Death on Tour by Janice Hamrick

I loved Death on Tour by Janice Hamrick which was the winner of Mystery Writers of America/Minotaur Books First Crime Novel Award. 


Ms. Hamrick immerses us in the tour of Egyptian statues, pyramids and throws in a few artifacts for good measure. Her descriptions of the scenery are delightful and her character, Joceylyn, is surrounded by quirky tourists. With a little romance and trying to figure out "who done it" I was mesmerized from beginning to end.


In her mystery, she used her experiences from a trip to Egypt and it shows up in the detail. One of the gems that I gleaned from the novel was about Kitchener's Island named for a British general.


A big thank you to Bookhounds for sending me the book as winner of their giveaway.

Death on Tour

When the most obnoxious member of her Egyptian tour group is found dead at the base of a pyramid, Texas high school history teacher Jocelyn Shore mostly hopes her camel ride won’t be canceled. After all, a stranger’s unfortunate mishap shouldn’t ruin the adventure of a lifetime. But this death was no accident, and as the group travels south into the heart of Egypt, Jocelyn begins to realize that no one on the bus is exactly what they seem.

For instance, why is the attractive Alan Stratton traveling all alone and asking such odd questions? Who is their tour guide calling in the middle of the night and what is making him so uneasy? And how did her aggravating cousin Kyla stuff so many matching outfits into one suitcase?

From the jovial doctor haggling for trinkets he doesn’t want to the mysterious imposter wearing someone else’s clothing, this group of tourists is carrying more than one kind of baggage. Add a mistaken identity, a priceless necklace, and one dead Egyptian to the mix, and Jocelyn finds herself reluctantly trying to unravel an intrigue that threatens to end not only her vacation, but her life.

I was disappointed when I realized this was a first novel, but she has a new book coming out this month - I can't wait to read it.

Coming July, 2012!

Death Makes the Cut

When a friend is found dead of an apparent heart attack on the first day of school, Texas high school teacher Jocelyn Shore must put aside her own grief to assist his students, even if it means agreeing to fill in as tennis coach. With luck, a replacement will soon be found, and she’ll have time to sort out her fragile long-distance relationship with Alan Stratton. But Coach Fred’s death was no heart attack, and when the police find planted evidence of drugs in his desk, Jocelyn must act quickly to clear Fred’s good name.