When Jason Lynx's neighbours, Betty and George, are murdered without any apparent reason Jason's curiosity is piqued (to put it mildly). Who would have cause to kill such an unassuming couple? The police officer assigned to the case is both offensive and obstructive and seems determined to prove that Jason is the murderer.

When Jason has the opportunity to look around George and Betty's house he finds a wealth of antiques that seem to be way beyond the budget of the unassuming employee of a religious radio station. Following a near miss when a bomb is planted in his garage, Jason decides to start investigating the murders. He soon finds himself in the middle of a complex, threatening plot.

Who is behind the murders and will Jason's investigations into this case reveal the truth about the disappearance of his wife a few years ago?

As you may be aware I am a big fan of Sheri S. Tepper. I have also read and enjoyed a number of novels written by Tepper under the pen name B.J. Oliphant. However, A Little Neighborhood Murder is the first I have read that has been written by Tepper using her other alter ego A.J. Orde.

When I first picked up this book I was curious to see how, or if, it would differ from the Oliphant murder-mysteries. I was not disappointed with the book, not did I feel it compared badly. The first obvious difference is that the whole book is written entirely from the point of view of the main character. Unlike Shirley McClintock, Jason Lynx has his own problems to resolve. His wife went missing (presumed dead) some years ago and yet he has still to accept that she is not coming back and that he need not feel guilty about going on with his life. So, when he finds himself attracted to one of the police officers investigating his neighbours he finds himself feeling guilty.

It is also unusual to have one of the main characters non-heterosexual. Indeed Jason, an interior designer, finds himself the victim of discrimination when the main investigating officer assumes that just because Jason is an interior designer he must be homosexual. This initial impression stays with the officer and affects his attitude towards both Jason and his colleagues. This does smack a little of a moralistic standpoint but in today's increasingly prejudiced world this is not a bad thing.

As with other Tepper/Oliphant novels there are a number of surprises within this story that keep you guessing until the very last minute. As I have come to expect from Sheri S. Tepper, this story is beautifully written and completely riveting.