Most Popular Books by Laura Levine

In this merry collection of holiday mysteries, murder is making its own special delivery . . . “GINGERBREAD COOKIE MURDER” by JOANNE FLUKE When Hannah Swensen finds her neighbor Ernie Kusak with his head bashed in and sprawled on the floor of his condo next to an upended box of Hannah’s Gingerbread Cookies, she discovers a flurry of murder suspects that’s as long as her holiday shopping list. “THE DANGERS OF GINGERBREAD COOKIES” by LAURA LEVINE Jaine Austen has been enlisted to help with her parents’ retirement community’s play The Gingerbread Cookie That Saved Christmas. Playboy Dr. Preston McCay is playing the role of the gingerbread cookie when he “accidentally” falls to his death during the final act. Now Jaine must figure out if one of the doctor’s jealous lovers was capable of murder. “GINGERBREAD COOKIES AND GUNSHOTS” by LESLIE MEIER When Lucy Stone discovers the body of Rick Juergens, whose five-year-old son Nemo disappeared, she senses foul play. Crumbs from a gingerbread cookie Lucy gave to Nemo are found in the back seat of Rick’s car. With the hours quickly ticking till Christmas, Lucy races against the clock to find a killer before he strikes again. Includes Over 10 Luscious Holiday Recipes!

’Tis the season for suspicion in thesethree Christmas crime-solving confections—with recipes! “Entertaining…a sweet holiday treat for mystery lovers.”—Publishers Weekly ’Tis the season for trimming the tree, caroling, baking cookies, and waiting for Santa to drop down the chimney. But in this festive collection of whodunits, murder is also paying a visit… Candy Cane Murder by New York Times-bestselling author Joanne Fluke When a trail of candy canes leads to a corpse outfitted in a Santa suit on a snowy bank, Hannah Swensen sets out to discover who killed Kris Kringle… The Dangers of Candy Canes by Laura Levine A wealthy suburbanite takes a lethal tumble off his roof while installing a giant candy cane. Now it’s up to Jaine Austen to sift through a long list of scheming neighbors with dirty secrets in their stockings to expose a murderer… Candy Canes Of Christmas Past by New York Times-bestselling author Leslie Meier Lucy Stone must learn the mystery of a glass candy cane found smashed to bits near a corpse—to unlock the doors of Christmas past and find a killer who got away with murder. Includes over 10 luscious holiday recipes! Scrumptious praise for Candy Cane Murder: “Like a box of holiday chocolates, this recipe-studded assortment gives all readers a crack at their favorites.”—Kirkus Reviews “Delicious…will have your mouth watering.”—Romantic Times

When her new friend Pam, an aspiring actress, invites her to join the PMS Club, a woman''s support group, Jaine Austen discovers that murder is on the agenda when Marybeth, an interior decorator who is having an affair with the husband of another PMS member, falls victim to a clever killer.

Agreeing to write jokes for Dorcas, a struggling stand-up comic, Jaine Austen discovers that murder is the punchline when Dorcas''s rival, a heckler named Vic, is strangled with one of her props--a pair of pantyhose.

In her latest wickedly witty mystery, wisecracking pen-for-hire Jaine Austen is back on the scene with a ghostwriting gig that has her rubbing elbows with L.A.Us rich and ruthless and tracking down a clever killer.

Finding herself at her friend Lance''s favorite boutique, freelance writer-turned-sleuth Jaine Austen gets a job writing the shop''s new magazine ads, but when she arrives for work the next day, she finds one of the staff dead, stabbed in the neck by a stiletto. Reprint.

When Jaine''s friend Lance surprises her with a trip to The Haven, an uber-luxe health spa on the California coast, she and her feline pal Prozac are eager to hit the road and bask in a week of pampering and pedicures. But upon their arrival, she discovers that this oasis in the hills is merely a fat farm in disguise, complete with celery juice cocktails, humiliating weigh-ins, and a zero-tolerance position on carbs. And as she gets to know her fellow inmates, she realizes 300-calorie dinners are not the craziest thing she will be dealing with. Among her bulge battling companions is Mallory Francis, a B-list movie star with a knack for making frenemies with everyone she meets. When she is found strangled during a seaweed wrap gone awry, Jaine is hard-pressed to think of anyone who could not have done it. With the suspects mounting faster than her hunger pangs, Jaine doesn''t know who to believe. And when her search for truth, justice and contraband calories leads her straight to the cold-blooded killer, it seems murder may be on the menu once again.

