Laura Levine Books in Order
Browse Laura Levine books in order, with Jaine Austen series lists, quick summaries, background notes, and simple guidance on where to start reading.
Last updated: July 12, 2026
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Laura Levine books in publication order
24 books
This Pen for Hire
by Laura Levine
2002
Jaine writes a love letter for awkward Howard Murdoch, only to find his dream date murdered on Valentine's Day. With Howard the prime suspect, she starts asking questions and lands in her first comic, dangerous case.
Last Writes
by Laura Levine
2003
Jaine finally gets a sitcom writing job on a cheesy Hollywood show, and the work is bad enough before murder shows up. When the show's heartthrob dies after a poisoned doughnut, she has to clear her best friend Kandi.
Killer Blonde
by Laura Levine
2004
Hired to ghostwrite hostess tips for Beverly Hills socialite SueEllen Kingsley, Jaine expects easy money. Then she finds SueEllen dead in the tub and faces a tangle of glamorous suspects, family secrets, and very expensive hair.
Shoes to Die For
by Laura Levine
2005
A visit to a trendy shoe boutique brings Jaine new ad-copy work and front-row access to vicious staff gossip. By morning, the store's nastiest clerk is dead, stabbed with a stiletto, and Jaine is on the case.
The PMS Murder
by Laura Levine
2006
Jaine joins a margarita-fueled women's support group after helping a new friend with her resume. When one member drops dead over the hostess's famous guacamole, the gossip turns deadly and Jaine must sort through a room full of grudges.
Death by Pantyhose
by Laura Levine
2007
Short on cash, Jaine takes a job writing jokes for an unfunny comic and reconnects with an old crush. When a handsome rival comic is strangled with pantyhose and her client is arrested, Jaine chases laughs and a killer.
Killing Bridezilla
by Laura Levine
2008
Jaine is hired to write Romeo and Juliet style wedding vows for her awful high school nemesis, Patti Devane. When the bride plunges to her death during rehearsal, Jaine faces a long suspect list and a nasty trip down memory lane.
Killer Cruise
by Laura Levine
2009
A teaching job on a luxury cruise sounds perfect, especially with a buffet. Then Jaine's cat stows away, a wealthy passenger gets engaged to a shady charmer, and murder breaks out at sea.
Death of a Trophy Wife
by Laura Levine
2010
Jaine takes an ad-writing gig for mattress king Marvin Cooper after meeting his young wife Bunny at brunch. When Bunny is poisoned at a party and Lance is blamed, Jaine dives into a mansion full of motives.
The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies
by Laura Levine
2010
In this holiday novella, Jaine helps stage her parents' retirement community play, The Gingerbread Cookie That Saved Christmas. When the leading man falls to his death mid-performance, she starts digging through the residents' romantic grudges.
Pampered to Death
by Laura Levine
2011
An all-expenses spa getaway turns out to be a grim diet retreat with celery juice, weigh-ins, and no carbs. When a difficult actress is strangled during a seaweed wrap, Jaine investigates before the killer strikes again.
Death of a Neighborhood Witch
by Laura Levine
2012
After Prozac terrorizes a parakeet, Jaine gets dragged into a feud with a nasty former horror actress on her block. When the woman is murdered on Halloween night and Jaine becomes a suspect, neighborhood secrets spill out.
Killing Cupid
by Laura Levine
2013
Jaine lands a copywriting job at a matchmaking service and quickly learns its glossy promises are mostly smoke and mirrors. When the boss dies at a Valentine's Day mixer, she has to untangle lies, lonely hearts, and murder.
Secret Santa
by Fern Michaels, Marie Bostwick, Laura Levine & Cindy Myers
2013
This four-story Christmas collection mixes contemporary romance with a cozy murder mystery and a snowbound marital reckoning. Marie Bostwick’s contribution follows Velvet Tudmore, whose unexpected secret admirer promises to reveal himself at a Texas Christmas ball.
Death by Tiara
by Laura Levine
2015
Behind the scenes at a teen beauty pageant, Jaine is hired to write a contestant's song. When a pageant assistant is bludgeoned with a silver tiara and the girl's pushy mother is blamed, Jaine goes hunting for answers.
Murder Has Nine Lives
by Laura Levine
2016
Things look up when Jaine lands a paying ad job, a possible romance, and a commercial for her cat, Prozac. Then the pet food inventor drops dead on set, and Jaine finds herself pawing through suspects.
