Death of a Neighborhood Witch by Laura Levine

Reviewed by Jeanne

In this entry in the long running series, Jaine Austen runs afoul of one of her neighbors, a former actress known for her role as Cryptessa in a zombie sitcom back in the day.  The show only lasted one season but like any good monster, Cryptessa refuses to be buried.

Cryptessa’s pet parakeet Van Helsing can’t say the same, inasmuch as the elderly bird has keeled over dead just as Jaine is in Cryptessa’s yard trying to get Prozac—her cat, not the drug. Cryptessa claims that Prozac frightened her bird to death and threatens to sue unless Jaine helps bury the budgie.  And spend hours planting Cryptessa’s petunias.  And numerous chores to be named later.

This is putting a serious crimp in Jaine’s plans to flirt with Peter, the hunky guy who just moved in down the street and who is definitely, yes, DEFINITELY flirting with her, although Jaine’s friend Lance is equally sure that Peter is flirting with him.  Both are attending Peter’s Halloween party where they think matters will be settled, but—unsurprisingly—things don’t go as planned.

For one thing, Cryptessa managed to get herself killed in grand style, and Jaine—parakeet murderer—may be suspect number one.

I will admit it was the cover that first drew me in: Hiro Kimura’s renditions of Prozac are a delight, and a good representation of the contents.  They’re funny, cute, and a little over the top.  Levine exaggerates everything for comic effect, and that includes the names of characters, just in case Cryptessa didn’t give you a clue.   (Wait’ll you read about Prozac’s favorite cat food flavors.) There are epic battles, such as Jaine and the Tummy Tamer or Jaine’s father aka Daddy-O and the neighbors over his “FANG-Tastic” Dracula blasting “Fangs for the Memories” which is causing complaints for some reason.  And of course, the little matter of Jaine being a murder suspect.

If you aren’t a fan of unlikely situations or snarky cats, this may not be the book for you. On the other hand, if you love a heroine who throws caution to the wind, scarfs down Oreos, and rushes in where angels fear to treat, you may be in for a treat.  I love Jaine because she bounces back no matter what.  She can be insulted (and insulting) but she is quick to move on, and (mostly) forgive.  I’m looking at you, Lance.

Books don’t need to be read in order.

 

Titles in the series:

This Pen for Hire

Last Writes

Killer Blonde

Shoes to Die For

PMS Murder

Death by Panty Hose

Killing Bridezilla

Killer Cruise

Death of a Trophy Wife

Pampered to Death

Death of a Neighborhood Witch

Killing Cupid

Death by Tiara

Murder Has Nine Lives

Death of a Bachelorette

Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge

Death of a Gigolo

Murder Gets a Makeover

Death by Smoothie (2022)

Death by Tiara by Laura Levine

Reviewed by Jeanne

Death by Tiara finds the ever-employment challenged Jaine embarking on a new job.  This time she’s writing song lyrics for a contestant in the Miss Teen Queen America pageant.  To be more accurate, she’s  writing the song for the contestant’s mother who is determined that her daughter should pull off the win and seeks to ensure the same by pulling out all the stops.  Daughter Taylor is less than enthused, but quickly forms a bond with Jaine—mostly a bond based on Jaine supplying Taylor with chocolate. 

It soon becomes apparent that the pageant isn’t quite as glamorous as TV would have us believe.  The hotel is a dump, Candace the pageant director would be quite at home as a drill sergeant, and there isn’t anyone deserving of the Miss Congeniality title, to put it mildly.

Things really become nasty after Candace’s assistant ends up dead, beaten to death with—you guessed it—a tiara. 

On a brighter note, Jaine’s relationship with new boyfriend Scott is progressing nicely.  At least until he decides she should meet his parents.  Let’s just say that it does not go well.

No Jaine Austen tale would be complete without dueling (and funny!) emails from her parents, each giving one side of the Great Golf Cart saga, and the appearance of  Prozac, Jaine’s feline diva who makes the beauty contestants look like rank amateurs in comparison.

We have reviewed some earlier titles in this series (Killing Cupid, Pampered to Death).   I enjoyed this one more, either because I was in a mood for funny or because I just knew more of what to expect.  These are fast, funny reads with a feisty heroine.  What makes this series stand out a bit more for me is Jaine’s confidence in herself.  Oh, she may complain about putting on few pounds or not being stylish, but when push comes to shove, Jaine isn’t afraid to stand up for herself.  

If you’re in the market for a madcap, over the top mystery, this is a series to try.  Have a box of chocolates to hand but be careful—it’s easy to get choked when you’re laughing.

(Note: I'm one of those who reads the Author Notes, Prefaces, etc.  and saw that she thanked her agent, Evan Marshall.  I found this interesting since I'd just read one of Marshall's own books, Toasting Tina. I may have imagined it, but it seemed to me there was a similar sense of humor in the books, though Levine's is more exaggerated.)

Killing Cupid by Laura Levine

Reviewed by Kristin

Jaine Austen is thrilled when a new writing job turns up, even if it is for a matchmaking agency run by a crazy woman.  Jaine will do anything for a paycheck to keep herself in chocolate, not to mention to keep her cat Prozac full of Hearty Halibut Guts.   Dates of Joy is the creation of Joy Amoroso, who has no problem with filling her potential Date Book full of photos of models who have never crossed her doorstep.  In addition,  Joy mercilessly berates anyone who works for her, only turning on the charm for the poor suckers who plop down $10,000 in the hopes of being matched with the Romeo (or Juliet) of their dreams.

Joy hires Jaine to write for her website and also to work on a new brochure promoting Dates of Joy.  To get the flavor of the matchmaking game, Joy arranges for Jaine to have a makeover and to be fixed up with someone who is tall, blond, and—well, tall and blond.  Needless to say, the man is not the man of her dreams, but he is a little obsessed with Jaine’s kitty Prozac.  Unfortunately, Prozac reminds Mr. Tall and Blond of his deceased feline companion, Miss Marple.  Jaine may not be willing to share Prozac, but Prozac is more than willing to be fed caviar by any open hand.

Soon enough, Joy turns up dead.  Since she alienated almost everyone she ever met, suspects abound.  The police even take a look at Jaine, because she (along with the rest of the world) clashed with Joy.  And since Jaine is not just a writer, but the resident amateur sleuth, she can’t stop herself from surreptitiously investigating Joy’s murder.  Clients, employees, boy-toys, even dear old Aunt Faith all seem to have a motive to want Joy out of the picture, permanently.  Jaine noses around, pretending to be a reporter for the L.A. Times, just to find out who might have been angry enough to take Joy out of the matchmaking business for good.

As with the rest of the series, this book is a comic mystery, a bit over the top by design.  Even though there is some repetition from book to book, it still flows along and I found myself chuckling at Jaine, Prozac, and best friend Lance.  Jaine is always going to indulge herself with Oreos or a Quarter Pounder; Prozac is always going to turn up her nose at mere canned cat food; Lance is always going to be on the hunt for the new love of his life.  Jaine’s Floridian parents make their usual appearances via email, as they report the hilarity of their day to day life to their daughter.  Starting with This Pen for Hire, Jaine and her friends, family and cat will make you laugh.