Death By Pantyhose (Jaine Austen Mysteries) [Kindle Edition]

Laura Levine (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the outset of Levine's fun sixth Jaine Austen cozy (after 2006's The PMS Murder), the L.A. freelance writer takes a low-paying gig writing jokes for Dorcas MacKenzie, a standup comic who uses pantyhose in her act. When Dorcas's comic archrival Vic is found dead—strangled by, you guessed it, a pair of control-top hose—Jaine determines to clear her new client's name. Vic was a sleazeball survived by plenty of enemies–cum–likely suspects, including his jilted girlfriend, Allison; the waitress he was bonking on the side; his writer, Hank; and his discarded agent, Manny. Parental e-mails, tangles with a potential beau and cuddling with her cat, Prozac, distract Jaine from the mystery, but the digressions also humanize the protagonist. Jaine's dogged sleuthing and screwball antics will entertain fans of this fizzy series. (June)
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Product Description

Freelance writer Jaine Austen has never been able to resist the siren call of an Eskimo Pie, just like she can't resist renewing her romance with Andrew, an old crush. With her bank account hitting new lows, she's also just agreed to write jokes for Dorcas, a stand-up comic who throws her pantyhose into the audience as a punch line.

Not only is Dorcas's act a bomb, she is heckled by Vic, a gorgeous fellow comic. Naturally when Vic is murdered with Dorcas's pantyhose and that same Dorcas is standing over his dead body, the police arrest...Dorcas. They figure it's an open-and-shut case, although Jaine figures no killer can be that dumb.

But when Jaine sets out to find the real culprit, she is distracted by one dating disaster after another with Andrew--and she may not see the dark side of comedy until she faces the business end of a gun and a cold, deadly grin...

"Fun. . .Jaine's dogged sleuthing and screwball antics will entertain fans of this fizzy series." --Publishers Weekly

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1642 KB
• Print Length: 305 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0758207867
• Publisher: Kensington (June 1, 2007)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001E5GCUC
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,585 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

Laura Levine is a former sitcom writer (The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, Three's Company, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman). As an advertising copywriter, she created Count Chocula and Frankenberry cereals for General Mills. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.

She and her husband live in Los Angeles.

Readers are welcome to contact her at [e-mail] or on her website at www.lauralevinemysteries.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They Keep Getting Better and Better, May 30, 2008

By 

J. E. Stephens "Jeanne" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death By Pantyhose (Jaine Austen Mysteries) (Paperback)

In this installment of the Jaine Austen mystery series, Jaine is hired by a comedienne, Dorcus MacKenzie, as a joke writer. Dorcus used pantyhose to throw at the crowd at the end of her act.
Unfortunately for Dorcus, her rival who is also her ex-husband, is violently murdered with pantyhose.
Jaine comes to the rescue again with lots of humorous scenes before she solves the murder.
You will love Death by Pantyhose.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pure Delight, July 23, 2007

By 

Gloria Mundi - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death by Pantyhose (Jaine Austen Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I was delighted to discover a new entry in the Jaine Austen series. Every book has been fun, full of plot twists and engaging characters. "Death By Pantyhose," a comic parody of Hollywood behavior and mores, provides a wonderful escape from the harsh realities of today's world. It's highly recommended for anyone who wants a good mystery--or simply a good laugh.

And how can you not love a book dedicated to a beloved cat?

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stand-Up Comedy is Murder, May 29, 2007

By 

Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death by Pantyhose (Jaine Austen Mysteries) (Hardcover)

After what starts out as a great day turns very sour, Jaine finds herself desperate for a job. Any job. That's why she agrees to write jokes for stand-up comic at much lower then her normal rate.

Dorcas's act is really just a feminist diatribe that ends with her throwing pantyhose into the audience. Needless to say, it needs lots of work, and Jaine is wondering what she got herself into.

While getting to know Dorcas, Jaine observes Vic, another stand-up comic. He's as funny as he is arrogant, and Jaine takes an instant dislike to him. So she's not too sorry when he turns up dead. The problem is, Dorcas is the prime suspect since the murder weapon is one of the pantyhose she uses in her act.

Meanwhile, the love of Jaine's life has just come back into her life. Andrew is only in town for a few weeks. Should Jaine go for it? And her mother has given away her father's lucky shirt. Can she survive the fall out? And can Jaine balance all this and find Vic's killer?

Once again, author Laura Levine has written a funny and puzzling mystery novel. I laughed the entire way through. The pacing was a bit uneven this time as Jaine actually got a love life, but I enjoyed that sub-plot as much as the mystery. And it helped to keep Jaine a real character. And the ending once again was surprising, satisfying, and clever. Even with all the over the top antics, everything still feels real.

This series is still as appealing as ever. If you enjoy the lighter side of mystery, you'll definitely enjoy this book.