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Jaine Austen (her mother is an Anglophile with a spelling defect) is a freelance writer in Los Angeles who needs employment to keep her cat Prozac in kibbles and herself in Ben and Jerry ice cream. When Beverly Hills socialite Sue Ellen Kingsley offers Jaine $3,000 a week to help her write a book on hostess tips (read that: ghost-write the book), Jaine can't afford to refuse. Besides it will give her an opportunity to have a glimpse into how the 'other half' lives. She meets Sue Ellen, an anorexic who spends much of her time in a bubble bath. Jaine must take her dictation sitting uncomfortably on the toilet seat while Sue Ellen expounds on the hostess tips which are more suitable for a hostess with a full staff of servants than for the average homemaker. Sue Ellen is married to one of Beverly Hills' finest plastic surgeons who was responsible for Sue Ellen's breasts, described by Jaine as 'flotation devices'. Sue Ellen is mean to everyone but especially to her stepdaughter, 16-year-old Heidi. Heidi is the direct opposite of Sue Ellen: overweight, shy and unable to fend for herself. Jaine feels very sympathetic toward her. Finding the situation onerous Jaine decides that the pay is not worth the pain of working for Sue Ellen and decides to return to tender her resignation. To her dismay and shock she finds Sue Ellen floating face-down in her tub, apparently killed by her blow dryer. The prime suspect by the police is the unhappy Heidi whose account of seeing a blonde fleeing the scene is treated with scepticism. However Jaine believes Heidi, and sets out to find the blonde, presumably the killer. She finds that there is no lack of suspects; natural blondes, peroxide blondes, bewigged blondes. There are quite a few people who have reason to kill Sue Ellen. Meanwhile from across the country she must try to resolve her parents' problems. Her parents are in crisis. Her father has purchased a used toupee which he insists on wearing even though it looks horrid. Her mother is beside herself with frustration. And there follows a series of emails which are a story in themselves. This is the fourth of the series featuring Jaine Austen. Each succeeding book becomes more entertaining as we enjoy Jaine's adventures. Jaine's relationship with her parents is hilarious and she is a sympathetic and charming character. Her defense and desire to help Heidi is only one indication of her willingness to help others. The plot is fast moving and suspenseful. It leaves the reader in doubt of the killer until the surprising culmination of Jaine's search.
Reviewed by Barbara Buhrer, August 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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