Reading Between the Lies is about a murder in a small town. Rarity, the MC, is the owner of a book store in Sedona, AZ. One of the book clubs that meets at her store is a group that solves crimes. The one in this book involves the murder of a gallery owner.

This book was a quick read, but it frustrated me for many reasons. It’s a 2.5 rounded up to 3.

First, this is what I liked.:

1) The close relationships made me happy. I was glad the community came together to help each other. My hometown was very small so I understand the bonds that are created.

2) Shirley was my favorite character. I could feel her confusion about her friendship with Terrence. The way they interact is so sweet and welcome after what she’s dealing with in her life. I rooted for her happiness, but I understood her reason for not reaching for it. I can see why she’s the grandma of Sedona.

As I said, the book was a quick read, but I was glad it wasn’t longer for the following reasons:

1) The murder investigation was meh. I figured out the murderer early on. The reveal was anticlimactic. Nothing really happened except the sleuthing club’s theories and things they found weren’t earth shattering. Even though they went out investigating clues on their own I never felt like they were in danger. from the killer. Even though it was a murder mystery everything felt very low stakes.

2) I felt absolutely no chemistry between Rarity and Archer. It seemed like the only reason Rarity liked him was because he was really nice. Maybe I missed something since I haven’t read the other books in the series. The chaste kisses and hugs certainly did them no favors. I don’t expect smut in a cozy, but at least show me why these people are together.
There was nothing that lead to Rarity’s solution to their relationship later in the book. Also, the stuff about his life that he hid from her would’ve had me putting the brakes on that relationship. She seems very naive.

3) Why in the world did certain parts of the book need so much description? For example, I didn’t need to know every single thing they did to make a quiche. I felt like there was a lot of telling and little to no showing.

4) The dog got a whole lot of attention. There were so many paragraphs dedicated to what Killer was doing that he could’ve been the MC. It did nothing to move the story along. He had nothing to do with the investigation. It felt like the author was trying to meet a word count.

5) Did everyone carry a tote? Is that the catch all for what people carry in Sedona instead of a purse or laptop bag? All I could think of was the cloth bags that I use to put my groceries in or to carry essentials to the beach. I suppose people could carry their everyday belongings in a tote, but it was just weird to me. Maybe because people were putting things in their totes every few pages.

6) When was this story supposed to take place? There were cell phones, but some of the dialogue made it seem very old fashioned. Like Shirley not knowing that PDA stands for public displays of affection. She leads a Mommy and Me group and has younger friends. She’s not that old. I think she’s in her 60s. Sometimes the author makes her seem older than what she is.

7) Lastly, why was the storyline about the fugitive even there? It seems to be the most dangerous part of this book, yet it had nothing to do with the murder. It was like it was just tossed in the mix.

I know it may seem like I hated the book. I didn’t. It’s not one I’d reach for again though. I won’t go back to read the other books in the series or continue it. The excerpt from the next book didn’t make me curious even though it ended on something that was touched on in this book.

I thought this was my first cozy mystery, but it’s not. I think it was a series involving a knitting group. I enjoyed it enough to read most of the books in the series. So I know I can like cozies. I’ve heard this author’s series tend to get better after the third book and then readers love them. I can’t see me picking up any of her other series though.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me this eARC for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a really well done mystery novel, it had everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the elements to solve what was going on. The overall feel worked with what I was hoping for and glad it was so well done. Lynn Cahoon has a great writing style and can’t wait to read more in this series.

Bookseller Rarity Cole is on the outs with her fella, and her BFF Sam is also on the outs with her fella, in this 4th book in the Survivors' Book Club Mystery series. They all go to a local art gallery opening, enjoying a night out with friends, until the gallery owner is murdered by a poisoned arrow. How unique! Of course, Rarity's Tuesday Night Book Club group is on the case as they try to solve the murder. Sedona is the terrific setting for this fun cozy mystery series with a heart. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with these folks. Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and Lyrical Press for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

(A Survivor’s Book Club Mystery #3) - I really enjoy reading this series, since I picked up the first one. Rarity and her group of book club friends (Sam, Jonathan, Shirley, Katie and many more) are always so interesting. You find yourself getting involved with their everyday problems and solving a murder on the side. You will find friendship, advice and support throughout all the characters. I have never been to Sedona, but I wouldn’t mind a vacation to visit all the small shops and meet these great characters. Rarity has a date night with Archer, and he takes her to a gallery opening. She meets Jackson, the owner and a former schoolmate of Archer. Jackson ends up being murdered and Archer becomes a prime suspect because of their past differences. Rarity and her Book Club group on the case. I recommend this book and hope that you pick it up and enjoy it. My only disappointment in the book was the ending felt really rushed and the culprit confessed to easily. For that reason, I’m giving it a 4-star rating. Thank you to Netgalley and Lyrical Press for providing an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed reading #ReadingBetweentheLies #NetGalley by Lynn Cahoon.
Rarity Cole is the owner of The Next Chapter, a bookstore that offers more than the newest book to read, it offers support, friendship and a place to to relax, when life has you down.
Rarity and her book club friends are also very good at solving murders, and the death of an business owner/ artist has them asking questions and trying to put the clues together.
I like the background issues of the characters as well, they all encounter similar issues that we all have, and to me, that makes these books seem more personal and less fictional.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book, and thank you to Lynn Cahoon, author extraordinaire, who introduced us to these wonderful characters.

I love this series and the women’s friendships. The owner of a new art gallery is found dead and the book club goes into detective mode to find the killer.
Goodreads

Another great book by a wonderful author. Rarity (odd name) is an owner of a bookstore in Sedona, and with the help of her friends and boyfriend she helps solves murders. Liked this one, although a bit lost at times with the concept of vortexes, but must be a regional thing. Still though, highly recommend this story and look forward to more.

Sedona seems like the perfect place to live, except for all those murders in the Survivor's Book Club Mysteries written by Lynn Cahoon. A cancer survivor opens a book store, but she is also an amateur sleuth solving murders when her friends and colleagues are accused of the ultimate crime. This time, it's her boyfriend, Archer, whom she must defend. A former friend, possible frenemy, turns up dead after meeting years later. But there were some connections that make him look guilty, so the police aren't willing to leave it alone so easily. I enjoyed this one, but it did feel like the ending was a bit abrupt in terms of identifying the killer. I enjoyed getting to know all the new characters. And I really do relax when I read stories like this one - makes me a happy reader!