Books like This Pen for Hire by Laura Levine

Jaine Austen, a freelance writer who pens steamy personals for a living, unexpectedly becomes an amateur sleuth when a letter of adoration from the geeky Howard Murdoch ends up for a murder victim. Howard’s desire to win the affections of aerobics instructor Stacy Lawrence leads to a love letter that promptly results in a date. The romance, however, is cut short when Stacy is slain with a thigh‑master on Valentine’s Day, and Howard is accused as a prime suspect. Jaine isn’t convinced of Howard’s guilt, and her curiosity turns her into a detective. She discovers a web of resentments from several people who hold hidden feelings toward Stacy. Amid the effort to piece together clues, Jaine must outwit the killer and protect herself from a murderer who seems willing to alter the tone of her ghostwriting career. The mystery evolves into a humorous, yet suspenseful, journey through the quirks of modern relationships, the world of freelance writing, and the classic spirit of a detective story.

First publish date: 2003