Murder Gets a Makeover by Laura Levine Is the 18th book in this series! Jane Austin & her cat Prozac (yep, names are correct) muddle their way through yet another murder in their typical hysterical bumbling fashion and yet somehow managed to come out on top once again. Jane must have 9 lives like a cat, she's come close 18 times 😅 Seriously though, just a light hearted quick to read cozy mystery sandwiched in between more serious books.

Jaine Austen (no relation) is an at-home freelance writer with a crazy cat (she speaks for the cat in italics so it doesn't technically talk) named Prozac, and a pushy high society shoe salesman neighbor, Lance. Sound zany? It could have been fun, but the author had different ideas.

This book begins with a couple of laughs and appears very promising. But instead of it being a hobby, it becomes endlessly clear that Jaine genuinely loves food. She eats, thinks about, and talks about eating. Frequently and nearly constantly. All the time. Without end.

When Lance volunteers Jaine for a fashion makeover by famous fashion stylist, Bebe, Jaine meets Justin. He's Bebe's assistant. He's 20 (too young to buy booze so others have to buy it for him), and Jaine is 30-ish.

Justin, it seems, likes older women. This is when the mention of food begins to wear thin. It's also when Jaine switches some of her focus to "lady parts" and "undies-of-the-day," and even her cat's lady parts. That follows with other euphemisms through the rest of the book, giving everything a decidedly and increasing "eww" factor with each giggle. (And I began to gag.) Swearing also warms up and keeps going strong to the end.

There is a murder. There's an incident with Prozac the cat, that is supposed to be hilarious. Sadly, by then I keep checking to see how much book is left before it's mercifully over.

The yuck thermometer rises to a previously unhoped-for height, and finally, the book ends. After guessing that everyone was the killer except herself, her cat, and her parents, it was hard to call the big reveal a "twist." But the author gave it a shot anyway.

It's too bad that the amusing ideas were practically drowned in take-out or just disappointment and chunky monkey, and the mystery was literally strangled with distasteful "comedic" elements best left in a dive-bar's trash can. But I would not recommend this book, or the author in future endeavors.

The parents are the absolute best..... can they please come out for a visit?

I've also accepted that I'm stuck with Lance and Prozac as Janie's sidekicks and the Mexican food loving Kari is long gone...I promise to stop whining about it.

The book doesn't disappoint - no one does snarky cozy mysteries like Laura Levine..

I enjoy cozy mysteries and Laura Levine is one of the best! I especially enjoy Prozac the cat, she is the real star of the book (and she knows it). Jaine has found herself in yet another murder mystery and with the antics from her cat, her parents and her next door neighbor Lance, hilarity ensues. This was a book I didn't realize I needed and it was like enjoying a good dessert, sad when it was over. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy, it is one I will recommend highly!

The latest in this entertaining series will put a smile on your face and keep it there throughout. There is a murder mystery that will keep you guessing. Cat antics and emails from the parents add to the humor.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Kensington Books and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

This series is getting a tad played out and boring. It’s not as enjoyable as it once was or other cozy series.

I love this series. Murder Gets a Makeover is the 18th book. It can be read as a stand alone. I feel like Jaine, Prozac, Lance, and Jaine's parents are old friends.

In this book Lance arranges a makeover for Jaine with Bebe Braddock. Bebe is killed and Janie gets involved in the investigation. She also finds a little romance with a younger man, who was the dead woman's assistant. Prozac, Jaine's cat becomes an internet star. My favorite part of all the books are the emails between Jaine and her parents, each parent emails separately their version of the latest mischievous activity in their retirement community.

The book is fun and a quick read goes great with a cozy blanket and a glass of wine. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. The review is my own.

I have been with Jaine Austen since the very first book in this series. I anxiously await each new predicament that seem to look for Jaine!

I think of Jaine almost every night when our local TV commercial offers the plumbing advertisement that also makes me laugh! ("Your #2 is our #1)

This time Jaine must solve the mystery of who killed the high and mighty Bebe Braddock, with a wire coat hanger! (the worst), as Lance Jaine's shoe salesman neighbor has decided the Jaine needs a make-over from Bebe. Of course, the timing couldn't be worse.

During this time little spoiled Prozac has become an internet star! Personally, I don't see a problem with that, my cats would love it, if they stay awake that long.

Jaine's parents are a hoot, thinking they will get their mail- order packages quicker in Florida! So the emails begin, with her dad always out to get Lydia.. What a schemer.

