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This Pen For Hire
 
 
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This Pen For Hire (Paperback)

by Laura Levine (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)

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Product Details

Product Description

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 the Hardcover edition.


From 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 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Customer Reviews

28 Reviews
5 star:
 (23)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (1)
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (28 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5.0 out of 5 stars Did she write a letter that caused murder?, Mar 10 2004
By Dawn Dowdle "mysteryloverscorner.com reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Jaine Austen runs a writing service out of her apartment, in Los Angeles, called This Pen for Hire. She writes resumes, letters, brochures and personal ads - lots of personal ads. She shares her apartment with her cat Prozac.

Jaine's neighbor Lance Ventable is constantly telling Jaine to be quiet. He must live with his ear on their adjoining wall. He even complains that Prozac is too loud!

Howard Murdoch hires her to write a love letter to Stacy Lawrence, the aerobics instructor at his gym. Much to Jaine's surprise, Stacy agrees to go out with Howard.

Then Stacy is found dead, bludgeoned to death with a Thigh-Master. Howard is arrested, but he says he didn't do it. Detective Rea feels they have the right person in jail. Jaine decides to look into it. She feels responsible because, if she hadn't written the letter, Stacy wouldn't have agreed to go out with him and Howard would be arrested.

In the course of her investigation, Jaine meets Cameron Bannick, a major hunk, who knew Stacy but had an iron clad alibi. She is very happy about this when they start dating. She can't believe her luck.

Jaine uncovers quite a few people who weren't too sad that Stacy was dead. Some even had possible motives to kill her. In the course of her investigation, the killer begins to catch on and in the end, Jaine finds herself in a lot of danger.

I truly enjoyed this book. Jaine is such a likeable character. She is very much a three-dimensional character.

The additional characters in the book are all well written and the plot is well crafted. I highly recommend this book and the series. The 2nd book Last Writes has been published and is another terrific book!

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4.0 out of 5 stars Good Start to the Series, Feb 1 2004
By A Customer
I enjoyed this light read and look forward to more books in the series.

However, there were a few things that kept me from giving it 5 stars. First, I thought it was too predictable -- the murderer's identity was easy to figure out early in the story. I also found the "I/he/she said...well, not really, but I/he/she thought it" very annoying after the first few times. Otherwise, it was a lot of fun and definitely a welcome addition to my library.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - Great Fun, Dec 31 2003
By A Customer
I love books that can make you laugh and Laura Levine does just that with her Jaine Austin series. I hope this is a long run series and she can write them fast.
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 		 Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Kudos Ms. Levine !!
Excellent job on the first of, what I hope to be, a great series of reads! Her experience as comedy writer for shows such as The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, and The... Read more
Published on Nov 29 2003 by Anne

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheer Fun
Jaine Austen is a freelance writer. No, she doesn't write articles for COSMO about dating, she pretty much sticks to one subject. Writing steamy personal ads. Read more
Published on Sep 30 2003 by Erika Sorocco

4.0 out of 5 stars **LOL**
This book was filled with "Laugh out Loud" moments. Poor Jaine used to be married to a man whom she refers to as "The Blob". Read more
Published on Aug 15 2003 by A. Lively

5.0 out of 5 stars What fun!
I read a lot of thrillers but wanted something light and funny. That's exactly what I got in This Pen For Hire. Jaine Austen was so likeable and I laughed out loud many times. Read more
Published on Jul 25 2003 by J. May

5.0 out of 5 stars A can't put down book!
This was the first Jaine Austin book that I read and I'm hooked! I enjoyed reading it and fell in love with Prozac the cat! I highly recommend all Jaine's adventures!
Published on Jul 2 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun & Funny Read! : )
This book is a fast and entertaining read, without a dull moment. (Read it in one day.) The main character is very likable and has quite a funny spirit. Read more
Published on Jun 19 2003 by Jennifer

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun but fluffy
Parts of this book were enjoyable, but on the whole it wasn't. The solution was obvious to me fairly early in the book, so it was only the writing to keep me occupied. Read more
Published on May 27 2003 by M. Yates

5.0 out of 5 stars great read, fun
Laura Levine is my aunt, and regardless of my relationship, i absolutely loved this book. It was a very fun and quick read. Read more
Published on April 3 2003 by Benjamin D Levine

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST BOOK EVER!!
This book has been the best book I've ever read in a LONG time! This book had twists and turns and was absolutely wonderful! I HIGHLY recommend this book!!!
Published on Mar 7 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars This Pen's Popularity No Mystery
"This Pen For Hire" is a mystery novel for everyone who has become bored with mystery novels, as it (if I may be pardoned the choice of words) brings fresh blood into an... Read more
Published on Jan 21 2003

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