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A Jaine Austen Mystery #8
Killer Cruise (Jaine Austen Mystery, Book 8)
Wordsmith Jaine Austen's ship has finally come in. Her new teaching gig on a fancy cruise line nabs her a free vacation--and access to a 24-hour buffet! But sooner than you can say "bon voyage," Jaine's all-expenses-paid trip to the Mexican Riviera seems destined to be a wreck. . .
Things are already off to a rocky start when Jaine discovers a stowaway amidst her luggage--her persnickety cat Prozac. Jaine's sinking sensation grows stronger at dinner, where she meets chatty Emily Pritchard, a wealthy seventy-year-old who's traveling with her two nephews. Jaine can't help noticing the tension among them, especially when the cruise's charming--and sleazy--British dancer, Graham, whisks Emily out onto the dance floor.
Soon Emily is accepting Graham's invitations to every social event on the ship. Two nights later the bubbly couple announces their engagement, but the news is quickly overshadowed the next morning by the discovery of Graham's body with an ice pick protruding from his chest. . .
Between hiding a furry fugitive, flirting with Emily's nephew Robbie, and baiting the hook for a clever murderer, Jaine is about to dive into her most dangerous case yet. . .
Things are already off to a rocky start when Jaine discovers a stowaway amidst her luggage--her persnickety cat Prozac. Jaine's sinking sensation grows stronger at dinner, where she meets chatty Emily Pritchard, a wealthy seventy-year-old who's traveling with her two nephews. Jaine can't help noticing the tension among them, especially when the cruise's charming--and sleazy--British dancer, Graham, whisks Emily out onto the dance floor.
Soon Emily is accepting Graham's invitations to every social event on the ship. Two nights later the bubbly couple announces their engagement, but the news is quickly overshadowed the next morning by the discovery of Graham's body with an ice pick protruding from his chest. . .
Between hiding a furry fugitive, flirting with Emily's nephew Robbie, and baiting the hook for a clever murderer, Jaine is about to dive into her most dangerous case yet. . .
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2009
118 people are currently reading
1048 people want to read
About the author
Laura Levine
57 books1,234 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 207 reviews
February 10, 2022
Jaine Austen has been hired to do some advertising for a cruise line, and so gets to go on a free cruise. While she’s trying to leave her apartment, she semi-accidentally smuggles her cat Prozac into her luggage, and winds up taking him onboard the ship (for many hilarious cat moments.) This one had some hilarious scenes, including Jaine being blackmailed by her room porter into keeping the secret of the stowaway cat if she would edit his terrible manuscript, and of course, her teaching memoir writing classes while on board. As always, the funny emails with her parents were a hoot. The murder in this one didn’t take place until nearly halfway along in the book, which worked out okay, as there was other stuff happening. I’m interested to see where things go next!
September 1, 2019
I’m done with this one. Seriously, I have never seen a point in forcing myself to read something that obviously doesn’t work. And this one definitely is not for me.
I started this book some time ago because I needed it badly for one of my challenges and I got stuck in it very quickly. This is a short book and I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I read a few other books I was struggling with but I couldn't bring myself to finish this one. There is no point in forcing myself further.
The biggest problem with this book is not even that nothing happens but that it is impossibly annoying. It's all because of the main character. I didn't read previous books in this series, so I only met Jaine in this book and I must admit that she is an extremely annoying heroine. Usually the main characters in cozy mysteries are intelligent, clever and cute, it's easy to like them. Jaine has none of these qualities. She is just weak. She allows everyone used her, every person she meets is above her. Including her damn cat! Jaine lets herself be blackmailed and disregarded all the time. Nobody respects her, including me unfortunately. Evidently she misses her spine. I was fed up with her mouse-like personality.
Now let’s return to the second reason why I was close to abandoning this book from the very beginning. Nothing happens in here. It's cozy mystery without mystery. Okay, no mystery up to 40 percent where finally a dead body appears. Almost half the book! We spend nearly half the book wandering with the boring mouse Jaine on the deck. And there is nothing more interesting that would distract us from her annoying personality. I was so bored that when the corpse finally appeared, it didn’t interest me anymore. Seriously, I abandon this book right after the chapter in which the body was discovered. I don't want to know what else stupid trouble Jaine will get in trying to find the killer.
