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Survivors' Book Club Mystery #2
Secrets in the Stacks
After an ominous Tarot reading, Sedona bookstore owner Rarity Cole must find a killer to keep her friend safe from harm—even if the cards are stacked against her . . .
Following her recovery from breast cancer, Rarity has embraced a life of healing and service in her Sedona, Arizona, community. She welcomes the opportunity to participate in the annual summer healing fair with her fittingly named new-age bookstore, The Next Chapter. The members of the Tuesday Night Survivors’ Book Club are also volunteering, maintaining a cooling station for overheated festivalgoers, and hosting a Tarot card reader for entertainment.
But one member, Darby, is anything but entertained when the Tarot reader pulls a Death card. With a mammogram coming up, she’s freaked out and goes home—only to walk into a crime scene where someone near and dear to her has been murdered. Despite the objections of Detective Drew Anderson, Rarity is determined to help her friend and protect her from being the killer’s next victim . . .
Following her recovery from breast cancer, Rarity has embraced a life of healing and service in her Sedona, Arizona, community. She welcomes the opportunity to participate in the annual summer healing fair with her fittingly named new-age bookstore, The Next Chapter. The members of the Tuesday Night Survivors’ Book Club are also volunteering, maintaining a cooling station for overheated festivalgoers, and hosting a Tarot card reader for entertainment.
But one member, Darby, is anything but entertained when the Tarot reader pulls a Death card. With a mammogram coming up, she’s freaked out and goes home—only to walk into a crime scene where someone near and dear to her has been murdered. Despite the objections of Detective Drew Anderson, Rarity is determined to help her friend and protect her from being the killer’s next victim . . .
212 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2022
174 people are currently reading
3312 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Cahoon
103 books2,366 followersNYT and USA Today bestselling author, Lynn Cahoon, writes the Tourist Trap, Cat Latimer, Farm-to-Fork, Kitchen Witch, Survivors' Book Club, the Haunted Life, and the Bainbridge Island cozy mystery series. No matter where the mystery is set, readers can expect a fun ride Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
November 1, 2022
Secrets in the Stacks is the 2nd book in Lynn Cahoon's new series, Survivors' Book Club Mysteries, focused on a cancer-survivors group in Sedona. Rarity owns a book shop and runs a weekly book club that acts more like a group of sleuths for local murders. This time, Darby's grandmother is murdered and Rarity wants to help her employee solve the case. But there's a double identity and long buried secret about Darby's family that rises to the surface. I enjoyed the book and the series is coming together. The characters are generous and kind, and the side stories are beginning to develop. Rarity's relationship with Archer is admirable, but I do want to learn more about her family. Good sophomore effort in the series and a recommended series to begin reading soon.
November 2, 2022
The second book in the Survivors Book Club Mystery series which features a new age bookstore and a book group who are also cancer survivors and wannabe sleuths.
Rarity Cole is the owner of the bookstore and it takes me a bit of effort to get past that name. I am also uncomfortable with the name of her boyfriend - Archer Ender. Is it just me? Anyway it does not affect the quality of the writing and the mystery which are both good. The grandmother of one of the book club's members is murdered and the group swing into action to solve the crime.
I enjoyed the mystery, the characters are interesting, the dog is cute and the setting is a book shop. All the boxes are ticked. Four stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Rarity Cole is the owner of the bookstore and it takes me a bit of effort to get past that name. I am also uncomfortable with the name of her boyfriend - Archer Ender. Is it just me? Anyway it does not affect the quality of the writing and the mystery which are both good. The grandmother of one of the book club's members is murdered and the group swing into action to solve the crime.
I enjoyed the mystery, the characters are interesting, the dog is cute and the setting is a book shop. All the boxes are ticked. Four stars from me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 4, 2022
Secrets in the Stacks is the second in the series of A Survivors Book Club Mysteries, Many of the characters in this book are carried over into the second, Rarity Cole is the main character and owner of The Next Chapter Book Store. After opening her new store in Sedona she established the Survivor's Book Club for people recovering from cancer. It started with only one member but is now 10. Darby Doyle is the newest member and works part-time in the book store. Archer Enders is Rarity's boyfriend who runs hiking tours. Rarity lives in a cute house along with her Pomeranian dog Killer, There is a festival in town which Rarity has a tent called Healing Thorough Reading along with her hydration and cooling station. After hearing a tarot card reading Darby is upset and leaves the festival to go home to her Grandmother where she is living. When she gets there she finds her grandmother, Katherine Doyle dead on the floor. She has been murdered. Drew Anderson, Sedona's police detective is called.
At the next book club meeting Darby asks the book club members to help her find who killed her grandmother. She fears that she is a suspect. The members vote that they will help her find the killer. Jonathan Anderson, Drew's father is in town on business and wants to join in the sleuthing. Rarity and Killer are the first to spend the night. While there they are spooked as someone has been in the house as books are thrown all over the floor. in the library..
This is where the reader is taken on an adventure to finding out who killed Katherine, Who was she before she came to Sedona, what is going on in the house, finding and reading her journals,, who is the men who show up at Rarity's store, etc. This all builds up into an exciting climax and surprising ending of whodunit. The book ends with Rarity and her friends all gathering for a cookout and they discuss going away together for a vacation. Is this the next adventure that Rarity and her friends have for the third book?