Death of a Bachelorette
by Laura Levine
2017
Jaine flies to a tropical island to write dialogue for a cheesy dating show about a faux royal bachelor. After one contestant dies and nobody can leave, paradise becomes a locked-down crime scene with Prozac along for the ride.
Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge
by Laura Levine
2018
House-sitting in Bel Air over Christmas should be restful, but Jaine is soon tangled up with a hateful former child star who ruins everyone's holiday. When he is killed and Jaine lands on the suspect list, she has to clear her name.
Death of a Gigolo
by Laura Levine
2019
Jaine ghosts a steamy romance novel for rich heiress Daisy Kincaid and watches a much younger gold digger charm his way into Daisy's life. When he ends up dead before the wedding, money and jealousy take center stage.
Murder Gets a Makeover
by Laura Levine
2021
At Lance's urging, Jaine agrees to a glamorous before-and-after makeover with celebrity stylist Bebe Braddock. When Bebe is strangled and Jaine's prints are on the hanger, she must solve the case before her new look includes prison orange.
Death by Smoothie
by Laura Levine
2022
Jaine takes script-doctor work on a stage version of the old cult sitcom I Married a Zombie. When the production's diva actress dies after drinking a poisoned smoothie, rehearsals turn into a murder investigation.
Nightmare on Elf Street
by Laura Levine
2023
In this holiday mystery, Jaine takes a humiliating job as a mall elf and gets paired with a truly awful Santa. When he is murdered at work and suspicion falls on her, she has to save her Christmas fast.
The Dangers of Candy Canes
by Laura Levine
2023
In this holiday entry, a roofing contractor asks Jaine to investigate after a wealthy homeowner falls from his roof while hanging a giant candy cane. The trail leads straight into vicious neighborhood decorating wars and buried secrets.
Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket
by Laura Levine
2024
Jaine's new ghostwriting gig starts with a private train trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara and a tyrannical client named Chip Miller. When Chip ends up dead in his cabin and Jaine's DNA is on the weapon, she has no choice but to investigate.
Where to start with Laura Levine
If you want the true starting point: This Pen for Hire → Last Writes → Killer Blonde
If you like Hollywood and behind-the-scenes chaos: Last Writes → Death by Tiara → Death by Smoothie
If you want travel and vacation disasters: Killer Cruise → Death of a Bachelorette → Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket
If you want holiday mysteries: The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies → Nightmare on Elf Street → The Dangers of Candy Canes
Laura Levine sub-series and character series
Jaine Austen books in order
Explore this series
This Pen for Hire
by Laura Levine
2002Jaine Austen, Book 1
Last Writes
by Laura Levine
2003Jaine Austen, Book 2
Killer Blonde
by Laura Levine
2004Jaine Austen, Book 3
Shoes to Die For
by Laura Levine
2005Jaine Austen, Book 4
The PMS Murder
by Laura Levine
2006Jaine Austen, Book 5
Death by Pantyhose
by Laura Levine
2007Jaine Austen, Book 6
Killing Bridezilla
by Laura Levine
2008Jaine Austen, Book 7
Killer Cruise
by Laura Levine
2009Jaine Austen, Book 8
Death of a Trophy Wife
by Laura Levine
2010Jaine Austen, Book 9
The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies
by Laura Levine
2010Jaine Austen, Book 10
Pampered to Death
by Laura Levine
2011Jaine Austen, Book 11
Death of a Neighborhood Witch
by Laura Levine
2012Jaine Austen, Book 12
Killing Cupid
by Laura Levine
2013Jaine Austen, Book 13
Death by Tiara
by Laura Levine
2015Jaine Austen, Book 14
Murder Has Nine Lives
by Laura Levine
2016Jaine Austen, Book 15
Death of a Bachelorette
by Laura Levine
2017Jaine Austen, Book 16
Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge
by Laura Levine
2018Jaine Austen, Book 17
Death of a Gigolo
by Laura Levine
2019Jaine Austen, Book 18
Murder Gets a Makeover
by Laura Levine
2021Jaine Austen, Book 19
Death by Smoothie
by Laura Levine
2022Jaine Austen, Book 20
Nightmare on Elf Street
by Laura Levine
2023Jaine Austen, Book 21
The Dangers of Candy Canes
by Laura Levine
2023Jaine Austen, Book 22
Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket
by Laura Levine
2024Jaine Austen, Book 23
Jaine Austen books in chronological order

This Pen for Hire
by Laura Levine
2002Jaine Austen, Book 1
Last Writes
by Laura Levine
2003Jaine Austen, Book 2
Killer Blonde
by Laura Levine
2004Jaine Austen, Book 3
Shoes to Die For
by Laura Levine
2005Jaine Austen, Book 4
