Death Makes the Cut - (Jocelyn Shore Mystery) by Janice Hamrick (Paperback)

About the Book

When a fellow teacher is found dead, Jocelyn Shore must find his killer to clear an innocent man's name in a humorous and suspenseful follow-up to Hamrick's award-winning debut.

Book Synopsis

The first bell of the new school year hasn't even rung, and Texas high school teacher Jocelyn Shore is already at the scene of a murder. Friend and fellow teacher Fred Argus has been found dead on campus, and it isn't long before the annoying, albeit attractive, Austin police detective Colin Gallagher uncovers evidence that Fred might have been selling drugs to students. Shocked by her loss as well as the insinuation that Fred was a dealer who got what he deserved, Jocelyn starts asking the kinds of questions guaranteed to set fellow teachers, administrators, and parents on edge.

With the school serving as the setting for a big-time director's latest film, her investigation could hardly have come at a worse time. Jocelyn, however, finds clearing her friend's name far more important than the needs of a pesky movie crew and doesn't care who knows it. But it's only when she's attacked while on set that she realizes someone is determined to make sure the secrets hidden by Fred's death remain hidden no matter what the cost.

Humor, romance, and murder abound in Janice Hamrick's follow-up to her Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award--winning debut, Death on Tour, and make Death Makes the Cut a charming addition to this outstanding new series.

From the Back Cover

Murder is never by the book for Texas high school teacher and amateur sleuth Jocelyn Shore in Janice Hamrick's "winning sequel to her cozy debut" (Publishers Weekly).

"Death takes the Cut takes the series up a notch."--Bestsellers World

The first bell of the new school year hasn't even rung and Jocelyn Shore is already at the scene of a murder. Her friend and colleague Fred Argus has been found dead--and the evidence suggests he was selling drugs to his students. Shocked by the insinuation, Jocelyn takes it upon herself to lead an on-campus investigation, asking questions guaranteed to set fellow teachers, administrators, and parents on edge.

"Pleasant entertainment and a challenging mystery."--Kirkus Reviews

Jocelyn's case couldn't have come at a worse time: The school happens to be serving as the back-drop for a blockbuster film. But not even one of Hollywood's most notable directors can stop Jocelyn from clearing Fred's name. The truth becomes stranger than fiction, however, when Jocelyn is attacked on set. Soon she finds herself in the path of a killer determined to put a stop to her sleuthing--and do whatever it takes to keep the secrets surrounding Fred's death on the cutting-room floor....

"[Agatha] Christie's characters were never this smart-alecky."--Richmond Times-Dispatch

Review Quotes

-Death on Tour is fun, romantic, and delightful, and full of fascinating bits about ancient Egypt.- --Cleveland Plain Dealer on Death on Tour

-Hamrick does a good job capturing life on an exhausting budget tour as her snazzy if snarky amateur sleuth... investigates some fishy fellow tourists.- --Publishers Weekly on Death on Tour

-The cozy mystery was once limited to adorable English villages and the like, but it long ago outgrew its traditional boundaries. Janice Hamrick's Death on Tour is a charming example.- --The Seattle Times on Death on Tour

-A classy whodunit, Death on Tour also offers a trove of Egyptology and a wealth of humor --Christie's characters were never this smart-alecky. Hamrick plays fair with clues, and the alert reader has a fighting chance of identifying the culprit from among the cast of suspects.- --Richmond Times Dispatch on Death on Tour

-Janice Hamrick's debut mystery is highly recommended for those who love a charming, suspenseful, hilarious cozy with a happy, fairytale ending. (It's the perfect cozy for taking on vacation.)- --Gumshoe Review on Death on Tour

"Death on Tour is fun, romantic, and delightful, and full of fascinating bits about ancient Egypt." --Cleveland Plain Dealer on Death on Tour

"Hamrick does a good job capturing life on an exhausting budget tour as her snazzy if snarky amateur sleuth... investigates some fishy fellow tourists." --Publishers Weekly on Death on Tour

"The cozy mystery was once limited to adorable English villages and the like, but it long ago outgrew its traditional boundaries. Janice Hamrick's Death on Tour is a charming example." --The Seattle Times on Death on Tour

"A classy whodunit, Death on Tour also offers a trove of Egyptology and a wealth of humor --Christie's characters were never this smart-alecky. Hamrick plays fair with clues, and the alert reader has a fighting chance of identifying the culprit from among the cast of suspects." --Richmond Times Dispatch on Death on Tour

"Janice Hamrick's debut mystery is highly recommended for those who love a charming, suspenseful, hilarious cozy with a happy, fairytale ending. (It's the perfect cozy for taking on vacation.)" --Gumshoe Review on Death on Tour

Death on Tour is fun, romantic, and delightful, and full of fascinating bits about ancient Egypt. Cleveland Plain Dealer on Death on Tour

Hamrick does a good job capturing life on an exhausting budget tour as her snazzy if snarky amateur sleuth investigates some fishy fellow tourists. Publishers Weekly on Death on Tour

The cozy mystery was once limited to adorable English villages and the like, but it long ago outgrew its traditional boundaries. Janice Hamrick's Death on Tour is a charming example. The Seattle Times on Death on Tour