I probably had too high expectations for this book. But it seemed like a light story just for the holidays. I doubt I'll ever read a book in this series again.
I started this book some time ago because I needed it badly for one of my challenges and I got stuck in it very quickly. This is a short book and I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I read a few other books I was struggling with but I couldn't bring myself to finish this one. There is no point in forcing myself further.
The biggest problem with this book is not even that nothing happens but that it is impossibly annoying. It's all because of the main character. I didn't read previous books in this series, so I only met Jaine in this book and I must admit that she is an extremely annoying heroine. Usually the main characters in cozy mysteries are intelligent, clever and cute, it's easy to like them. Jaine has none of these qualities. She is just weak. She allows everyone used her, every person she meets is above her. Including her damn cat! Jaine lets herself be blackmailed and disregarded all the time. Nobody respects her, including me unfortunately. Evidently she misses her spine. I was fed up with her mouse-like personality.
Now let’s return to the second reason why I was close to abandoning this book from the very beginning. Nothing happens in here. It's cozy mystery without mystery. Okay, no mystery up to 40 percent where finally a dead body appears. Almost half the book! We spend nearly half the book wandering with the boring mouse Jaine on the deck. And there is nothing more interesting that would distract us from her annoying personality. I was so bored that when the corpse finally appeared, it didn’t interest me anymore. Seriously, I abandon this book right after the chapter in which the body was discovered. I don't want to know what else stupid trouble Jaine will get in trying to find the killer.
I probably had too high expectations for this book. But it seemed like a light story just for the holidays. I doubt I'll ever read a book in this series again.
May 22, 2016
I think this series is just plain fun. My favorite parts of the books are the e-mail conversations between Janie and her parents. Really that would be my second favorite part. Prozac is by far the star of the series.
September 1, 2023
I sure enjoy Laura Levine’s humor. The main character, Jaine, is so likeable and hilarious. As is her cat, Prozac. ;)
“See? They fit,” Cookie said, putting them together. “It’s a symbol of our commitment to each other. Isn’t that sweet?”
“Very.” Any sweeter, I’d need a diabetes shot.
“See? They fit,” Cookie said, putting them together. “It’s a symbol of our commitment to each other. Isn’t that sweet?”
“Very.” Any sweeter, I’d need a diabetes shot.
July 1, 2020
These books are so much fun! Jaine is hysterical (her cabin was on the dungeon deck) and I don't know how Prozac manages to be an escape artist. The cruise ship setting was a fun change and the mystery kept me guessing. Recommended reading for everyone on a cruise. #readforkimberly
June 28, 2024
I have taken a cruise ship to the Mexican Riviera (I wanted to see the ports, not the buffet!). Well, as you can imagine, my trip was a far cry from Jaine’s. She encounters her usual cast of nuts on the high seas and of course a murder. Wish I’d been on her tour rather than mine!! Actually, I enjoyed all the ports but find cruising a bit boring.
If you think Prozac stayed home, you’re wrong!! She causes her usual
“cat”aststrophies after being smuggled on board. Always good for a laugh. I do love that cat. I kept wondering about emptying the litter box - whoops!!
I guessed the murderer correctly, but not the motive. I wondered why wax fruit was brought on the cruise, I eventually found out!!
This is still a laugh out loud series.
PS - I did tour the house where Liz Taylor and Richard Burton once lived in Puerto Vallarta!!
If you think Prozac stayed home, you’re wrong!! She causes her usual
“cat”aststrophies after being smuggled on board. Always good for a laugh. I do love that cat. I kept wondering about emptying the litter box - whoops!!
I guessed the murderer correctly, but not the motive. I wondered why wax fruit was brought on the cruise, I eventually found out!!
This is still a laugh out loud series.
PS - I did tour the house where Liz Taylor and Richard Burton once lived in Puerto Vallarta!!
May 24, 2009
In the middle of reading a long and serious book for a Goodreads book discussion group, I found this light and amusing mystery novel, a real comedy, which I gobbled up in less than a day.
Killer Cruise has only one murder! And there are so many possible culprits on board the cruise ship Festival, ranging from a jilted ex-fiancee, an ice sculptor, and the relatives and close friends of a silver haired lady being swept off her feet by love at first dance.
