I just loved this book it was such a good mystery and I couldn’t put it down once I started it. It has such good characters as well. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a good mystery with good characters.

I would like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Having not read any others in this series, I mistakenly thought really that it could it read as a stand-alone. On one level it could but not fully understanding the previous build up in relationships was a negative and I definitely think reading as a series would have added to the story. It was a cozy mystery and was an easy read. I didn’t really enjoy the Mira character but Mrs Berns made me smile. I don’t think I would read more but thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this novel.

January Thaw is a cozy little mystery but left me wanting more. Apparently, this is part of a series which the story will remind you of throughout as many things and or character relationships are referenced to previous times . I felt no connection with the MC, Mira, and/or side characters although Mrs. Berns did make me chuckle a couple times. As far as the mystery goes, it’s pretty straightforward in investigating a mysterious death. There’s nothing really new or exciting going on here. Our MC is the local librarian and has solved several mysteries before in this little town. Perhaps I may have liked this more had I read its predecessors but unfortunately this didn’t grab my attention enough to make me want to read the others.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing this to me in exchange for an honest review.

A fun romp through January in Minnesota as our intrepid heroine unravels the mystery of yet another body found in Battle Lake. I've come to enjoy this Mira James series as she continues to work through her insecurities and foibles while becoming the best part-time detective the town could ask for. Her supporting cast of characters add to the small town charm that belies the undercurrent of deviousness causing a high body count. Of course, that's the ticket for Mira to work her magic and figure out whodunnit and why.

Looking forward to see what's in store for February next

If I could give this more stars, I would - i LOVED this book. It was sooo-o good!!!!! Everyone should read this. First, who doesn't love Minnesota in January - Brrr and awesome. It felt like the frigid wonderland of Fargo - it's so cold it's like part of the story. And then Mrs. Berns was hilarious. I might have even liked her more than Mira. I can't wait for more books in this series. It's the BEST!

Wow I've never read anything like this before! It was very interesting and I was hooked from the beginning.

What happens when a frozen stiff reveals old secrets that are buried? January Thaw is is the 9th book in the Murder by Month Mystery series and it is one you do not want to miss. This was a perfect cozy winter read that had me turning the pages until the end. The author did a great job writing this one and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. All of the characters in this are great and I like Mira the best. Overall, this was a great read that I enjoyed and would recommend to any reader who loves cozy mysteries. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this read in exchange of my honest review of January Thaw by Jess Lourey.

Mira is an amateur sleuth with a big heart. Even though she doesn't have any family, she has made the people of Battle Creek her found family. The small town and its inhabitants are all charming and this makes January Thaw a great cozy mystery. There is just enough suspense, but nothing spooky or scary enough to keep a reader up at night.

I did not realize this was part of a series when I requested to read an advanced copy. This is the 9th book in the series. However, I didn't feel lost at all. The narrator does a great job giving you just enough info to make sure you are caught up, but doesn't spend forever recapping all of the events of the past 8 books. All that to say, I think this could be read as a stand alone. Each of the books takes place during a particular month of the year starting with May and 3 more books are still yet to be released. I am going to enjoy reading them all each month over the course of the next year.

I absolutely love everything Jess Lourey writes. This monthly series just keeps getting better with each installment - the characters come to life more, the plot twists get twistier, and the suspense just continues to build. Reading each new book in the series feels like visiting old friends in your hometown, and seeing what they've all been up to is always a delight.

Lourey's writing is delightful as ever, and I can't wait for February!

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

narcoleptic dachshund, multigenerational, senior-citizens, suspense, investigations, witty, laugh-riot, situational-humor, verbal-humor, library, librarian, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, local-history, small-town, small-business, winter, Minnesota, dad-jokes, drugs-issues, murders, beatings, legend, museum, amateur-sleuth, friends, friendship, inheritance*****

The mayor has a narcoleptic dachshund named Peter, there was that body uncovered by the Zamboni, somebody shot the police chief, and the solving of current and post civil war mysteries. FUN!
I went bats over all the info on the very real Prospect House Museum (History geek here).
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley. Thanks for the fun!
#January Thaw by @jesslourey #MurderByMonthMysteryBk9 #NetGalley #ThomasandMercer #Minnesota #HumorousSuspense #RomcomMystery @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @kobobooks @waterstones ***** #Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk

The novel’s strength lies in its character development and humor. Mira’s growth as a sleuth is evident, and her interactions with the eclectic townsfolk add warmth and wit to the story. Lourey’s vivid descriptions of the wintery setting perfectly complement the book’s cozy mystery vibe, drawing readers into the icy charm of the Midwest.

