I want to be Mrs. Berns when I am 90!

This was the funniest Murder by Month book of the bunch! I laughed out loud so many times! Mira James is back to her amateur sleuthing when she happens upon yet another dead body, at Turtle Stew cafe of all places!

The antics that she, Mrs. Berns and Mayor Kennie Rogers get themselves into make for so much fun! I have to say the Minnesota Sex Hotline called Hotdish and the scripts kept me in stitches!

The book was very good it is part of a series but it can also be rid of the stand alone but I highly recommend starting from the beginning

Thank you NetGalley! As always, a great read following Mira James in small town Minnesota. I’ve been able to read each of these in month order now and have enjoyed them

March of Crimes by Jess Lourey was a fun and humorous cozy mystery.
A riveting mystery with an intriguing plot, packed with witty storytelling and characters you’ll instantly fall in love with.
Another great mystery and I love how the characters are developing over the series.

Mira James has enough to worry about with her financial and romantic problems, so it's beyond annoying when the life-sized doll sitting next to her in the local diner suddenly falls off to reveal a dead body under the mask. One of the nursing home residents has taken to crafting and leaving the enormous dolls all over town, so no one paid too much attention to the one in the diner before it was discovered to be a dead body. In the months that Mira has been in the small town of Battle Lake, she's come across quite a few dead bodies. So many that the local sheriff is not really believing that she has nothing to do with the sudden surplus of corpses in town. As the head librarian and part-time newspaper reporter, Mira knows quite a bit about what's going on in town. She and her 90-year-old friend and co-worker, Mrs. Berns are kept busy attending local events for newspaper articles, keeping the library running, investigating the murders, and being roped in on the latest "business opportunities" proposed by Battle Lake's mayor Kennie Rogers.

I really enjoyed the adventures of Mira and Mrs. Berns as they question suspects and try out new activities, all in a quest to keep Battle Lake safe and informed. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, mostly courtesy of Mrs. Berns. I see that this is #11 in a 12 book series about Mira, so I'm looking forward to catching up on the rest of her adventures!

A great cozy series!
If you’re looking for your next cozy, this is it! If you’re looking for a series that you can read throughout the year…this is it! With an entry named for each month of the year, this is a great way to achieve your reading goals as well.

I’ve red two entries in the series so far and each one has been a good read. You don’t need to start in January, but you sure will want to go back and read the first two once you finish this one!

Okay first off Mira has the worst luck. How are all these people ending up the way they do since she moved to town. This crime is one I think I would have lost my mind over. It's creepy. I love how Mira is able to work with her friends in order to figure out what is happening as well as who did it. This was definitely a good one and I loved reading it. Can't wait to see what happens next for Mira.

I've really enjoyed reading this whole series month by month, it's so close to the end now that I felt nostalgic reading it, I'm going to miss all these quirky and lovable characters. In March of Crimes, one of the seniors in Battle Lake Michigan starts making life-size creepy dolls. You don't even want to know how these are associated with murder! Mira is still working on her PI license and starts to investigate, much to the chagrin of police chief Gary Wohnt. Luckily Mrs. Berns and Mayor Kenny Rogers are there to bail her out of trouble and find some new age-inappropriate hobbies!

I said last month that February Fever was darker than the previous books in the series, and I think this one was a bit more melancholy, which only makes me more eager to read the final book next month and find out what happens.

I was lucky to have access to both the ebook and audiobook this month, and it was a great story in both formats. Jennifer Jill Araya's narration was fantastic, she really becomes each of the characters and brings the story to another level.

This was one of the fastest books in the series, that I have read. I was so invested in every page. I love that there was a little more mystery in this one; however, I wish it wasn't at the expense of Mira's relationship with Johnny. That truly broke my heart. I am both looking forward to and and not looking forward to reading April's book. It is the last one in the series and I'm just so scared what is going to happen, but I'm not ready to not read any more stories about my favorite literary characters. The series starts with May Day and I highly recommend reading this series. The best way to describe this series is it is rom-com meets mystery/thriller.

I laughed out loud so many times, and I wasn’t even expecting it. It’s always refreshing to have some comedy with a nice mystery with just a hint of romance. And I think we can all agree that life size dolls are creepy enough that we need that comedy.
And if you’ll excuse me I now have a whole new series I need to purchase and read. I read this book having not read the other books in the series but it reads well as a stand-alone.
Just pick up a copy. You’ll love it!
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

March of Crimes was my first foray into Jess Lourey's Murder by Month Mysteries series and I was not disappointed. Luckily for me, this was absolutely readable as a stand-alone novel. The author manages to write in little callbacks and reminders to give just enough context clues for a new reader to pick Mira's murder-laden adventures up at any point in the series. I didn't dare expect too much but I shouldn't have worried: this novel delivered. An eleventh homicide - yes, you read that right, our rather unfortunate heroine has been handed eleven corpses to deal with so far - in a cosy, small-town setting in picturesque Minnesota where each side character is quirkier than the previous one with a side of rom-com, sign me up!

The Murder by Month Mysteries follow Mira, a young journalist who's barely employed and landed in Battle Lake, MN after a difficult breakup. Little did she know she was about to pick up on unwanted hobby in her new life: every month, somehow, she stumbles upon a dead body. Is it a case of the random bad luck or is something more sinister at hand? You'll have to read the series to find out. The March novel opens with Mira's boss asking - no, demanding! - she write an article that shines a good light on their little town after a neverending series of monthly murders. And so the story begins. Mira's desperate hunt to make the place attractive to tourists again after the sudden spike in homicide rate leads her to, you may have guessed it, yet another dead body!

I must admit I wasn't the biggest fan of the life-sized doll cadaver disguise. It seemed a little over the top (especially in a restaurant setting) and gave away the murderer a little too quickly but I suppose it is a rather unique manner of disposing of a body. In contrast, the crew of Battle Lake residents made for a delightful read. Between the spitfire elderly best friend forever who never shies away from making everyone else uncomfortable (including wearing a far too skimpy bikini) and the Barbie cowgirl boss babe mayor who is looking to hire Mira for her Minnesotan phone sex line (iconic), this story is filled with wonderfully loud women, a breath of fresh air in the often male-dominated crime fiction genre. I chuckled and cheered my way through March of Crimes.

Lourey knows how to write an engaging page-turner: she is quick with the wit, touches of sarcasm and humour in general while navigating a rather somber genre. The formula works and makes for an easy yet memorable read. The characters are anything but forgettable, the setting charming but never overworked or overdetailed (much to my delight), the pace is just right, keeping Mira and the readers on their toes while giving our main character just enough breathing to reflect and feel amid all the action. I found myself wanting to venture back into the series and enjoy the ride from the very beginning. A solid 3.5 stars from an intrigued first-time reader.

"I discovered that corpse like Columbus discovered America."

* Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. *

This was my first chance to read a book from this series- but I don't think I missed a thing. Mira, after finding herself sitting next to a corpse dressed as a doll, also finds herself under suspicion. Like Mira, I found the life size dolls created by Ida, senior with too much time on her hands, creepy. I wasn't a fan of Chief Gary (who would be?!) but I did like that the Mayor and Mrs. Berns helped her out. Loved the small town Minnesota setting (and the sly humor). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm going to look for Lourey again.

I love a good cozy crime book as a palette cleanser between more serious reads and Jess Lourey's Murder by Month series always delivers on that. "March of Crime" is as funny ever with delightful characters and a solid mystery!

I'd like to thank Netgalley and "Thomas and Mercer" publishing house for March of Crimes by Jess Lourey – A Wild Ride with Small-Town Shenanigans.

You’d think by now Mira would catch a break, but nope—this small-town journalist just can’t stay out of trouble. This time, it’s not just gossip or a minor mystery. Nope. It’s a dead body hidden inside a life-sized doll. Because apparently, Battle Lake doesn’t believe in normal crimes.

This book goes wilder than the previous ones in the series, and honestly? I’m here for it.

Mira, as usual, gets herself tangled in a murder case, and somehow, the cops decide she’s the problem. Next thing you know, she’s in jail while her chaotic-but-lovable squad—including a flashy mayor and her 90-year-old bestie—hatch a plan to bust her out. Think Ocean’s Eleven, but with more senior citizen sass and questionable life choices.

The mystery? Solid.

The humor? Sharp.

The small-town weirdness? Absolutely unmatched.

It’s a little more out there than the earlier books, but the fun, fast-paced writing makes up for it. Plus, Mira’s personal growth keeps things fresh.

If you love quirky mysteries with offbeat humor and a heroine who just can’t help but get involved, you’ll love this one.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

I really like this series and March of Crimes is just another great addition to it. The story is written with humor, there's mystery, romance and crime, it's also well-written and provides great entertainment as usual when Ms. Lourey is the author. In March of Crimes we find our librarian/intended to be detective/journalist feeling down because she keeps on finding dead bodies, and in this story she'll find at least two more and will be considered a person of interest for both crimes. She'll will be under pressure but will not give up on searching for the truth and will suffer the consequences for her actions. Her love life is also in tatters but will she be able to mend it?
I thank Ms. Lourey, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Get ready to dive headfirst into the quirky, cozy chaos of Jess Lourey's latest masterpiece—a rom-com mystery where humor and homicide meet in the most delightfully unexpected ways! This time around, our charming sleuth Mira James finds herself knee-deep in yet another corpse conundrum—only this one is gloriously camouflaged as a life-sized doll. It's a hobby gone horribly wrong, and trust me, you’re in for a rollicking good time!

The town of Battle Lake is buzzing when Mira stumbles upon a dead body encased in an eerily realistic doll. But wait—it gets better. Before she can say "Who did it?" she's locked up by the zealous Police Chief Gary Wohnt, whose mission in life seems to be to see Mira behind bars.

Mira’s not alone, though. With her spicy, sassy nonagenarian bestie Mrs. Berns and the unabashedly flamboyant mayor, Kennie Rogers, in her corner, Team Mira is a force of fabulous determination hell-bent on busting her out and proving her innocence. But watch out—there's a killer lurking who simply can’t wait to see Mira become the ultimate dolled-up victim!

Sprinkled throughout this fast-paced adventure are dad jokes and gossip, touching moments and laugh-out-loud surprises. As Mira juggles her roles in small-town Minnesota—from reluctant librarian to budding private investigator—Lourey deftly balances hilarity with heart, adding layers of depth as Mira processes personal grief and rising responsibility.

And for those familiar with the Murder-by-Month series, Jess Lourey once again crafts a winning installment. Fresh faces meet familiar friends, while innovative plot twists keep this series as invigorating and ingenious as ever. Mira’s misadventures are as endearing as they are madcap, and you’ll find yourself rooting for her through every twist and turn.

So grab your Nut Goodies and settle in—this small-town whodunit with big personality will have you giggling, gasping, and gleefully guessing until the very last page. In Lourey's deft hands, you never quite know what’s coming next, but you're absolutely along for the ride! 📚🔍✨

I am a big fan of this series as the mystery is usually not as cozy as other mystery series and the characters make me laugh. While that was the case with this one as well, there was something about it that just felt different to me. The mystery was more gruesome and something I really couldn’t stomach despite not being gory (the doll thing was really pushing the boundaries of cozy). I love Mira and Johnny also, but this was too much drama and annoyed me as the story unfolded throughout the book; the ending was fitting. The new business Kennie comes up with had me laughing out loud, so the humor is still there; this one just felt darker, and I wasn’t expecting it. I’ve read Lourey’s thrillers and some of that darker material seems to have found its way here. I will still continue with this series but hope that more of the lighter stuff makes a comeback.

Another great cozy murder mystery by Jess Lourey. I really enjoyed this entire series and look forward to reading more books by her.

I love this series, it is so fun! Not only is the writing funny, but I love the mystery behind each book. This one was good and I can’t wait to read the next one!

Mira is at it again, investigating, joining Kenny's schemes, and self sabotaging. I'm excited for April fools!