What do you think?
Rate this book
Murder in Sun City
Sun City is typically calm…until Liz shows up in her red double-decker bookmobile and starts cruising. When she finds a body in a patron's house, the police call it an accident and a day…but Liz is suspicious and isn't about to give up. Lieutenant Bratton has met his match.James Jones is a Vietnam War veteran who continued to fight the battles long after the war ended and everyone went home. His encounters are mostly in his head today, but if the military took senior citizens, he'd sign up without batting an eye. Combat was what he did best and he is lost without it. Now, as a soldier of fortune, James ends up in Sun City also.This is the story of what happens when Liz and James cross paths.
318 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2015
35 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 3, 2016
Sid Frost is not only one of my favorite people, he's become one of my favorite authors. In this mystery, the fifth in his bookmobile series, Sid draws his readers into the life of librarian Liz Seido Helmsley who has found her true love in a British ex-pat farmer named Samuel, married and moved to Sun City. She takes the beloved red double-decker mobile library introduced in The Vengeance Squad Goes to England, and it’s not long before Liz and the library give her the opportunity for a mobile library route in this squeaky clean retirement community.
But wherever Liz goes, trouble seems to proceed her. This time it’s with a library patron found dead. Neighbor’s stories about the deceased don’t add up, and when Lt. Joe Bratton of the local police wants to wrap up the case as a simple accident, Liz decides to dig a bit deeper. Sharon Coleman turns out to be a lady of many oddities and mysteries, and Mr. Coleman even more so. With the help of her newly graduated grandson Michael and the blessing, mostly, of Samuel, Liz embarks on her own investigation to help Lt. Bratton whether he needs it or not, and make sure the Coleman’s daughter receives her proper inheritance.
One of Sharon’s secrets, an apparently homeless veteran with PTSD, James Jones, complicates everything. As the story progresses and the twists and turns lead the reader deeper into the corkscrewed life of the Colemans, about the only sympathetic figure left, so it seems, is Princess, Sharon’s pet pooch.
Murder in Sun City is a fun mystery, highly recommended for those who enjoy cozy mysteries featuring characters with a lifetime of experience, and plenty of exciting turns. I especially appreciated the treatment of those who suffer from PTSD and may not be in full control of their faculties.
But wherever Liz goes, trouble seems to proceed her. This time it’s with a library patron found dead. Neighbor’s stories about the deceased don’t add up, and when Lt. Joe Bratton of the local police wants to wrap up the case as a simple accident, Liz decides to dig a bit deeper. Sharon Coleman turns out to be a lady of many oddities and mysteries, and Mr. Coleman even more so. With the help of her newly graduated grandson Michael and the blessing, mostly, of Samuel, Liz embarks on her own investigation to help Lt. Bratton whether he needs it or not, and make sure the Coleman’s daughter receives her proper inheritance.
One of Sharon’s secrets, an apparently homeless veteran with PTSD, James Jones, complicates everything. As the story progresses and the twists and turns lead the reader deeper into the corkscrewed life of the Colemans, about the only sympathetic figure left, so it seems, is Princess, Sharon’s pet pooch.
Murder in Sun City is a fun mystery, highly recommended for those who enjoy cozy mysteries featuring characters with a lifetime of experience, and plenty of exciting turns. I especially appreciated the treatment of those who suffer from PTSD and may not be in full control of their faculties.
December 12, 2015
What a great adventure! So many twists and turns. You really dont know how it will turn out. The double-decker book mobile is there too.
You will thoroughly enjoy reading this book. And you wont figure out whodunit until the end
A thoroughly enjoyable, page turner
God bless you all
You will thoroughly enjoy reading this book. And you wont figure out whodunit until the end
A thoroughly enjoyable, page turner
God bless you all
February 25, 2016
Everyone is lying! This is another in the Bookmobile detective series The central character is Liz Helmsley, the volunteer bookmobile lady and semi-professional sleuth. This lovable matron hugs everyone she meets and operates in much the same genre as Jessica Fletcher of "Murder She Wrote". The tale begins with Liz delivering requested library books to a patron who she finds dead from what appears to be an accidental fall. Liz feels the circumstances are suspicious and sets out to investigate further. She has retired from her former job in Austin to move in with her new spouse and thus, needs to build new relationships with the now unfamiliar local police forces. An eclectic cadre of characters quickly emerge as suspects including nosy neighbors, impostors, angry relatives, a special ops soldier of fortune, a baby blue vintage Cadillac and of course an intuitive poodle named Princess. Murders and attempted murders begin to accumulate along with assorted antiques and religious artifacts of suspicious origin.
Although the first fatality emerges right away the story develops rather slowly. I liked the plot and the unfolding story-line, so it is important to stick with it until the action begins to pick up. There are a number of unexpected turns and of course the heroine is always one step ahead of the earnest police investigator. The author does a good job of tying the various pieces together in the end. The writing is clear and concise. Though the plot is not intense or all that imaginative, the strong point is the reader's relationship with the librarian's character. There is little overt violence and suspense and no adult situations or objectionable language. Thus, the story is appropriate for readers of almost any age group.
Although the first fatality emerges right away the story develops rather slowly. I liked the plot and the unfolding story-line, so it is important to stick with it until the action begins to pick up. There are a number of unexpected turns and of course the heroine is always one step ahead of the earnest police investigator. The author does a good job of tying the various pieces together in the end. The writing is clear and concise. Though the plot is not intense or all that imaginative, the strong point is the reader's relationship with the librarian's character. There is little overt violence and suspense and no adult situations or objectionable language. Thus, the story is appropriate for readers of almost any age group.
