THE TUESDAY NIGHT SURVIVORS' CLUB

The prolific Cahoon introduces a sterling new heroine in cancer survivor Rarity Cole.

Rarity’s left St. Louis behind, along with the boyfriend who dumped her when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and opened a bookstore in Sedona, Arizona, where her high school bestie, Sam Aarons, owns a crystal shop. She decides to organize a book club for cancer survivors. The first night, only Shirley Prescott shows up, but slowly she builds a diverse group, including Sam as an honorary member. Some are into alternative treatments; others, like Martha Redding, are very private. Sam invites Rarity along on a group hike led by attractive and personable Archer Ender. There, she meets the Andersons, a couple who become some of her best customers. Rarity, who’s thinking of adopting a dog, ends up with one in a very odd way when detective Drew Anderson calls on her to talk about Martha, who’s gone missing, and she offers to take in Martha’s dog, a diminutive Yorkie, Killer. When Martha’s found murdered, Killer becomes Rarity’s constant companion, and the Tuesday night book club adds sleuthing to their profile. Drew, who’s warming up to Sam, is unhappy about their plans and enlists his old friend Archer to keep an eye on Rarity. Meanwhile, group members offer possible suspects from Martha’s boyfriend to the staff at an alternative cancer treatment center Martha attended. Romance is in the air for Rarity and Sam, but it doesn’t distract them from following up clues to unmask a killer.

The author uses her own experience with cancer to pen a mystery/romance with an authentic feel.