Chile Death by Susan Wittig Albert (2001, Hardcover, Large Print)

McQuaid, in a nursing home after his near death in the last novel (Love Lies Bleeding), is despondent and ready to give up on his and China's relationship. Fortunately a chili cook off where he is the judge and a mysterious death by peanut chili poisoning causes McQuaid to come out of his slump. As usually China and Ruby are snooping into the death of the little liked, but much loving, insurance salesman at the big chili cook off. And there are shenanigans at the nursing home were McQuaid is undergoing MEGA physical therapy. China snoops to the point of death, will the chili cook off murderer cook China's goose or will.... You will have to read the book to find out who did it and why!