I loved all the characters and look forward to reading the next book.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for this ARC.
At the next book club meeting Darby asks the book club members to help her find who killed her grandmother. She fears that she is a suspect. The members vote that they will help her find the killer. Jonathan Anderson, Drew's father is in town on business and wants to join in the sleuthing. Rarity and Killer are the first to spend the night. While there they are spooked as someone has been in the house as books are thrown all over the floor. in the library..
This is where the reader is taken on an adventure to finding out who killed Katherine, Who was she before she came to Sedona, what is going on in the house, finding and reading her journals,, who is the men who show up at Rarity's store, etc. This all builds up into an exciting climax and surprising ending of whodunit. The book ends with Rarity and her friends all gathering for a cookout and they discuss going away together for a vacation. Is this the next adventure that Rarity and her friends have for the third book?
I loved all the characters and look forward to reading the next book.
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for this ARC.
October 28, 2022
This is about another sleuthing adventure for the Survivors' Book Club, one that hits close to home for one of their members. Rarity moved to Sedona, Arizona after she completed her breast cancer surgery, chemo, and recovery. Her friend, Sam, owns a store in Sedona where she sells her handmade jewelry. The cancer opened Rarity's eyes to what is important in life and climbing the corporate ladder she was on is not that. Now she owns The Next Chapter bookstore and her Survivors' Book Club meets on Tuesday nights to discuss books and do some sleuthing when the need arises. Her parttime worker and college student, Darby is now in need of their help. Her grandmother is found murdered by Darby and she is the number one suspect. The group begins a search for clues that lead to a wonderful and generous woman who evidently made an enemy of someone. This is a fun mystery to solve that goes in different and unexpected directions. Great recurring characters with suspense, danger, and a little romance round out this story. Lynn Cahoon is a favorite author, and her writing style always makes for a great read.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are mine only.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are mine only.
October 29, 2022
This is the second in the survivors’ book club mystery series. I haven’t read the first one but didn’t have a problem with reading this one. I thought the characters were ok, and I did like the strong friendships being the highlight. There is a slight romance, but the main character frequently prioritized her friends over time with him which I liked. The mystery was ok, it wasn’t as twisty as I might have liked but it was interesting. And I love mysteries set at bookstores so that was a nice bonus. Rarity has finally followed her dream and owns a book shop. When her employee’s grandmother is murdered her employee, Darby, asks Rarity and the rest of the book club or help. When they solved their first murder they weren’t planning n it becoming a habit, but they all like a good mystery and aren’t able to sit idly by. Overall I’d give this one 3.5 stars.
October 23, 2022
An entertaining and interesting second installment in the Survivors’ Book Club cozy series. Rarity Cole is a breast cancer survivor and owner of The Next Chapter bookstore in Sedona, Arizona. Tuesday nights are reserved for the Survivors’ Book Club which not only discusses books, but offers support for any of its members.
This plot focuses a lot on new employee Darby Doyle, who also just joined the book club, and is a breast cancer survivor. Her world is torn apart when, unexpectedly, her grandmother, Catherine, is murdered. This opens the door to a fast and furious plot filled with amazing twists and turns as Catherine’s past is revealed through a series of journals she’d kept hidden for years.
I enjoyed how friends, Rarity, Holly, Malia, Sam, and Shirley were so concerned and helpful to each other, and especially, to Darby. I noticed cozy touches Author Lynn Cahoon added like Rarity still wearing Mickey Mouse pajamas for comfort like she did during her cancer treatments.
Little by little, pieces of Darby’s grandmother’s life are revealed and everyone realizes why her life was in jeopardy and why she kept secrets to her death. This is a great cozy mystery with a solid plot and a satisfying resolution. Enjoy!
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical Underground. All opinions are my own.
This plot focuses a lot on new employee Darby Doyle, who also just joined the book club, and is a breast cancer survivor. Her world is torn apart when, unexpectedly, her grandmother, Catherine, is murdered. This opens the door to a fast and furious plot filled with amazing twists and turns as Catherine’s past is revealed through a series of journals she’d kept hidden for years.
I enjoyed how friends, Rarity, Holly, Malia, Sam, and Shirley were so concerned and helpful to each other, and especially, to Darby. I noticed cozy touches Author Lynn Cahoon added like Rarity still wearing Mickey Mouse pajamas for comfort like she did during her cancer treatments.
Little by little, pieces of Darby’s grandmother’s life are revealed and everyone realizes why her life was in jeopardy and why she kept secrets to her death. This is a great cozy mystery with a solid plot and a satisfying resolution. Enjoy!
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Lyrical Underground. All opinions are my own.
November 24, 2022
Review coming soon.
November 4, 2022
The newest member of the Survivors’ Book Club is Darcy, who has survived breast cancer as a young adult. While she is finishing up her college degree, she is living with her grandmother and working part time for Rarity Cole at Rarity’s bookstore. Returning home from work one day, Darcy finds her grandmother murdered in their home, and she turns to the book club for help in figuring out what happened. Can they do it?
