This was the first one I picked up in this series and despite it being No 18 it was perfectly readable as a stand alone. 
I really enjoyed reading this - it’s as cosy a mystery as one could wish for and with the added benefit of an arrogant writer being the murder victim and sporting plenty of humorous observations about the writing and publishing industry I couldn’t have asked for more.
I didn’t warm to Carole, the sidekick, as much as I would have wanted, but the rest of the cast were just what you want from a murder set in a village with limited suspects. Classic, cosy, well-crafted, good fun!

You know what to expect from Simon Brett. If you enjoy cozy crime in a modern setting, this book is for you.

This was a good book, but the story moved a bit slow for me. If you are into a slower paced book, this is still in the cozy mystery space, give this book a read. This is the first book I’ve read by Simon Brett and I may look into reading others. I am interested in learning more about the writing style of the author.

When this book came up on NetGalley, I requested it even though I have never read this author, but am always drawn, as a retired librarian, to books about books, bookstores, libraries, etc. I did not realize that this book was part of a series, but don't feel that I missed anything by reading it out of order although I usually do try to read series in order.

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.  He still came on to women even though he was married.   What Jude hadn?t been suspecting however was that the evening would end in his 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 neighbor Carole not just to solve the murder but to prevent herself from being arrested for committing it.

I do like the author's writing.  He develops the character's well and has a twist at the end that I wasn't expecting.  I also will look into other books he has written, especially in this series.

I wasn't sure about this book initially but turned out to be a good 'who done it'. Amateur sleuths at their best and not making the police look very efficient. Clues along the way and many lies told but who is the murderer? A surprise ending, well worth the wait to find out.

I received an ARC of this book which I enjoyed very much.  A classic whodunit that kept me guessing until the end.  I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good, intriguing mystery!

I have read previous books in Simon Brett's Fethering mysteries so was delighted that Net galley gave me the opportunity to preview The Liar in the Library. I enjoyed being reacquainted with Jude and Carole two neighbours who like to play amateur detective. They are totally different characters. Jude is warm and carefree and Carole is buttoned up and a worrier. In this case Jude finds herself a suspect as she was the last person to see the victim. All in all an easy enjoyable read.

This is book 18 in the Fethering series but the first one from this author that I have read. I have listened to some of Simon Brett's BBC radio productions in the past and enjoyed them so I thought I would give one of his books a try. I found this book to be a fun, cozy mystery. The characters are all very unique but some of them took me a little time to warm up to. I even liked the villain, but only until he was exposed for his crimes at the very end. Mr. Brett's vivid characterizations is what I had enjoyed the most in the radio programs and the characters here are equally vivid. Jude and Carole rule the show of course, but they are so different. I was surprised by the number of avenues of investigation these two explored. Fethering turns out to be a quite charming village but it is not immune to the challenges of our times like drug addiction and a reduction in library funding. This was a fun little mystery and I was not disappointed.

I really enjoyed this modern telling of a classic “Golden Age” mystery in modern times with sly nods to golden age mysteries throughout. No murder occurs for the first few chapters, so I wasn’t sure about this book, but I liked it better with every chapter. I was actually surprised by the murderer,

I thought I would like this book more than I did. I'm all for modern reworkings of classic Christie style tales but I lost count of the number of times 'golden age' crime novels were mentioned! Was just a bit too self conscious for me

Thank you Net Galley & Black Thorn for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. 

When I requested this book for review, I did not realize that it was part of a series. Having not read any of the other books in the series, I was still able to follow the story and keep up with the characters, however there were some background pieces of information I could tell that I was missing. 
There are very strong themes of the "Golden Age of Crime Writing" throughout this book. The classic crime writers, plots, and troupes are discussed in the book, as well as being played out through the mystery at hand. A good mystery to cozy up with on the weekend.

I have been reading this cozy series for a while now and it remains a solid, satisfying series.  Carole and Jude are at it again with their amateur detecting, this time directly involving Jude.  You could read this as a stand alone, but I like to read things in order and would recommend starting at the beginning of the series.

