This was just not the book for me. It was obvious, boring, and a giant cliche. Sorry, I am not a fan of this book.

This is the 18th book in a series about Jude and Carole, two unlikely friends on the South coast.
As a reader of the first 17 this did exactly what I wanted it to - the characters don't change, the mystery is a decent mystery.

This is a light, easy read. I believe it is one from a series, though it holds up well as a standalone. I did find the description of one character seemed a bit dated , though overall I enjoyed this book.

Whilst this appears to be the 18th book in the series this is my first book I have read by Simon Brett.

It was a very easy and quick read and I enjoyed the different characters viewpoints however because I don't know the backstory I think they weren't that well developed. I also felt the murderer was too obvious.

Thank you to netgalley for giving me an ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Blackthorn Books for this ARC of The Liar in the Library.

I have read all of the Fethering Mysteries published to date, 18 so far, and they are still witty and entertaining. The characters are still going strong and in this instalment Brett focuses more on Jude than Carol. A great read and looking forward to book 19.

Oh dear I made a big mistake with this one. I felt that it had every single cliche going and did not enjoy it at all. Sorry about that.

This is my first Simon Brett. It's an easy read and an obvious whodunnit from the start. Fethering could be Midsomer or any of the quaint southern English villages that Agatha Christie was fond of using as a setting. There are many references to the Golden Age of crime writing and because I'm not familiar with the author, I wondered if he was just having fun with this genre - he certainly enjoys poking fun at other authors and aspiring authors - but then I read other Goodreads reviews and discovered this is the 18th in a series. Although there was clearly a back story, I was really surprised as even the lead characters are fairly two dimensional. It was entertaining but I don't think I'll be reading any of the others.

I usually adore Simon Brett’s Feathering mysteries, happy to be reunited with odd couple Jude Nichols and Carole Sedding; however, The Liar in the Library, the 18th entry in the series, wasn’t up to Brett’s usual high standard.

A murder in the library leads police to suspect Jude of having killed an arrogant author who flirts — and worse — with every woman he encounters. That’s despite their being a number of more likely suspects. The ending at first threatens to be implausible, although readers will find that not to be the case. A so-so Brett novel is still pretty decent, but caveat emptor.

Jude (minus Carole) is at an author event at Fethering Library. She knows the author from a previous life, and when he's found dead, Jude is prime suspect. It falls to Carole to uncover the truth

3.5 stars

I think I continue with this series mostly out of habit. Jude and Carol are an odd couple of friends, brought together as neighbors but with very little in common except their enthusiasm for solving murders in their small English village. Carol is persnickety, prickly, judgmental and set in her ways. Jude is more free-spirited and counterculture.

In this outing, Jude runs into a man from her past who ends up being a murder victim. Jude is definitely out of character in this one so fans of the previous series entries will find a different balance than usual.

I am not sure how this would work as a standalone since it's not their normal interaction and personalities. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Unwittingly, when I requested the title, I was not aware that it was the 18th book in the Feathering Mystery series. It didn’t make a huge impact – I could figure out who characters were and what was going on without having to dig up 17 previous titles. But really, who starts reading a new series at Book 18? Something about that bothers me… I have my issues.

It was a classic Whodunnit, throwing one of the key protagonists into the spotlight of suspicion. I wasn’t blown away by the mystery or the writing, but it was a cozy piece of crime fiction set in a quaint British seaside community with not entirely loveable characters.

Again… this novel was of those titles that’s just a midpoint rating from me. It was easy to read and a good little escape, but didn’t leave any particular strong feelings or impressions one way or another.

A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

A local library book talk event
The best-selling womanizing author gets killed
Several fans and readers attended the event
One with a hidden grudge against the author
The only suspect is the village’s amateur sleuth

This was my first book in the 18 series crime fiction. Jude and Carole were the novice detective of the Fethering village. Jude was a healer. Carole’s grandmother and slight uptight. The author described the village was with a pub (the gossip centre of the village), the houses nearby and the library where the murder took place.

What I loved in the book were the characters, the subtle humour throughout the storyline. Burton St Clair or Al Sinclair (as Jude knew him 20 years back) wrote the best-selling book “Stray leaves in Autumn”. It is for the same book he came to Fethering Library for the book talk. Jude knew him through his first wife Megan. But lost touch with both of them once they got divorced. Jude was in Fethering after being in several professions. She is in peace with her surroundings, which pushed her to become a healer. Carole did not get as much space in the book as Jude, given the focus was on Jude being the number 1 suspect of Police. However, in situations where Carole was investigating the case on her own, she turned out to witty and smart. The characters and the environment mingled well. I haven’t read the earlier books but that didn’t stop me from admiring Jude and Carole and their uncanny partnership. In fact, I feel I should read the previous books in the series. It can be cosy afternoon read.

The author narrates the story in 3rd person. The entire plot doesn’t slump even for a moment. There were many references to the golden age crime fiction, the smaller characters have this effect. There were few fine touches of contemporary issues like the general behaviour towards the foreigners, homeless and drug addicts, their difficult background and diminishing of the libraries and their funding (or lack thereof). This gave a pleasant twist to the plot. The story developed from chapter to chapter.

