The Liar in the Library by Simon Brett

A best selling author has come to talk about his book at the local library.  He thinks all women desire him and they don't.  He still tries to persuade them by touching and being familiar but he has no success.  He gets in an argument with one man and shuts another man down during the questions after his talk was over.  He's leaving at the same time as Jude so he offers her a ride home since it's raining.  She says OK but then he misbehaves in the car and she gets and walks home.  The next day he's found dead in the car in the parking lot and Jude becomes a suspect.

Black Thorn and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It is being published today.

This author always writes good mysteries.  This is another that was a treat to read.

His ex-wife tells the cops that Jude had an affair with the dead man and that was what ended their marriage.  It's not true but the cops aren't sure they believe her.  He was allergic to walnuts and that's what killed him.  The problem is that he didn't eat anything at the library, he just had a glass of wine.  Was that poisoned with walnuts?  The bottle was dropped and broke so no one else could drink any.  How did he encounter the walnuts?

Jude finds herself becoming a high suspect on the list so she starts her own search for the killer.  That ends up getting her a talk from the police about compromising witnesses.  So she asks her next door neighbor to take over.   They'd worked on other cases together.  They also find the answer before the cops do.  The motive for the killing is unusual.

Give Mr. Brett a try, you might be surprised.