unpleasant-victims, laugh-riot, situational-humor, verbal-humor, amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, series, murder, investigation, closed-circle-mystery, suspense*****

Jaine Austen is a thirty something WFH free-lance ad writer who has this cat. The cat's name is Prozac and Jaine often wishes she had a dose when the cat acts up and talks back. This time she is to ghostwrite a fitness manual (say what?!) for an unscrupulous aging fitness guru. First off she has to join a private train ride with all the best suspects (great characters), but she is the one maneuvered into finding the body. Guess who the law zeroes in on. This is a totally perfect stress buster, and it even has a good investigation. The whole book is too much fun! Absolutely loved it!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This was another fun romp with Jaine, her wacky neighbor Lance, and her feisty cat Prozac. The emails inserted throughout the book from Jaine's parents are hilarious!

Jaine accepts a job ghostwriting a fitness book for Chip Miller, a wealthy gym chain owner. Chip invites her on his private train so she can begin working on his book. Also on the train are his fiance, adult son and daughter, daughter in law, sister, a coworker, and the small staff on the train. Chip quickly proves himself to be a controlling egomaniac who treats everyone like dirt. When he's murdered on the train, Jaine becomes the main suspect and puts herself in danger by trying to find the real killer.

The ending was a nice surprise which may take this series in a whole new direction. Love, love, love this delightful series.

It is Murder on the Iron Man Express, as aptly named writer Jaine Austen finds herself aboard a private railcar in the hopes of being $20k richer after being hired to write a fitness book. When she discovers said client's tyrannical nature may cost her more than she was hoping to make, she should've run for the hills.

Unable to say no to food more than once, she finds herself in a bind when she agrees to meetings that were screaming with red flags. Will it cost her freedom when she becomes the suspect in murder or even her life when she gets too close.

Although you want to scream in frustration with some of the decisions she makes, readers also won't be able to help rooting for her to get her happy ending. I just hope this isn't the end of the road for one of my favorite amateur sleuths.

Jaine and Prozac are back and ready to solve another mystery while causing some chaos and mayhem on the way. After being hired to write an exercise book, of all things, Jaine finds herself as a suspect in a murder. It is time to put her detective cap back on and clear her name while still being able to clear her plate. While all of this is going on, Jaine's Daddyo is driving her mother crazy down in Florida, as usual, this time dressed like Elvis.

I always love catching up with Jaine and Prozac and reading her mother and father's updates about life in the HOA.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I love these books! Jaine and Prozac are always hilarious. This book takes jaine on a private train car to help write an exercise trip. Of course someone ends up dead and jaine is a suspect. However she starts investigating and finds herself in hot water for interfering. I did not see the ending coming nor did I have the killer figured out!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I always enjoy Levine’s cozy mysteries and this one was no exception. Her cast of characters are back for another murder, and this one aboard a train. I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong. Plus that last chapter was totally shocking to me. Curious to see where this goes next. If you like Levine’s mysteries, check this one out when it’s released this summer.

Jaine Austen is my go-to-gal when I need a cozy mystery pick-me-up.

This installment did not disappoint.

The epilogue has me a little worried, though. Is this the end of her romantic mishaps and sleuthing?

Whenever I get burned out on serious and suspenseful thrillers, I turn to cozies, and especially Laura Levine’s humorous novels in her popular Jaine Austen series. I recently picked up the 20th installment, Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket , and laughed all the way through. Jaine Austen, who is a free-lance writer, gets a job ghostwriting a fitness book for a wealthy gym owner, Chip Miller. He insists she (and her cat, Prozac) go on a private train trip with him and his staff, and discovers that he is a narcissistic jerk who treats everyone terribly and hires and fires constantly. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), Chip is murdered during this trip and Jaine discovers the body. Since she is the prime suspect, she goes into sleuthing mode to discover which of Chip’s staff has a motive to kill him. That turns out to be everyone. Jaine works to narrow it down so that she isn’t a suspect.

Laura Levine’s trademark is humor. Jaine, the protagonist, can’t resist food – Oreos, chips, dessert, etc., and has the hips to prove it. Levine weaves Jaine’s food cravings and fantasies throughout, and they are not only humorous, but mouthwatering. Jaine is also looking for a companion, and gets herself into trouble going after one of the waiters on the train, Sean, who is in love with her cat, Prozac. Prozac always finds a way to throw Jaine under the bus during ill-fated dates with suspects for anyone who gives her attention.

