I am a sucker for the Jaine Austen series.
Jaine's mom's shopping network addiction and her dad's exploits keep me laughing.
So glad that the author continues to include the emails between parents and daughter.
These books are quick and easy to read.
Recommended for fans of funny, light mysteries.

This is a delightful book # 19 in the Jaine Austen Mystery series, which I am hooked on.

Laura Levine has a divine talent for weaving a serious situation like murder with incredibly funny antics, sarcasm and hilarious expressions and reactions.

Prozac (a perfect name for this feline protagonist), the nutty cat “owns” a human named Jaine Austen, and causes all sorts of funny situations.
The author has such a heightened sense of humor, and she translates that into the pages of all her books. My wife and I have “howled” at some of the funny descriptions, situations and dialogue. She is a master at keeping you hooked and laughing.

I only wish that Jaine would be able to find fulfillment and permanent love. I love it when a cozy series’ heroine does meet (and keep) the love of her life. I will continue reading more Jaine Austen mysteries and will be hoping for that.

This is an easy read, and you will finish reading it quickly…and then you’ll want more… I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for making this book available to me to read and review.

WARNING: Crude content, innuendo, and cursing. Not a cozy mystery.

The first half of the book goes into detail about Jaine (a food-obsessed woman) getting an annoying but paying job doing rewrites for a play based on a cancelled tv show called I Married a Zombie. The show was reportedly dreadful.

Producer/writer/director/backer of the play, David (who had won the lottery), and his girlfriend Becca (the doormat and finance department), had loved the sitcom and dreamed of taking it to the stage; and someday...Broadway! They were delusional. The script was perhaps a micron better that the tv series (of 9 episodes).

Disaster did not show up until a non-actress waitress with an adorable face and a complete absence of talent came for an audition as the lead, Cryptessa. David was instantly in lust (forgetting his girlfriend except to shout orders at her) and hired Misty the siren on the spot.

After Misty has belittled and abused everyone, especially Becca (the forgotten girlfriend), she is murdered. Yay. Jaine offers to work her detecting magic and save the accused. None of this is a surprise.

This book is apparently supposed to be hilarious. I smiled a time or two, but I can only assume the story's descent into muck must be a further attempt at humor. Things had been iffy until now, but as the story goes on, the book's author becomes even more crude in subject and descriptions of Jaine's thoughts (or the actions of others), through to the end--which is tied up in a grubby bow.

It does not qualify as a cozy mystery, in my opinion, and I regret choosing to read it.

2/5 Stars

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the temporary digital preview; any review is voluntary and completely my own opinion.

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Death by Smoothie by Jane Levine is book #19 in the Jaine Austen Mystery series. In this book freelance writer and amateur sleuth Jaine Austen gets a job doing rewrites for a play based on a former TV program. The play is poorly written and Jaine finds herself rewriting and having the rewrites not accepted very well. Then the very unlikable star of the play is murdered. Jaine takes it upon herself to try to solve the murder. As usual Jaine interviews suspects and works out the eventual correct conclusion. I liked this book as it had some well-written characters and fun dialogue.

Freelance writer Jaine Austen is all too familiar with the short-lived sitcom I Married a Zombie—she once solved the murder of its star, Cryptessa Muldoon. But in true zombie fashion, Cryptessa is back from the grave—sort of—courtesy of a new theatrical production, and murder is on the bill once more. This series is so much fun and never gets old. If you haven’t been following the adventures of Janine and Prozac, start now with this book. Can’t wait for the next one! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

I love this series! You never know what craziness Jaine is going to get into. The emails from her parents are hilarious as always. Keep em coming.

I have really enjoyed all of the books in this series, but this one was lacking -sadly, I feel like this series is coming to an end.

Thank you NetGalley, Laura Levine and Kensington Books for the ARC of Death by Smoothie. This is my personal review.
It was great to be back with Jaine Austen and her cat Prozac!
This mystery involves Jaine getting a job helping with the script of a screenplay. Of course, as it usually does things never go, the way she thinks they are going to. This time the leading actress is murdered when her smoothie has poison put in it and Jaine is going to have a bit of trouble finding out who is guilty because there are a lot of suspects.
Death by Smoothie is book 19 in the Jaine Austen Mystery Series.

It's hard to believe the compilation of difficult things that happen to Jaine Austen. They are laugh out loud funny and poignantly pathetic at the same time. Just when I think something good will happen for Jaine, the rug is once again pulled out from under her. She is dogged in her attention to solving crimes and loyal to her friends. Her integrity in the face of her challenges is inspiring. Plus her parents...just hysterical. I look forward to more, and hope that there can be a little constancy and hope in Jaine's life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Death by Smoothie is about a freelance writer, Jaine, with a snarky cat, Prozac, an always-helpful gay neighbor, Lance, devoted parents who drive each other crazy in a retirement community miles away in Florida, and a best friend, Kandi, writer for an animated TV series about a cockroach, in a cozy mystery that's like being dropped into a sitcom where the person who most deserves it is always murdered off.

Punching-up a script for a play based on a flop sitcom with a cult following-- I Married a Zombie, is Jaine's newest nightmare of a job ----and readers who are sick to death of beautiful size 0, marathon-running heroines who are always forgetting to eat and end up with predictably rich, powerful, hunky husband have found their newest, favorite fun read in Death By Smoothie.

