Laura Levine Books in Order: A Complete Guide to the Jaine Austen Mysteries
Laura Levine combines cozy crime fiction, witty dialogue, quirky characters, and humorous murder investigations in her Jaine Austen books. This guide lists all 20 main novels in order, provides brief descriptions of each book, and explains where the author’s holiday novellas fit into the series.
Laura Levine Books in Order: The Complete Reading List
The following list presents the 20 main Jaine Austen Mystery novels in publication order. Each book features a separate mystery, making the series accessible to new readers while retaining recurring characters and references to earlier adventures.
1. This Pen for Hire (2002)
Jaine Austen agrees to write a love letter for a shy client hoping to impress a woman he admires. When the woman is murdered and her client becomes a suspect, Jaine investigates to uncover the truth and clear his name.
2. Last Writes (2003)
Jaine takes a job writing for a Hollywood sitcom, expecting a welcome source of income. When a murder disrupts the production and her best friend becomes a suspect, she uses her wit and investigative instincts to identify the killer.
3. Killer Blonde (2004)
Jaine accepts a ghostwriting assignment from a wealthy Beverly Hills socialite who wants a book about entertaining. The glamorous job becomes complicated when murder enters the picture, forcing Jaine to investigate a world of wealth, secrets, and suspicious personalities.
4. Shoes to Die For (2005)
A copywriting job at a fashionable boutique takes a deadly turn when a widely disliked employee is murdered. With plenty of potential suspects among the staff, Jaine must work out who had the strongest motive.
5. The PMS Murder (2006)
Jaine joins a women’s support group hoping to find friendship and relaxation. Instead, one of its members is poisoned, and Jaine finds herself caught up in a murder investigation involving complicated relationships and hidden resentments.
6. Death by Pantyhose (2007)
Jaine takes a job writing jokes for a female stand-up comedian, only to become involved in a murder case. When her client is arrested for killing a rival, Jaine investigates the comedy world’s rivalries and secrets.
7. Killing Bridezilla (2008)
Jaine is hired to write wedding vows for a demanding bride whose wedding plans are filled with conflict. When the bride dies on her wedding day, Jaine investigates a group of suspects connected by jealousy, resentment, and wedding-day drama.
8. Killer Cruise (2009)
Jaine accepts a teaching assignment on a luxury cruise ship, anticipating a relaxing trip. Her plans change when a passenger is murdered and she becomes involved in solving the crime amid shipboard secrets and comic complications.
9. Death of a Trophy Wife (2010)
Jaine investigates the murder of a wealthy trophy wife whose glamorous life conceals plenty of enemies. As she examines the victim’s relationships, Jaine also navigates romantic complications of her own.
10. Pampered to Death (2011)
Jaine visits a luxury health spa expecting indulgence and relaxation. Instead, she encounters a strict weight-loss program and a murder investigation that turns the retreat into a place full of suspects.
11. Death of a Neighborhood Witch (2012)
Jaine becomes a murder suspect when her unpopular neighbor, Cryptessa Muldoon, is found dead on Halloween night. Determined to prove her innocence, she investigates the victim’s troubled relationships and searches for the real killer.
12. Killing Cupid (2013)
Jaine takes an advertising assignment for a matchmaker whose questionable behavior has created numerous enemies. When the matchmaker is murdered, Jaine investigates the people who may have wanted her out of the way.
13. Death by Tiara (2015)
Jaine is hired to write novelty lyrics for a teenage beauty-pageant contestant. The competitive pageant world becomes the setting for a murder investigation involving backstage rivalries, ambitious parents, and suspicious participants.
14. Murder Has Nine Lives (2016)
Jaine’s cat, Prozac, gets a chance to appear in a cat-food commercial. But when the company’s inventor is murdered during production, Jaine must investigate the people involved while dealing with the possibility that Prozac could become a star.
15. Death of a Bachelorette (2017)
Jaine takes a writing job on a reality dating show filmed on a tropical island. The glamorous setting turns dangerous when a contestant is murdered, leaving Jaine to investigate a cast full of competing personalities and hidden motives.
16. Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge (2018)
While house-sitting in an affluent Bel Air neighborhood, Jaine discovers that her grumpy former-child-star neighbor has been murdered with a frozen chocolate yule log. The holiday setting, the victim’s enemies, and Jaine’s disastrous dates combine to create a seasonal cozy mystery.
17. Death of a Gigolo (2019)
Jaine is hired to ghostwrite a romance novel for a wealthy society matron. When the woman’s gigolo is murdered, Jaine investigates the victim’s relationships and the secrets surrounding the people in his life.
18. Murder Gets a Makeover (2021)
Jaine agrees to undergo a makeover arranged by her best friend, Lance, and celebrity stylist Bebe Braddock. When Bebe is murdered and Jaine is found holding the weapon, she must uncover the truth before she becomes the main suspect.
19. Death by Smoothie (2022)
Jaine takes a job helping improve a play based on a cult television show. When the demanding leading actress is murdered with a poisoned smoothie, Jaine investigates the theatrical production and its cast of potential killers.
20. Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket (2024)
Jaine accepts a ghostwriting assignment from a wealthy fitness entrepreneur and joins him on a luxury private railway trip. When her difficult client is murdered, Jaine must investigate the passengers and uncover the killer while dealing with suspicious evidence against herself.
Laura Levine’s Holiday Mysteries and Anthology Stories
Alongside the 20 main novels, Laura Levine has written shorter Jaine Austen mysteries published in multi-author collections. These stories are optional extras rather than numbered main-series novels.
The Dangers of Candy Canes (2007)
This holiday novella appears in Candy Cane Murder, a collection featuring stories by Laura Levine, Joanne Fluke, and Leslie Meier. Jaine takes a seasonal job as a department-store elf, only to find herself caught up in a Christmas murder investigation.
The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies (2010)
Published in Gingerbread Cookie Murder, this seasonal story features Jaine in another holiday mystery. It is a useful addition for readers who enjoy Christmas-themed cozy crime and want to explore more of Levine’s short fiction.
Nightmare on Elf Street (2013)
This Christmas-themed Jaine Austen story appears in the anthology Christmas Sweets, featuring stories by Laura Levine, Joanne Fluke, and Leslie Meier. Jaine’s job as a holiday elf becomes considerably less festive when she discovers a dead Santa.
Reading tip: Read the holiday stories after the main novels published around the same period if you want to follow the series approximately chronologically. Their anthology publication format means they do not belong to the numbered 20-book sequence.
What Is the Best Order to Read Laura Levine’s Books?
The recommended approach is to read the Jaine Austen Mysteries in publication order, beginning with This Pen for Hire and ending with Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket.
Although each novel centers on a separate murder investigation, reading in order helps readers become familiar with Jaine’s personality, recurring characters, and relationship with her cat, Prozac. The holiday stories can be added as optional extras.
Can You Read Laura Levine’s Books Out of Order?
Yes. The main novels are relatively self-contained, so readers can generally follow the mystery in an individual book without reading the entire series first. However, publication order provides the clearest introduction to recurring characters and references to earlier adventures.
What Makes Laura Levine’s Books Unique?
Laura Levine’s mysteries combine classic amateur sleuthing with comedy and everyday absurdities. Rather than focusing exclusively on dark crime, the books use humorous dialogue, colorful suspects, and unusual settings to keep the investigations entertaining.
- Comedy and cozy crime: Murder investigations are balanced with witty observations and comic situations.
- A distinctive protagonist: Jaine Austen is a freelance writer whose assignments repeatedly lead to unexpected mysteries.
- A memorable feline companion: Prozac the cat provides recurring humor and occasionally becomes involved in Jaine’s adventures.
- Unusual settings: Fashion boutiques, cruise ships, beauty pageants, health spas, and television productions give the mysteries variety.
- Accessible investigations: Individual cases make the books approachable for readers who are new to the series.
Readers who enjoy lighthearted mysteries, recurring characters, and amateur detectives may find the Jaine Austen books an appealing addition to their reading lists.
