September Mourn

By Jess Lourey

Book Overview

A festive fairground becomes an unexpected backdrop for a grade A murder in a deliciously funny mystery by Edgar Award-nominated author Jess Lourey.

The Minnesota State Fair wows again with 4-H exhibits, rides, a Neil Diamond concert, and deep-fried everything on a stick. Covering it is a breezy assignment as fluffy as cotton candy for reporter Mira James, until the main attraction becomes murder.

Ashley Pederson, crowned Milkfed Mary, Queen of the Dairy, is getting her all-American likeness carved in a block of unsalted butter when she drops dead, her face as red as a stoplight. Cause: malicious poisoning. Despite Ashley's creamy good looks, her reputation was pretty rancid. Still, who'd want to take out the soon-to-be college freshman and Battle Lake resident? Mira's made a vow to the dairy darling's grieving mother to find out.

Amid queenly competitors, rumors of sordid love affairs and embezzlement scandals, small-town secrets, and big business cover-ups, can Mira find the murderer on the Midway? You bet your corn dog she can.

Revised edition: This edition of September Mourn includes editorial revisions.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1662519311
• ISBN13: 9781662519314
• Release Date: August 2024
• Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
• Length: 283 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A pleasurable escape

A master of the comic metaphor, Lourey once again weaves a quirky & entertaining set of murderous events for her likeable hero, Mira. Capturing the engulfing strangeness that is the Minnesota State Fair with humor, but also an engaging emotional punch at times, it's a wild ride that's as pleasurable as a deep-fried Nut Goody on a stick. Keep 'em coming!

It Kept Me Guessing

A beauty contestant, competing in the "Milkfed Mary" pageant, is murdered while having her likeness sculpted in butter. Who can resist a premise like that? I don't often laugh out loud when reading mysteries, but I did during this one. Lourey's humor is dry and irreverent, just the way I like it, and her writing is crisp and engaging. The mystery kept me guessing until the end.

Great Sunny, Funny Fun

The perfect book for a cold winter night. Jess Lourey has such a freewheeling sense of humor and sharp eye for detail that it should be HER head carved out of butter at the next Minnesota state fair.

Fun series!

After reading other mysteries/cozies with seemingly perfect, know-it-all main characters (which is kind of getting on my nerves!), September Fair is a breath of fresh air. Mira is flawed but lovable and is surrounded by interesting characters. Many laugh-out-loud moments, although I'm not sure I will be eating a burger anytime soon. :) I hope Ms. Lourey continues with the series!

I adore this series

This series just gets better and better. I'm always entertained, I laugh out loud, and love the characters. Please, don't stop writing this series! I'm hoping you will indeed write Octoberfest, Jess, and many more as well.