to enjoy this Mira James series as she continues to work through her insecurities and foibles while becoming the best part-time detective the town could ask for. Her supporting cast of characters add to the small town charm that belies the undercurrent of deviousness causing a high body count. Of course, that's the ticket for Mira to work her magic and figure out whodunnit and why.

Looking forward to see what's in store for February next

If I could give this more stars, I would - i LOVED this book. It was sooo-o good!!!!! Everyone should read this. First, who doesn't love Minnesota in January - Brrr and awesome. It felt like the frigid wonderland of Fargo - it's so cold it's like part of the story. And then Mrs. Berns was hilarious. I might have even liked her more than Mira. I can't wait for more books in this series. It's the BEST!

Wow I've never read anything like this before! It was very interesting and I was hooked from the beginning.

What happens when a frozen stiff reveals old secrets that are buried? January Thaw is is the 9th book in the Murder by Month Mystery series and it is one you do not want to miss. This was a perfect cozy winter read that had me turning the pages until the end. The author did a great job writing this one and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. All of the characters in this are great and I like Mira the best. Overall, this was a great read that I enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who loves cozy mysteries. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this read in exchange of my honest review of January Thaw by Jess Lourey.

Mira is an amateur sleuth with a big heart. Even though she doesn't have any family, she has made the people of Battle Creek her found family. The small town and its inhabitants are all charming and this makes January Thaw a great cozy mystery. There is just enough suspense, but nothing spooky or scary enough to keep a reader up at night.

I did not realize this was part of a series when I requested to read an advanced copy. This is the 9th book in the series. However, I didn't feel lost at all. The narrator does a great job giving you just enough info to make sure you are caught up, but doesn't spend forever recapping all of the events of the past 8 books. All that to say, I think this could be read as a stand alone. Each of the books takes place during a particular month of the year starting with May and 3 more books are still yet to be released. I am going to enjoy reading them all each month over the course of the next year.

I absolutely love everything Jess Lourey writes. This monthly series just keeps getting better with each installment - the characters come to life more, the plot twists get twistier, and the suspense just continues to build. Reading each new book in the series feels like visiting old friends in your hometown, and seeing what they've all been up to is always a delight.

Lourey's writing is delightful as ever, and I can't wait for February!

January in Minnesota is pretty miserable but once in awhile mother nature will throw you a bone and give you a couple good days of weather that make you think of spring which is also known as the January Thaw. Mother nature is a player though and whips you right back to the cold and dark depressing days which is known as a Minnesota winter. Mira James, the main character, is taking her PI work more seriously and trying to get hours to become certified. She takes on a case for a lawyer while stumbling into gang and drug activity. Oh yeah, she also comes face to face with another corpse. Mira always seems to land on her feet thanks to her village and her best friend Mrs. Berns. While solving the case she also happen to find out what happened to a man in the 1860's. Murder by Month series is a little bit mystery but it is definitely funny. If you want to laugh out loud while reading books I suggest reading the Murder by Month series by Jess Lourey starting with May Day.

**Thank you Jess Lourey, Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of January Thaw. Revised version 2024