Jaine Austen is back. She is asked to help edit a play only to have the hated leading lady be killed by smoothie. She has to snoop around to figure out who did it. ARC from NetGalley.

Always a fun romp with fun characters. Light hearted and the cat is a great addition. What more could you want?

Young adult literary cozy
Jaine Austin writes ad copy and is scrambling for more work. She lives with her obnoxious cat Prozac who put her in uncomfortable positions on a regular basis, forming quite a bit of humorous situations. She lives alone with her cat, but has regular interaction with her parents, more embarrassment.
She is able to pick up a side job fixing (an unfixable) screenplay, but really wants the money cushion. The director/lead is paying the bills and has chosen a lead actress nobody likes. Big surprise...she turns up dead on the set and the police are closely checking out everyone.
Ms. Levine brings humor to Jaine’s everyday life struggles.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse gratis and offer my opinion in the same.

The situations Jaine gets into are hilarious. I feel bad for her, but she seems to take everything in stride. I can't remember if Jaine has ever gone to visit her parents in one of the books, but I would love to have some first person observations on her parents. The e-mails are the best! I'm already eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!

Death by Smoothie is the 19th installment of Laura Levine’s bestselling series featuring Jaine Austen and her cat, Prozac. Jaine is hired to fix a script based on a previous script she had written that had gained a cult following over the years. When the boss hires Misty to play the main part, several of the cast members threaten to quit; Misty is hated by everyone and has not talent. But she does require a smoothie every day at 3:00 p.m., and one day someone spikes her smoothie with rat poison. Although no one mourns her death, Jaine follows the clues to hopefully solve the murder.

Anyone who has read the previous novels in the series will appreciate that Levine has not lost her touch, and this novel is witty and fun. Jaine is well-developed, and unlike most heroines, isn’t beautiful or charming. Prozac, her cat, is not only typical of a cat, but adds personality to the story and cat owners’ will relate. Levine, who is a TV comedy writer and author of this cozy series, is an excellent story teller and the story flows in spite of the building suspense and twists and turns in the novel. Death by Smoothie is one that is hard to put down and is full of humor.

Anyone who likes cozies, especially funny ones, should immediately pick up this well-written novel. Fans will appreciate a bit of humor in their lives, and Levine can give it to them.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

I love this full series and this book is no exception! It’s a fun and quick read with great characters and lots of humour.

A light read. I so enjoyed Jane and her love of her cat, comfy clothing and food. The dynamic of her parents emails woven into the story is always a hoot.

This is the 19th book in the humorous cozy Jaine Austin mystery series. I have read each and every one and enjoyed them all. In this book Maine has been hired to do some script revisions and comedic additions on a revitalized cult classic, I Married a Zombie. Jaine finds the play has a horrible script and even a more horrible leading lady. Unfortunately, the leading lady dies after her 3 pm Smoothie has been tampered with which starts Jaine's investigate juices.
The murder aside I love Jaine's hilarious side comments to the reader as well as the emails from her parents in Florida. The mystery is a good one with a variety of suspects. I did not guess the murderer, however, I did yearn for Chunky Monkey Ice Cream while reading this book.
my only con is that isn't time at this stage for Jaine to find love?
Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. It publishes 11/29/22

Death by Smoothie is the nineteenth installment in the A Jaine Austen Mystery series set outside Beverly Hills and featuring freelance writer Jaine Austen and her finicky feline, Prozac. Jaine has been hired to write revisions for a revival play, I Married a Zombie.

The script is awful and Misty, the woman cast as the leading lady is even worse. Misty has no acting background, can't read the script without also reading the stage directions, and demands a break each afternoon to slurp down a smoothie. When Misty dies after drinking a smoothie, there is no shortage of suspects which include the cast and producers, and Jaine finds herself in the role of detective.

An enjoyable laugh out loud read with all mishaps that one comes to expect from Jaine, her neighbor Lance and her email writing parents. Jaine accidentally ends up wining a date at a Bachelor Auction, Prozac is learning to walk outside on a leash, Lance is obsessed with his beau of the month, her Dad is planning a talent show routine featuring a top hat wearing iguana.

I received an advanced copy of Death by Smoothie from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.

Laura Levine has written a new installment in her Jaine Austin series. In Death by Smoothie, Jaine Austin is asked to be a script doctor for a play called I Married a Zombie. However, during one of the rehearsals, the leading actress, Misty, dies after drinking a smoothie that had rat poisoning in it. Misty was not the nicest person and she was a terrible actress so there are plenty of suspects. While Jaine is trying to solve the murder, she has to deal with a couple of disastrous dates with a guy who she bid on at a bachelor action. Her cat and the mischief that she creates. Also, her father decides that he is going to tap dance with an iguana on his head for a talent show. Unfortunately, the iguana disappears.

Death By Smoothie was one of the best cozy mysteries that I have read. The situations that Jaine experiences are extremely humorous such as the time when her date tells her that he is taking her to a fancy buffet for lunch. However, it turns out that they are crashing a funeral luncheon! Finally, this story is full of suspenseful twists and quirky characters.