May Day (Murder by Month Mysteries Book 1)

4 4 out of 5 stars | 3,271 ratings

Price: 2.49

Last update: 12-18-2024


About this item

A waitress turned librarian just wants a new life. What she ends up with is a killer change of pace in a funny, snappy, and suspenseful mystery by Edgar Award–nominated author Jess Lourey.

With a cheating boyfriend, a thankless career in waitressing, and her BA in English going to waste, Mira James jumps at the chance for a fresh start in rural Battle Lake, Minnesota.

Right away she lands a job as a librarian, snags another as an on-call reporter for the weekly newspaper, and is swept off her feet by Jeff Wilson, a handsome archaeologist unearthing the town’s storied history. Moving here might be the best decision Mira’s ever made. Until she finds Jeff’s body between the library’s reference stacks. It seems Mira didn’t really know her drop-dead gorgeous new lover at all. But someone in Otter Tail County surely did.

Behind this quirky town’s polite exterior are decades-old grudges still unsettled, and murderous secrets best kept hidden. Whatever dangers are buried in Battle Lake’s past, now it’s Mira’s turn to start digging.

Revised edition: This edition of May Day includes editorial revisions.


From the Publisher

CRIMESPREE MAGAZINE review

Top reviews from the United States

  • SEB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Start to a Fun, Witty Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2018
    When her life doesn't seem to be going in the direction she'd hoped, thirty-ish cosmopolitan girl Mira James takes her friend Sunny up on an offer to house/dog sit in rural Minnesota. Mira quickly becomes part of the town and, when she meets hunky Jeff, she falls head over heels... until tragedy strikes. Mira sets out to find the truth to what's really going on in historical Battle Lake, Minnesota, but it just might get her killed in the process.

    I thought this book was a tiny bit slow to get going at the start, but once it did I found that it moved along nicely. I enjoyed the plot and the history that was sprinkled in among the story.

    This is a good start to a series and I'd certainly read more from this author. I especially love that these books are standalone novels and can be read in any order, with no cliffhangers. Worth the download!
  • Taryn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Small town feel
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2024
    This was a cozy little hometown, USA, mystery. Mira is needing a change in her life after a breakup with someone she wasn't even sure she even liked. So when college friend Sunny asked her to house-sit while she traveled with a new beau, Mira didn't bother to hesitate. She quickly acclimated herself and lands a job in the local library. She soon meets Jeff and they quickly bond in a way she's never wonder with any guy ever. Everything is starting to go well for Mira, until she goes in to work one day and finds Jeff, dead, in the middle of the library. From there, many twists and turns and weird things happen. It's a good story about a quirky girl, turned detective and hero.
  • Kay
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good read overall
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2024
    Protagonist was well developed although annoying and predictable at times. The climax was very anticlimactic however, I suppose it was that kind of read.
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars very entertaining
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2024
    This was just what I’d been looking for: a fun read with subtle humor. Thought the “escape” was a bit abrupt but all in all a enjoyable read.
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining mystery listening ????????
    Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2024
    This kindle e-book novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account book one of twelve

    Mia is asked to come Minnesota to take care of a friend's home and dogs. She meets a man looking for land for his company. He is murdered! But why? She keeps asking questions which leads to the truth and arrest of the killer.

    I would recommend this series and author to readers of family and friends relationships adventure mystery novels ???????? 2024 ????????
  • Jennifer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Now That’s a Way to Start a Series!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2024
    Move over Stephanie Plum, there’s a new gal in town! Fun fast and exciting read finding out Who Dunit in Battle Lake. I can’t wait to find out what mischief Mira finds herself in next!
  • Tonya
    3.0 out of 5 stars Cute-ish
    Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2024
    I enjoyed it enough to finish it, but the main character’s internal dialogue became cumbersome about halfway through. There were some fun characters and the story itself was fine if not a little corny.
  • cindy e
    4.0 out of 5 stars too many
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2024
    Too many penis references for me. Kind of crude, and since that style would probably run through all her books I’ll stick with Cussler and Clark.

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