Independence Day comes with fireworks, a budding romance, and hometown murder in this sharp and witty mystery by Edgar Award–nominated author Jess Lourey.

When Fourth of July weekend coincides with Wenonga Days—the annual celebration of a locally famous Ojibwe leader—the town of Battle Lake double-dips on the tourist trade. This year the hullabaloo hasn’t even started and there’s already a story for reporter Mira James.

The Chief Wenonga statue has disappeared, leaving behind drops of human blood and a big question for Mira: How and why would anyone steal a twenty-three-foot monument? Things go from curious to worse when a local man is kidnapped. And from worse to downright gruesome when a corpse is found in the lakeside cabin of a horticultural hottie Mira’s been crushing on from afar.

Mira has no choice but to trail a statue thief, find a missing person, and clear an earthy dreamboat’s name from a murder charge. Not to mention risk her own life to unmask a cold-blooded killer.

PRAISE for Knee High by the Fourth of July

⭐ Finalist for The Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery
⭐ Chosen as a Killer Book by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association

"Knee High by the Fourth of July kept me hooked from beginning to end. I enjoyed every page!" ―Sammi Carter, author of the Candy Shop Mysteries

"[The] humor...makes for a delightful romp." ―Fergus Falls Journal