Book Review: April Fools by Jess Lourey
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

First off, big thanks to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!

April Fools is the sixth book in Jess Lourey’s Murder by Month series, following Mira James, a journalist turned sleuth who keeps stumbling into mysteries in small town Minnesota. This time around, it’s April, and she’s investigating a missing person case that, of course, turns into something much bigger (and more dangerous) than she expected.

I really liked Mira as a character, she’s funny, relatable, and definitely the kind of person I’d want to grab coffee with. The small town setting was also super charming, and Lourey does a great job balancing humor with suspense. Some of the twists were pretty solid, and the book kept me engaged for the most part.

That said, I had a few issues. The pacing was a little off, especially in the middle, and some parts felt repetitive. The mystery itself wasn’t as gripping as I’d hoped, and I saw a couple of the twists coming. I also felt like some of the side characters weren’t as developed as they could have been, which made it hard to really care about their involvement in the story.

Overall, April Fools is a fun, light mystery with a quirky main character and a good dose of humor. It’s not groundbreaking, but if you like cozy mysteries with a little snark, it’s worth checking out!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Jess Lourey for the ARC approval.

I didnt realize this was part of a series, which I am now going back to read! But I really didn't feel lost or out of touch with any of the story. A light-hearted murder mystery with some rom-com mixed in. A great quick read between my typical heavy thriller reads!

April Fools is a delightful and engaging read that expertly combines humor, heart, and a touch of mystery. Jess Lourney has crafted a story that not only entertains but also offers thought-provoking themes about friendship, trust, and the power of laughter.

The plot revolves around a group of friends who find themselves in a series of pranks (the title is April fools after all) that quickly spiral out of control as they approach April Fools’ Day. Lourney’s writing shines with its witty dialogue and relatable characters, making it easy to root for the protagonists as they navigate the chaos that ensues. As the characters confront the consequences of their actions, readers are left with valuable lessons about honesty and the importance of communication.

"April Fools" is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a fun, entertaining read. Jess Lourney has created a whimsical world full of laughs, reminding us that sometimes, the best pranks can lead to unexpected friendships and personal growth.

I loved the authors writing style and the fantastic characters especially Mira & her 80 year friend Mrs Berns. This mystery comedy novel is u ique due to its whitty humor and sassy characters. As the 12th book of the series it was easy to get into it, but now I want to read the first 11.
Mira who moved to a new city a year ago seems to have a knack for finding dead bodies every month so she is thinking she is a bad luck charm but also is key to finding the who dunnit.

I highly recommend checking this book out! Giving it a 4.5 star rating!

Thank you NetGalley and Jess Lourey for a free book for an honest review!!

April Fools is the 12th and final novel in the Murder by Month series. Jess Lourey devised a series of cozy mysteries, with likable characters, murders to be solved, and sort-of happy endings to be enjoyed. Lourey's protagonist. Mira, does not have it all figured out, but that never stops her from jumping in and trying to help people. Mira is a people fixer. She just cannot help herself. in April Fools, the problem is sex trafficking of teenage girls. This is a topic that is both timely and deserving of more light to be shined upon it.

Mira and Mrs. Berns are terrific characters, as are their friends and many of the other characters in this series. The novels in the Murder by Month series was engaging, quick reads. Anyone who has read these novels has had a year of entertainment. While I have not read every book in this series, I do wish I had. I started the series several months ago and feel like I have missed out on some terrific novels. I like cozy mysteries, and I like that the good guys win and the bad guys are punished. April Fools was a satisfying read.

I am recommending this novel. The humor is engaging and offers a nice break from crimes and murder. Thank you to Thomas and Mercer Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I hope Lourey will bring back Mira and Mrs. Berns. They are wonderful characters and too special to just leave them somewhere tucked away in a computer file.

I feel the need to start this review stating that I have not read any of the other books in this series.

This was a fast read that was intriguing, and it had fun characters. The twists and turns didn't have me on the edge of my seat, but I didn't mind. It was a simple good book. The mystery was compelling, but I didn't feel as though I couldn't put it down. The romance was understated, and I did feel a little cheated. After reading a few other reviews, it looks like the romance aspect was a pretty big plot point in the other books. There was definitely tension in this book, but I felt like it was ignored in order to wrap up the novel.

I wish April Fools had been longer. There was more plot that could have been explored, and taking the pages to raise the stakes would have been extremely beneficial. I understand that Jess Lourey was finishing up a series with this book, but I think that's even more a reason to expand. This story could have been much bigger than it was.

Another masterpiece in this series. These all were such quick reads. I loved the characters & the mysteries in each book. Jess did a great job with this series. I hope she does more cozy mysteries in the future!

Weirdly cute whodunit. I really couldn't tell Mira's age, or much about her, but I felt like that is because I came in on the 12th and possibly final book. That's on me. However, it was cute and every girl empowered. Intriguing and possibly wanting to read more

I received an advanced copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was the last full length book in the series and I feel like everything was tied up well. The mystery kept my attention from start to finish and as always I enjoyed the humor that she manages to add in. I wish there had been a little more about her love triangle. I feel like it was barely touched on and then wrapped up quickly.

This has been a solid cozy mystery series that I enjoyed reading. There were some inconsistencies throughout (like Jed’s storyline) but overall I loved the characters and the mysteries. I would read 10 more books with Mrs. Berns in them.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6792856926

It was a pretty entertaining story, and there were parts that made me laugh out loud or get a little emotional. But it seemed to lack in depth a bit. I didn't feel like there was enough character development for several of the characters. Maybe that's because I didn't read the earlier books in the series, but it seems like even if it was well developed in the earlier ones, there should have been more of a foundation for it here, too (or a pre-instruction that this book is better read after reading the earlier ones).

The relationship between Mira and Johnny just felt totally hollow. Maybe some of that was intentional, because Mira obviously had some conflicted views about him, but I just felt like there was nothing there.

And the interactions between Mira and Gary were more confusing than anything. I could see that Gary was somewhat drawn to Mira, but then he would have these weird rage moments that didn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to me. And Mira seemed to be attracted to Gary, too, but then at the very end she claimed that it had just dawned on her that Gary was into her (uh, really?) and that she was surprised because she wasn't into him at all (despite the tension and her having a dream about him at one point?). If Mira had been saying that to a third person, I would have just chalked that up to her fibbing to avoid hurting Johnny's feelings, but that supposed revelation was her own internal monologue, and it just didn't seem to fit what I had read.

There were a lot of character names that I kept mixing up along the way, probably in part because I hadn't read the earlier books in the series so I wasn't already acquainted with them. And again, if the idea was that I was basically required to read one of the earlier books in the series first, then okay. I just wish that had been spelled out. As it was, I felt like it was a story that was incompletely delivered, which left me on the outs instead of getting really sucked into the story.

April Fools is the last book of the Murder by Month series, and it wrapped up the year with a satisfying justice. What started out as a comical, cozy mystery series ended up becoming more serious as the months went by. The topics and murders became a lot darker, but the laughs were always there and bittersweet. I don't mind this since I'm a psycho thriller fan, but others may not like it. I was extremely happy that the author brought back one of my favorite characters for this last hurrah. Mrs. Berns is and always will be my hero, but this other character always held a special place in my heart. I was a little disappointed about Mira not ending up with a certain someone, but the ending was still great. I am such a huge fan of this series, and I am so sad to see it come to an end. I will genuinely miss these characters and their antics...especially Mrs. Berns. Hoping that the author will provide us with some extra stories in the future. I highly recommend this series to all mystery lovers who want lots of fun and laughs! Start with May Day (book one), strap in and enjoy the ride!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

I think 'cozy mystery' might have to be added to my selection of go-to genres! I've only dipped my toe into the mystery realm before, but there's always been something there that's intrigued me, as long as it's more cozy vibes and less horror vibes, and this DEFINITELY ticks that box. I should also add that, like a couple of other reviews I've seen, I haven't actually read the previous books in this series, but I was absolutely gripped and fell in love with Jess Lourey's writing! I loved the small town setting (naturally), the unraveling secrets, the character development, the humour witty humour with a dark edge. Such a refreshing read, and if all mystery books were like this then I would definitely read them ALL. I'm already adding more to my list.

I will be devastated if this is truly the last instalment in this amazing series. This story continues the tradition of delivering humour, engaging characters, a ripper of a plot and fast paced action. It’s hard to review this one without spoilers but suffice to say that many strings from past books get neatly tied up and there are some genuinely heart warming conclusions to past problems. I love this series and this book stands as yet another sterling part of it.