Someone who reads a crime fiction might figure out the suspect. The most appealing part was the motive of the crime. The other interesting part was indulging the reader in reading another book (within this book). I liked it as a clever try by the author which was successful.

The book is a delightful read with reminisces of the golden age and elements of contemporary crime fiction novels.

My rating for the book: 4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Blackthorn books for giving this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A new title in the Fethering Mystery series is always well received and it is pleasing that although this series is well established it shows no signs of becoming tired and jaded. Whilst some people use the term cosy in a less than flattering way be assured that when used here it is meant to reflect well on a book that feels comfortable to read and for those who enjoy mysteries where the death is not graphic, and neither is the language, then complete safety is to be found here. Though part of a series this book can easily be read with no prior knowledge.
Joining the crime solving duo of Jude and Carole we find ourselves on the south coast for the well known location of death - the library. In another author's hands it could be less well handled but here Simon Brett gives the tale a new spin with much intrigue to keep the reader guessing. I really enjoy the touches of humour that the author uses and the contrast between the two main characters is used to great effect. Another well written part of this book is the social commentary provided - the indignation over library closures to the more serious issues affecting some immigrants. There are lovely touches of Classic Golden Age Crime stories in this book and its a good easy read.
#Blackthorn #NetGalley

I loved this sweet cozy mystery. It was filled with wonderful characters and a good plot and just an overall good easy read

I’ve read nearly all Simon Brett’s Fethering novels and this one gave me just what I wanted: more of the same. An author dies in his car after giving a talk in the local library. Jude was the last person to see him alive and becomes prime suspect, especially when his ex-wife lies about her relationship with the dead man. It’s up to Carole and Jude to solve the mystery themselves, which they do with their usual mix of nosiness and knowledge of local people. Excellent light reading, as always.

Authors, libraries and cosy crime stories go together like red wine and cheese, so The Liar in the Library caught my attention. I enjoy a good cosy and this one was light and fun overall, but the ending felt a bit rushed and unclimactic, and the story had a little too much exposition. I most enjoyed what I suppose are tongue-in-cheek statements about authorly life, such as “Like many writers, he had spent a great deal of the unproductive times behind his desk imagining the answers he would supply when interviewed in a variety of arts programs” and “A friend of mine once described publishing as ‘an industry floated on a sea of alcohol’” – certainly, no reader should imagine Burton St Clair’s writing world reflects anything like the norm.

Thank you to Blackthorn, netgalley and the author Simon Brett for a digital ARC of this book in return for my unbiased review.

Liar in the library” by Simon Brett, is the 18th Fethering mystery. I an now sad to admit i have not read any of the series before but i have read how much readers enjoy this series and after this novel i am looking forward to reading more!

Here comes the blurb!

Having been booked to give a talk at Fethering Library, successful author Burton St Clair invites his old friend Jude to come along. Although they haven't met for twenty years, Jude is not surprised to find that St Clair hasn't changed, with his towering ego and somewhat shaky relationship with the truth. What Jude hadn't been suspecting however was that the evening would end in sudden, violent death.

More worrying, from Jude's point of view, is the fact that the investigating police officers seem to be convinced that she herself was responsible for the crime. With the evidence stacking up against her, Jude enlists the help of her neighbour Carole not just to solve the murder but to prevent herself from being arrested for committing it.

Love a Fethering Mystery; Simon Brett is an engaging author with a number of brilliant series to his name. Jude and Carole are great characters, and I don't think it is too much of a spoiler that they solve the case before the police as usual!

Carol and Jude are amateur sleuths on the case again in this 18th book in a series. Th Liar in the Library can work as a stand alone just fine in this cozy type mystery. Jude is the last person known to be with a murdered guest author at her local library. Her situation is further complicated by the fact that she had known him in the past and he told people that they had had an affair. Along the course of mystery investigation the author explores themes of library funding and prejudices against immigrants in rural England. An interesting read.

“Liar in the library” by Simon Brett, the 18th Fethering mystery. I have enjoyed this series for many years and always look forward to the newest installment. This book had a different feel, though I enjoyed it as much, if not slightly more so than previous works.

Jude has attended a presentation by a best selling author, Burton St Clair. Burton, a former friend who has finally made the best seller list, and Jude is curious to reconnect. Unfortunately he is as he was prior to success, vain, self centered, and unable to keep his hands to himself. After the presentation he offers Jude a ride home, but after an unwelcome grope, Jude decides to walk home, leaving Burton St Clair inside his car alone in the parking lot.

The next morning Jude is visited by the police announcing they need to speak to her about the death of Burton St Clair. Unfortunately Jude is the prime suspect and is warned off any amateur sleuthing. Her friend and neighbor Carole must do the investigation on her own.

The author seems to be very aware of the many problems facing public libraries these days. I felt he was accurate, however, he was misinformed regarding ebook availability from West Sussex libraries. I have a West Sussex Library card and frequently download magazines as well as ebooks!

I am grateful to the publisher, Blackthorn, and to netgalley for an ARC. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.