Who Is Laura Levine?
Laura Levine is an American novelist and television comedy writer best known for the Jaine Austen Mystery series. Her background in sitcom writing influences the humor, sharp dialogue, and amusing situations that distinguish her cozy mysteries.
The series follows Jaine Austen, a freelance writer and amateur sleuth living in Los Angeles. Her writing assignments frequently lead to murder investigations, while her outspoken cat, Prozac, and her complicated personal life add humor to each adventure.
About Laura Levine: The Author Behind the Jaine Austen Mysteries
Laura Levine is an American author and former television comedy writer whose work combines mystery, humor, and memorable characters. Her television writing credits include sitcoms such as The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, The Jeffersons, and Three’s Company.
Her experience in comedy is reflected in the Jaine Austen Mysteries, where witty dialogue and exaggerated personalities sit alongside murder investigations. The protagonist’s work as a freelance writer also creates a natural connection between Levine’s professional background and her fictional world.
Levine’s books are particularly recognizable for their humorous treatment of everyday problems, Hollywood culture, awkward social situations, and the recurring presence of Jaine’s cat, Prozac. Her Jaine Austen series offers readers a blend of amateur sleuthing and comedy rather than a consistently dark crime-fiction experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laura Levine Books
1. How many Laura Levine books are in the Jaine Austen series?
The Jaine Austen Mystery series has 20 main novels, from This Pen for Hire (2002) to Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket (2024). Additional short stories appear in holiday anthologies.
2. What is the first Laura Levine book?
This Pen for Hire, published in 2002, is the first Jaine Austen Mystery. It introduces Jaine as a freelance writer whose assignment to write a love letter leads to a murder investigation.
3. What is the latest Laura Levine book?
The latest main-series novel listed by the publisher is Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket, published in 2024. Check the author’s official website for announcements about subsequent releases.
4. Should I read Laura Levine’s books in order?
Yes, publication order is recommended for readers who want to follow the recurring characters and references to previous adventures. However, each novel features its own central mystery, so readers can generally start with an individual installment.
5. Are Laura Levine’s books standalone novels?
Each Jaine Austen novel focuses on a separate murder investigation. The books are therefore relatively accessible individually, although reading the series in order provides a fuller sense of the recurring characters and their relationships.
6. Who is Jaine Austen?
Jaine Austen is the fictional protagonist of Laura Levine’s cozy mystery series. She is a freelance writer and amateur sleuth based in Los Angeles who repeatedly finds herself investigating murders connected to her work and personal life.
7. Who is Prozac in Laura Levine’s books?
Prozac is Jaine Austen’s cat and a recurring source of humor throughout the series. The cat sometimes becomes involved in Jaine’s adventures, adding another comic dimension to the mysteries.
8. What genre does Laura Levine write?
Laura Levine is best known for humorous cozy mysteries. Her Jaine Austen novels combine amateur sleuthing, murder investigations, witty dialogue, and colorful characters.
9. Which Laura Levine book should I read first?
Start with This Pen for Hire if you want to experience Jaine Austen’s adventures from the beginning. It introduces the protagonist and establishes the comedic mystery style that continues throughout the series.
10. Are the holiday stories part of the main series?
The holiday stories are additional Jaine Austen mysteries published in anthologies. The Dangers of Candy Canes, The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies, and Nightmare on Elf Street can be read as optional extras rather than numbered main-series novels.
11. What should I read after finishing Laura Levine’s books?
Readers who enjoy humorous cozy mysteries may want to explore Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen mysteries or other amateur-sleuth series featuring recurring characters and lighthearted investigations.
Final Note
Laura Levine’s Jaine Austen Mysteries are a good option for readers who enjoy murder investigations with a generous dose of humor. Start with This Pen for Hire, continue through the 20 main novels in publication order, and explore the holiday stories if you want additional adventures featuring Jaine and Prozac.
Whether you’re discovering Laura Levine for the first time or catching up on a favorite series, this reading list provides a practical starting point for your next cozy mystery.
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