This series brings me a carefree relaxed joy, to be enjoyed by all.

Sit back relax, and pick up this latest book in the series! I LOVED IT!!

I know now what friends will receive for Christmas!

Get yours TODAY!!

Prozac and her antics are back and i had a lot of fun in reading this mystery. Laura Levine is one of my favorite cozy mystery writers and I had high expectations for this new story.
I wasn't disappointed as it's highly entertaining and gripping.
I laughed a lot, read it in on sitting and thoroughly enjoyed the mystery even if I guessed the culprit quite early in the book.
Can't wait for the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Another entertaining volume to this series. Jaine's antics (and those of her father) are always good for a laugh. I thoroughly enjoyed her adventures in Hollywood as well as Prozac's leap to stardom. One of my biggest pet peeves in cozies is when the MC forgets that they have a day job/shop to run but that's not a problem for Jaine; she freelances so the mystery can be front and center and she still has time for work during her downtime. This is the series to turn to when I need a pick-me-up. Can't wait for the next!

if you are like me you have a go to mystery series that lets you unload your stress and just escape, knowing that there will be laughter, cray situations, recurring characters to catch up with and a nice puzzle to try and solve. This is one of my favorite series. Jaine Austen leads a crazy life, sharing it with her cat, Prozac. She has a neighbor, Lance who needs to set some boundries and this time he decides that Jaine needs a fashion makeover. A fashion plate she is not - think t-shirts and elastic waisted pants. That might not have been such a bad idea if the fashion makeover hadn't been at the hands of the mean Bebe Braddock. What a nightmare she is and Jaine gets more than advice on what not to wear - she gets the starring role of prime suspect number one when the dreadful Bebe is found dead and Jaine's dabs are all over the murder weapon. Jaine is determined not to have her new fashion statement that of an orange prison jumpsuit. The obvious solution? Track down the killer herself. Let the laughter begin.
There are lots of suspects to entertain the reader, Prozac becomes an internet star, her parents and their funny e-mails provide a recurring thread and her love life, as usual, is unpredictable at best. All the expected pieces are included and I came away feeling much less stressed.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Laura Levine's Jaine Austen mysteries are one of my favourite go-to comfort reads. They're fun, they're frothy, and best of all, they feature a hilariously diva-esque cat named Prozac! Murder Gets a Makeover is a fantastic and entertaining addition to the series. Jaine agrees to Lance's offer of a makeover only because a neighbour mistakes her for a homeless person, but she quickly regrets her decision when the stylist turns out to be hateful and mean. It's little surprise when the stylist turns up murdered; unfortunately, Jaine accidentally gets her prints on the murder weapon and becomes the prime suspect.

Murder Gets a Makeover is classic Jaine Austen. The mystery is lighthearted and more madcap than nail-biting, and the novel is chockfull of hilarious subplots. The spotlight is turned on Prozac after she saves a toddler's life. Really, she'd meant to steal the toddler's chicken nugget, but with all the media attention and an invitation to a steak dinner, Jaine's not about to correct anyone! Of course, Jaine and Prozac being who they are, Prozac's stardom doesn't quite benefit her owner as much as Jaine envisions, and the way this subplot unravels is a delight.

Even Jaine's beloved Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs T-shirt gets into a misadventure of its own! One of the first things the makeover stylist does is yank the shirt off Jaine and demand it be burned. Jaine sets off on a quest to rescue the tee, and a scene featuring Jello wrestling and an opponent called Cindy the Bulldozer is classic. Another subplot, featuring Jaine's parents and homeowner association president Lydia Pinkus, is equally hilarious, and a subplot involving Lance's investigation into a work rival is fun.

I do wish the central mystery had been fleshed out a bit more. The best Jaine Austen mysteries are those that truly plunge the reader into a madcap world, and give us a victim who's larger than life in their villainy and a cast of potential suspects whose motives are peeled away in layers. As unpleasant as the victim in Makeover was, she was far from iconic, and her presence barely hovers over the narrative after she's killed. Levine does give us the usual large cast of suspects, each with their own motives, but they disperse so quickly after the murder that the investigation merely dips our toes into their individual stories rather than immerses us fully in their world. Levine's subplots are usually just as entertaining, and at times more so, than her central mysteries, but in Makeover, they seemed to overshadow the central case more than usual. 

