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A Jaine Austen Mystery #3
Killer Blonde
A gal with a serious Ben & Jerry's habit can't afford to be too picky about employment opportunities. So when Beverly Hills socialite SueEllen Kingsley offers freelance writer Jaine Austen megabucks to ghostwrite a book of hostess tips, it's time to sharpen the #2s. But everything short circuits when Jaine finds SueEllen floating face down in her tub, fried by her own blow dryer. The primary suspect: Heidi, SueEllen's stepdaughter, whose account of a mysterious blonde fleeing the scene is greeted with skepticism by Beverly Hills' finest. Peroxided suspects abound, including a very private masseuse, a jealous nurse, a former game show hostess . . . even a closet blonde with a surprising secret. One of them is hiding a murderous heart behind pricey highlights, and Jaine's out to expose the killer's dark roots. Because blondes have enough fun without getting away with murder . . .
234 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
93 people are currently reading
3047 people want to read
About the author
Laura Levine
57 books1,232 followersGrew up in Brooklyn, New York, back when mastodons (and Edsels) still roamed the earth.
Education: Barnard College
First job: Reporter/photographer at a newspaper so small, we had our photos developed in the local camera shop.
Advertising claim to fame: I created Count Chocula and Frankenberry cereals for General Mills.
TV gets invented, and I get a job as a sitcom writer, turning out scripts for shows like The Bob Newhart Show, Three’s Company, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, The Jeffersons, and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
Current (and favorite) incarnation: Author of Jaine Austen mysteries.
Marital status: Wedded blissfully to business journalist Mark Lacter (aka Mr. Hubby), whose insightful coverage of the Los Angeles business scene can be checked daily at http://www.laobserved.com/biz/
Favorite authors: COMEDY: Joe Keenan. MYSTERY: Agatha Christie. SERIOUS STUFF: Anne Tyler.
Hobbies: Reading, swimming, gardening, and lots of walks (mainly to the refrigerator).
Education: Barnard College
First job: Reporter/photographer at a newspaper so small, we had our photos developed in the local camera shop.
Advertising claim to fame: I created Count Chocula and Frankenberry cereals for General Mills.
TV gets invented, and I get a job as a sitcom writer, turning out scripts for shows like The Bob Newhart Show, Three’s Company, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, The Jeffersons, and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
Current (and favorite) incarnation: Author of Jaine Austen mysteries.
Marital status: Wedded blissfully to business journalist Mark Lacter (aka Mr. Hubby), whose insightful coverage of the Los Angeles business scene can be checked daily at http://www.laobserved.com/biz/
Favorite authors: COMEDY: Joe Keenan. MYSTERY: Agatha Christie. SERIOUS STUFF: Anne Tyler.
Hobbies: Reading, swimming, gardening, and lots of walks (mainly to the refrigerator).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
April 13, 2024
In KILLER BLONDE, Jaine Austen has been hired as a ghostwriter by Sue Ellen, a rich trophy wife with very little to do every day except be mean to people, including her stepdaughter Heidi (some of those scenes made me shiver to read.) When Sue Ellen turns up dead and Heidi is blamed, Jaine works to find the killer. I enjoyed the scenes between Jaine and Heidi especially. Some of the language was a bit dated, however the book was written almost two decades ago. Some particularly funny emails between Jaine and her parents in this one.
March 8, 2016
Oh my god this series keeps on getting better. If you're a newbie to the cozy mystery scene then leave everything you're doing right now and get one of Laura Levine's books. Yet again though, the only person I consciously labeled as the potential killer turns out to be so. The quality of the mystery is quite top notch though. The writing is fresh and keen. Only the humorous side of the writer seems to be on its last legs, as many of the jokes are recycled. Nevertheless I recommend following this series because the books transcend the genre. Unlike Agatha Christie books the murdered is despicable and that sets one up for a hell of a ride. This series is great fun to read. I only hope the quality remains throughout the books-nothing is guaranteed when readers are concerned. Else I'll be very disappointed.
February 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Library Book 📕
Book #3 in the Jaine Austen Series
In this book Jaine finds herself trying to solve the murder of a rich socialite, SueEllen Kingsley, who has hired Jaine to ghost write hostess tips and recipes. The police think the murderer is the woman’s stepdaughter, Heidi, but Jaine doesn’t and wants to prove her innocence. If you love cozy mysteries this series is a must read!!
