He'd Rather Be Dead - George Bellairs

He'd Rather Be Dead by George Bellairs is number eight in the Chief Inspector Littlejohn series. I received it for review from George Bellairs Literary Estate via NetGalley. 

 Sir Gideon Ware - the mayor of Westcombe is murdered during the annual lunch he is holding for Boroug officials.  He is a man making enemies everywhere, and no one grieves his death (apart from his wife), when he is murdered during the lunch. He is poisoned, but it seems nobody has been able to administer the poison. Everyone attending the lunch are suspects, and in the beginning it was rather a lot of people to keep track of. As the Chief Constable Mr. Boumphrey is afraid to be unpopular among the distinguished  guests at the lunch, he asks for Scotland Yards help, and Littlejohn comes to help. He succeeds in solving Wares murder and yet another one committed during his investigations. 

It is a well told story. Bellairs is rather good at describing the various people and the atmosphere in a buzzing seaside town with fairs and nightlife and lots of tourists. 

The Murderer has made a record of his life and what led to his crime, and the way he perceives Littlejohn's investigations. 

This was yet another pleasant read about Littlejohn.