Jessica (Jess) Lourey is a highly acclaimed American author, best known for her work in the mystery and crime fiction genres. She is most notably recognized for her Mira James Mysteries series, which combines humor and suspense, and has garnered a significant following among readers. The series has been well-reviewed and Lourey has been nominated for several prestigious awards, including the Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty awards.
Lourey's writing spans across various genres, and she has also gained recognition for her work in fantasy, thriller, and young adult genres. She has an Amazon Charts bestselling, Edgar-nominated, ITW Thriller, and Anthony Award-winning author status. Lourey's fascination with secrets, inspired by her upbringing in a house filled with them, is a recurring theme in her work. She has written nonfiction, children's books, YA adventure, magical realism, and crime fiction, showcasing her versatility as a writer.
Lourey is a retired professor of writing and sociology and a recipient of The Loft's Excellence in Teaching fellowship. She is a TEDx presenter and has given a TEDx Talk on the surprising inspiration behind her first published novel, MAY DAY. She is an active member of the literary community and enjoys teaching creative writing in international workshops.
Lourey currently resides in Minneapolis, where she cares for a rotating batch of foster kittens (and occasional foster puppies). She is an advocate for animals and often incorporates themes of compassion and kindness towards animals in her work. Readers can learn more about Lourey and her books by visiting her website, jessicalourey.com.
Murder-By-Month Mystery Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
May Day
2006
2
June Bug
2007
3
Knee High by the Fourth of July
2007
4
August Moon
2008
5
September Fair / September Mourn
2009
6
October Fest
2011
7
November Hunt
2012
8
December Dread
2012
9
January Thaw
2014
10
Death by Potato Salad
2014
11
February Fever
2015
12
March of Crime
2017
13
April Fools
2019
14
Monday Is Murder
2022
Salem's Cipher Mystery Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Salem's Cipher
2016
2
The Adventure of the First Problem
2016
3
Mercy's Chase
2018
The Catalain Book of Secrets Books (as Jessica Lourey)
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Seven Daughters
2014
2
The Catalain Book of Secrets
2014
Standalone Novels
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Toadhouse Trilogy
2012
2
Unspeakable Things
2020
3
Bloodline
2021
4
Litani
2021
5
Quarry Girls
2022
6
The Verdant Cage
2026
7
A Whisper of Poison
2024
Short Stories/Novellas
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Beauty Is in the Eye of the Newt
2014
2
The Paper Frog
2014
3
Give Her a Hand
2014
Non-Fiction Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Better Than Gin: A Coloring Book for Writers
2016
2
Better Than Gin: A Coloring Book for Writers ( As: Jessica Lourey, With: Tony Van Den Einde)
2016
3
Rewrite Your Life: Discover Your Truth Through the Healing Power of Fiction
2017
4
Rewrite Your Life: Discover Your Truth Through the Healing Power of Fiction ( As: Jessica Lourey)