I enjoyed The Liar in the Library, a very clever murder mystery with entertaining characters. This is the first Fethering book I have read by this Author. Although this is book #18 it can be read as a stand alone. Jude and Carole are amateur sleuths. Jude finds herself right in the middle of a murder and is the #1 suspect, Carole helps Jude deduce the crime. Looking forward to reading more from this Author.

I give The Liar in the Library 4 stars for its entertaining read.
I would recommend this book to Mystery Fans.
#TheLiarInTheLibrary #NetGalley

An interesting mystery.  Jude and Carole are neighbors and they investigate together, but I wouldn't call them friends.  Jude was in the library to see an author, who was an old friend.  After his talk, the author wants to get to know Jude better.  She gives him a slap and then walks home in the rain.  The next morning, she is greeted with the news that the author is dead and she is the prime suspect.  After a warning from the police, Jude asks Carole to continue the investigation into his death.  They find so many suspects.  Their motives were varied, jealousy, envy, revenge and outright hatred.  So many people claimed they didn't know him, but Jude and Carole find out that he was more well known than they thought.  Not for the right reasons either.  All in all, a good mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and Black Thorn for an advance copy of Liar in the library for an honest review.
I hadn’t read a Simon Brett book before but I found it a very satisfying read that felt almost familiar.
I could image iThe Fethering novels being made into a tv series.
I’m assuming many of the characters are well known to previous readers, but I didn’t find that an obstacle to my enjoyment of the book..
As a librarian of 36 years I particularly enjoyed the lament on the closure of libraries by the character of Di .It definitely struck home with me,
I will be recommending this to others and I’ll be reading more from Simon Brett.

I did not realize this was part of a series but I still enjoyed it.  I now want to go back and start at the very first. Brett writes boldly and with practiced definition of characters. I look forward to the next installment. 
Many thanks to Black Thorn and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A good book for a rainy afternoon, a hot day in a hammock, or as a break from those super serious sleuths you've been addicted to. Don't forget your sense of humor.

Those who have previously read the works of Simon Brett will be familiar with the "Golden Age" tradition of the detective novel that resonates through his writing. Indeed the reference to "Golden Age" crime fiction forms an integral part of the plot in his latest deliciously subversive and enjoyable visit to the fictitious south coast village of Fethering. Here we find those redoubtable amateur sleuths Carole Seddon and her neighbour Jude Nichols faced with solving another baffling case. The need for the true culprit to be uncovered becomes more vital as Jude is the prime suspect in the murder of the rather disreputable and philandering bestselling author Burton St Clair who undertakes a talk in the local library prior to his demise. 

With his eccentric characters and his I suspect not entirely inaccurate depiction of village life Brett has created a world familiar to the readers of Christie and M.C. Beaton. Apart from the red herrings the reader I'm sure will be appreciative like me of the witty and sometime caustic humour which delightfully runs through the book. If you like a crime novel that pays homage to those "Golden Age" crime writers of the past then this will certainly be for you I'm sure.

3.5 Stars

A cosy crime drama which would suit either curling up with a coffee on the sofa or lying on a sunbed with fruity cocktail. An enjoyable novel, nothing too taxing or distressing but could serve as a mind cleanser if (like me) your recent reads have been a tad higher on the dark and gory spectrum. Sometimes you need to take a break from serial killers and gruesome set pieces and whisk yourself metaphorically away to a charming coastal village with a surprisingly high murder rate.

This author and series were new to me but jumping straight to Number 18 wasn't a problem. The reader is given enough background information on Jude & Carole to understand the set-up and you soon get acquainted with their personalities. I enjoyed the style of the book and thought that the characters were well drawn. There were several self-important literary types who I suspect were based on people the author new in real life! The pace is just right for this type of story, it zips along nicely and keeps you engaged. I would be interested in reading more of this series, especially when in need of lighter entertainment.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Classic whodunit set in a charming seaside town. I enjoyed the premise and the general pace. I noticed a few items repeating themselves a bit oddly; the name of the shop before it became Starbucks, the red rimmed eyes of the bar manager, and a few other details. It felt a little distracting and I couldn’t decide if it was red herring or just heavy handed writing. 

Despite the above, enjoyed the read and would absolutely read more in the series.