I'm not a murderer

I've been researching the idea of writing a murder mystery but now I'm contemplating writing the book without a murder. Of course then it won't be a murder mystery. In fact now the main character finds a new life in an old city instead of a murder. Now the main character is looking for clues of life in his new home which happens to be his hometown. I'm not sure if I'm not cute out for murder but I think this time it's because I couldn't kill the character that was to be murdered (the father of the main character). I'm currently reading Jay McInerney's book STORY OF MY LIFE and I'm nearly a third the way into the book and nothing really has happened but a lot of contemplation, reflection, complaining, soul searching and evaluating the quality of the life-styles of the main character's friends. This book could actually use a murder.