I was a bit surprised that the characters weren’t reintroduced. Since it had been several months since I read the first in the series, it took me a bit to remember who everyone was. Once I did, I fell under their spell again. I really do like the cast. The story was entertaining, although the ending was weak. While it did answer the big questions, it raised a few more that aren’t addressed. There were some timeline glitches and other editing errors that should have been caught. Hopefully they were addressed between the ARC I read and the finished version. While the characters draw you in, the story should have been better.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I was a bit surprised that the characters weren’t reintroduced. Since it had been several months since I read the first in the series, it took me a bit to remember who everyone was. Once I did, I fell under their spell again. I really do like the cast. The story was entertaining, although the ending was weak. While it did answer the big questions, it raised a few more that aren’t addressed. There were some timeline glitches and other editing errors that should have been caught. Hopefully they were addressed between the ARC I read and the finished version. While the characters draw you in, the story should have been better.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
August 31, 2022
This book is as much about friendship and being there for each other as it is about solving a murder.
"Secrets in the Stacks" is about a group of women who come together as strangers in Rarity's book club and bond together as friends. What sets this book apart from others following this same idea is that these women are almost all cancer survivors. They've faced that silent enemy and survived, They've shared a common enemy. They are now there for each other
When book club member Darby's beloved grandmother is murdered, they close ranks immediately and step forward to both physically and emotionally support Darby. The characters have grown immensely since book one and their back stories are slowly beginning to emerge as they share their united strength. It also doesn't hurt having detective Drew and Rarity's boyfriend, Archer on hand, but the women are the core. And, oh, Rarity's darling dog Killer, who we met in the first book. All have roles to play, which is a real plus.
I won't detail the plot as the book blurb does an excellent job. I'll simply say that secrets kept can lead to devastating results. Let's face it, we all have secrets. Even the most beloved characters have secrets, secrets even those closest to them don't know about. What secrets are being harbored in Sedona? Who are those strangers who keep popping up and unnerving Rarity? Heck, even Killer barks at them. Are there secrets hidden in the library study? What gives with Darby's parents? Will Drew even ask Sam out? Her patience is growing thin, after all. What role does Drew's father play in this whole mess? What drives someone to murder? Okay. Enough teasers. Read this one. Author Cahoon is a cancer survivor herself and has created a wonderful fictional family of friends for us to share without cancer being a prominent theme of the story. It's a winner.
Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to visit with Rarity and her extended book club family again. We should all be lucky enough to have such a wonderful, positive group of supporting friends.
"Secrets in the Stacks" is about a group of women who come together as strangers in Rarity's book club and bond together as friends. What sets this book apart from others following this same idea is that these women are almost all cancer survivors. They've faced that silent enemy and survived, They've shared a common enemy. They are now there for each other
When book club member Darby's beloved grandmother is murdered, they close ranks immediately and step forward to both physically and emotionally support Darby. The characters have grown immensely since book one and their back stories are slowly beginning to emerge as they share their united strength. It also doesn't hurt having detective Drew and Rarity's boyfriend, Archer on hand, but the women are the core. And, oh, Rarity's darling dog Killer, who we met in the first book. All have roles to play, which is a real plus.
I won't detail the plot as the book blurb does an excellent job. I'll simply say that secrets kept can lead to devastating results. Let's face it, we all have secrets. Even the most beloved characters have secrets, secrets even those closest to them don't know about. What secrets are being harbored in Sedona? Who are those strangers who keep popping up and unnerving Rarity? Heck, even Killer barks at them. Are there secrets hidden in the library study? What gives with Darby's parents? Will Drew even ask Sam out? Her patience is growing thin, after all. What role does Drew's father play in this whole mess? What drives someone to murder? Okay. Enough teasers. Read this one. Author Cahoon is a cancer survivor herself and has created a wonderful fictional family of friends for us to share without cancer being a prominent theme of the story. It's a winner.
Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for allowing me to visit with Rarity and her extended book club family again. We should all be lucky enough to have such a wonderful, positive group of supporting friends.
November 5, 2022
Rarity Cole is the proud owner of a bookshop, called The Next Chapter, which sells titles with a focus on Eastern and Western medicine, food, meditation and other potential powers of healing. She also runs the Tuesday Night Survivors' Club (TNSC) a book club, now a group of ten people that meets, you guessed it, on Tuesday nights! The annual healing fair is on the horizon and there's to be a Tarot card reader. Darby Doyle is the TNSC's latest recruit and a new employee at The Next Chapter. She requests a Tarot card reading by Carson but draws the Death card and rushes off, very upset. She later finds her grandmother, dead...
I'm delighted to be back in Sedona, Arizona. The mystery is one that I did not manage to puzzle out. Very highly recommended, I'm eager to continue the series with Death in the Romance Aisle, due out in 2023.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel, at my own request, from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I'm delighted to be back in Sedona, Arizona. The mystery is one that I did not manage to puzzle out. Very highly recommended, I'm eager to continue the series with Death in the Romance Aisle, due out in 2023.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel, at my own request, from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 19, 2023
I wish I liked these more; I love the premise of the series: survivors getting together to support each other and read books, but the stories and the repetition in the writing ruin this for me. The characters are so-so. The mystery is interesting enough but the conclusion doesn’t make any sense to me . I have one more in the series and then I don’t think I’ll continue with it anymore.
