Death in the Romance Aisle by Lynn Cahoon

Rarity hired two college students to fill in for Darby (a semester abroad) and one of them ends up dead with Sam’s brother, Marcus, as the prime suspect. Drew investigating Sam’s brother and Sam doing what she can to protect him drives a wedge between these two and puts Archer and Rarity in an odd place between friends. The Survivors’ book club is on the case, at Sam’s request, to try and clear her brother and find the real killer. The characters in this book club are so entertaining it makes the reader eager more about these characters and, the unfortunate murders they encounter in their small Sedona town. Shirley and Jonathon are the lifesavers in this book. 

 

Character List/Book Summary:

Rarity Cole = owns the bookstore in town and offers Shirley a part-time job to help deal with being told she has to see George less. Worried that Sam is picking her brother over Drew and not giving Drew a chance, but Archer tells her not to interfere with their relationship. Thinks Trish needs to be considered a suspect. Gets hits in the head when she tries to give Sam a business card. 

Sam Aarons = owns a crystal shop next to Rarity’s bookstore. Pulls away from the Sleuthing Book Club but wants their help, but realizes she is bias that her brother did not kill Janey and removes herself from the club. 

Archer Enders = Rarity’s boyfriend owns a tour guide company and hasn’t replaced his assistant who moved away a few months ago. Talks to the hiker who found Janey and said he ran into Marcus and Marcus asked the hiker to watch out/check on Janey. Starts hinting about wanting to take the next step in his relationship with Rarity. 

Drew Anderson = detective investigating Janey’s murder, dating Sam, and his dad is visiting because the club is up to sleuthing. After Rarity has a fake finger sent to her, asks Archer and Jonathon to stay with Rarity until they find who sent it with the threat to stay out of Janey’s investigation. Asks the Sleuthing Club for help verifying Trish’s alibi. 

Marcus = Sam’s brother, main suspect in Janey’s death because he was last seen hiking with her. Was with Drew when Rarity was attacked, but that does not clear him as a suspect. His past is being used to try and frame him. 

Shirley Prescott = first member of the survivors’ book club, husband George is in a memory care but she pretends he is at home so she doesn’t have to talk about it. Brings new binders for the sleuthing club. Bakes pumpkin treats for Rarity’s dog, Killer, and keeps him when Rarity has to go to the hospital after being hit on the head. Took over the book clubs that Janey started in the bookstore after she was killed. 

Janey Ford = running the elementary age book club and the mommy and me book club at Rarity’s bookstore. Had been part of a sorority but doesn’t feel like she is fitting in there as well as she once did. Getting threatening/odd phone calls that she has been ignoring. Went on a few dates with Marcus before she was found murdered. Took all the money out of her trust a few months before she was killed. 

Caleb Thompson = running the middle school book club and working on a high school event, proposes an adult sci-fi book club to Rarity. Calls out sick after Rarity was attacked and snuck into the bookstore to kill himself. 

Malia Overstreet = book club member, attends the same college that Janey and Caleb attend and talks to Cara to get more information about Janey and her sister. 

Holley Harper = book club member, digitizing records at electric bureau, and agrees to help out with the young adult book club because she loves to read young adult books. Walks the trail that Caleb claims to have shot Janey on, and finds more information about who else was on the trails. 

Terrance Oldman = Rarity’s neighbor and watchman for the street, on a cruise with his Navy buddies. The box dropped off on his porch while he was away was really for Rarity and contained a finger and a threat in it. 

Jonathan Anderson = Drew’s father and honorary member of the sleuthing club, because he is a former detective. Writing a book in the bookstore while he is watching Rarity. Tells the sleuthing club they should believe the best in people. 

Trish Ford = Janey’s sister, only surviving family member after Janey was killed. Cara claims Janey did not leave anything to her sister. Suing Cara for Janey’s trust and estate. Rarity finds out the alibi she claims to have for the time of her sister’s death she was really a no show for her hair appointment. 

Cara Mantle = Janey listed her as her emergency contact on the employment forms for Rarity. Is Janey’s roommate now taking care of Janey’s dog, Whiskey. Tells Rarity that Janey does not trust Caleb, and had not told the police that Janey was being stalked for over a year. 

Allen Hulbart = Flagstaff attorney, Trish does not seem to like him despite him being with her at Janey’s funeral and the rumor that they were an item briefly. 

Amy = little girl who was short money at the book club so Rarity covered the amount without making a big deal and other parents helped cover the cost of future books because she has a single mom who works at the dinner and is a sweet kid and very bright. Rarity offer her some extra money if she helps take care of Killer. 

Catherine Johnson = Janey used her as an attorney a few years ago, because Janey thought Allen was cheating her and her sister. 

Staci Patterson = teen book club member, Rarity offers her book club credit for reviews on books the group does not read, her mom was Rarity’s realtor. 

 

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