A classy whodunit, Death on Tour also offers a trove of Egyptology and a wealth of humor Christie s characters were never this smart-alecky. Hamrick plays fair with clues, and the alert reader has a fighting chance of identifying the culprit from among the cast of suspects. Richmond Times Dispatch on Death on Tour

Janice Hamrick's debut mystery is highly recommended for those who love a charming, suspenseful, hilarious cozy with a happy, fairytale ending. (It's the perfect cozy for taking on vacation.) Gumshoe Review on Death on Tour

"

"Death on Tour" is fun, romantic, and delightful, and full of fascinating bits about ancient Egypt. "Cleveland Plain Dealer on Death on Tour"

Hamrick does a good job capturing life on an exhausting budget tour as her snazzy if snarky amateur sleuth investigates some fishy fellow tourists. "Publishers Weekly on Death on Tour"

The cozy mystery was once limited to adorable English villages and the like, but it long ago outgrew its traditional boundaries. Janice Hamrick's "Death on Tour" is a charming example. "The Seattle Times on Death on Tour"

A classy whodunit, Death on Tour also offers a trove of Egyptology and a wealth of humor Christie s characters were never this smart-alecky. Hamrick plays fair with clues, and the alert reader has a fighting chance of identifying the culprit from among the cast of suspects. "Richmond Times Dispatch on Death on Tour"

Janice Hamrick's debut mystery is highly recommended for those who love a charming, suspenseful, hilarious cozy with a happy, fairytale ending. (It's the perfect cozy for taking on vacation.) "Gumshoe Review on Death on Tour""

"Death on Tour" is fun, romantic, and delightful, and full of fascinating bits about ancient Egypt.

Hamrick does a good job capturing life on an exhausting budget tour as her snazzy if snarky amateur sleuth investigates some fishy fellow tourists."

Praise for "Death on Tour"

The cozy mystery was once limited to adorable English villages and the like, but it long ago outgrew its traditional boundaries. Janice Hamrick's "Death on Tour" is a charming example.

Praise for "Death on Tour"

""Death on Tour" is fun, romantic, and delightful, and full of fascinating bits about ancient Egypt."
--"Cleveland Plain Dealer"

"Hamrick does a good job capturing life on an exhausting budget tour as her snazzy if snarky amateur sleuth... investigates some fishy fellow tourists."
--"Publishers Weekly"

"The cozy mystery was once limited to adorable English villages and the like, but it long ago outgrew its traditional boundaries. Janice Hamrick's "Death on Tour" is a charming example."
--"The Seattle Times"

"A classy whodunit, "Death on Tour" also offers a trove of Egyptology and a wealth of humor --Christie's characters were never this smart-alecky. Hamrick plays fair with clues, and the alert reader has a fighting chance of identifying the culprit from among the cast of suspects."
--"Richmond Times Dispatch"

"Janice Hamrick's debut mystery is highly recommended for those who love a charming, suspenseful, hilarious cozy with a happy, fairytale ending. (It's the perfect cozy for taking on vacation.)"--"Gumshoe Review"

Praise for "Death Makes the Cut

""Winning sequel to her 2011 cozy debut, "Death on Tour"... Credible characters and a realistic look at school politics bolster the fast-moving humorous plot."
--"Publishers Weekly""

""Jocelyn's appealing first-person narration, romantic complications, and plenty of humor add to the mystery, which will appeal to fans of Chris Cavender's Pizza Lovers series."
"--Booklist
""
""The cast of characters provides both pleasant entertainment and enough suspects to yield a challenging mystery."
"--Kirkus""Reviews

"Praise for "Death on Tour"

"Death on Tour is fun, romantic, and delightful, and full of fascinating bits about ancient Egypt."
---"The Plain Dealer" (Cleveland)

"A classy whodunit, "Death on Tour" also offers a trove of Egyptology and a wealth of humor---Christie's characters were never this smart-alecky. Hamrick plays fair with clues, and the alert reader has a fighting chance of identifying the culprit from among the cast of suspects."
---"Richmond Times-Dispatch
"
"Hamrick does a good job capturing life on an exhausting budget tour as her snazzy if snarky amateur sleuth . . . investigates some fishy fellow tourists."
---"Publishers Weekly"

"The cozy mystery was once limited to adorable English villages and the like, but it long ago outgrew its traditional boundaries. Janice Hamrick's Death on Tour is a charming example."
---"The Seattle Times"

Praise for "Death on Tour"

"Death on Tour is fun, romantic, and delightful, and full of fascinating bits about ancient Egypt."
---"The Plain Dealer" (Cleveland)

"A classy whodunit, "Death on Tour" also offers a trove of Egyptology and a wealth of humor---Christie's characters were never this smart-alecky. Hamrick plays fair with clues, and the alert reader has a fighting chance of identifying the culprit from among the cast of suspects."
---"Richmond Times-Dispatch
"
"Hamrick does a good job capturing life on an exhausting budget tour as her snazzy if snarky amateur sleuth . . . investigates some fishy fellow tourists."
---"Publishers Weekly"

"The cozy mystery was once limited to adorable English villages and the like, but it long ago outgrew its traditional boundaries. Janice Hamrick's Death on Tour is a charming example."
---"The Seattle Times"

About the Author

Janice Hamrick is the author of two titles in her Jocelyn Shore mystery series. The first, Death on Tour, was the winner of the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition, a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award, and a nominee for the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards Best First Mystery. She lives in Austin, Texas.