The PMS Murder
by Laura Levine
2006Jaine Austen, Book 5
Death by Pantyhose
by Laura Levine
2007Jaine Austen, Book 6
Killing Bridezilla
by Laura Levine
2008Jaine Austen, Book 7
Killer Cruise
by Laura Levine
2009Jaine Austen, Book 8
Death of a Trophy Wife
by Laura Levine
2010Jaine Austen, Book 9
The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies
by Laura Levine
2010Jaine Austen, Book 10
Pampered to Death
by Laura Levine
2011Jaine Austen, Book 11
Death of a Neighborhood Witch
by Laura Levine
2012Jaine Austen, Book 12
Killing Cupid
by Laura Levine
2013Jaine Austen, Book 13
Death by Tiara
by Laura Levine
2015Jaine Austen, Book 14
Murder Has Nine Lives
by Laura Levine
2016Jaine Austen, Book 15
Death of a Bachelorette
by Laura Levine
2017Jaine Austen, Book 16
Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge
by Laura Levine
2018Jaine Austen, Book 17
Death of a Gigolo
by Laura Levine
2019Jaine Austen, Book 18
Murder Gets a Makeover
by Laura Levine
2021Jaine Austen, Book 19
Death by Smoothie
by Laura Levine
2022Jaine Austen, Book 20
Nightmare on Elf Street
by Laura Levine
2023Jaine Austen, Book 21
The Dangers of Candy Canes
by Laura Levine
2023Jaine Austen, Book 22
Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket
by Laura Levine
2024Jaine Austen, Book 23
Standalone Laura Levine books
Author bio
Laura Levine was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1943 and grew up there. She later studied at Barnard College, a path that led toward writing, even if the route to novels turned out to be anything but straight. Long before she published mysteries, she was already learning how to watch people closely and turn what she saw into clean, funny, useful prose.
Her first job after college was at a very small newspaper, where she worked as both reporter and photographer. She has joked that it was so small the staff had to get photos developed at a local camera shop. That mix of reporting, hustling, and taking whatever assignment came next feels like a good early clue to the working world she would later build for her fictional sleuth, Jaine Austen.
Then came breakfast cereal.
Levine moved into advertising and, as a copywriter for General Mills, helped create Count Chocula and Franken Berry. From there she went into television comedy, writing for shows such as The Bob Newhart Show, Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, The Jeffersons, Three's Company, and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. She also published work in The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. Years in comedy rooms clearly taught her pace, dialogue, and how to end a scene on a strong line.
The mystery novels came later, after a real career pivot. In an interview, Levine said her sitcom career had come to a stop when she was around 50, and she decided it was finally time to write the murder mystery she had long wanted to try. She was already a seasoned writer by then, which helped her sell that first novel, but the change in form still gave her a fresh start.
That first mystery was This Pen for Hire in 2002. It introduced freelance writer Jaine Austen, a Los Angeles wordsmith who takes whatever job pays the bills and keeps stumbling into homicide. The book won the Romantic Times award for Most Humorous Mystery and opened the door to a long-running series that includes Last Writes, Killer Cruise, Death of a Neighborhood Witch, Death by Smoothie, and Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket.
The cat matters too.
Part of the appeal of Levine's books is how comfortably they mix cozy mystery structure with sitcom timing. Her sleuth is funny, frazzled, underpaid, and usually one bad client away from disaster. Add in Jaine's cat Prozac, a parade of terrible gigs, and a Los Angeles backdrop full of vanity, ambition, and oddballs, and the books land in a sweet spot between puzzle and comedy. Levine has said the first mysteries she devoured were the Nancy Drew books, and that Agatha Christie remains her mystery idol. You can feel both influences in the work, bright curiosity on the surface, careful plotting underneath.
Off the page, Levine has shared that she enjoys reading, swimming, gardening, and long walks. She lives in Los Angeles and has built a career unlike almost anyone else's, newspaper reporter, cereal creator, sitcom writer, and finally mystery novelist. It makes sense that her books feel so lived-in. They come from someone who has spent a long time listening to how people talk, flirt, scheme, complain, and make a mess of things.
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