June Bug (Murder-by-Month Mysteries, No. 2) [Paperback]

Jess Lourey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 2007

Mira James never imagined life after college would be a doublewide trailer outside Battle Lake, Minnesota. Then again, maybe the North Country has more to offer than mosquitoes and broasted chicken.

Local legend claims that a diamond necklace was lost nearly a century ago in Whiskey Lake, not far from the present day Shangri-La resort. Mira, a part-time reporter, goes fishing for the story behind the legend, but her dives turn up more than missing jewelry. Buoyed by frozen Nut Goodies and a diminutive circus performer, the exhilarating search leads to a new mystery to unravel, and puts her face to face with the surfacing of a menacing foe from her past.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jess Lourey is a talented, witty, and clever writer." -- Monica Ferris, author of the bestselling Needlecraft Mysteries

"Jess Lourey offers up a funny, well written, engaging story...readers will thoroughly enjoy the well-paced ride." -- Carl Brookins, author of The Case of the Greedy Lawyers

"Move over, Stephanie Plum. There's a new bad girl in town... Don't miss this one -- it's a hoot!" -- William Kent Krueger, Anthony-Award winning author of the Cork O'Connor series

About the Author

Jess Lourey is the author of the Lefty-nominated Murder-by-Month mysteries set in Battle Lake, Minnesota, and featuring amateur sleuth Mira James. Jess has been teaching writing and sociology at the college level since 1998. When not raising her wonderful kids, teaching, or writing, you can find her gardening, traveling, and navigating the niceties and meanities of small-town life. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, The Loft, and Lake Superior Writers, and serves on the national board of the Mystery Writers of America.  Jess resides in Minnesota.

Watch Jess on Showcase Minnesota (08/26/09).

Watch Jess on Twin Cities Live (09/02/09).

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK (March 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738709123
• ISBN-13: 978-0738709123
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #450,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jess Lourey is the author of the Lefty-nominated Murder-by-Month mysteries set in Battle Lake, Minnesota. October Fest, the sixth book in the series, was released May 2011 and earned a starred review from Booklist and Library Journal, the latter saying it has "snappy jokes...edgy dialogue...clever plot. Get started on this Lefty-nominated series if you've previously missed it!" November Hunt hits bookshelves March 2012.

Jess has been teaching writing and sociology at the college level since 1998. When not raising her wonderful kids, teaching, or writing, you can find her gardening, traveling, and navigating the niceties and meanities of small-town life. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, The Loft, and Lake Superior Writers, and serves on the national board of the Mystery Writers of America. Visit her website at www.jesslourey.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New One for Your TBR Pile, April 26, 2007

By 

Joanna Campbell Slan "Joanna" (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: June Bug (Murder-by-Month Mysteries, No. 2) (Paperback)

Jess Lourey populates June Bug with sharply etched characters so vivid you'd recognize them on the street. Her protagonist Mira James is a gem of a heroine: she's a magnet for stray flying objects, she's addicted to Nut Goodies, and her wry observations on life abound with atypical honesty. When Mira learns there's a big diamond at the bottom of a local lake--and a fake diamond offered as a contest prize--she straps on diving gear and gamely goes forth to explore. But the clear lake water hides murky intents. She tangles with an unusual underwater hazard--and nearly loses her life. It's no surprise that Mira's not the only person interested in the loot. Larceny and licentiousness abound, and Mira's put herself squarely in harm's way.

Lourey's Mira is a clever girl, down on her luck, but plucky and resourceful. She goes through life fully engaged. Her observations both tickle and resonate. For example, "Actually I always wondered who had the energy to write on bathroom walls. Now I knew. It was people on bad dates." Say "Amen," Sister.

The Minnesota Department of Tourism either has a bounty on Lourey's head or added her to their payroll. She writes, "Minnesota is an incredible place to live, but we natives learn at a very young age that for this privilege we must pay a tithe, usually in blood...A summer day spent in the shallow, still part of the lake results in a chocolate-chip-shaped leech nesting between our peas-in-a-pod toes." Yuck! Lourey's clever pen captures such local gastronomic specialties as field-drinking, five-meat hotdishes, Tiger Pops, tuna surprise, Hamm's sky-blue waters, and barbecued spiced bananas. Mira moans that even the desserts feature cream of mushroom soup. Clearly, this book shouldn't be shelved with a Zagat's Guide.

But June Bug does deserve a spot on your "to be read" pile. Lourey delights and dazzles, making us eager to see what's on tap for July.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Move Over Stephanie Plum!, April 3, 2007

By 

Editor, Author, Publicist (Denver, Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: June Bug (Murder-by-Month Mysteries, No. 2) (Paperback)

JUNE BUG by Jess Lourey

Thank you, Jess Lourey! All of you ladies starved for another great chick-lit series, get out your pocketbooks! One has arrived and how! Jess Lourey, author of the new Murder-by-Month Series starring Mira James is a juicy, light-hearted, smart, witty and a bit saucy set of books that will leave you begging for more! Stephanie Plum is off in a closet somewhere (hopefully with Ranger) and Kinsey Milhone is in absentia. But never fear, Mira will take you where you want to go! These books are terrific. I simply cannot say enough. The writing is better than either of the aforementioned, the setting - mostly - is Battle Lake, a rural lake town in Minnesota and the characters are just wacky and sinister enough to drive the plots. This series is the next smash hit, so get in on it now and don't miss May Day, Knee High by the 4h of July, which hits the bookshelves in September and in March, August Moon will be available.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Done it again!, February 20, 2007

By 

Holly Hassel (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: June Bug (Murder-by-Month Mysteries, No. 2) (Paperback)

Lourey's dynamite follow-up to her debut mystery, "May Day" keeps the fresh, sassy voice of her heroine and adds new high jinks, enigmas, and zany side characters. Mira James continues to pass the summer in small town Battle Lake, MN, and in this new installment, of course, a new mystery presents itself along with undesirables from her past and some current favorites from her present. Along the way, she manages to engage in some soul-searching and introspection, which is one of the ways Lourey keeps this series and this protagonist grounded in verisimilitude, especially when contrasted with some of her cartoonish mystery counterparts. Fun and funny, Lourey's mysteries always keep me turning the pages and laughing out loud!