Mystery Annotation

 

THIS PEN FOR HIRE

BY

LAURA LEVINE 

 Published by Kensington in 2003

240 Pages

978-0758201591

Series:  Book 1 of the Jaine Austen Mystery Series

Summary:  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.  (Publisher's Weekly)

 Genre:  Mystery, Gentle Reads, Humorous Stories

 Story-Line:  Character-driven

 Tone:  Amusing

 Writing Style:  Engaging, witty

Mystery Aspects:  

• The solving of a crime, the death of Stacy Lawrence, drives the plot, and the detective (Jaine Austen), along with the reader, sorts through the available clues to discover the solution. 
• The story focuses on the investigator (Jaine Austen).  We watch as Jaine blunders her way to solving each mystery sometimes with the help of her eccentric neighbor, Lance.  Secondary characters like Lance play an important role in the appeal of the mystery and may also be seen as series characters.
• The frame in which the mystery is set - whether a physical location or fascinating background details - plays a crucial role on its appeal.  In every Jaine Austen mystery, the murder takes place in an unusual way (a thighmaster) or in an unusual place.  
• The mood in mysteries varies from dark and gritty to lighthearted an witty.  The Jaine Austen Mysteries are definitely lighthearted and witty.  From Jaine's crazy cat Prozak, to her neighbor Lance, these books are laugh out loud funny.

Read-A-Likes (From Novelist):

Bonnie of Evidence by Maddy Hunter
The Burglar on the Prowl by Lawrence Block
Southern Fried by Cathy Pickens
Cruising in your Eighties is Murder by Mike Befeler
False Profits by Patricia Smiley