While teaching on a swanky cruise, wordsmith Jaine Austen soon discovers that her all-expenses-paid trip to the Mexican Riviera comes with blackmail, a sleazy British dancer, eccentric passengers, and murder.

The author of Killing Cupid “again provides fans of this splendidly witty mystery series another comical romp” (Fresh Fiction). For freelance writer Jaine Austen, working behind the scenes at a teen beauty pageant has shown her that sometimes beauty is in the eye of the murderer . . . Teen contestant Taylor Van Sant has a talent for singing, but she can’t write a song. So her über-pushy stage mom Heather has hired Jaine to pen lyrics the judges will love. Unfortunately, the hotel hosting Miss Teen Queen America is a dump, the cattiness is out of control, and Candace—the perfectly-coiffed, whip-cracking pageant director—is making even Jaine’s life miserable. When Candace’s assistant is found bludgeoned to death with a silver tiara, there are more suspects than sequins on a pageant gown—and Heather is first on the list. Taylor begs Jaine to help clear her mom’s name, but finding the culprit is going to be trickier than walking the stage in stilettos . . . Praise for the Jaine Austen mysteries “I’m crazy about Laura Levine’s mystery series. Her books are so outrageously funny.” —Joanne Fluke, New York Times bestselling author “Laura Levine’s hilarious debut mystery, This Pen for Hire, is a laugh a page (or two or three) as well as a crafty puzzle. Sleuth Jaine Austen’s amused take on life, love, sex and LA will delight readers. Sheer fun!” —Carolyn Hart, New York Times bestselling author “Jaine can really dish it out.” —The New York Times Book Review “Fun. Jaine’s dogged sleuthing and screwball antics will entertain fans of this fizzy series.” —Publishers Weekly

It''s homicide on the funny side as freelance writer and long-time Ben & Jerry''s addict Jaine Austen battles crime (and cellulite) on the mean streets of Beverly Hills! Freelance writer Jaine Austen''s life is suddenly full of romance. For one thing, she''s reconnected with her ex--though her cat, Prozac, isn''t happy about it. And Jaine''s also got a new ghostwriting gig, working on a steamy novel called Fifty Shades of Turquoise... Daisy Kincaid is in her sixties and heiress to a fortune. Now she wants to make a name for herself as a romance author...with a little help from Jaine, that is. As Jaine labors away on love scenes, she gets to know the wealthy woman''s gentleman friend, her household staff, and her social circle--every one of whom is horrified when Daisy falls under the spell of a much younger stud named Tommy, a rude, crude lothario who''s made himself a fixture in Daisy''s Bel Air mansion. After Tommy and Daisy shock everyone by announcing their engagement, it doesn''t take long for someone to stab him in the neck--with the solid gold Swiss Army knife that Daisy gave him as a gift. But to narrow down the list of suspects, Jaine will have to put a bookmark in that love story--and focus all her creative talent into untangling a tale of money and murder...

Reprinted Edition "I''m crazy about Laura Levine''s mystery series. Her books are so outrageously funny." --Joanne Fluke When Jaine Austen''s beloved cat Prozac unwittingly scares to death a parakeet belonging to the neighborhood''s resident curmudgeon, Jaine finds herself knee-deep in toil and trouble. The cantankerous Hollywood has-been once played Cryptessa Muldoon, television''s fourth most famous monster mom. Now she spends her days making enemies with everyone on the block. So when the ornery D-lister is murdered with her own Do Not Trespass sign on Halloween night, the neighborhood fills with relief--and possible culprits. With a killer on the loose, Jaine hardly has time to fall under the spell of her yummy new neighbor, Peter. As the prime suspect, she summons her sleuthing skills to clear her name and soon discovers that everyone has a few skeletons in their closets. . . "Levine''s latest finds her at her witty and wacky best." --Kirkus Reviews "Cozy fans will enjoy seeing how Jaine wiggles out of this one." --Publishers Weekly

