Although this will probably get shelved with cozy mysteries at the library, it has a much more classic feel to it than many of those everyman titles. I thoroughly enjoyed Hamrick's debut mystery, starring cousins Jocelyn and Kyla. Having shared a love of all things mummies back in the day, they seem like perfect companions for a WorldPal tour of Egypt. The descriptions of their fellow tourmates and poor Millie, the deceased are wonderful. Their reactions to most of the situations ring very true and it is only by accident that Jocelyn reaches certain conclusions. I can't wait to read Hamrick's next mystery later this summer. ( )

Jocelyn Shore and her cousin are on a package tour of Egypt when a fellow traveler is killed. No one on the tour seems to be exactly who they claim to be and suspicious events, including a second murder, pile up. Jocelyn is most confused by The handsome man for whose attention she feels in competition with her flirtatious and prettier cousin. Good for a first effort, and winner of the Edgar Award for best first crime novel. The lack of extreme violence and the romance element definitely puts this work in the cozy category.

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Jocelyn Shore and her cousin Kyla are on the tour of their dreams in Egypt when on the first day of the tour, the irritating and nosy Millie (also on the tour) is found dead in the sand. Bummer. Even bigger bummer when they soon learn that Millie was murdered. However, the tour must go on. But when another death occurs, the same way Millie was killed, Jocelyn is sure that the murderer is part of the tour group. Could it be the doctor who is constantly haggling with the locals? Oh, please don't let it be the only single, and attractive man on the tour. Regardless, Joycelyn is determined to find out.

This is a great start to a new series. At least I hope it will be a series. I really liked Jocelyn and her cranky cousin, Kyla. The tour folks were fun and quirky. I love stories set in Egypt so this was right up my alley. There was plenty of information about Egypt without overdoing it. Although I had solved the mystery fairly early on, I was not absolutely sure until the reveal. For me, cozies are more about the people and the setting than the mystery anyway. This book has personality and atmosphere in spades. If there is another, I will surely be reading it. ( )

High school history teacher Jocelyn Shore has wanted to visit Egypt since she and her cousin Kyla became fascinated with Egyptology in their early teens. Finally, they’ve made it to the Pyramids and one of their tour mates lies dead, face down in the desert sand. Was it an accident or did the nosy woman find out something she wasn’t supposed to know?

Death on Tour is an enjoyable debut, winner of the Mystery Writers of America / Minotaur Books First Crime Novel Award. Author Janice Hamrick does an admirable job interweaving descriptions of Egyptian sites and antiquities into the threads of the story without devolving into travelogue. While the clotheshorse cousin Kyla was initially rather annoying, she eventually improves, so stick with it. The mysterious, Alan Stratton provides romantic interest, although the tension is mostly between the cousins.

This is a pleasant first in a new mystery series which shows promise for future installments.