Killing Cupid a Jaine Austen mystery by Laura Levine

Review by Gerti

“Killing Cupid” is another funny mystery from the author of the Jaine Austen mysteries, Laura Levine. Unlike other authors who have gotten their literary inspiration from famed British novelist Jane Austen, Laura Levine’s only connection with the original author is the heroine’s name. This is not even a running joke in this book, as it was in Levine’s first novel, “This Pen for Hire.” Perhaps author Levine realized that not that many people who read mysteries know who Jane Austen is, or perhaps she feels the joke is no longer funny. It never was, but I forgive her because so many of her other jokes hit the mark.

Levine’s has been writing comedy for a long time. She wrote for such classic TV shows as “The Bob Newhart Show” and “Laverne and Shirley” and her skills are one display here, as heroine Jaine solves yet another murder, after being a suspect first. Her comic antics are laugh-out-loudable, but also plausible, which is what makes them so fun! These comic turns are what I really love about the book, and the series.

In “Killing Cupid”, Jaine is a freelance writer who gets the call of a lifetime. Famed matchmaker Joy Amoroso wants her to do some writing for “Dates of Joy,” Beverly Hill’s premier matchmaking firm. When she gets there, Jaine finds the place filled with employees who are malcontents and freaks, as Joy is a monster to work for. Not only that, but she cheats her clients, by getting models (male and female) to come in and leave their headshots, and then presenting them as clients so that other less endowed humans will sign up to date them, for big bucks. Jaine is supposed to be writing the bios for these beautiful people, and even though she finds the work less than ethical, she has a stack of bills to pay.

Some of the usual cast of characters makes an appearance in this novel, like Jaine’s nosey neighbor Lance Venable. Unlike in Levine’s first book where he is a nebbish with super hearing, he is presented as homosexual here, a trait which gets more pronounced in her book “Death of a Neighborhood Witch.”

I’m also tired of the frequent references to Jaine’s cat, Prozac, but I understand that is part of Levine’s schtick, just as Joanne Fluke‘s cat is an important character in all her Hannah Swensen food-related mysteries. Jaine’s parents also make frequent appearances through a series of e-mails from their retirement home in Tampa Vistas. This is like a Seinfeld episode, where Jerry’s crazy parents always have some antics going on. While a comic diversion, it seems to be filler for a book without enough action by the main characters.

In short, Levine’s comic talents and easy writing style make it a pleasure to go along for this kill ride. The twist ending will leave even savvy readers surprised.