The latest in acclaimed TV comedy writer and novelist Laura Levine’s witty, lighthearted mystery series featuring Hollywood-based freelance writer Jaine Austen and her snarky cat, Prozac—a laugh-out-loud read for fans of Joanne Fluke, Miranda James, and Laura Childs. Uber-stylist Bebe Braddock plans to juice up her Instagram feed and thinks Jaine would make a perfect “Before & After” model. At Lance’s insistence Jaine is ushered into Bebe’s sprawling Brentwood spread to await her transformation. Yet, while the surroundings are glamorous, the atmosphere is toxic as Bebe bullies her team of assistants, and even her husband, into obeying her every whim. Having earned the wrath of everyone in her orbit, few are shocked when Bebe is found strangled with one of her detested wire hangers. But Jaine’s prints are all over the murder weapon, making her a prime suspect. The police, however, aren’t the only ones showing interest in her—so is Justin, Bebe’s very cute, very young personal assistant. While Jaine navigates a cougar-style romance, Prozac is mistakenly hailed as a feline hero and catapults into internet fame. Still, there are more urgent matters at hand than Prozac’s swelling ego. Unless Jaine can track down Bebe’s killer and clear her own name, the only new outfit she’ll be modeling is an orange prison jumpsuit . . . “As always, Levine’s spunky heroine gets the last laugh.” —Kirkus Reviews “For lovers of the zany this is a sure thing.” —Booklist

“Fans of Janet Evanovich or Ali Brandon’s Black Cat Bookshop mysteries will enjoy the latest in Levine’s hilarious series.” —Smitten by Books Freelance writer Jaine Austen thought working for a knock-off reality show in the tropics would be paradise. But when she and her kitty Prozac find themselves trapped between a dimwitted leading man, catty contestants, and a cold-blooded murderer, the splashy gig becomes one deadly nightmare . . . Jaine’s life has been a royal pain since she started penning dialogue for Some Day My Prince Will Come—a cheesy dating show that features bachelorettes competing for the heart of Spencer Dalworth VII, a very distant heir to the British throne. But when one of the finalists dies in a freak accident, it’s clear someone wanted the woman out of the race for good—and the police won’t allow a soul off the island until they seize the culprit. Terrified of existing another day without air conditioning and eager to return home, Jaine is throwing herself into the investigation. And she better pounce on clues quickly—or there won’t be any survivors left . . . Praise for the Jaine Austen mysteries “I’m crazy about Laura Levine’s mystery series. Her books are so outrageously funny.” —Joanne Fluke, New York Times bestselling author “Laura Levine’s hilarious debut mystery, This Pen for Hire, is a laugh a page (or two or three) as well as a crafty puzzle. Sleuth Jaine Austen’s amused take on life, love, sex and LA will delight readers. Sheer fun!” —Carolyn Hart, New York Times bestselling author “Jaine can really dish it out.” —The New York Times Book Revie

Without a job or a date in sight, freelance writer Jaine Austen is equally out of luck in finance and romance. So when her friend Lance offers to treat her to brunch at the Four Seasons, Jaine leaps at the invite. They''ve barely made it through the menu when Lance spots his friend Bunny, who is the new trophy wife of mattress maven Marvin Cooper. When Bunny generously offers Jaine a gig writing Marv''s new advertising campaign, Jaine accepts the job, and an invitation to her upcoming soirée. But at the party Bunny cruelly rules the Cooper mansion and before the evening is over, someone poisons Bunny. The police arrest Lance, but Jaine knows his murderous urges end at her closet door. Setting out to clear his name, she soon discovers a list of suspects longer than Bunny''s credit card bill. . . "Zany. . .series fans will find Jaine as funny as ever." --Publishers Weekly "If you love a good mystery, this book is for you." --New York Journal of Books

