September Fair (The Murder-By-Month Mysteries) [Paperback]

Jess Lourey (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Murder-By-Month Mysteries | Publication Date: September 8, 2009

". . . An entirely engaging novel with pathos, plot twists, and quirky characters galore. Beautifully written and wickedly funny." —Harley Jane Kozak, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity-award winning author of A Date You Can't Refuse

"Move over Janet Evanovich-mystery fans have a new reason to celebrate! September Fair is fun, funny, and so cleverly written, you'll be guessing until the very end." —Gemma Halliday, best-selling author of
Mayhem in High Heels

The Minnesota State Fair-the beloved home of 4H exhibits, Midway rides, and everything on a stick. The festival fun is riding high until the recently crowned Milkfed Mary, Queen of the Dairy, a Battle Lake native, is brutally murdered while her regal likeness is carved in butter. Can Mira James, covering the fair for the Battle Lake Recall, expose a deadly State Fair secret and win a blue ribbon for caging a killer? You bet your last deep-fried Nut Goodie!

Praise for the Lefty Award-nominated
Murder-by-Month Series

[star] ". . . hilarious, fast paced, and madcap."—Booklist (starred review)

"Wonderfully funny."—Crimespree Magazine

"Another amusing tale set in the town full of over-the-top zanies who've endeared themselves to the engaging Mira."—Kirkus

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lourey's lively fifth murder-by-month mystery (after 2008's August Moon) finds Mira James, assistant librarian and part-time reporter for the Battle Lake Recall, covering the beauty pageant to elect Milkfed Mary, Queen of the Dairy, at the Minnesota State Fair. Unfortunately, drop dead gorgeous Ashley Pederson, a native of Battle Lake, Minn., turns up poisoned to death in the refrigerated room where, as winner of the contest, she was having her head sculpted in butter. Mira, in her effort to solve Ashley's murder, uncovers smalltown jealousies, secret love affairs, embezzlement and a big dairy concern engaged in dubious practices. The author does a good job of presenting the fairground activities, even if some of them, like sheep riding (billed as mutton busting), border on the absurd. Cozy fans who aren't sticklers for credibility will be entertained. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Jess Lourey, the literary love child of Agatha Christie and Garrison Keillor, gives us September Fair, an entirely engaging novel with pathos, plot twists and quirky characters galore, plus an inside knowledge of state fairs, beauty pageants and the dairy industry. Beautifully written and wickedly funny, it comes with one caveat emptor: this book could turn meat-eating readers into vegetarians, and the vegetarians into vegans." --Harley Jane Kozak, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity-award winning author of A Date You Can't Refuse -- Harley Jane Kozak, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity-award winning author of A Date You Can't Refuse

"Once again, the very funny Lourey serves up a delicious dish of murder, mayhem, and merriment."
--Booklist (starred review) --Sept. 2009

"September Fair should earn Lourey a blue ribbon for her detailed knowledge of the State Fair, her ability to create unique characters and her talent for writing another memorable Minnesota mystery."
--Midwest Mix Magazine --Sept. 2009

"Good high-calorie fun"
--Mystery Scene Magazine --Fall 2009

"Lourey has a talent for creating hilarious characters in bizarre, laugh-out-loud situations, while at the same time capturing the honest and endearing subtleties of human life. In any season, September Fair is a rumpus delight, enjoyed deep-fried, covered with whipped cream, or fresh off the bookshelf."
--The Strand --Dec. 2009

"Lively mystery."
--BookPage --Sept. 2009

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK (September 8, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738718726
• ISBN-13: 978-0738718729
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #677,086 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

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It Kept Me Guessing, January 10, 2010

By 

Stephen Parrish (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: September Fair (The Murder-By-Month Mysteries) (Paperback)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sunny, Funny Fun, December 7, 2009

By 

Longwalk - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: September Fair (The Murder-By-Month Mysteries) (Paperback)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun series!, October 29, 2009

By 

MidwestMom (MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: September Fair (The Murder-By-Month Mysteries) (Paperback)

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!