The PMS Murder

I love all her books

I'm a really big mystery reader and a very picky reader. This book and series is great. It has its funny moments and then it has enough suspense to keep you hooked. It is a great read. I would suggest you start with the first book in the series but make sure you make it too this one. Another great book by Laura Levine.

I love this series; these books are wonderful. I have read them all and have enjoyed each book throughly. In this installment Jaine is trying to put her cat Prozac on a diet while solving the murder of the most hated member of the club. Will she solve the case before she becomes the next club victim.

I just love reading Laura Levine's Jaine Austen books! They cause me to laugh out loud throughout. The hysterical emails from her parents are funnier because they are close to reality for so many people. The senior citizen memoir class is a hoot but with an undercurrent of sadness and sweetness anyone who knows elderly people can relate to. And Jaine has so many of my foibles I feel like she could be my close friend. I love the way she deals with her embarrassments and fears. Laura Levine has such a witty mind she's just a pleasure to read. Can't wait for the next one!

As a previous reviewer indicated, this book came out at an ideal time of the year. For anyone who is traveling in an airport, lying on the beach, enjoying a summer picnic or barbecue--or simply anyone who wishes they were doing any of those things--"The PMS Murder" is an ideal read. Levine obviously enjoys writing the Jaine Austen character, and the novel is well-written, fast-paced, and charmingly good-humored throughout. "PMS," like all of Levine's previous books, is highly recommended for anyone who doesn't like to take their murder mysteries too seriously. Fun stuff.

It all starts with a chance meeting. Freelance writer Jaine Austen is shopping when she meets Pam. They hit it off right from the start, and Pam invites Jaine to join her women's support group. Calling themselves the PMS Club, they get together once a week to drink margaritas, eat guacamole, and complain about their lives. Jaine goes, and has a great time meeting everyone. Well, almost everyone. Marybeth is overly perky to the point of annoying. She also had a known allergy to peanuts; so when she drops over dead after having some guacamole laced with peanut oil, the obvious conclusion is murder. Since several of the members of the club are rich, the story makes local headlines. Jaine is less then thrilled to become such a public suspect in a murder, especially since it hampers her ability to land a decent paying job. So what else can she do but investigate the other members of the PMS Club herself to find the killer. The more she digs, the more motives she turns up. Seems everyone in the club had a reason to kill Marybeth. But are there any clues out there? Of course, Jaine can never deal with just one problem at a time. She's also been forced to put her cat on a diet. Somehow, the cat seems to be getting fatter as a result. Then there's the new member of the memoir writing class she teaches at the local retirement home. The very sexy (for a senior citizen) woman has caught the attention of the lone man of the group and made the other women bitter. Plus her dad is convinced her parent's new neighbor is a wanted professional assassin. If you're looking for a light mystery perfect for a vacation that is guaranteed to make you laugh, you've come to the right place. This series is fun bordering on the silly at times. There's nothing too deep here, but that's perfectly all right because what is here is entertaining. The murder storyline starts off a little slow while the other storylines and the new characters are introduced. Once Marybeth dies, the murder does begin to take center stage, with the other storylines taking their rightful place in the background. The murder comes together nicely at the end. I didn't have a clue who done it until Jaine figured it out. The sub-plots have nice resolutions as well. Then there are the characters. Jaine is a loveable heroine with a great sense of humor. Her asides and quips are often hilarious although the "He didn't say it but I know he was thinking it" can get old at times. The cast of new characters is well developed. Marybeth was getting on my nerves before she died, and I felt sorry for Rochelle, the police's prime suspect. And then there's the writing style. The story is narrated first person with a very casual tone as if Jaine is telling the story to a friend. This makes her witty observations feel right at home. I especially love the lines she gives the cat. No, this isn't a talking cat, just the thoughts that Jaine is sure the cat has. With a summer release, the