Camryn Manheim Turns the Tables on Murder in a Small Town: From Law Enforcer to Suspect
Camryn Manheim, known for her long career on procedural dramas, made a striking return to network TV in Thursday’s episode of Murder in a Small Town. This time, however, she swapped her badge for a cheetah-print coat and stepped onto the other side of the law.
A New Role for a Familiar Face
Manheim guest-starred as Jocelyn, the matriarch of a family with a longstanding feud against her son’s future in-laws. The tension, already simmering, erupted during a wedding weekend, culminating in the murder of the father-in-law-to-be. All eyes immediately turned to Jocelyn, placing Manheim’s character at the center of the mystery.
While Manheim has decades of experience portraying law enforcement figures—including Lt. Kate Dixon on Law & Order and lawyer Ellenor Frutt on The Practice—she found playing a suspect both refreshing and liberating.
“I finally get to play a character where I can say what I really think, rather than always being appropriate,” Manheim explained. “Jocelyn doesn’t obey rules, and I loved that. She tells everyone exactly how she feels, even if they’re total idiots.”
Returning “Home” to Procedurals
Despite playing a criminal rather than a cop, Manheim said stepping onto the procedural set felt familiar. She credited her real-life friend Marcia Gay Harden, who portrays Mayor Christie Holman in Season 2, for helping her secure the guest spot.
“It’s because they invited Marcia that our shared manager thought, ‘Maybe Camryn can play this part,’” Manheim said.
However, the two did not share any scenes, leaving Manheim’s experience bittersweet. She acknowledged the fleeting nature of guest roles: “Whenever you accept one episode, you realize you’re probably not coming back.”
Could Jocelyn Return?
Manheim hinted that the procedural format leaves room for surprises. Drawing on her own history—she played three different Law & Order characters before landing a regular role as Lt. Dixon—she joked about the possibility of returning as a new adversary to Marcia Gay Harden’s character.
“I think we should start a campaign now: Murder in a Small Town just forgets I played Jocelyn and brings me back as an adversary,” she quipped.
A Role That Stands Out
For Manheim, playing Jocelyn offered a chance to explore a character with blunt honesty and no allegiance to authority. It also reminded viewers why she remains a versatile presence on television, seamlessly moving from lawyer to detective to suspected criminal without missing a beat.
Fans of both the actress and the series will likely be eager to see whether the story allows Jocelyn another appearance or if Manheim will eventually return in an entirely new role, keeping the procedural’s tradition of surprise and reinvention alive.