February 12, 2016
Murder in Sun City
I absolutely loved, loved loved this book! There was mystery, intrigue and a bunch of surprises you just won't have a clue about until you come upon them. It's the best mystery I've read in ages! The characters are so interesting. Are there red herrings? Could be! You'll just have to read it yourself to find out! I also appreciated that there is no foul language or anything one could consider scandalous.
I absolutely loved, loved loved this book! There was mystery, intrigue and a bunch of surprises you just won't have a clue about until you come upon them. It's the best mystery I've read in ages! The characters are so interesting. Are there red herrings? Could be! You'll just have to read it yourself to find out! I also appreciated that there is no foul language or anything one could consider scandalous.
February 11, 2016
Goodreads win. Will review once received.
This was a good read. It was interesting and full of suspense. It had many twist and turns that left me wanting more. It was written nicely and not too long. This was an enjoyable read. I would recommend.
This was a good read. It was interesting and full of suspense. It had many twist and turns that left me wanting more. It was written nicely and not too long. This was an enjoyable read. I would recommend.
November 20, 2018
Liz Hemsley the Mobile Librarian in Sun city traveled in an English Double Decker Bus that she turned into a library. Delivering books to Mills Creek Estates she had books for Sharon only to find her dead and her dog Princess running around the house. James a veteran was hiding in the woods and became friends with Sharon. He stayed in her home sometimes. This story gets really intense when stolen artifacts are found in the house. Liz has solved cases before she remarried and she felt like she should try to solve the murder. Unusual things happen !
November 25, 2024
Tangled threads
This one kept me guessing.
So many points of view. So very much going on.
A woman is dead in her home. Murder or accident? A vet with PTSD is somehow connected to her and living in the woods and other places. A woman says she really didn't the dead woman but lives next door and as time goes on, reveals she knows more than she claimed. Add in stolen religious articles from South America and the threads get very tangled.
As I said, it kept me thinking about the plot even when I was doing other things.
This one kept me guessing.
So many points of view. So very much going on.
A woman is dead in her home. Murder or accident? A vet with PTSD is somehow connected to her and living in the woods and other places. A woman says she really didn't the dead woman but lives next door and as time goes on, reveals she knows more than she claimed. Add in stolen religious articles from South America and the threads get very tangled.
As I said, it kept me thinking about the plot even when I was doing other things.
February 3, 2021
Sun city
What a fun book to read. The story kept moving and had lots of twists and turns. Was a little put off by the PTSD references. Not my experience with it but who really knows how it affects others.loved the feisty Gigi.
What a fun book to read. The story kept moving and had lots of twists and turns. Was a little put off by the PTSD references. Not my experience with it but who really knows how it affects others.loved the feisty Gigi.
April 15, 2016
Sidney Frost, author of Murder in Sun City, reintroduces amateur sleuth Liz Helmsley in this sequel to the Vengence Squad series. Liz has purchased a double decker bus that she's turned into a mobile library since her marriage to Samuel. This time, the bookmobile works with the area library to service retirement communities. Sun City is one and on one of her visits, Liz discovers a body.
James, a Vietnam Veteran suffering from PTSD, shadows the property where the body is found. Nosy, next-door neighbor Margie slips in and out of the mystery to discover how Sharon died, why her house if filled with boxes, and where her next of kin are.
Sidney offers his readers intrigue, a hard to put down novel, and hours of entertainment as they walk with Liz following one clue toward another. This is one book I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with characters who aren't afraid to rely on their faith.
James, a Vietnam Veteran suffering from PTSD, shadows the property where the body is found. Nosy, next-door neighbor Margie slips in and out of the mystery to discover how Sharon died, why her house if filled with boxes, and where her next of kin are.
Sidney offers his readers intrigue, a hard to put down novel, and hours of entertainment as they walk with Liz following one clue toward another. This is one book I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with characters who aren't afraid to rely on their faith.
January 21, 2017
Loved this story.
April 14, 2021
Knew him in school inAustin ,Tx. Great guy! Good book! (Carol)
Read
April 11, 2016This was a light enjoyable read. I especially enjoyed the characters. I would recommend this book.
February 27, 2019
Liz operates a London-style, double-decker bookmobile, which allows her to meet people---and get herself in trouble. When one of her customers in the retirement community of Sun City doesn't come to the bus for the books she ordered, Liz goes looking for her, and finds her dead in a home full of unpacked boxes and clutter.
James lives in the woods behind the community, or in the locker room of the gym, or in the attic of the victim's home. Who knows where he's going to be? The war vet has PTSD and often doesn't know from one day to the next what he's done or where he is. But there are times when he knows exactly what he's doing.
A nosy neighbor, a missing daughter, and a whole lot of stolen church artifacts add to the twists and turns in this novel, where Liz meets James and nothing is as it seems.
I enjoyed Murder in Sun City, although there were a few things that pulled me out of the novel. Early in the book, the author frequently referenced Liz's joy of hugging, a character trait that's endearing, but mentioned far too often. Later in the story, a set of yawns seemed a bit too contrived for my taste. But all in all, this was a great tale that kept me guessing all the way through.
I recommend it!
James lives in the woods behind the community, or in the locker room of the gym, or in the attic of the victim's home. Who knows where he's going to be? The war vet has PTSD and often doesn't know from one day to the next what he's done or where he is. But there are times when he knows exactly what he's doing.
A nosy neighbor, a missing daughter, and a whole lot of stolen church artifacts add to the twists and turns in this novel, where Liz meets James and nothing is as it seems.
I enjoyed Murder in Sun City, although there were a few things that pulled me out of the novel. Early in the book, the author frequently referenced Liz's joy of hugging, a character trait that's endearing, but mentioned far too often. Later in the story, a set of yawns seemed a bit too contrived for my taste. But all in all, this was a great tale that kept me guessing all the way through.
I recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews