Murder in a Nice Neighborhood

Liz Sullivan #1

by Lora Roberts

When Liz Sullivan, an itinerant writing teacher, is accused of murdering a vagrant found dead under her '69 VW microbus, parked in peaceful Palo Alto for the night, her elderly students and a handsome detective come to her aid. Original.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

187 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1994

About the author

Aka Lora Roberts Smith, Lora R. Smith.

Lora Roberts was born and raised in Missouri, She's lived for twenty years in Palo Alto, California, where her two mystery series featuring homemaker/writer Bridget Montrose and vagabond Liz Sullivan take place. After doing newspaper work, public relations work, technical editing, and romances, She really enjoys writing mysteries.

Reviews

[LJ]

MURDER IN A NICE NEIGHBORHOOD - VG
Roberts, Lora - 1st in series

While vagabond writer Liz Sullivan sleeps innocently in her '69 VW microbus, someone parks a dead body under it. Since she'd had words with the victim hours before, the police type her as the murderer--unless she's got a better alternative. Not easy for a determined loner like Liz, who has few friends and apparently one dangerous enemy. Luckily, her friends are more numerous than she suspected: the shrewd old ladies in her writing workshop, a charming real estate developer, and maybe even handsome detective Paul Drake--if he gets over thinking she's the killer. Yet none of them knows Liz quite as well as they think--and her past is closing in with a vengeance....

Interesting protagonist. She's an amateur sleuth, but the book is better than the average cozy and I didn't guess the killer.

[Terri]

Liz Sullivan is a vagabond (her preferred word) livign out of her VW bus. When a homeless man she knows is murdered and put under her bus, she is the likely suspect.

I liked Liz and her sense of self-reliance, esp. after understanding the reasons for it. Interesting characters add to the story.

The mystery wasnt that hard to figure out but it was an enjoyable read.

[Donna]

Reread after about 20 years. A fun, short read.

[Eugene]

Enjoyed this a lot. “Vagabond” (neither homeless, nor a vagrant!) Liz Sullivan lives in her 1969 VW Microbus, usually parked at one of several favored locations in Palo Alto. She makes a living by writing articles for magazines, teaching writing courses at a local senior center, and other odd jobs.
Then one night the body of local street person Pigpen Murphy is left under her van while she sleeps. Since Liz and Pigpen had had words earlier in the day, she immediately becomes suspect #1. And although she and what local friends she has are able to poke holes in that idea, nobody else seems to be involved; and then yet another local indigent dies, Liz once again becoming a focus for police. Why? Liz tries to make sense of it all, and even seems to have enlisted the sympathy of homicide detective Paul Drake - but if no one else can be shown to be the murderer, the cloud of suspicion will continue to hang over Liz.
Short, fast-paced, with interesting characters and characterizations, this book was easy and pleasant to pass a few days with. I look forward to spending more time with Ms. Sullivan in future.

[Dennis Fischman]

The murder mystery was too easy to solve if I could figure it out! But I would say that didn’t matter because Liz Sullivan and her backstory, policeman Paul Drake, and especially writer and gardener extraordinaire Claudia Kaplan were people whose company I enjoyed. I would say that—except that the two characters who commit violence are caricatures. I give a 3.5 to this book, thanks to the friend who pointed me toward this series, and thanks that I can look forward to reading the next installment.

[Marty]

Although I enjoyed book (#5) without reading any of the previous books, this one, #1, rounds out the story of how Liz Sullivan became homeless, living in a VW bus in Palo Alto, CA. It “sets up” the rest of the series. A good story.

[Mary]

Enjoyed this one. I liked Liz she didn’t have an easy life but a couple of murders close to home put her on the suspect list and in danger as well.

[Diane]

3 - Good

[Collene]

Liz Sullivan is homeless and on the run from her abusive ex-husband. While she parks her minibus in a Palo Alta neighborhood for a night's rest, someone stuffs the dead body of another homeless acquitance under her van. Soon Liz is the main suspect of Detective Paul Drake and when another homeless person becomes a victim, she may not only be the main suspect but could possible be the next victim.
I truly enjoyed this book and plan on reading the next one in the series: Murder in the Marketplace. The characters are interesting and the writing was tight and entertaining. If you're a gardening person, or not a gardening person like me who is trying it, it contains some subtle hints on gardening.
This book was written in 1994 and it's amazing how strong the social issues covered in this book are still main issues today: homelessness, abusive relationships, and senior citizen issues. The dialogue is real and it's fast paced. Great little book.

[Jenn]

Liz is someone I'd love to meet. She's a no muss no fuss type of lady. A vagabond who doesn't fit in with the rest of her ilk. And I see how she grows throughout this short mystery with the help and love of her friends and neighbors. By the way, I had totally guessed the killer wrong! That makes this an awesome mystery in my books :)

[Cathi95]

(Cozy mystery 1994) Liz, hiding from an abussive ex-husband, finds herself caught up in a murder investigation as the suspect. Although she has worked hard at being reclusive, she finds that she has made friends, who work with her to solve the murder and help her against the ex who eventually turns up. Liz Sullivan mystery #1.

[Christine]

I love the Liz Sullivan mysteries. I enjoy the setting of Liz living in her VW bug because it's different and the author's style is a pleasure to read. I know there are a few more Liz Sullivan mysteries, but I wish there were MANY more!

[Marleen]

Fun read!

[Jill]

I happened upon this old mystery, they synopsis sounded interesting. I enjoyed the book and the characters.

[Michelle]

Great protagonist. Plotting and mystery a little weak.