Our heroine and crime solver, Jaine Austen (with an i in Jane), is on board as an employee, hired to give writing lessons to cruise passengers. Also on board is her stowaway, Jaine's cat Prozac, who had to be sneaked on board at the last minute.
Jaine has to hide and feed Prozac in between classes as well as read the manuscript of her cabin steward, the would be writer Samoa, in exchange for his silence about the cat on board. She also does a lot of snooping to solve the murder, while also indulging in her passion for all things chocolate.
Though this is a mystery novel, I chuckled and grinned all through the book, and laughed out loud at the ending. Humor is on every page. I can't wait to read the first seven books in this series!
By the way, author Laura Levine is a comedy writer who has written for TV shows such as Three's Company, Laverne and Shirley, and The Love Boat.
Killer Cruise has only one murder! And there are so many possible culprits on board the cruise ship Festival, ranging from a jilted ex-fiancee, an ice sculptor, and the relatives and close friends of a silver haired lady being swept off her feet by love at first dance.
Our heroine and crime solver, Jaine Austen (with an i in Jane), is on board as an employee, hired to give writing lessons to cruise passengers. Also on board is her stowaway, Jaine's cat Prozac, who had to be sneaked on board at the last minute.
Jaine has to hide and feed Prozac in between classes as well as read the manuscript of her cabin steward, the would be writer Samoa, in exchange for his silence about the cat on board. She also does a lot of snooping to solve the murder, while also indulging in her passion for all things chocolate.
"I hurried along the corridor, checking oer my shoulder to make sure Anton wasn't following me. Then, with the unerring accuracy of a homing pigeon, I returned to the buffet, where I picked up some roast beef for Prozac and a restorative dose of brownies for me." (p. 29)
Though this is a mystery novel, I chuckled and grinned all through the book, and laughed out loud at the ending. Humor is on every page. I can't wait to read the first seven books in this series!
By the way, author Laura Levine is a comedy writer who has written for TV shows such as Three's Company, Laverne and Shirley, and The Love Boat.
March 8, 2016
It could easily have been 5 stars, but the murderer's confession took the wind out of the book's sail. I'm so happy to announce that the author has crafted another remarkable book. She has been able to extract even more entertaining tidbits from her characters. Do read this book, even if it takes more than one leaf out of a more prolific British and well dead author whose name is synonymous with flair and invention. By changing the stage for her story, Laura Levine has kept my interest alive in her, although I'm afraid there's only a few books left in the series. You know, most books that are categorized as funny don't have much humor, but this book delivers on all fronts. Until next time.
June 3, 2018
I just love every book in this series!! Always laugh out loud funny! And this time there is no missing a beat when Prozac sneaks onto the cruise ship with Jaine. Jaine has been invited as a guest lecturer onboard and has been placed on the Dungeon Deck, staying on-board with the other workers and hired entertainers. When someone hired by the cruise line dies, Jaine has close connections with her suspects as she has been placed as the special guest at their dining table. Jaine also has a bit of a crush on one of her suspects - is this finally the one for her? And you can not dismiss the ongoing email exchanges between Jaine and her parents - always funny! You'll enjoy taking this book with you on a summer cruise vacation!
June 9, 2016
This book was hilarious. Jaine, with an i, gets into one mess after another while on the cruise. The emails from her parents and her gay friend, Lance were the best part of the book.
Killer Cruise is the first book I've read from this author. I really enjoyed her writing style.
Killer Cruise is the first book I've read from this author. I really enjoyed her writing style.
February 1, 2019
Her books are always a super-fun read
May 4, 2022
Fun mystery! Fun characters! Love these books!
June 17, 2022
We were looking for the most ridiculous book to read while on our cruise, and this fit the bill in every way!
March 6, 2024
Jeg hadde meget høye forventninger til denne boken ettersom hennes bøker «Killer Blonde» og «Murder has nine lives» var høydepunktene i livet mitt ca. oktober 2022.
Denne gikk litt sakte og var litt kjedelig ettersom selve mordmysteriet begynte på side 150 av 270 sider - men jeg har troa på at det bare var ved denne boken at Laura Levine falt ut litt og gleder meg til å lese resten av bøkene i serien - skulle jeg noen gang reise til USA igjen og kjøpe de.
