He'd Rather Be Dead — George Bellairs

The mayor of a seaside town is murdered, and a London police detective must sort through motives both political and personal . . .
 
Thanks to its mayor, Sir Gideon Ware, the quiet harbor town of Westcombe has turned into a crowded and rather garish seaside destination where visitors can come to escape the stress of wartime. When Ware collapses at a lavish luncheon, felled by strychnine, Inspector Littlejohn must travel from London to solve the seemingly inexplicable murder. Ware was surrounded by local bigwigs at his table -- but that's just the beginning of the suspect list, as Littlejohn untangles the rivalries, resentments, and corrupt dealings that permeate this picturesque but troubled community . . .
 
Praise for the Inspector Littlejohn mysteries
 
“Assured prose, well-drawn characters, and the atmosphere of 1940s wartime England . . . well worth the reader's time.” -- Publishers Weekly
 
“Everything is quite comparable in tone to a really good Simenon.” -- The New York Times
 
“Dryly ceremonious wit [that] shines from the very first page.” -- Kirkus Reviews