Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The heroine (Jaine Austin) is funny and the plot is engaging. Besides, who could resist a story with a demanding cat named Prozac? A health club beauty gets murdered and Jaine's pathetic client gets nabbed as the suspect. She feels guilty because it's due to her that the two even met so she decides to do some sleuthing on her own as the police obviously have the wrong man. The writing style is breezy and humerous although the heroine's constant self depricating jokes about her weight did get on my nerves. A nice lighthearted story that made me smile as I read it. Definitely recommend this one and I look forward to reading the sequel.

The story is well plotted, and the pace never lets up. It never looses sight of the fact that it's a murder mystery first; the humor never gets in the way of the story. I like the fact that a person who is trying to solve a crime, is not really a detective... makes mistakes and all! Read it and enjoy!

Like her namesake, Jaine Austen is a writer, but a freelance writer, meaning she'll take just about any job that will help pay the bills. So when geeky nerd Howard Murdoch shows up at her door asking her to write a love letter for him she agrees although she doubts gorgeous aerobics instructor Stacy Lawrence will agree to go out with him. Much to Jaine's surprise, Stacy agrees to go out with Howard on Valentine's Day! Alas, Howard's triumph is short lived when he shows up for the date and finds Stacy's murdered body. Detective Timothy Rea is convinced Howard is the killer, but Jaine's not so sure and sets out to clear his name. She has plenty of suspects, including Stacy's neighbors, coworkers, and ex-boyfriend. She needs to find who the killer is before she becomes the next victim.

"This Pen for Hire" is an extremely funny cozy mystery. The humor starts with the name of the heroine, Jaine Austen (her mother was a bad speller), and continues from there with the fact that the modern Jane is a writer but no, well no Jane Austen. Some of the funniest bits in the book are the writing she does for various companies. Jaine is a good heroine - struggling not only to find writing jobs to pay her bills but struggling with her weight and a bit insecure because of that. Her friend Kandi, a writer on the cartoon show Beanie and the Cockroach, adds to the humor in the novel as she is always looking for "Mr. Right". Of the rest of the characters, I'd like to see more of Jaine's nosy neighbor Lance.

Because the book is on the slim side and heavy on the humor, I was afraid the mystery elements would be underdeveloped, but I was pleasantly surprised. The murder was well plotted, with a good motive, plenty of suspects and some nice red herrings along the way. The writing is nicely done as if Jaine were talking directly to the reader and very enjoyable.

"This Pen for Hire" is a laugh out loud funny cozy mystery. The next book in the series is Last Writes (Jaine Austen Mysteries). Enjoy!

I read "Last Writes" first and adored it and loved this one just as much. Jaine Austen is the best super slueth to come down the pike in ages. I love her to death (no pun intended)! Super hilairous, super realistic, and super engaging. Buy this book. You won't regret it! (We need more books like this one!)

"This Pen For Hire" could just as easily be called "This Pun For Hire" because it's a rollicking, laugh-filled mystery by Laura Levine, an L.A. based comedy writer with many hit television programs to her credit. In this, her first novel, she introduces witty and wary Jaine Austin who views life, love, lust and Los Angeles with a practiced albeit jaundiced eye.

Jaine is a writer for hire who has authored everything from libido laced personal ads to ardent vows of true love. This is her daytime job. At night she's out and about searching for her one-and-only in Hollywood's bistros.

Enter a gawking geek, Howard Murdoch, who retains Jaine to write a love letter to Stacy Lawrence, a heart-stopping aerobics instructor whom Howard has never met. Crime comes quickly when Howard discovers Stacy beaten to death with a Thigh Master. The hapless Howard is, of course, fingered for the killing. Jaime is determined to prove his innocence.

Wielding her Bloomies card like a press pass and totally disregarding all obstacles Jaine is hot on the trail of the killer who wants to make a real ghost writer out of her.

"This Pen For Hire" is a fun beach read, and Jaine a likeable heroine. Hope Laura Levine is back at the computer coming up with a second adventure for this dauntless dame.

- Gail Cooke

I really enjoyed this book. I was on vacation and read it in one day, and was sorry when it ended. I hope it's not too long before Ms. Levine graces us with another Jaine Austen mystery. It is a laugh out loud, fun book, and I like the fact that a person who is not really a detective, trying to solve a crime, seems like a person who is not really a detective. Mistakes and all! Read it and enjoy!

This was a very, very fast read for me and I like books I can get into and finish. The main character is one many can relate to and it was just a fun read. I have started the series and am up to the 3rd book and they are all very fast and fun. I'd recommend anyone who likes a "cozy" mystery with humor and a "bumbling" heroine to pick this one up!