Levine does an excellent job of developing the characters – readers will love them – and also weaving a good story. She includes emails from her parents in Florida, which are fun, and subplots with her gay neighbor, Lance.

All told, anyone who needs cheering up or to laugh, will want to pick up this fast read.

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

I just love Jaine Austen. In this cozy mystery series our mc, Jaine and her cat Prozac get involved with a murder. In this case the murder of Chip Miller, the owner of a series of gyms, hires Jaine to help him write a fitness book. Chip is a miserable man, hated by all his employees and family members. When Jaine finds Chip dead, she immediately becomes the police's favorite suspect. Enter Jaine with her detective hat!
Jaine's parents make their appearance in the always funny emails she receives from Tampa Vistas. This book was every bit as delightful as the rest of the series has been and is sure to bring new fans to Laura Levine's books.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this digital ARC.

My favorite Jaine Austin, a writer always looking for her next gig gets caught up with a new client that she wants to ghost write for.
On a long train ride, full of people who are not found of her client, she tries to convince him. He is not a pleasant fellow at all but she needs the work.
Then she finds him dead. Her prints are on the weapon and she becomes the most likely suspect. She has to prove her innocence.

A delightful romp with mystery and comedy.

I'm a huge fan of this series. Laura Levine is a former television sitcom writer and her sharp wit is displayed on every page. You can read the plot description on Amazon, but I will tell you that this series never gets stale and I wish it could go on forever. Jaine's cat Prozac is a hoot and I love the way she comments on the action and on Jaine's motives. Like a feline Greek chorus. Jaine's parents-who moved to a retirement village in Tampa--are hilarious and send zany texts to Jaine in every book. I can't believe this is book 20--it is laugh out loud funny and delightul as the first!

𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐞. 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨, 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞, 𝐩𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐭.

The Jaine Austen mystery series is one of my absolute favorites! This was installment number 20 but still felt fresh and fun.

Jaine, a freelance writer, lives with her neurotic cat Prozac, who seems to adore everyone but Jaine. She pays the rent with her snazzy ads ("In a Rush to Flush? Call Toiletmasters!") but longs for something more. When the chance presents itself to write a health and wellness book for a hefty sum of money, Jaine pushes aside the pints of Chunky Monkey and rolls up her sleeves to start. Her client is the arrogant Chip Miller, owner of a successful chain of gyms. Her assignment includes an exclusive train ride from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. The passengers include Chip himself, along with some of his family workers and employees. When Jaine sees firsthand how awful Chip treats everyone, she isn't surprised at all to find him smothered to death in his room.

Once again, Jaine finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation, but this one is a little different as sparks fly between Jaine and a passenger on the train. Is she really making a love connection, or is her potential beau trying to derail her investigation?

One of the few cozy series with some true laugh out loud moments, this installment was so enjoyable. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the early read. This title will publish June 25, 2024.

#MurderBuysaOneWayTicket #NetGalley is the best book of 2024 so far!
Laura Levine is one of my favorite authors, and Jaine Austin is my favorite character of all.
Jaine is a typical thirty something, a little chubby, single, living with her neurotic cat, Prozac.
After a disastrous marriage, Jaine is content working as a free lance writer, sharing laughs and good food with friends, and having to prove her innocence each time she finds herself wrapped up in a murder investigation.
In #MurderBuysaOneWayTicket , Jaine is hoping to get a gig ghost writing an exercise and wellness book, but naturally, nothing goes as planned.
As Jaine discovers a dead body and a greedy family , she realizes that she needs to save herself before she ends up behind bars, after all, our Jaine would never survive on prison food.
Between the odd situations Jaine gets herself into and the emails from her parents, #MurderBuysaOneWayTicket #NetGalley, will have you laughing until the end, which I will admit I may have cheered for Jaine and shed a happy tear.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book, and thank you to Laura Levine, for writing such a great series and keeping me laughing with Jaine and company.

I love, love, love Laura Levine and her Jaine Austen mysteries!!!!!! They are mu favorite cozy mysteries and this latest is amazing! Great, fun read.