Death Rides Again

The shotgun murder of unpleasant Eddy Cranny spoils the Shore family reunion at the Smoky Quartz ranch in Hamrick’s entertaining third cozy featuring Austin, Tex., teacher Jocelyn Shore (after 2012’s Death Makes the Cut). It’s hard for the clan to mourn Eddy, though Jocelyn is concerned when no one can find her cousin Ruby June, the victim’s wife. That Ruby June’s father, Kel Shore, had been threatening to do serious bodily harm to Eddy makes him a suspect. Meanwhile, the authorities have accused Herman Shore, the 95-year-old family patriarch, of ordering Kel to shoot a jockey at a race with a big purse—a reasonable accusation since the horse’s owner is in a land dispute with Kel. Jocelyn suspects that Carl Cress, Kel’s sleazy business partner, shot the jockey, until she and another cousin, Kyla, discover that Carl may have a good alibi. Cozy fans will enjoy Jocelyn’s quirky family and the wide array of criminal activities. Agent: David Hale Smith, Inkwell Management. (June)