November 14, 2022
Sigh.
As I have previous stated in other reviews of this author’s work, I almost always struggle with the first few books in every new series she writes [I am not really sure why, but I almost always dislike them and it takes a few books for me to settle in and eventually I end up loving them, which is the case with 2 of her current series], so I am not surprised that I didn’t love this book [though, I liked the first one and rated it higher than any other “first book” by the author]; what I AM surprised about it just how…inconsistent [?] this book is. Let me explain.
First, there is a TON of repetition. WHY is this a thing now in cozies? WHY WHY WHY??? Is there a new word count that has to be met and instead of giving us a complete story, they must just rewrite what they had just written, but in a different way? I was sorry to see this author succumb to this [STUPID and dumbing down] trope and I hope that she gets past it – she is a talented writer and I know that she can write a very good story, so this kind of crap really isn’t needed.
Second, there is a TON of inconsistencies. A TON. Here is an example: in one chapter, the book club is getting ready to take on the mystery of who the killer is and Shirley [one of the BEST side characters – I just love her and her strength and how she strives to keep her business HERS {it is failing, but she IS trying to keep people from gossiping}] talks about how she will update the murder notebooks and bring them to the next meeting. Move forward to the next meeting [several chapters later] and Shirley hands out the notebooks and Rarity says to her “OH, I didn’t know you were going to make murder notebooks” I’m sorry, WHAT? Seriously? And this happens OVER and OVER and OVER again [the worse was in chapter 17 and 18 when Rarity spends her afternoon researching the man they think is the killer and then in chapter 18 talks about making a memo to herself to remember to RESEARCH THIS SAME MAN. WHAT??? At this point, I even went back and reread it to make sure it wasn’t a mistake on my part and nope, I read it right. I just don’t understand this. So this and the telling of the same stuff OVER AND OVER AND OVER again were two of the biggest flaws in this book.
The mystery in itself is very good. I DID guess who the killer was very early [like from the moment they arrive in the picture], but it was a total guess and it wasn’t until towards the end when things are unraveling that I got the why [though I am still not 100% sure about all of that], but ultimately, it all fell flat. At no point did I feel that Rarity was in danger in the end and the reveal was just so…flat. My heart didn’t race, I didn’t grip my book, I just read it and went “well, THAT was meh”, and finished the book. It was just so anticlimactic and disappointing. Add to the mess that Rarity was acting so weird and defensive and everyone seems pretty catty and…I don’t know, weird in this one, it just was a jarring read. It was like the characters were not happy with the way they were being written either.
Even though it seems like I don’t, I really DO like this author. Her “Farm-to-Fork” and “Kitchen Witch” series are amazing [though it took me 3 books and 4 books in each series to get REALLY into them and then love them] and I so WANT to read the “Tourist Trap” books but I despise that narrator so those are out for me [the first two I read were pretty good and I liked the mysteries] and I really recommend them to people. I just don’t love how this one went and I am really disappointed. Will I read book 3 if there is one? Yes. From my past history with her books, the third book is usually where things turn around for me and I am hoping for that here, though a lot of things need to change for that to happen.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lynn Cahoon, and Kensington Books/Lyrical Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As I have previous stated in other reviews of this author’s work, I almost always struggle with the first few books in every new series she writes [I am not really sure why, but I almost always dislike them and it takes a few books for me to settle in and eventually I end up loving them, which is the case with 2 of her current series], so I am not surprised that I didn’t love this book [though, I liked the first one and rated it higher than any other “first book” by the author]; what I AM surprised about it just how…inconsistent [?] this book is. Let me explain.
First, there is a TON of repetition. WHY is this a thing now in cozies? WHY WHY WHY??? Is there a new word count that has to be met and instead of giving us a complete story, they must just rewrite what they had just written, but in a different way? I was sorry to see this author succumb to this [STUPID and dumbing down] trope and I hope that she gets past it – she is a talented writer and I know that she can write a very good story, so this kind of crap really isn’t needed.
Second, there is a TON of inconsistencies. A TON. Here is an example: in one chapter, the book club is getting ready to take on the mystery of who the killer is and Shirley [one of the BEST side characters – I just love her and her strength and how she strives to keep her business HERS {it is failing, but she IS trying to keep people from gossiping}] talks about how she will update the murder notebooks and bring them to the next meeting. Move forward to the next meeting [several chapters later] and Shirley hands out the notebooks and Rarity says to her “OH, I didn’t know you were going to make murder notebooks” I’m sorry, WHAT? Seriously? And this happens OVER and OVER and OVER again [the worse was in chapter 17 and 18 when Rarity spends her afternoon researching the man they think is the killer and then in chapter 18 talks about making a memo to herself to remember to RESEARCH THIS SAME MAN. WHAT??? At this point, I even went back and reread it to make sure it wasn’t a mistake on my part and nope, I read it right. I just don’t understand this. So this and the telling of the same stuff OVER AND OVER AND OVER again were two of the biggest flaws in this book.
