‘August Moon’ brings out bizarre behavior in community

This week I selected another e-book. “August Moon” by Jess Lourey was a fun Midwestern mystery. Battle Lake, Minnesota is surrounded by rolling hills, dense forests and pristine lakes. Folks in Battle Lake know one another and nothing goes unnoticed.

It is the place Miranda (Mira) James grew up saddled with the stigma of being the daughter of a drunk. She went straight from high school graduation to college in the Twin Cities and never looked back until a bad relationship, alcohol and a near breakdown forced her to return.

Mira’s plan was to house/dog sit for a friend. She makes ends meet by writing for the local newspaper and working as an underqualified city librarian. She’s assisted by a disturbingly raunchy 89-year-old Mrs. Berns and sweet high schooler, Lucy Lebowski.

The summer has been unbelievably hot and dry, so tempers are short and farmers worried. Mira has managed until being stood up by the very handsome Johnny Leeson. That same night, Battle Lake Mayor Kennie showed up crying that the chief of police has dumped her for God…meaning he’s been spending time at the new Bible camp just outside of town.

Soon, the two are drunk and passed out. The next morning, Mira decides to leave Battle Lake as soon as possible. First, she must find a replacement for her job at the library. After several bad interviews she almost immediately hires plain, mousy Sarah Ruth. That same day Pastor Bob Mealsy, his wife Naomi and daughter Alicia arrive.

They invite her to attend worship at their new Bible camp, but their behavior goes against her non-church attending grain. Something about the family doesn’t feel right, and Mira has learned to listen to her gut.

When Lucy is found shot in the back and dumped, the whole town is afraid. After a few other nasty incidents, Mira is certain that the Mealsys are involved. So she does an Internet search, asks around and snoops. She finds plenty, but nothing she can take to the police.

Mira is suspicious when she meets Weston Lippman. Weston dresses far too warmly for the blazing August heat but claims to be researching wood ticks. She likes his southern drawl, but doesn’t want to get into another possible relationship.

He does agree to take Mrs. Berns to the August Moon celebration. It is held at a huge corn maze and designed for old fashioned family fun. Mira is one of the last to enter the maze, but near the end, she hears screams. By the time she finds her way out, one of Lucy’s friends is sobbing and saying that she and her friend, Lydia, had been dragged out of the maze.

While the police organize a search Mira plays a hunch and heads for the Bible Camp. Near the camp she finds Naomi, bloodied and beaten, crawling along the road. She says Bob beat her and asks to go to her sister’s house instead of the hospital. Once there, Weston suddenly appears, helps Naomi indoors and tells Mira to go to the police. She thinks the nightmare is almost over, but within minutes it she learns that it has just begun.

Luckily, the real killer hasn’t dealt with a really angry Mira James, and sometimes miracles happen when we need them most.

AT A GLANCE
BOOK: “August Moon”
AUTHOR: Jess Lourey
PUBLISHER: Toadhouse Books
PUBLISHED: July 19, 2018
PAGES: 266