Freelance writer and long‑time Ben & Jerry’s addict Jaine Austen uncovers murderers on the mean streets of Beverly Hills, with a little help from her snarky cat, Prozac, in this witty mystery series from acclaimed TV comedy writer and novelist Laura Levine—a lighthearted treat for cat cozy fans and readers of Joanne Fluke, Miranda James, and Laura Childs. The Bewitched knockoff I Married a Zombie may have flopped in its day, but it’s got a devoted cult following. Jaine is delighted when one of those rabid fans hires her as script doctor for his new play based on the show—until she reads the awful script and meets Misty, the actress who’ll be playing Cryptessa’s role. Misty has Audrey Hepburn’s doe eyes but not a smidgen of her ability. Yet she can certainly act the diva, demanding a special smoothie every day at 3pm. Meanwhile, Jaine is grappling with another spoiled female—her uncooperative cat, Prozac, who’s refusing to be wrangled into a kitty harness for outside walks. When someone spikes Misty’s signature drink with a fatal shot of rat poison, the cast of suspects extends far beyond the theater. What Misty lacked in talent she made up for in enemies. Everyone Jaine talks to maintains their innocence, but one of them is clearly only playing the part. And it’s up to Jaine to figure out who, before a killer schedules an encore performance . . .

“Exemplary . . . a thoroughly enjoyable cozy with just the right balance of crime, humor, and holiday spirit” by the author of Death of a Bachelorette (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Freelance writer Jaine Austen is feeling festive about spending Christmas house-sitting at a posh Bel Air mansion, accompanied by her friend Lance and her cat, Prozac. But when a grumpy neighbor gets himself iced, she’ll have to find the culprit or she may spend the New Year in jail . . . Scotty Parker is a former child star who once played Tiny Tim, but now he’s grown up into the role of neighborhood Scrooge. He cuts the wires on his neighbors’ Christmas lights and tells local kids that Santa had a stroke. And his miserly, bah-humbug attitude lasts year-round—a fact known all too well by his current wife, his ex-wife, his maid, and many more. Scotty thinks he can stage a comeback with the screenplay he’s working on (The Return of Tiny Tim: Vengeance Is Mine!), and Jaine’s been reluctantly helping him edit it. So when Scotty is bludgeoned with a frozen chocolate yule log and the police start making a list of suspects and checking it twice, Jaine’s name is unfortunately included. True, she’s been under some stress, with Lance trying to set her up on dates and her fickle feline taking a sudden liking to someone else—but she’s not guilty of murder. Now she just has to prove it . . . Praise for the Jaine Austen mysteries “So outrageously funny.” —Joanne Fluke, New York Times bestselling author “Jaine can really dish it out.” —The New York Times Book Review

"When Jaine lands a job writing web copy and brochures for matchmaker Joy Amoroso, she''s excited for a chance to help the lovelorn--until she realizes Joy is a ruthless taskmaster who screams at her employees for the smallest infractions, pads her website with pictures of professional models posing as clients, and offers up convincing but empty promises of love. So it''s no surprise when the chiseling cupid turns up dead at a Valentines Day mixer. Now, finding the culprit may prove harder than spotting that elusive caramel praline in a box of chocolates..."--Back cover.

In this holiday-themed cozy mystery from the acclaimed TV comedy writer and novelist, freelance writer and long‐time Ben & Jerry’s addict Jaine Austen discovers neighbors can be killer as she tracks down a murderer, with a little help from her snarky cat, Prozac, A treat for cat cozy fans and readers of Joanne Fluke, Miranda James, and Laura Childs. When a wealthy suburbanite takes a lethal tumble off his roof while installing a giant candy cane, the roofing contractor being held responsible for murder asks freelance writer Jaine Austen to investigate. But solving this untimely holiday death means delving into the cutthroat Christmas decorating wars among scheming neighbors with dirty secrets in their stockings. It takes a fruitcake hiding a weapon and a stunning confrontation to expose the mastermind of this holiday murder.