The mystery in itself is very good. I DID guess who the killer was very early [like from the moment they arrive in the picture], but it was a total guess and it wasn’t until towards the end when things are unraveling that I got the why [though I am still not 100% sure about all of that], but ultimately, it all fell flat. At no point did I feel that Rarity was in danger in the end and the reveal was just so…flat. My heart didn’t race, I didn’t grip my book, I just read it and went “well, THAT was meh”, and finished the book. It was just so anticlimactic and disappointing. Add to the mess that Rarity was acting so weird and defensive and everyone seems pretty catty and…I don’t know, weird in this one, it just was a jarring read. It was like the characters were not happy with the way they were being written either.
Even though it seems like I don’t, I really DO like this author. Her “Farm-to-Fork” and “Kitchen Witch” series are amazing [though it took me 3 books and 4 books in each series to get REALLY into them and then love them] and I so WANT to read the “Tourist Trap” books but I despise that narrator so those are out for me [the first two I read were pretty good and I liked the mysteries] and I really recommend them to people. I just don’t love how this one went and I am really disappointed. Will I read book 3 if there is one? Yes. From my past history with her books, the third book is usually where things turn around for me and I am hoping for that here, though a lot of things need to change for that to happen.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lynn Cahoon, and Kensington Books/Lyrical Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2022
Rarity is excited for upcoming healing fair and looks forward to having her bookstore be a participant. Members from the book club she got started upon opening her store are also going to help out in different ways. There will even be a Tarot card reader there for entertainment and several members are looking forward to a reading. When Darby, one of the book club members, reading doesn't go well Rarity realizes she is afraid her upcoming mammogram is what has her worried. Things seem okay but then Darby finds her grandmother dead, murdered and realizes this is what the tarot reading was predicting. Darby asks the book club to help figure out who killed her grandmother and the group agrees to do so. Everyone has an assignment and putting the clues together becomes more important than ever when other bad things begin to hapoen. Follow along to see if the group will find a killer or someone else will end up dead.
November 4, 2022
The Sleuthers' are back in action again and this one hits even closer to home when Rarity's young employee finds her grandmother murdered and the investigation starts hitting very close to home. The plot is wonderfully crafted with layers of information that are slowly peeled back to create a wonderfully woven and wicked tale of murder and revenge. The characters are so warm and realistically crafted that I want to head to Sedona and look for the bookstore just to join the book club! I am absolutely in love with the characters and this series! I am just sad that I now have to wait for the next story to be written and published!
November 2, 2022
During a tarot reading the death card can have many meanings. However it plays out, big changes are coming.
Darby is a cancer survivor with upcoming rechecks she is worried about.
However when her grandmother ends up dead, Darby egis to believe in the cards but worries that is not the only bad news coming.
Great cast of characters of all ages. Wonderful support for people facing and surviving illness, and makes me wish I had a great book appreciation group like this near me.
The mystery kept me guessing and I want to visit this group again.
Darby is a cancer survivor with upcoming rechecks she is worried about.
However when her grandmother ends up dead, Darby egis to believe in the cards but worries that is not the only bad news coming.
Great cast of characters of all ages. Wonderful support for people facing and surviving illness, and makes me wish I had a great book appreciation group like this near me.
The mystery kept me guessing and I want to visit this group again.
January 9, 2023
Rarity has settled in and embraces her new life in Sedona. She has her bookstore and her new friends from her survivor book club. Being cancer survivors brought the friends together but the have discovered they all enjoy solving murders. So when a fellow book club friend ask for help finding her grandmother’s murderer, the are all in to solve the murder and offer support and friendship during her time of grief.
The characters in this book are resilient and compassionate. I am interested in getting to know some of the characters better. Since this is only book 2 there is plenty of time for character development of the secondary characters. The mystery is well-developed and moves at a perfect pace with plenty of red herrings. I recommend this book to cozy mystery fans.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.
The characters in this book are resilient and compassionate. I am interested in getting to know some of the characters better. Since this is only book 2 there is plenty of time for character development of the secondary characters. The mystery is well-developed and moves at a perfect pace with plenty of red herrings. I recommend this book to cozy mystery fans.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I have not been by anyone.
October 31, 2022
3.5 stars - Secrets in the Stacks is the second book in Survivors’ Book Club mystery series. This series is unique in that the main character, Rarity Cole, started the book club to help cancer survivors come together. The club has grown since the first book and one of the new members, Darby Doyle, is also working part-time for Rarity at her new book store in Sedona, Arizona. When Darby’s grandmother is murdered, she asks the book club, who have done some sleuthing in the past, to help find the killer.
I liked the book, but didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book in the series. One of the things I liked the most in the first book was the friendships between the main characters and the way they support each other. However, Darby, Holly, and sometimes Shirley were snippy with their friends in this book which undermined the idea of their close friendships. The book also starts out a little scattered without a central focus. Also since I’m familiar with Sedona, some things such as Rarity swimming in her unheated swimming pool in November, kept taking me out of the story. Sedona is quite cool during that time of year, so all I could think about was how cold that water would be.
On the plus side, I liked the way Verity and her friends worked together to solve the murder of Darby’s grandmother and also support Darby as she dealt with her health and the grief. I also like the way the author is showing progress in Verity’s relationship with Archer Ender without rushing things. The investigation revealed some surprises and I’m interested to see what is in store for Verity in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ebook. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
I liked the book, but didn’t enjoy it as much as the first book in the series. One of the things I liked the most in the first book was the friendships between the main characters and the way they support each other. However, Darby, Holly, and sometimes Shirley were snippy with their friends in this book which undermined the idea of their close friendships. The book also starts out a little scattered without a central focus. Also since I’m familiar with Sedona, some things such as Rarity swimming in her unheated swimming pool in November, kept taking me out of the story. Sedona is quite cool during that time of year, so all I could think about was how cold that water would be.
On the plus side, I liked the way Verity and her friends worked together to solve the murder of Darby’s grandmother and also support Darby as she dealt with her health and the grief. I also like the way the author is showing progress in Verity’s relationship with Archer Ender without rushing things. The investigation revealed some surprises and I’m interested to see what is in store for Verity in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ebook. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
September 15, 2022
Amazingly awesome! Reading Lynn Cahoon's second Survivors' Book Club Mystery, Secrets in the Stacks, is like a reunion with a special set of friends. The mystery is challenging and interesting, but it is the interaction of this group that make the book outstanding.
The people are not perfect, and the interactions aren't always easy, but the friendships are worth the effort to make them work. To me, that is as real life as you can get. Ms. Cahoon's descriptions of the area makes me want to spend time in Sedona. She evokes memories of the amazing country while creating live and mystery not to be missed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington/Lyrical Press for accepting my request to read and review and ARC of Secrets in the Stacks. The first book in the Survivors' Book Club Mystery series was excellent, and I knew that the next one would draw me even more as I became more attached to the characters. I was surprised to discover as soon as I started reading Secrets in the Stacks how attached I already was to this group. Lynn Cahoon brings so many talents to her writing but her ability to make people so real that they feel like friends is the one that I love the most.
#NetGalley #Kensington #Lyrical Press #Lynn Cahoon #SecretsintheStacks #SurvivorsBookClub
The people are not perfect, and the interactions aren't always easy, but the friendships are worth the effort to make them work. To me, that is as real life as you can get. Ms. Cahoon's descriptions of the area makes me want to spend time in Sedona. She evokes memories of the amazing country while creating live and mystery not to be missed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington/Lyrical Press for accepting my request to read and review and ARC of Secrets in the Stacks. The first book in the Survivors' Book Club Mystery series was excellent, and I knew that the next one would draw me even more as I became more attached to the characters. I was surprised to discover as soon as I started reading Secrets in the Stacks how attached I already was to this group. Lynn Cahoon brings so many talents to her writing but her ability to make people so real that they feel like friends is the one that I love the most.
#NetGalley #Kensington #Lyrical Press #Lynn Cahoon #SecretsintheStacks #SurvivorsBookClub
January 29, 2023
I didn't like the first book in this series, and I didn't like this one. Why do I do this?
November 5, 2022
Secrets in the Stacks Earns 5/5 Shelves of Evidence…Engaging & Clever!
It’s the fall festival and Rarity and her young part-timer Darby Doyle are manning the “Healing through Reading” tent where book lovers can purchase their favorite book. It’s Sedona, so a bit of new age fun has Rarity off to get a tarot reading from her friend. But, she find Darby crying. The Death card had been revealed in her reading, and it was a bit too much to handle worrying it literally referred to someone close to her, like her aging grandmother. Then, there’s the strange gift left on Rarity’s doorstep, a search for a reclusive author, a few strangers acting strange, a couple of break-ins, and of course, a tragic death that just might have been foretold by the Death card.
Lynn Cahoon has written some cover to cover fun with an endearing bunch of friends whose strength, loyalty, and differences in how they’ve dealt with their cancer diagnosis as at the center to the story. Their bonding goes well beyond friendship; you mess with one, you mess with all! The victim was a curious surprise, but as Cahoon reveals the rationale for her choice thru personal recollections, journals, and a “tell me what you know” journalist, it is clear this is one of her best murder mysteries. The victim’s philanthropic activities championing women, a valuable book collection, and possibly a link to a tragic past added to the complexity, and the end was the perfect mix of peril, surprise, and relief. Lynn’s writing style is always entertaining, descriptive along with realistic dialogue to illustrate the multi generational personalities. Clever mystery. Diverse characters. Strong female lead. Romance, friendship, and family. This second book has it all and a recipe, too! Enjoy Rarity’s version of Hamburger Stew. Yummy!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington through NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
It’s the fall festival and Rarity and her young part-timer Darby Doyle are manning the “Healing through Reading” tent where book lovers can purchase their favorite book. It’s Sedona, so a bit of new age fun has Rarity off to get a tarot reading from her friend. But, she find Darby crying. The Death card had been revealed in her reading, and it was a bit too much to handle worrying it literally referred to someone close to her, like her aging grandmother. Then, there’s the strange gift left on Rarity’s doorstep, a search for a reclusive author, a few strangers acting strange, a couple of break-ins, and of course, a tragic death that just might have been foretold by the Death card.
Lynn Cahoon has written some cover to cover fun with an endearing bunch of friends whose strength, loyalty, and differences in how they’ve dealt with their cancer diagnosis as at the center to the story. Their bonding goes well beyond friendship; you mess with one, you mess with all! The victim was a curious surprise, but as Cahoon reveals the rationale for her choice thru personal recollections, journals, and a “tell me what you know” journalist, it is clear this is one of her best murder mysteries. The victim’s philanthropic activities championing women, a valuable book collection, and possibly a link to a tragic past added to the complexity, and the end was the perfect mix of peril, surprise, and relief. Lynn’s writing style is always entertaining, descriptive along with realistic dialogue to illustrate the multi generational personalities. Clever mystery. Diverse characters. Strong female lead. Romance, friendship, and family. This second book has it all and a recipe, too! Enjoy Rarity’s version of Hamburger Stew. Yummy!
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Kensington through NetGalley. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
November 4, 2022
This is such a good cozy series about survival and friendships, new and old. Set in Sedona AZ the owner of a bookstore started a survivor book club for cancer survivors and besides discussing books read they decide to help solve a murder or two. That's what friends do, right?!!!
February 21, 2023
Love the characters and premise. Good second book to series and interesting mystery. Looking forward to next book
October 23, 2022
'Secrets in the Stacks” by Lynn Cahoon book two in the Survivors Book Club Mystery series. I love this new series of Lynn’s it’s entertaining full of loveable characters and a furbaby named Killer.
After an ominous Tarot reading, Sedona bookstore owner Rarity Cole must find a killer to keep her friend safe from harm—even if the cards are stacked against her . . .
Once again the story was engaging, really well-written, and I love the setting in the desert town of Sedona Arizona. The protagonist Rarity was intelligent, likeable, and the friends she made were people I would like to hang out with especially Sam, Archer and Drew. I found myself thoroughly enjoying the story and I like where the romance between Rarity and Archer is going.
It shows us that it doesn’t matter what illness or troubles one has, a strong support system of friendship and trust is always a must, so why not have that with your book club.
I highly recommend this cozy mystery series to all my friends who love a cozy with a strong support system of friends in it.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
After an ominous Tarot reading, Sedona bookstore owner Rarity Cole must find a killer to keep her friend safe from harm—even if the cards are stacked against her . . .
Once again the story was engaging, really well-written, and I love the setting in the desert town of Sedona Arizona. The protagonist Rarity was intelligent, likeable, and the friends she made were people I would like to hang out with especially Sam, Archer and Drew. I found myself thoroughly enjoying the story and I like where the romance between Rarity and Archer is going.
It shows us that it doesn’t matter what illness or troubles one has, a strong support system of friendship and trust is always a must, so why not have that with your book club.
I highly recommend this cozy mystery series to all my friends who love a cozy with a strong support system of friends in it.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 3, 2023
There must be a formula for the cozy mysteries. While an entertaining audio book for the drive or a walk there are inconsistencies. In the first book of this series, the main character named "Rarity" adopts a little Yorkie dog from a deceased member of her book club. In this book, at the beginning, the dog, named Killer, is referred to as her Pomeranian dog.
The narration was disappointing. Darby, one of the main characters in this particular story, is a young college aged woman with the voice of a hoarse older woman or man. While this was consistent, it was distracting and detracted from the story, which wasn't bad beyond a few inconsistencies for light entertainment. If you like this author, opt for the written version rather than audio book.
The narration was disappointing. Darby, one of the main characters in this particular story, is a young college aged woman with the voice of a hoarse older woman or man. While this was consistent, it was distracting and detracted from the story, which wasn't bad beyond a few inconsistencies for light entertainment. If you like this author, opt for the written version rather than audio book.
November 10, 2022
I really am enjoying this series. Rarity is a great MC, the lady definitely knows her own mind, life has taught her not to settle! She has basically rewritten her life and is building a great set of friends and community in her new place. This time when her new employee goes home and finds her grandmother murdered, the Tuesday Night Survivors Club is totally invested in clearing Darby and finding out what really happened to her grandmother. What they find maybe way more then they expected, with break ins, stolen journals and personal attacks, Darby and company learn that her grandmother was not who they thought she was! Wonderful mystery.
November 3, 2022
Rarity is a cancer survivor and owns a bookstore in Sedona, Arizona. She started a book club for cancer survivors and it sort of became a sleuthing club. She hired Darby a fellow book clubber to work part-time in the bookstore. After a festival set in town Darby goes home to her Grandmother and finds her dead. Darby becomes a prime suspect and the bookclub sets out to work to find out who killed Catherine Doyle.
This is a fun fast read. I really enjoyed the mystery and didn't know who did it until the end. I was shocked with Rarity with the clues presented it made sense. I'm excited to see what else happens for Rarity.
This is a fun fast read. I really enjoyed the mystery and didn't know who did it until the end. I was shocked with Rarity with the clues presented it made sense. I'm excited to see what else happens for Rarity.
October 8, 2022
I loved the first book so was extra pleased to be able to get this via Netgalley and find out what trouble the Survivors Book Club manage to land themselves in this time. The mystery centres around the murder of Darby’s beloved grandmother - with the book club immediately gathering around her for support. It’s not long before it becomes clear that the pieces don’t add up - but will the girls be able puzzle it out before there is another victim? This had me guessing to the very end - I was so sure I’d solved it at one point too! Sign me up for book 3! As before, the strength of the female friendships in this book really shine, this is a group of women who show up for each other without overstepping. The progression of Rarity’s relationship with Archer is lovely.
October 10, 2022
After an ominous Tarot reading, Sedona bookstore owner Rarity Cole must find a killer to keep her friend safe from harm—even if the cards are stacked against her . . .
Following her recovery from breast cancer, Rarity has embraced a life of healing and service in her Sedona, Arizona, community. She welcomes the opportunity to participate in the annual summer healing fair with her fittingly named new-age bookstore, The Next Chapter. The members of the Tuesday Night Survivors’ Book Club are also volunteering, maintaining a cooling station for overheated festivalgoers, and hosting a Tarot card reader for entertainment.
But one member, Darby, is anything but entertained when the Tarot reader pulls a Death card. With a mammogram coming up, she’s freaked out and goes home—only to walk into a crime scene where someone near and dear to her has been murdered. Despite the objections of Detective Drew Anderson, Rarity is determined to help her friend and protect her from being the killer’s next victim. (Goodreads synopsis)
I have read many of Lynn Cahoon’s novels, because she is one of my favorite authors. However, her Survivors’ Book Club series is actually not one of my favorites, but I continue to read them anyway. I love the camaraderie of the group and how everyone pitches in to help each other. I also really like Rarity’s friendship with Police officer Drew Anderson. It’s very rare that I can find a cozy mystery that allows for the amateur’s talents to be used and accepted by law enforcement.
The mystery was also very good, because I had no idea who the killer was until the ending. I had figured out who Darby’s grandmother was pretty early on, but that plot point is typically used in mysteries, so I didn’t take any points away for that.
Normally I enjoy how Lynn Cahoon writes her novels, but these ones always feel disjointed to me. I don’t know if it's a time lapse issue (for example, Rarity and Archer just arrived at the restuarant but three paragraphs later are leaving…?) or if it is a lack of descriptive thoughts that are missing. It just seems like there were gaps between sentences, a leap from one thought process to another.
Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.
Following her recovery from breast cancer, Rarity has embraced a life of healing and service in her Sedona, Arizona, community. She welcomes the opportunity to participate in the annual summer healing fair with her fittingly named new-age bookstore, The Next Chapter. The members of the Tuesday Night Survivors’ Book Club are also volunteering, maintaining a cooling station for overheated festivalgoers, and hosting a Tarot card reader for entertainment.
But one member, Darby, is anything but entertained when the Tarot reader pulls a Death card. With a mammogram coming up, she’s freaked out and goes home—only to walk into a crime scene where someone near and dear to her has been murdered. Despite the objections of Detective Drew Anderson, Rarity is determined to help her friend and protect her from being the killer’s next victim. (Goodreads synopsis)
I have read many of Lynn Cahoon’s novels, because she is one of my favorite authors. However, her Survivors’ Book Club series is actually not one of my favorites, but I continue to read them anyway. I love the camaraderie of the group and how everyone pitches in to help each other. I also really like Rarity’s friendship with Police officer Drew Anderson. It’s very rare that I can find a cozy mystery that allows for the amateur’s talents to be used and accepted by law enforcement.
The mystery was also very good, because I had no idea who the killer was until the ending. I had figured out who Darby’s grandmother was pretty early on, but that plot point is typically used in mysteries, so I didn’t take any points away for that.
Normally I enjoy how Lynn Cahoon writes her novels, but these ones always feel disjointed to me. I don’t know if it's a time lapse issue (for example, Rarity and Archer just arrived at the restuarant but three paragraphs later are leaving…?) or if it is a lack of descriptive thoughts that are missing. It just seems like there were gaps between sentences, a leap from one thought process to another.
Overall, I rate this novel 3 out of 5 stars.
August 28, 2022
When Rarity’s part time employee, Darby, loses her grandmother the book club members come to her aid. Both as friends who are supporting her through her loss, and as sleuths who will do their darnedest to clear her from police suspicion.
With Catherine being so beloved, why would have wanted the woman dead when she did so much good for the community? Who would do such a thing and would they come back for the bookclub members if they get too close?
The second book in this series delivered another solid entry. With a cast of likeable characters and one cute dog, there is someone we can all relate to in the group. The whodunits are all well written and filled with red herrings and enough suspects to keep you guessing. Lynn Cahoon is one of my favorite cozy authors and reading just one her books will show you why!
With Catherine being so beloved, why would have wanted the woman dead when she did so much good for the community? Who would do such a thing and would they come back for the bookclub members if they get too close?
The second book in this series delivered another solid entry. With a cast of likeable characters and one cute dog, there is someone we can all relate to in the group. The whodunits are all well written and filled with red herrings and enough suspects to keep you guessing. Lynn Cahoon is one of my favorite cozy authors and reading just one her books will show you why!
November 29, 2022
Wow, I read book one and had to dive straight into book two. Cahoon is so good at getting to the heart of things. I was in a season of losing another parent and these characters were facing mortality with cancer diagnosis and they were using reading and friendship to help them through. Of course there is a whole mystery sleuthers club too but this book helped me begin my own healing my heart journey. God put this book on my radar to show me people like Lynn understand us in our weakness and help strengthen us.
Overall I just loved this book. What a joy. More please.
Read this as a NetGalley ARC for an honest review.
Overall I just loved this book. What a joy. More please.
Read this as a NetGalley ARC for an honest review.
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