Book #3 in the Jaine Austen Series
In this book Jaine finds herself trying to solve the murder of a rich socialite, SueEllen Kingsley, who has hired Jaine to ghost write hostess tips and recipes. The police think the murderer is the woman’s stepdaughter, Heidi, but Jaine doesn’t and wants to prove her innocence. If you love cozy mysteries this series is a must read!!
October 15, 2011
Sometimes you just need to read something that makes you laugh and isn't meant to have deep redeeming value. For that reason, I really like cozy mysteries and this series is one of the best. The main character - Jaine Austen - is funny and real-life and the emails with her parents that are included as a background to each story just make me chuckle. I can also appreciate her love of all foods warm and chocolatey. This is just a fun series to take your mind off things for a couple of hours. Each book is about 200 pages and a quick read. I've finished two and plan to read the rest.
January 25, 2016
I really like this series so far. I listened to this one on audio for the first time and liked the narration.
June 8, 2024
Just like all the other episodes - Kandi’s lovers, Lance’s boyfriends, Prozac’s antics, emails from Mom and Dad, a murder and a slew of suspects. Sounds like it would get old, but it doesn’t. The catching of the culprit is always a laughing out loud adventure.
I am noticing that the murderer is always someone who pops up out of the murderees past with an ax to grind.
Another reviewer noted that the author mentions things of the time frame that a lot of younger readers wouldn’t understand- I have to agree. I’m in the same age range of Ms Levine so I remember Mr Ed and Imelda Marco’s shoes etc. But I’m guessing anyone under 40 would be going huh??
I am noticing that the murderer is always someone who pops up out of the murderees past with an ax to grind.
Another reviewer noted that the author mentions things of the time frame that a lot of younger readers wouldn’t understand- I have to agree. I’m in the same age range of Ms Levine so I remember Mr Ed and Imelda Marco’s shoes etc. But I’m guessing anyone under 40 would be going huh??
November 26, 2018
Ok, so maybe not a "real" 5 star read- but if you are looking for a cozy mystery series to read I suggest starting with this one. This is the 3rd in the series, and I've read 1 & 2 - and loved it. A fun, crazy, cozy mystery read- popcorn for the brain. A great read when you want something light, fluffy, and fun. So far I am very pleased and will continue to read the series (when I need some popcorn!)
June 1, 2011
Like the other books I read in this series, but by this time, I'm a bit tired of the wise-cracking heroine. Maybe wise-cracking doesn't quite fit the bill, but the book is written in the first person, and there's too many asides in the narrative. Like the author is trying a bit too hard.
August 26, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Like all of Levine's Jaine Austen cozy mysteries, this one was funny and fast paced and kept me guessing right up until the end. It also features two great twists, neither of which I saw coming.
Jaine and her cat Prozac never fail to entertain.
Jaine and her cat Prozac never fail to entertain.
June 3, 2007
Funny Read. I learned that I like mysteries! Or recalled I like mysteries.
February 13, 2024
Das Buch war überraschend lustig und kurzweilig. Ich habe es an einem Tag durchgeschmöckert. Auch wenn die Handlung nicht besonders tiefgründig ist und der Kriminalfall nicht viele Wendungen hat, traf der Schreibstil genau meinen Humor. Von der Serie möchte ich definitiv mehr lesen.
September 24, 2024
2.2 stars (Audible). Not sure why I keep listening to these. OH. I know why. They're free on Audible Plus + they're mildly (I can't stress enough the MILD part of that word) entertaining.
November 15, 2016
jaine austen books are cozy mystery books, funny & light hearted. in each of these books, the main character jaine takes investigation on side to solve the murders.
jaine has funny sense of humor. things i enjoy most in her books are her conversations with her pet cat Prozac, the emails from her parents & her love for food. these books makes for relaxing reads at times with laugh out loud dialogues & scenes.
jaine has funny sense of humor. things i enjoy most in her books are her conversations with her pet cat Prozac, the emails from her parents & her love for food. these books makes for relaxing reads at times with laugh out loud dialogues & scenes.
January 4, 2017
I really like Jaine, she is very real and funny! She is also very caring which is why she gets involved in solving this case when her latest boss gets killed and her step daughter is accused. I was definitely kept guessing with this one and totally didn't see the killer coming.
March 24, 2009
Hilarious! This book totally cracked me up.
May 20, 2009
Fun, funny read!
May 23, 2024
So this was my favorite ending so far of the three I have read. It gave me chills and that is great in a cozy!
February 6, 2017
I love these books so much!! Great stories and a great read!!
November 1, 2021
I enjoyed this story. It was a cute fun story. I will look into reading some more of this series. I enjoy a few laughs when I read a book.
February 24, 2022
What a totally enjoyable, hilarious book. Great characters and reader. Can’t wait to start the next one.
January 26, 2023
I laugh out loud several times each book. I am all there for the main character's self-deprecating humor. Lots of hair related gags in this one.
September 17, 2022
Another fun book in this series! After her short-lived stint as a TV script writer, Jaine's back to writing ads for her main client, Toilet Master Plumbers when she gets a call from socialite Sue Ellen Kingsley to ghost write her memoir. Wondering why a socialite would pick a name out of the phone book, Jaine is warned she won't last a week by Sue Ellen's stepdaughter, Heidi. And Jaine doesn't because after just a few days on the job, Jaine finds Sue Ellen has been murdered and Heidi is the main suspect.
Feeling a kinship with Heidi, Jaine is convinced that there's no way she killed Sue Ellen even though the cops feel it's a pretty open and shut case. So Jaine once again puts on her detective's hat to clear Heidi's name.
As with the previous book, some of the language is dated and with listening to books in the same series back-to-back, some of the gimmicks get old faster - namely that Jaine's cat, Prozac, is either always sleeping on some valuable piece of clothing (Seriously - just put your clothes away. Problem solved) or licking her privates.
While it does tend to be empathized way too much that Jaine is overweight, especially by Hollywood standards, which is where she lives, in this case it made sense to mention it as seeing herself in Heidi is what made her so determined to help her. And the subplot, again told via emails between Jaine and her parents, of Jaine's dad buying a toupee her mom was convinced was a dead squirrel from a thrift store (eww!) was pretty amusing.
Feeling a kinship with Heidi, Jaine is convinced that there's no way she killed Sue Ellen even though the cops feel it's a pretty open and shut case. So Jaine once again puts on her detective's hat to clear Heidi's name.
As with the previous book, some of the language is dated and with listening to books in the same series back-to-back, some of the gimmicks get old faster - namely that Jaine's cat, Prozac, is either always sleeping on some valuable piece of clothing (Seriously - just put your clothes away. Problem solved) or licking her privates.
While it does tend to be empathized way too much that Jaine is overweight, especially by Hollywood standards, which is where she lives, in this case it made sense to mention it as seeing herself in Heidi is what made her so determined to help her. And the subplot, again told via emails between Jaine and her parents, of Jaine's dad buying a toupee her mom was convinced was a dead squirrel from a thrift store (eww!) was pretty amusing.
May 29, 2023
Freelance writer Jaine Austen accepts a job to ghostwrite a book of entertaining hints from a blonde bombshell who married a wealthy doctor, only to find that her client is mean, judgmental, and stingy. What keeps her from quitting--aside from the salary, of course--is her sympathy with the woman's teenaged stepdaughter, the main target of her hateful barbs. So when the blonde is killed, and the police focus on the stepdaughter, Jaine must step in and help clear the innocent girl. Meanwhile, Jaine's eccentric retired parents keep her inbox filled with justifications for their own behavior when her father buys a toupee at a thrift store and insists on wearing it everywhere. Jaine also suffers from the Titanic of bad dates as she dips her toes back into the social whirl.
September 5, 2024
3.5 While ghostwriting a book of hostess tips for a Beverly Hills socialite, Jaine Austen, visiting the land of peroxide, fake breasts, and killer roots, gets up-close-and-personal with murder when her employer is found dead and her stepdaughter, a shy, insecure girl, stands accused of the crime. [amazon synopsis]
Interesting characters. Good, not great, cozy.
Interesting characters. Good, not great, cozy.
February 7, 2013
Jaine Austen, not the famous book writer, is back with the 3rd book of her series. This time she is working for some stuck up size 2 wife of a plastic surgeon. The job: to sit for hours on end on a hard toilet seat listening to the woman talk of her life and recipes that sound suspiciously like Gone With The Wind, only eating about a third of her normal portions of food, and being forced to endure the ridicule that Jaine's body is not a small size like hers. SueEllen also ridcules her stepdaughter and says she's too fat, needs a nose job, and so on and so forth. After everyone at Heidi's birthday party hears her wish, it makes her the prime suspect when SueEllen is found floating in her own tub with a blow dryer plugged in the socket. Jaine can't believe Heidi did it so she takes matters into her own hands and looks around herself for this mysterious blonde Heidi saw. And what is the latest scoop on Jaine's dating front? Well, she still has bummer dates, but you'll have to read the book to really know. Also, her parents are at it again with crazy accusations, this time with a toupee.
