Mira James is a budding PI in a very small Minnesota town who comes across dead bodies at an uncanny rate. She is helped by her elderly best friend and humorous side-kick, Mrs. Berns. In this story, Mira stumbles along a dead body beneath the ice of a skating rink. While working to discover the truth about this latest victim, Mira follows clues leading to another centuries-old mystery of a supposedly haunted historic museum.

I downloaded this book without realizing it was in the middle of a series but there was enough backstory provided that I felt I was able to keep up. I was rooting for the intelligent Mira and hilarious Mrs. Berns from the get-go and I go back and look into other books from this series. This fun rom-com style murder mystery would be great for fans of Janet Evanovich and Elle Cosimano. The audio narration was great!

This is very clearly not the first book in the series. If you want to understand some of the threads running through it, maybe start at the top!

Ever since moving to Battle Lake, Mira has been working on becoming a private investigator, next to her part-time job as the town's librarian and reporter for the local newspaper. Oh, and she keeps finding bodies. After the Candy Cane Killer has left her slightly traumatised, she hopes to spend her January enjoying the new brewery and museum of local interest - when she finds a body in the ice rink on the lake. A drug-dealing gang seems to have set up shop in town, there is a series of break-ins and the police chief gets shot. And then there's Johnny, her handsome musician boyfriend, who might not be faithful?

I listened to the audiobook version of the novel and enjoyed the narration very much. Jennifer Jill Araya as Mira is quirky and matches the town's cooky side characters well. Her male voices are a little strained but I did not mind that.

Mira's trauma after the past months' events was credible, her actions sometimes less so. But therein lies the fun of this series! If you are looking for an entertaining mystery set in a small Minnesota town, this book is for you! I found Mira a little annoying initially but warmed to her, not least thanks to the narrator.Jess Lourey spins a story with many threads, so I was curious to see how she managed to pull them all together at the end. She did well, in my opinion! I found it a little weird that an investigator-in-training, no matter how broke, would not own a cellphone. It made sense only for plot purposes. The mystery combines the town's civil war-era history with the present day in a sometimes whimsical, sometimes comical way. If you can't stand not entirely legal means of investigation, this is not for you. All in all, Lourey's novel is chock full of sometimes a little cartoonish side characters but also some genuinely heartwarming scenes. And, of course, lots of secrets!

January Thaw by Jess Lourey is an engaging audiobook that skillfully blends humor, mystery, and small-town charm. Lourey’s sharp writing and keen sense of place create a cozy yet intriguing atmosphere, and the narrator’s lively performance brings the quirky characters to life. The plot is well-paced, with enough twists to keep listeners invested, though some resolutions feel slightly predictable. Despite this, the story’s warmth and wit make it an enjoyable and satisfying listen. Perfect for fans of lighthearted mysteries with heart and humor.

It’s been awhile since I’ve visited Battle Creek, Mira, and her friends and I have missed them! I enjoyed my time with them, and how I missed Mrs. Berns and her antics! The mystery was interesting but didn’t grab my interest as past stories have; it might be that the last one, with the serial killer, was so good that this one was going to pale in comparison. Still, I did enjoy this but it definitely lost points with the ending. Still looking forward to the next one.

This is part of a series, I have not read or listened to the previous books in the series, but I felt there was enough information for this book, to be enjoyable, but maybe I would have connected with Mira quicker if I'd had.

There are great moments of humour in this book along with plenty of mystery.

Overall a really enjoyable listen.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

The antics of Mira James and Mrs. Berns continue. Trust that this one was funnier than the previous ones. The chief gets shot, and I just laughed when he spoke to Mira. This was just as entertaining and mysterious as the past books in this series. I cannot wait to see what Mira and Mrs. Berns are up to next. The narrator, Jennifer Jill does a great job portraying Mira and many of the other characters in the book. Loved it!

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

Mira James is back in Battle Lake. She is enjoying her new boyfriend, a great job at the library, and an extra job as a part-time news reporter. As a news reporter, Mira is covering the reopening festivities at the Prospect House for the Battle Lake Recall. Mira is ice skating when she suddenly skates right over a body frozen in the lake in front of the mansion.

This is for you if you want a cozy mystery with a winter theme! I enjoyed reading about Mira's character and her investigation. I also enjoyed Mrs. Berns's antics. I enjoyed the narration by Jennifer Jill Araya. I give the book 3.5/5 stars.