Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge By Laura Levine: Review/Giveaway

Nov 17, 2018 | 2018 Articles, Mysteryrat's Maze, Pets, Sandra Murphy

by Sandra Murphy

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a signed copy of Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge, a link to purchase it from Amazon, and an indie bookstore where a portion of the sale goes to help support KRL.

Jaine Austen (no relation) is a well-known writer. Well, she wrote that slogan for the Toiletmasters Plumbers. Everybody knows that one. Christmas is slow for writers so she and neighbor Lance are house sitting for one of his shoe buying customers. The house is a mansion, full of antiques and baubles like Ming vases and Fabergé eggs. It is also off limits for pets. Lance’s pup is willing to be boarded but Jaine’s cat, Prozac, was evicted after biting one of the staff—hard enough to require surgery.

mystery book coverJaine stashes Prozac in the kitchen, the room with the least number of breakables, but soon finds evidence of a jailbreak. Her cat managed to open a window and go next door to visit. The house is rundown and owned by a real cheapskate, Scotty Parker, former child star. His trophy wife, Missy, a boarder and Lupe, the maid, complete the household. For some reason, Prozac is taken with Missy and the feeling is mutual to the point that Missy offers to care for the cat until the house sitting job is over. Will Prozac be willing to return? It’s not looking promising.

Scotty goes out of his way to annoy the neighbors, complaining about Christmas lights, stooping to a bit of blackmail, and a few threats. It’s no wonder he’s conked on the head with a frozen Yule log (bought at a discount, of course). The problem will be to sift through the vast number of people who are thrilled he’s dead to find the one who actually made it happen.

Jaine has her hands full with Lance’s ideas for decorating for Christmas, the online dating service he signed her up for, and emails from her mom and dad who are on a cruise. You just can’t take her dad anywhere without ensuing chaos. This time he’s feuding with a bratty kid on board, plotting against a member of their group, and then there was the incident where he was put in the brig after running amok wearing nothing more than a loincloth and a purple fright wig.

This is book eighteen in the series. Jaine never ceases to entertain, get herself into impossible predicaments, and somehow, get everything right at the end. The emails from mom and dad are hilarious as each gives their version of events, which never match. Prozac is an original grumpy cat. Contempt is her best expression. Poor Lance, he’s always sure he’s met The One but he’s so obsessive, his love life, like Jaine’s, never works out.

For a lighthearted, fun filled holiday read, this series is a good place to start. Grab an eggnog and be prepared to laugh.

To enter to win a signed copy of Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “scrooge,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen December 1, 2018. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address (so if you win we can get the book sent right out to you), and if via comment please include your email address. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Be sure to check out our new mystery podcast too with mystery short stories, and first chapters.

Use this link to purchase the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

You can also use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the Arch in St. Louis Missouri. She writes about eco-friendly topics, pets and wildlife for magazines and reviews mysteries and thrillers for KRL. A collection of her short stories, published by Untreed Reads, From Hay to Eternity: Ten Tales of Crime and Deception can be found at all the usual outlets. Each one is a little weird and all have a twist you won’t see coming.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases using those links. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.

29 Comments

  1. Thanks so much for the chance to win. The book sounds so good. I love Christmas mysteries.

    Reply
  2. This series was among the first I read once I discovered what a cozy series was. Jaine always makes me laugh with her misadventures! This one is already on my tbr list. Renee

    Reply
  3. What a way to go, conked on the head with a frozen Yule log! Sounds like a fun story, I’m sure we’d enjoy it over the holidays. Thanks!! crs(at)codedivasites(dot)com

    Reply
  4. Sounds like a super book – thanks for the contest.

    Reply
  5. Sounds like a fun book 🙂
    Donah42 at aol dot com

    Reply
  6. Thanks for the chance to win.

    Reply
  7. Please enter me. I love holiday-themed mysteries.

    Reply
  8. I would love to win this. I love this series, and I can’t wait to read this! Thank you for the chance.

    Reply
  9. I would enjoy this book very much. Thanks for this feature and giveaway.

    Reply
  10. How is it possible that this is book 18 & I’ve never heard of the author or series. Sounds like a fun read though.
    Thanks for the chance to win.
    cameronbarbara@ymail.com

    Reply
  11. I love the cover and the story theme. Yes please, I’d love to be entered in the giveaway

    Reply
  12. Love this series, such fun reads. Looking forward to reading. Thanks for the chance.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  13. Sounds like a really fun and cute read. Thanks for the chance! JL_Minter@hotmail.com

    Reply
  14. would love to be entered in the sweepstakes. have been a longtime reader and fan of the Janie Austen Mysteries.

    Reply
  15. Absolutely love this series! What a great Xmas giveaway

    Reply
  16. Love the adventures of Jaine and Prozac! Thanks for the fun review and chance to win !

    Reply
  17. This book sounds like fun and it would certainly take away some of the Christmas stress.

    Reply
  18. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Reply
  19. I love Jane and Prozac, I read these books too quickly!

    Reply
  20. Thanks for a chance to win.

    Reply
  21. LOL. I love these. Jaine’s parents are a hoot and Prozac says what all cats are thinking.

    Reply
  22. I would love to win a nice cozy mystery. Helps pass the time on these long winter days. Thanks for the chance!!

    Reply
  23. Thanks for the opportunity to win a signed copy….My Favorite author and WTG on the review!!!!

    Reply
  24. Fantastic nessletter this week.
    So many books featured and
    this one sound like it will
    be a good one to start the
    new year. thanks for the
    chance. happy Thanksgiving
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply
  25. Thank you for this kind offer. Happy Holidayd@

    Reply
  26. We have a winner!

    Reply

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