This was so well done, I wished it didnt end. Laura is a gem among writers. There is no reigning pure talent like this. Now I know why my friend covets this author so much. With colorful characters you can actually relate to and the amount of laughs in each book that actually make you laugh out loud rather than chuckle, what more proof do you need to read Laura Levine?
This was so well done, I wished it didnt end. Laura is a gem among writers. There is no reigning pure talent like this. Now I know why my friend covets this author so much. With colorful characters you can actually relate to and the amount of laughs in each book that actually make you laugh out loud rather than chuckle, what more proof do you need to read Laura Levine?
July 20, 2022
Jaine continues to crack me up! What with the emails from her parents, her loving relationship with her cat, Prozac, and all her mystery adventures, I just can't help but laugh!
What I enjoyed with this cozy was the relationship she developed with Heide. I think Jaine is such a great role model for her. Heidi does come out of her shell a bit more and has more confidence.
I was blown away by who the real killer was also. I hadn't a clue that Conchie was Sue Ellen's sister in disguise and killed Sue Ellen until the end. Quite the eye opener! It's a good thing Jaine had all of Sue Ellen's shoes to defend herself!
What I enjoyed with this cozy was the relationship she developed with Heide. I think Jaine is such a great role model for her. Heidi does come out of her shell a bit more and has more confidence.
I was blown away by who the real killer was also. I hadn't a clue that Conchie was Sue Ellen's sister in disguise and killed Sue Ellen until the end. Quite the eye opener! It's a good thing Jaine had all of Sue Ellen's shoes to defend herself!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2020
This book was so funny...love it...it was incredible humorous and a bit scary at the same time. Each character was created with intense depth and excellent background history.
Janie Austen was very adventurous in seeking the truth as to who killed Sue Ellen, without any care to her own safety. She took alot of unnecessary risks that very often put her life in careless danger. But in the end, the killer was apprehend, after she tried to kill Janie. They ending was very shocking and twisted... I was genuinely guessing threw the entire book.
Highly recommended 😍
Janie Austen was very adventurous in seeking the truth as to who killed Sue Ellen, without any care to her own safety. She took alot of unnecessary risks that very often put her life in careless danger. But in the end, the killer was apprehend, after she tried to kill Janie. They ending was very shocking and twisted... I was genuinely guessing threw the entire book.
Highly recommended 😍
July 18, 2012
Why Read: I loved a Laura Levine short story I read.
What I loved: The main character and her cat are HILARIOUS. Also, the mystery kept me guessing to the very end.
What I didn't like: I had 0 sympathy for the murder victim. Also, the constant teasing about the main character's weight was annoying as was the fact she never stood up for herself. I also did not like the constant use of the term anorexic for the thin ladies.
Recommend?: yes for cozy and cat mystery fans.
What I loved: The main character and her cat are HILARIOUS. Also, the mystery kept me guessing to the very end.
What I didn't like: I had 0 sympathy for the murder victim. Also, the constant teasing about the main character's weight was annoying as was the fact she never stood up for herself. I also did not like the constant use of the term anorexic for the thin ladies.
Recommend?: yes for cozy and cat mystery fans.
August 20, 2018
This book took about three tries before I really got into reading it due to the narration around the client. Realizing she is intended to be a “Southern Belle”, the narration of her voice was a bit much for me.
However, I really enjoy this series and eventually was able to overcome the “Southern Belle” and really enjoyed the story.
So, I’m giving the author 5 stars and the narration 3, this the star average is 4.
I’m not usually harsh at all, this review is the rare exception!
However, I really enjoy this series and eventually was able to overcome the “Southern Belle” and really enjoyed the story.
So, I’m giving the author 5 stars and the narration 3, this the star average is 4.
I’m not usually harsh at all, this review is the rare exception!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2019
This was not a very good book. The only reason I gave it 2 stars was because it had some funny moments, especially with Jaine's parents and SueEllen was horrible, you couldn't help but really hate her. She was so outlandish she was interesting.
I hated Jaine's asides btw. Those are just annoying.
I hated Jaine's asides btw. Those are just annoying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews