June Bug: A Murder-by-month Mystery (Mira James Mystery, #2)

by Jess Lourey

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.

Praise:

"Move over, Stephanie Plum. There's a new bad girl in town, and her name is Mira James. The funny, earthy heroine of June Bug is sure to stumble her way into the hearts of readers everywhere. With a keen eye to the bawdy side of life, Jess Lourey delivers a story that's loonier than our state bird; with a deft hand, she both celebrates and skewers the myths about strait-laced life in small-town Minnesota. Don't miss this one-it's a hoot!"--Wlliam Kent Krueger, Anthony Award winning author of Copper River

"With just the right amount of insouciance, tongue-in-cheek sexiness, and plain common sense, Jess Lourey offers up a funny, well written, engaging story."--Carl Brookins, author of The Case of the Greedy Lawyers

"Mira is young, sexy, enthusiastic, and -- like all amateur sleuths -- forever doomed to find the bodies of the recently departed. Even when they aren't always bodies. Or recently departed. Jess Lourey is a talented, witty, and clever writer."--Monica Ferris, best-selling author of the Needlecraft Mysteries

• ISBN10: 0738709123
• ISBN13: 9780738709123
• Publish Date: 8 March 2007
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 14 May 2009
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Llewellyn Publications,U.S.
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 216
• Language: English

Reviews

[Mystereity Reviews]

Just realized I didn't mark this one off my currently reading list. I'm doing a complete re-read of the series so I can remember the full story before I start the final book in the series. (Actually, that's just a disassociation tactic, I refuse to let Battle Lake and its eccentric citizens go off into the universe, never to be heard from again.)

This one starts with Mira getting an unpleasant awakening in the early hours by an old (and unwanted) associate who drunkenly made his way into her bed and went to sleep. After confronting him, he tells her that a treasure hunt is going to be started centering around an old legend of a diamond necklace that was lost in the lake over 100 years ago. This new treasure hunt is sponsored by a new resort in the area, and publicized by a newspaper story in the city as a way to drum up more tourism. Mira, (the part time reporter for the Battle Lake newspaper)is outraged at being scooped on such a big story and starts investigating, drawing her into a bigger mystery.

I'll admit, this series started out rough but the characters are what gives this series its oomph and I know how much better it gets as the series goes on. This is on the cusp of "cozy" mystery as there's more coarse language and adult situations that you'd find in a cozy, but less graphic than a regular mystery. Looking back on this as a long time reader, I love how the author grew as the series went on, and I loved being reminded of Mira's beginnings.

As for the plot in this one, the treasure hunt leading to a fake corpse in the lake and very real ones in town, I really enjoyed it. The colorful townspeople - Mayor Kennie Rogers (who, from the description tries to look like Dolly Parton, which I find hilarious) Police Chief Wohnt, Mrs. Berns and Johnny (*breathless gasp*) add flavor to the town and the quick pace led to a great action-packed ending.

Overall, I really enjoyed re-reading this one and it served to remind me of all the moments I'm looking forward to revisiting in later books.