Rarity Cole, bookstore owner, is living her best life after surviving cancer—hosting book clubs, classes, and parties at her store, The Next Chapter, and giving back to her community in Sedona, Arizona. But an awkward outing to a new art gallery is about to add a dark slant to the picture. I absolutely loved Reading Between the Lies, the fourth installment in the Survivor's Book Club Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. Rarity and Her murder solving book club are at it again, and this time it seems to be hitting much closer to home for Rarity. The thrill of the investigation, and the reading club digging up dirt is always enjoyable and kept me intrigued. Thank You to Lynn Cahoon, her publisher, and Netgalley for the complimentary egalley in exchange for my review. I can't wait for the next installment!

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC.

This is the 4th book in the Survivors' Book Club series and I swear that they are getting better and better.

Rarity and her boyfriend, Archer attends an Art Gallery and later the owner is found murdered. Unfortunately, Archer is the one who finds the body and ends up being the main suspect. So of course it is up to the book club to find the real murderer. But it isn't going to be quick or easy which is great for us readers since we get a great mystery out of it.

One of the things I enjoy about this book is that it isn't just about solving a murder, but we also get to know the characters better and be involved in their lives for a little while. A. At least the book club members are. Shirley is back and is still dealing with what is going on with her husband, George. At the same time, she is developing a friendship with Rarity's neighbor, Terrance. I have mixed feelings but she does deserve to be happy. Sam and Drew are going through a very rough patch in their relationship. Not liking that at all.

As for the murder, I kind of figured out who it was early on but I still enjoyed going through the case with the book club. It is always fun when I can't guess who it is but also fun when I can say "yes, I knew it!"

The ending!!!

Summary, great mystery but I think it is secondary to the wonderful characters and their stories.

Charming Setting: Sedona, Arizona, with its red rock formations and mystical energy, becomes more than a backdrop—it’s a character in itself. Lynn Cahoon’s vivid descriptions transport us to cozy bookshops, aromatic coffee corners, and art galleries where secrets lurk behind canvas frames. As readers, we can almost feel the sun-warmed stones under our fingertips and smell the juniper-scented breeze. The setting invites us to linger, to explore, and to unravel mysteries hidden among the crimson cliffs.

Authentic Friendships: Rarity Cole, our bookshop owner and cancer survivor, embodies resilience. Her friendships with Shirley, Sam, and their partners feel genuine—they bicker, laugh, and support each other. As readers, we root for these characters because they mirror our own bonds. Their shared history, inside jokes, and shared cups of chamomile tea create a sense of belonging. We’ve all had those friends—the ones who know our quirks, our fears, and our favorite genres. In Rarity’s circle, we find echoes of our own book clubs and late-night discussions about life, love, and the perfect bookmark.

Whodunit Intrigue: The mystery unfolds like a well-crafted puzzle. Cahoon sprinkles clues, red herrings, and unexpected twists. We become armchair detectives, piecing together fragments of truth while sipping our favorite tea. The art gallery setting adds layers of intrigue—the vibrant canvases hide more than brushstrokes. As Rarity navigates the art world’s secrets, we lean in, trying to decipher the cryptic messages left by the deceased artist. Cozy mysteries should be like a warm hug, and this book delivers—a blend of suspense, curiosity, and the promise that answers lie just around the corner.

So, fellow bookworm, if you seek a mystery that combines charm, suspense, and a dash of the supernatural, dive into “Reading Between the Lies”. May your bookmarks be well-worn, and your tea never grow cold.

Arizona, book-club, recipes, cancer-survivor, friendship, friends, pet-dog, amateur-sleuth, murder, investigation, local-law-enforcement, support-system, suspense, lies, secrets, bookseller, small-business, small-town, drama, relationships, relationship-issues*****

Why was the contentious art gallery owner shot with an arrow dipped in a controlled substance? Good character relationships and interaction. The concept of a Book Club gathering complete with a Murder Board and notebooks to solve this and any other murders is kinda out there, but it works in this series.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Kensington Books/Lyrical Press via NetGalley. Thank you.
#SurvivorsBookClubMysteryBk4

I liked this book with a few caveats. First- it seems that Rarity and Archer don't know anything about each other. She's surprised to find out about all his issues in college which point to him as a prime suspect in a murder of his former college enemy. They seem more like buddies than lovers. Second, the relationship between Shirley and Terrence is...odd. There's a lot of drama, Shriley runs hot and cold, and in the end it goes nowhere. If Shirley is so committed to her husband who doesn't know who she is anymore she shouldn't have even started seeing Terrence. I didn't think that Shirley was old but she seems to be incredibly uptight and old fashioned in the worst way. She's definitely not my favorite character.
The murder was interesting, and I did like the book, but at the moment it's not my favorite series by Lynn Cahoon.

Cancer Survivors Book Club has expanded their membership at Rarity Cole's bookstore which she established after surviving cancer herself. Rarity decided she needed a change of scenery and moved to Sedona Arizona and a career start over.

This episode focuses on Vortexes. The series started out with a tarot card reading store beside Rarity's book store and has continued to amp up the spiritualist side of life. Not my first choice of subjects though I do love Lynn Cahoon cozy mysteries.

The plot was interesting and complex. I did enjoy the novel.

I volunteered to read book 4 through Net Galley.

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.

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!