Denne gikk litt sakte og var litt kjedelig ettersom selve mordmysteriet begynte på side 150 av 270 sider - men jeg har troa på at det bare var ved denne boken at Laura Levine falt ut litt og gleder meg til å lese resten av bøkene i serien - skulle jeg noen gang reise til USA igjen og kjøpe de.
July 10, 2024
Setting this time is a cruise ship. Really like the stowaway cat Prozac -really funny! Okay, some of the characters are still endless repetitions but nevertheless funny.
A fun read!
A fun read!
June 17, 2016
Jaine Austen thinks she hit it big, being asked to teach a course on a cruise ship and in return getting an all expenses paid cruise! Jaine's trip gets off to a bad start when she finds her cat Prozac has stowed away in her bag and even worse when the steward Samoa finds out and blackmails her into editing his 900 page manuscript "Do Not Distub." Jaine tries to make the best of it but as a cruise ship "celebrity" she is required to sit with one of the high rollers, a 70 something woman named Emily and her zany family. She starts to notice something is not right when one of the ships dancers, Graham and Emily become engaged. There is no way that could be right, Graham is a sleazy crew member who happens to be sleeping with her next door neighbor on the ship. Then Graham is found dead and her neighbor is fingered as the perp. Jaine sets off to prove her neighbor and new friend is innocent. I enjoyed the book a lot especially when Jaine receives emails from her parents and gay "fiance" who are creating havoc at home.
February 22, 2012
Killer Cruise by Laura Levine is #8 in her Jaine-with-an-i Austen mystery series. It's generally bad news when a series starts going on location but I enjoyed this installment of Jaine's adventures aboard a cruise ship where (using her leverage as copy writer for a toilet company) Jaine teaches a writing class while eating her way through the buffet and crushing on handsome men while investigating the murder of a gigolo.
Nothing of great surprise but I have grown very fond of Jaine, her cat Prozac, her e-mail writing parents, and her elastic waist pants. She's become a good friend and this book was entertaining enough to keep the friendship flourishing.
Nothing of great surprise but I have grown very fond of Jaine, her cat Prozac, her e-mail writing parents, and her elastic waist pants. She's become a good friend and this book was entertaining enough to keep the friendship flourishing.
February 11, 2019
Prozac, you naughty beast! This was an amusing installment of Jaine Austen, amateur sleuth extraordinaire. I jumped ahead in the series as I needed to match the theme with my Cruisin Thru Cozies theme list so I was a little confused to find her besties with neighbor Lance. I’ll circle back though when I have a chance. This wasn’t as great as the first book, but it still had some laugh out loud moment. In this book, Jaine has been hired to teach a memoir writing class on a cruise ship. Prozac stows away and Jaine is forced to juggle keeping her furry beast a secret, teach a class, and later solve a murder. The murder mystery left a lot to be desired and as always, the constant foreshadowing grates on me but Prozac (or Zoloft if you ask Jaine’s mother) cracks me up.
December 7, 2022
This is such a fun series! I laugh put loud at her books. These are truly so much fun to read. Killer Cruise did not disappoint in the enjoyable to read category. Laura Levine's observations on human behavior are spot on. She doesn't downplay the absurdity of the behavior either which makes it even better because we all know people like that, are people like that or find ourselves doing the same dumb things. I also appreciate how she wraps up everything at the end. Most of the time I want to know what happened to everyone after the story has ended. This series is quickly becoming a favorite I will read again and enjoy all over again
March 6, 2019
Jaine gets hired to write up an ad for a cruise line and thus gets a free cruise so she can familiarize herself with the cruise ship. Unbeknownst to her, Prozac, her cat, stows away in her luggage and she's stuck with her until the end of the cruise. An unpopular womanizer is murdered and there are many suspects, the most prominent his fiancee who is upset about his engagement to someone else. Jaine knows she didn't commit the crime and offers to find out who really killed him...and stole his cufflinks. Hilarious as usual. Recommended.
March 19, 2010
I confess. I read it because of the cat. I've read other Laura Levine/Jaine Austen mysteries and this one was right in line. Pure froth with some chuckles and an arrogant cat (Prozac). Her books are tolerable because, despite the deliberate silliness, the woman knows her craft. She's written for The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, and a whole bunch of other top rated sit coms. So if you're looking for light, quick and amusing, Levine is good place to go.