The big reveal did take me by surprise -- I had an inkling on the villain, but didn't guess their motive at all. Their motive was set up well in advance though, so well done to Levine for sneaking that in. Unfortunately, the climactic confrontation felt anticlimactic -- there was barely any sense of danger, and rather than super evil or super pathetic, the villain just seemed bland.

Still, overall Makeover is classic Jaine Austen. I love how much Prozac featured in this instalment, and I especially love that the Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs shirt got significant time in the spotlight. I don't think it's quite my favourite among the Jaine Austen books, but it's a solid addition to the series, and lots of fun to read.

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Thank you to Kensington Books for an egalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Once again Jaine finds herself in the middle of another murder. All she's trying to do is help her friend Bebe Braddock jazz up her instagram feed by doing a makeover. Unfortunately, this makeover isn't the only thing awry, Bebe is bossing everyone around and doesn't care who she insults.

Even though she was very unpleasant, finding the body of former Bebe sets everyone into panic. The number one suspect? Of course, Jaine! Not helping matters any is that Jaine's prints are found all over the murder weapon.

Jaine must solve the case and save herself and her career, before it all gets cut out of her life.

This 18th installment in the life of Jaine, her car Prozac, and her parents (who appear in emails), goes a bit over the top, Jaine's neighbor Lance persuaded her to serve as a before and after model for Bebe, a social media star and rather loathsome person. Bebe is murdered with a wire hanger (yes, I could only think "no wire hangers!) and Jaine is the prime suspect, Classic cozy territory except that this time Justin, Bebe's underage (he's 20) assistant starts romancing Jaine, Hmm. And Prozac becomes a star. Hmm. As always Jaine is obsessed by food, which can be annoying and now she's also crushing on other things as well. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Not my favorite of the series but it is an entertaining read that kept me guessing.

3.5 stars
Murder Gets A Makeover by Laura Levine is Jaine Austen and her mischievous cat Prozac’s newest adventure Jaine is a freelance writer and together with her cat always seem to get into awkward, embarrassing situations. This time, Jaine’s troubles begin when her friend Lance arranges for her to get a fashion makeover from the talented but hateful Bebe Braddock. At the same time, Prozac becomes a viral Internet sensation when she saves a toddler from getting hit by a car (but was really going after the little boy’s chicken nugget.) When Bebe is murdered, Jaine finds herself one of the suspects and must find the real killer to clear her name. No matter what trouble Prozac causes, Jaine loves her and always forgives her.

This book is funny, just like all the others I’ve read in this series. Jaine has plenty of suspects to investigate, including a hot younger man who seems to be crushing on Jaine. Anyone who has read other books in the series know that romance doesn’t usually go Jaine’s way, so throughout the book, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Jaine’s parents relay their latest escapades via a series of emails and while this sub-plot isn’t related to the murder, I really liked the story of their current catastrophe.

I enjoyed the book, but not as much as other entries in this humorous mystery series. I would recommend starting with some of the earlier books in the series that are laugh out loud funny and although they’re definitely light reading, have a little more substance to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an advance copy of this ebook. The book was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

My first in this series although it is the eighteenth instalment, Jaine Austen lives with her cat Prozac in L.A. Thirty-odd-year-old Jaine is a writer-for-hire and her best friend and neighbour, Lance thinks Jaime would appreciate a makeover. Bebe Braddock offers her services but is then found dead, strangled by someone using a wire coat hanger.

There is plenty to amuse in this great cozy including a mad deva-like feline and some crazy carry on from Jaime's parents. With a veritable bucketload of suspects, I was flummoxed whilst attempting to identify the culprit. A superb and wacky read in a new series for me. I'll be reading more by Laura Levine, for sure.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

Super funny entry in the Janie Austen series. I love the characters and the dry sense of humor throughout. Fans of the series will enjoy this title.

Jaine and her cat Prozac have more adventures when Jaine gets a makeover from a famed but hated stylist. ARC from NetGalley.

cozy-mystery, situational-humor, verbal-humor, laugh-riot, cats, series****

Jaine is a thirty something WFH free lance ad writer with an odd cat appropriately named Prozac. When her BFF talks her into getting a makeover she meets the Joan Crawford version of a makeover queen detested by all who knew her. Only one guess who turns up murdered, or who gets named Prime Suspect. The characters are great, just like the plot twists and red herrings. The whole book is too much fun! Absolutely loved it!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This was such a good book and I'm looking for the next one from this author. I love books where they have a good mystery with their makeover and this hit on all the plotlines and storytelling.