Secret in the Stacks by Lynn Cahoon

This series really does not seem to get the attention and love it deserves, it is a great mystery series with awesome characters. The newest member of the survivor’s book club is very young and right after treatment her parents disappeared and now Darby is living in Sedona with her grandma while working part-time for Rarity and finishing up college. The book club turns back to the sleuthing club and with some help from Jonathon clear Darby’s name after she was suspected of killing her grandmother.  Darby’s grandmother’s secrets are revealed along with a very crazy reason behind her death. The joy that comes from reading this murder mystery is amazing and I hope more people discover this series. 

Character List/Book Summary:

Rarity Cole – has a small dog named Killer and owns a bookstore in Sedona. Likes ending her day with a swim. Gets a random tea pot shipped to her house. Inventories Cat’s library for Darby and lets her know what books are worth money and what books Rarity is willing to buy from Darby.

Darby Dole – the newest member of the survivors’ book club, is just 1 year out from treatment. Works part-time for Rarity. Her parents left right after she finished treatment and she has not heard from them reliably since. Asks Rarity if the book club can solve her grandmother’s murder. 

Drew Anderson – detective in Sedona and is worried about Darby after Carson does a tarot card reading for her. Concerned that someone broke into Cat’s house after her funeral when Rarity and Darby are in the house alone. Suggests to Rarity that she keep Darby hidden from Charity until they have a better understanding of what is going on with Cat’s past and why someone killed her. 

Shirley – her husband is in a memory care center, but acts like everything is fine and he is just in the basement building models so people don’t talk about it. Knew Cat when she and her son came to Sedona after Cat’s husband was killed. 

Malia Overstreet – works at the Garnet, is able to catch up with people when they come in for meals and provide clues to look into or find out dirt on people based on gossip she overhears. 

Holly Harper – is scanning in old police records, before moving over to the waterworks department in a few weeks. 

Archer Ender – Rarity’s boyfriend, tells Calliope that he is not interested in her because he has Rarity. Tells Rarity how Cat used to go around and help with libraries. 

Terrance Oldman – Rarity’s neighbor, watches out for her and helps out with Killer occasionally. Tells Rarity how Cat bought the women’s shelter a new building and was fairly loaded after her husband’s death. 

Sam – Rarity’s best friend, member of the book club even though she doesn’t have cancer, dating Drew, and good friend to all. 

Catherine Doyle – Darby’s grandmother, Darby found her dead when she went to talk to her after the festival to see if she wanted food. Used an out of town lawyer to leave everything to Darby in her will. Would not let Darby into her study until Darby was 16 years old. Wrote books under a pen name. Before she moved to Sedona, her husband was killed outside of their home. 

Cheryl Jackson – the pen name Catherine used, one of her stories is very similar to one of Catherine’s journals that Rarity read when trying to find out why someone would kill Cat. 

Jonathan – Drew’s dad, part-time member of the sleuthing club. Former detective. Visiting Sedona and his son while wrapping up Martha Redding’s will. Tells Rarity that Cat and Darby were arguing over her grades and that Cat threatened to stop helping Darby with tuition which is why the police consider her a suspect. 

Charity Lions – news reporter looking to dig up dirt on Cat. 

Nick – comes to the bookstore twice and gives Rarity a creepy feeling. His real name is Lloyd Jones and he was an investigative reporter with Cat, claims they were working on a story about the agricultural company that killed Cat’s husband. Says he wants to publish that story now

William Henry Taft – CEO of agricultural company that Cat was investigating when her husband was killed. 

 

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