This Pen for Hire (Jaine Austen Mysteries) [Large Print] [Paperback]

Laura Levine (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jaine Austen Mysteries | Publication Date: December 2002

Smarmy personals ads. Daring declarations of love. Writer-for-hire Jaine Austen has penned them all. But when one of the love connections she made is broken up by murder, Jaine finds herself freelancing free-of-charge--and uncovering more than she bargained for. . .

No one seems to need her help more than geeky, gawky Howard Murdoch. His request is simple enough: a letter proclaiming his undying love for Stacy Lawrence, a gorgeous aerobics instructor. The fact that he's never actually met the woman gives Jaine pause--but she soon overcomes her misgivings, warms up her computer, and starts pitching woo on Howard's behalf. To Jaine's surprise, the letter is a success--the unlikely Romeo lands a date! But his triumph is, sadly, short-lived. On Valentine's Day, Howard finds Stacy bludgeoned to death with a Thigh Master--and is quickly named the prime suspect.

Upon hearing the news, Jaine is shocked. Sure, Howard's awkward, eccentric, and a tiny bit odd. But a murderer? That's hard to believe. Especially after a little sleuthing turns up a whole bunch of people who harbored less-than-loving feelings towards the svelte Stacy. But Jaine had better wrangle her clues quickly, before a crafty killer catches on--and puts a whole new spin on her ghost writing career. . .

"This book is laugh-out-loud funny. A real winner!" --Laurien Berenson

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Humor is the key ingredient in this slick debut by television comedy writer Levine. Freelancer Jaine Austen (her mother loved the classics but couldn't spell) makes a living writing love letters, personal ads and industrial brochures, but she never expected her work to involve her in murder. When geeky Howard Murdoch hires her to pen a letter proclaiming his love for gorgeous fitness instructor Stacy Lawrence, no one is more surprised than Jaine when Stacy agrees to go out with Howard on Valentine's Day. But Harold arrives for their date only to find that someone has bludgeoned Stacy to death with a ThighMaster. Feeling some responsibility for the hapless Howard, now the police's only suspect, Jaine starts digging. Stacy might have been beautiful, but most people disliked her. Elaine Zimmer wanted the corner apartment Stacy had just moved into, and the building superintendent seemed besotted with her. Then there's the volatile, married producer, not to mention the girlfriend Stacy stole him from. Handsome neighbor Cameron Bannick, a straight antiques dealer, piques Jaine's interest (she hasn't had a good date in a long time), and becomes a dashing Watson to Jaine's Sherlock. Though her life is in danger, Jaine never loses her sense of humor as the story zips along to an action-filled and surprising climax. Levine delivers the goods, and readers who appreciate a heroine with wry, self-deprecating humor will hope Jaine soon gets caught up in another murder. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-The setting for this book is Los Angeles, where freelance writer Jaine Austen, whose "mother is an Anglophile, and a bad speller," describes her apartment-based business; nosy neighbor; ex-husband; and contrary, voracious cat, Prozac. Having written a love note for Howard, a bashful client who ends up being arrested for murdering the object of the correspondence, Jaine tries to exonerate him. It takes impersonating a New York Times columnist, an attorney, and a police investigator plus lots of eating, some aerobics, and wry wit. Teens will like the flippancy of the narrator as she works through insecurities about her appearance while making admirable amateur deductions. A fluffy, fun, and fast read that will leave YAs awaiting the next installment in the series.
Karen Sokol, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Wheeler Publishing (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587243415
• ISBN-13: 978-1587243417
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,307,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First in the Jaine Austen Series, April 13, 2008

By 

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

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This Pen For Hire: A Jaine Austen Mystery (Jaine Austen Mysteries) (Paperback)

I thought this book was excellent. It was a great mystery. Jaine is a talented writer. She writes a letter for a geek named Howard. It was to get him a date with his aerobics instructor. Unfortuately for Howard, he shows up for the date only to find to object of his affection murdered. Howard is charged with the murder and Jaine feels responsible. She starts investigating and finds out a lot of motives to kill stacy Lawrence, the aerobics instructor.

This book is filled with lots of funny scenes and an adorable cat named Prozac.

If you like mysteries, you will enjoy this series.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious Series Debut, August 14, 2002

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: This Pen For Hire: A Jaine Austen Mystery (Jaine Austen Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Jaine Austen runs a (mostly) successful freelance writing business. In between promo material for commercial companies, she gets a request to write a love letter. Geeky Howard Murdoch has a crush on Stacy, one of the instructors at his fitness center. Jaine figures Stacy will never agree to the date and is shocked to learn that her letter actual was successful. But the biggest shock is when Howard arrives for their date to discover Stacy bludgeoned to death with her thigh master. The police are sure Howard did it, and Jaine feels responsible for getting him in this mess. So she starts digging into the case herself. She finds no shortage of suspects, but can she figure out what's happening before something happens to her?

This series debut was an absolute delight. The story is well plotted, and the pace never lets up. The main characters are fleshed out well. What sets this book apart, however, is the humor. Written in the first person, the pages drip with wit and sarcasm in all the right places. I constantly had a grin on my face, and several times found myself laughing out loud. Yet, it never looses sight of the fact that it's a murder mystery first; the humor never gets in the way of the story.

Anyone looking for a light, fun mystery for a relaxing weekend or trip need look no further. I've already added this series to my favorites and look forward to Jaine's further adventures.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Date To Remember, March 16, 2005

By 

Beth D (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This Pen For Hire: A Jaine Austen Mystery (Jaine Austen Mysteries) (Paperback)

Jaine Austen, owner of This Pen For Hire a writing service in Los Angeles is hired by geeky Howard Murdoch, to write a love letter to aerobics instructor, Stacy Lawrence.

Jaine has written personal ads for clients, but this was her first love letter and she was a little worried since Howard had never actually met Stacy. But she gives it her all and is surprised when Stacy accepts Howard's offer for a date. Could it be that she's fascinated with geeky guys or maybe the hint in Jaine's letter which might have made her think that Howard Murdoch's uncle was Rupert Murdoch.

Either way, Howard never got a chance to find out because when he arrives for his date on Valentines Day, he finds Stacy bludgeoned to death with a thighmaster.

Jaine appears to be the only person who believes Howard isn't guilty and using all her skills, she tackles the suspects, which include Andy, her married boyfriend, Jasmine, Andy's former girlfriend who was angry Stacy stole him, Elaine who was upset that Stacy got the good apartment in the building when she was next in line.

As an added bonus, she gets to meet Cameron Bannick, an antique dealer neighbor of Stacy's who definitely makes her heart race a little faster.

With the help of Cameron, and her friend. Kandi she searches for the clues that will lead her to the killer before the killer finds her.

Highlights:

This book is a laugh riot. I think it is the funniest mystery book I have read. Jaine is a great character, very witty and bright.

Her detective work. Jaine does some real investigating, pretending to be a reporter, or from the police, whatever it takes to get her in the door.

Good mystery, although I figured out who the killer was but not the motive or how it was done.

Lance, her next door neighbor who has sonar hearing and is constantly complaining about the noise she makes,

Her writing class of senior citizen's.

Lowlights:

There are no lowlights in this book other than I guessed the killer, but since it didn't affect the enjoyment of the book, it's not a major problem.

One of the best first books in a mystery series that I have read.