While the mystery itself is engaging, the pacing occasionally falters, with some sections feeling slower than others. Nevertheless, the twists and resolution are satisfying, and fans of the series will appreciate the balance of suspense, romance, and humor that Lourey consistently delivers.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Had I been aware of this series when it was first published, I'd've been all over it. Even though it was 10 years ago, it puts me in mind of the mystery series I loved in the late '90s, which is kind of a nice way of saying this is well-trodden ground. Prior to this one I read May Day and enjoyed it, and apparently there has been some movement since that title: Mira is more entrenched in Battle Lake, with a new BF, and ex who followed her to the Midwest, and an old-lady sidekick (Grandma Mazur, is that yoouuu???).

This story is OK enough; I might need to go read the December title cos it sounds like that one was a banger! This one, not least due to the constant referring back to the events of the previous book, seems a bit tame by comparison, and there are parts that drag. Also, the old <spoiler>Blonde woman?! No, silly, that's my COUSIN!</spoiler> is a bit weak sauce for my taste. Still, the book was a fun, fast read and I was mostly entertained.

3 solid stars

Fueled on sugar from cookies, pie and nut goodies Mira is on the search for a shooter and potential killer in Battle Lake, MN.

Mira is on the case with her infamous sidekick, Mrs. Berns, after coming face to face with a murdered out of towner. In true Mira fashion, she trips her way through multiple criminal angles occurring in her small town.

I enjoyed the Battle Lake historical elements and how Mira just takes in the lost souls without question. Mrs. Berns never fails to deliver the best snarky lines! And always nice to end with a little time with Johnny!

A funny and fast-paced cozy mystery. I didn’t know the book is part of a series but I still enjoyed reading the book.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher.

This book was a quick read for me! I could not put it down. This is the 9th of the series so I will actually be rounding back to #1 because I would love to read in order. Looking forward to more mysteries

I read this not realizing it was book #9 in a series. Silly me assumed the calendar series started in January. Although I enjoyed it, I did find myself getting a bit bored at times because there seemed to be more history to something, but I was missing key information. I also thought the romance portion of the situation missed the mark for me. It seemed to be thrown in as an afterthought and didn’t really add anything substantial to the story. That part of the book either needed to be more developed or taken out of the story completely. There was plenty to like about the book, and overall, I give it 3.5/5⭐️

So I actually hadn't realize there were books before this one but I didn't feel like I had missed anything. I've been looking for a book similar to The Lady Grace Mysteries and while this isn't historical it still has that fun mystery element I've been looking for with intrigue and likable characters so I really enjoyed this

One of my favorite crime fighting duo’s are back. Mira and Mrs. Berns! Mira stumbles across a dead body of a new library regular. Dead body, the police chief gets shot and new crime in town gets Mira’s senses tingling. This was another fun installment with mystery, laughs, and a little bit of romance. Looking forward to more Mira and Mrs Berns adventures!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I just love this series. Lourey has crafted a set of characters who are delightful and keep surprising me - which is no small feat in a cozy that thrives on tropes. Mrs. Berns and Curtis Poling are, without a doubt, my two favorites - and both are present for a nice chunk of this one, which I enjoyed. I am finding the mysteries to be surprisingly dark and heavy, as far as the underlying issues behind each monthly murder, for a series that is otherwise so light and humorous. It's a dissonance that works somehow, keeping me engaged as well as curious to see what the next month will bring! The writing is easy to fall into and while you probably could reach the books as individual stories, I think you'd miss a lot of the magic if you didn't have the background and backstories behind the myriad relationships that comprise Mira's world.