March 20, 2014
Jaine has earned herself a free vacation by agreeing to teach memoire writing aboard a cruise ship. But things go from bad (her cat stows away) to worse when someone is murdered on board and Jaine's new friend is accused of the crime. Absolutely hilarious as always with a decent mystery as well.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
March 15, 2018
Another wild ride with Jaine Austen! This time she has a job on a cruise ship to Mexico. Too bad there is a murder on board. As she stuggles to keep her stowaway cat Prozac fed, Anton, the creepy lothario off her back, find a murderer and possibly romance. This book is hilarious! I love this series. ❤
October 18, 2015
This book was a very quick read and while I found it interesting enough to keep reading it, it is not among the better ones the author has written for this series. I found the main character annoying at times especially when talking about her diet or lack there of.
September 17, 2016
Fun easy to read mystery with a great twist. Prozac definitely rules, as cats often do.
December 19, 2018
Another great mystery in the series.
July 30, 2020
So fun! I love the emails from her mom and dad :-)
February 25, 2022
Another fun Jaine Austin mystery Lots of adventures and mayhem for Jaine and Prozac the cat.
Want to read
July 28, 2024 it was really good i never read by lauira levine good cute
July 9, 2023
I admit it! I knew nothing about this author, yet bought this book based on the cover alone! Put a cat and a cruise ship on a cover, and I'm sold! My gamble paid off because this book had me laughing out loud...which can be problematic when I'm listening to it on my swimming headphones while doing my evening laps.
I'm not really one for slapstick comedy, but the characters were over-the-top ridiculous in the best way. The main character, Jaine Austen (no relation) is a hot mess express who, quite honestly, should not own any animals. Yet, she charmed me nonetheless with all her many bumbling mishaps...like getting caught stealing sand for her cat's makeshift litterbox while wearing Tweety Bird pajamas. Somehow her cat Prozac stowed away in her luggage (how does that even happen?), and she had to keep it a secret to avoid putting him in quarantine.
The cat mom in me wants to judge, but then I must realize that this is slapstick humor at its slappiest. All of the characters are so cartoonish and over-the-top, so you really can't take anything seriously. As a paid member of the cruise staff, Jaine must teach a course in memoir writing and gets stuck with a hodgepodge of bored passengers who have zero interest in writing. Poor Jaine just can't win anybody over except for her new crush who happens to be a murder suspect when a gold-digging Cassanova gets killed with an ice pick! It's up to Jaine to investigate a very suspicious group of passengers before the wrong person--the ship's lounge singer--gets locked in the slammer.
Shenanigans and buffoonery ensue as she follows the clues. Oh, and did I mention the zany subplot involving her parents? OMG! Through a series of emails, she learns that her father is slowly ripping her place apart with home improvement projects, and her mother is planning her sham wedding! It's just ridiculous, I tell you. If you enjoy slapstick humor and very light mystery plots, this one's for you!
I'm not really one for slapstick comedy, but the characters were over-the-top ridiculous in the best way. The main character, Jaine Austen (no relation) is a hot mess express who, quite honestly, should not own any animals. Yet, she charmed me nonetheless with all her many bumbling mishaps...like getting caught stealing sand for her cat's makeshift litterbox while wearing Tweety Bird pajamas. Somehow her cat Prozac stowed away in her luggage (how does that even happen?), and she had to keep it a secret to avoid putting him in quarantine.
The cat mom in me wants to judge, but then I must realize that this is slapstick humor at its slappiest. All of the characters are so cartoonish and over-the-top, so you really can't take anything seriously. As a paid member of the cruise staff, Jaine must teach a course in memoir writing and gets stuck with a hodgepodge of bored passengers who have zero interest in writing. Poor Jaine just can't win anybody over except for her new crush who happens to be a murder suspect when a gold-digging Cassanova gets killed with an ice pick! It's up to Jaine to investigate a very suspicious group of passengers before the wrong person--the ship's lounge singer--gets locked in the slammer.
Shenanigans and buffoonery ensue as she follows the clues. Oh, and did I mention the zany subplot involving her parents? OMG! Through a series of emails, she learns that her father is slowly ripping her place apart with home improvement projects, and her mother is planning her sham wedding! It's just ridiculous, I tell you. If you enjoy slapstick humor and very light mystery plots, this one's for you!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews