"Secrets in the Stacks" brings us into Rarity's life again. And boy is this time a ride. I loved the way the author wove in the Tarot. It always adds a bit more to an already great mystery. As usual, Cahoon brings a solid mystery with the right amount of twists and turns for a cozy read.

As a Breast cancer survivor I was trying to this book. and plus I love the cozy murder mysteries. This book kept my interest, and I love the twist interns and the subject matter I would highly recommend this to all those that love cuisine misters.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, so I had high hopes for this book. The plot was interesting but the pace was too slow. There was a lot of unnecessary repetition but I chalk that up to this being an ARC. I like the members of the book club and Riley and Archer’s relationship.

Secrets in the Stacks is the second book in the Survivors' Book Club Mystery series and I am enjoying this series quite a bit. Of course, Lynn Cahoon is a writer who has penned several cozy mystery series and I read and enjoy most of them. Rarity Cole is a Breast Cancer Survivor who is living in Sed0na, Arizona. She had opened a bookstore called "The Next Chapter" and has embraced life. She has a bookclub that is made up entirely of Cancer Survivors. In this outing, members of the bookclub are manning an hydration center for Festival Attendees as well as hosting a Tarot Card Reader. Darby, one of the members panics when her tarot cards turn up the death card. She is due for a mammogram and is sure this is a negative omen. She rushes home and walks into a crime scene. Her grandmother has been murdered and Darby is a suspect. Rarity wants to help her friend and despite the displeasure of the local police, she and her friends begin their own investigation. As they dig, there are a lot of secrets in Darby's family's closet.

I am enjoying this series with all the wonderful characters. They are strong and resilient and I love that this series showcases cancer survivors. It gives hope to those diagnosed that they can survive. The mystery was well developed and kept me guessing. With the twists, clues, and red herrings, the book has an exciting climax and surprising ending. I like the way the story ends, with Rarity and her friends all gathering for a cookout where they discuss going away together for a vacation. Is this a glimpse into what happens in the next book? Another entertaining story by Lynn Cahoon that I definitely recommend.

Another fun cozy mystery with cancer survivor and bookstore owner Rarity. It did seem a little dragged out, but I liked some of the extra elements and twists in this installment.

Omg I really truly loved this book I think I enjoyed reading it more because I read the previous book The Tuesday Night Survivors Club. The characters are funny bunch and it had me rolling on the floor laughing. With a little mystery thrown in for good measure.

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

I hadn’t realised this was the second in a series, but once I started reading it became obvious so I would suggest reading book 1 first.

Also, as a parent of a 10 year old girl, I can’t hear/read the name Rarity without picturing this (see pic of Rarity from MLP: Friendship is Magic), but that is definitely a ‘me’ problem!

Anyway, the human Rarity is running a bookshop and gets drawn in to investigating the murder of her employee’s grandmother. There is loads going on in the plot, especially in terms of break-ins and thefts, the mystery is intriguing and the characters are engaging. There is even a little slow-burning romance in the background with Archer (who, if I’m honest, also sounds like he could be an MLP character, sorry!)

The concept of a book group full of cancer survivors that also investigate murders makes a really great series hook and I really enjoyed reading this… enough that I would definitely go back and read book one now, and would certainly read more from this series in future.

Cosy mystery fans will enjoy this – it is a solid story that ticks all the boxes. There is even a cute dog! (And definitely NO ponies!)

Secrets in the Stacks

by Lynn Cahoon

The Survivor’s Book Club is for women who are currently undergoing or have finished treatment for breast cancer. It was founded by Rarity, a local bookstore owner and cancer survivor. The group does not actually read books about cancer, but their background gives them an unspoken bond and perspective. When one of the club members discovers her grandmother murdered in their home, the group shifts into high gear to support their friend, clear her of suspicion, and help discover the real murderer.

As is usual with a Lynn Cahoon book, Secrets in the Stacks has an intricate plot, great characters, and a lot of surprises. Cahoon actually discovered cozy mysteries when she was going through breast cancer treatments herself and realized that writing is what she really wanted to do. She has been very successful with several popular series to her credit, but this is the first one that draws on her experiences with cancer treatment and survival.

Rarity is supported by a group of friends who are Sedona, Arizona, locals. She is close friends with Drew, a detective, but the romantic interest in the story is Archer, an athletic man who leads group hikes in the surrounding area. Rarity has her dog Killer, a Pomeranian, with her almost constantly. As the boss, she can even take her well-trained dog, who has a great instinct about people, to work with her.

The murdered grandmother was well-loved in the community, but no one seemed to know anything about her life before she and her teenaged son moved to Sedona. The group decides that something from her past could be a motivation for the crime. The deeper they delve, the more complications arise.

The ending is dramatic, action-packed, and surprising. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #2 in the Survivors’ Book Club Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone as Cahoon provides any background information needed.
2. Sedona is often associated with new-age beliefs so there are several references to tarot cards as well as one to crystals and sending out good wishes through the universe. Some of the characters believe in the “mystical part” of the tarot card reading and others don’t. As a Christian, I avoid the occult, but there are few enough references and enough skepticism on the part of the characters that I am able to read this book. It is not a predominant theme.
3. Includes a recipe for Hamburger Stew.

Publication: November 1, 2022—Kensington Books (Lyrical Press)

Memorable Lines:

“…running my own business is harder than I thought it would be. Every time I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel, it turns out to be a train.”

She’d worked out her negative feelings about what Shirley had said without confronting the woman. Sometimes you just needed to realize it was you and not them.

The book club was more than just a bunch of women reading books. Or even poking their noses into an investigation, or now, two. They were there for each other.

Secrets in the Stacks, A Second Chance at Life Murder Mystery (A Survivors' Book Club Mystery 2) is a cozy, amateur sleuth romance mystery featuring Rarity Cole, a young woman who decides to leave her high-stress marketing job in St. Louis and open a book store in Sedona, Arizona. Rarity and her book club friends, many who have been treated for cancer, have taken on solving local crimes. In this episode, it is the murder of the grandmother of a college student who works part-time at the book store. The array of book club members from old, seasoned Sedona residents, to young women new to the community and what they hysterically call the "woo-woo" part of the town is well-balanced. Author Lynn Cahoon provides a solid, sweet read about friends and community--along with embracing the "woo-woo" with a wink.

Love this series--the cancer survivor book club is such a thoughtful and well-done setting for a cozy mystery.

This second book in the Survivor’s Book Club series was a great follow up to the first one. I love the characters and the relationships that have developed. It was nice to see the way the women support each other … whether it’s through breast cancer tests, diagnoses, or treatments … or through difficult life circumstances. This book has a mystery inside a mystery. There are a lot of twists and turns that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next. I can’t wait to see what Rarity and the ladies of the Survivor’s Book Club will get into in future adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lyrical Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

The second book in the series takes off around the time it left off previously. The women are trying something new by participating in an outdoor event. There are a lot more people here than in the previous book, although their positions and roles are well explained.
Things get a little constrained when one of the girls is having her cards read and pulls a bad omen. This omen is soon justified, and the investigation starts in earnest.
This is mostly because the girl in question is being comforted and protected by the older ladies in the group, and they liked how things turned out the last time they put their heads together.
The mystery had a little more action and a lot more digging into the past than the previous visit.
It was a good plot, and the investigation seemed reasonable. I may not be continuing with the series, but this second installment was better than the first, and I think the next might improve even further.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience

This was the second book in the Survivor's Book Club Mystery. This time the ladies investigate the death of the grandmother of their newest member, Darby.

I do like the main characters, I like how Rarity has embraced her new life and I will definitely continue with this series.

I read this between my kindle and the audiobook.

Secrets in the Stack was a decent follow up to the first book, though I think I liked the first book a little bit more. I really do love the characters in this one though and like how the frieind gets the cop for a boyfriend instead of the main character that is done in a lot of cozy mysteries. I am glad it doesn't dwell to much on Cancer or sad things as I was worried about that at first but so far it's a pretty decent series, but then I usually enjoy this author's series.

It normally doesn't take me 2 weeks to finish a book - it just didn't flow for me. I liked the plot, I enjoyed the characters...just didn't care for how it was written.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5314368034

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.

This is the 2nd book in a cozy mystery series. I will say I enjoyed this book but the ending fell a little flat for me.

There are was a big reveal that felt like it came out of no where and it felt a little to predictable to me.

Don’t get me wrong I enjoy a mystery I can follow and can solve on my own but this just felt a little to easy.

The best part of this book is the characters. Rarity and Archer, Sam and Drew, I’m rooting for them and as cute as their romance is I would like a little bit more. It doesn’t need to be spicy but more development would be nice.

I really enjoyed getting to know the book club members better this book. It was really fun to see their dynamic and get more background info.

Overall I’ll give this a 3/5 stars but I think that’s generous. I do plan on reading more of this series continues because I did enjoy the first book and I think a 3rd would have good potential.

This is the 2nd book in the Survivor's Book Club series by Lynn Cahoon. Thank you #NetGalley and #KensingtonPublishing for the DRC version of this book.

Solid 3.5 stars from me. This can be a standalone, but I think it would be more enjoyable and connecting to have read the first book in the series. The storyline was interesting and I'm seeing more emotion and development with the characters from the book (aka sleuthing) club. If you like being in the head of the main character the entire story, this is the book for you. You're hearing all her thoughts - on everything. I reread my review of the 1st book, and find "Secrets in the Stacks" to follow the same pattern. Rarity (the main character) is still a little dry to me. She doesn't overreact and as much as she talks about emotions, I don't find her to be very emotional herself. She's still likable and interesting. But keep in mind if you're use to reading a cozy where the protagonist always seems alarmed or very reactive in situations, this is not Rarity. The story itself held my interest to the end. I even picked up the little literary hints foretelling what's ahead. But like the first book, the reveal happened quickly. Too quickly. And all though there is a followup chapter with answers to what happened next.... there weren't enough answers. I want to know more about Darby and her parents and see some cozy resolve between them. And more about the local author! Which I won't spoil. I just needed a more rounded conclusion. Quick digital read and the paper back is just over 200 pages. As before, 2 thumbs up. And I look forward to the next book in the series.

This is the 2nd installment in the Survivor Book Club series. Rarity Cole moved to Sedona and opened her own book store after surviving breast cancer and a terrible break-up. On Tuesday’s she now hosts the Tuesday’s Survivors Book Club which has also served as a sleuthing club when needed. Darby is Rarity’s only employee and she is also a survivor of breast cancer and is working part time while going to college and living with her Grandmother Catherine. At the Sedona festival, Darby is spooked by a Tarot card reading that says death is on the horizon and she is fearing her upcoming mammogram, however, instead the next day she finds her Grandmother dead when she gets home after work. Rarity is called to the scene by Drew the police detective and her friend along with Archer (Rarity’s boyfriend) to help Darby. Darby’s parents left for Alaska and she is not really in touch with them so the book club steps in and starts staying with Darby and decides to help with the investigation into Catherine’s death. Is this a robbery gone bad or is there something else going on? On the night Rarity spends the night with Darby the house is broken into and Catherine’s study has been ransacked. Now even the police have to speculate something else is going on and look at other suspects than Darby. This was a fast paced and good mystery with lots of heart. Looking forward to the next installment.