This Pen for Hire: A Jaine Austen Mystery - Hardcover

Levine, Laura

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0758201583 ISBN 13: 9780758201584

Publisher: Kensington Pub Corp, 2002

Synopsis

When savvy scribe Jaine Austen is hired by nerdy Howard Murdoch to pen a love letter to the woman of his dreams, gorgeous aerobics instructor Stacy Lawrence, she unexpectedly finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation when Stacy is found beaten to death with a Thigh Master and Howard stands accused of the crime. 10,000 first printing.

About this title

Reviews

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.

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.

Jaine Austen writes letters, r sum s, and personal ads for clients, but Howard Murdoch's request leads to trouble. Geeky Howard wants a letter that will land him a date with a hard-body aerobics instructor. When Howard arrives for their date, however, the instructor is dead, and he is arrested for murder. With little logical motivation but plenty of chutzpa, humor, and white lies, Jaine begins a whirlwind round of interrogations. She breezes through health clubs and apartment complexes with chatty style, "alarming" brushes with fitness, and amazing consequences. Television writer Levine's debut mystery offers light, easy reading for larger collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Kensington Pub Corp
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0758201583
• ISBN 13: 9780758201584
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 203