This Pen for Hire: A Jane Austen Mystery by Laura Levine

From the Publisher

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

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.

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. (June 4) Forecast: Blurbs from Garrison Keillor, Laurien Berenson and Carolyn Hart, plus the author's Hollywood connections, will see to it that this first novel attracts more than usual attention. The dazzling pink jacket will also lure the casual browser. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

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 Cahners Business Information.

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 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Although it's better than her friend Kandi Tobolowsky's TV gig on Beanie and the Cockroach, writing freelance ad copy for Toiletmaster Plumbers ("In a Rush to Flush?") isn't the most fulfilling life aspiring screenwriter Jaine Austen can imagine. So when geeky Howard Murdoch, who hired her to write a love letter to his aerobics instructor Stacy Lawrence, is charged with opening his first date with Stacy by bashing her head in with a Thighmaster, Jaine can't resist the urge to investigate. First of all, it's practically her fault Howard got arrested; if her letter hadn't referred to Howard's "Uncle Rupert," calculating Stacy (who'd thrown over hunky Devon MacRae for a fling with married talent agent Andy Bruckner) wouldn't have given him another. Second, she can't resist the opportunity to push smug LAPD homicide detective Timothy Rea's buttons. But third and foremost, investigating Stacy's murder brings Jaine cheek by sexy jowl with Stacy's adorable blue-eyed neighbor Cameron Bannick, an antiques dealer who—if he doesn't turn out to be gay—is the answer to every maiden's prayer. So Jaine is willing to flash bogus credentials at Stacy's neighbors, hoping cranky psychiatric nurse Elaine Zimmer or horny building superintendent Daryush Kolchev will have some clue to the owner of the black BMW parked outside Stacy's apartment the night her muscles finally went slack. But all the fake ID in the world can't protect Jaine from the genuine menace of a killer with a lethal secret to protect. A neat mystery debut, untidily wrapped in so-so romance.

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