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Record Shop Mystery #1
Vinyl Resting Place: Library Edition
First in a new series by Olivia Blacke, Vinyl Resting Place follows three sisters who discover that opening a family business can be murder.
When Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie put all their beans in one basket to open Sip & Spin Records, a record-slash-coffee shop in Cedar River, Texas, they knew there could be some scratches on the track, but no one was expecting to find a body deader than disco in the supply closet.
Family is everything to the Jessups, so when their uncle is arrested by Juni's heartbreaking ex on suspicion of murder, the sisters don't skip a beat putting Sip & Spin up for bail collateral. But their tune changes abruptly when Uncle Calvin disappears, leaving them in a grind. With their uncle's freedom and the future of their small business on the line, it's up to Juni and her sisters to get in the groove and figure out whodunit before the killer's trail—and the coffee—goes cold.
Music and mocha seem like a blend that should be "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," but caught up in a murder investigation with her family and their life savings on the line, Juni wonders if she might be on the "Highway to Hell" instead.
When Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie put all their beans in one basket to open Sip & Spin Records, a record-slash-coffee shop in Cedar River, Texas, they knew there could be some scratches on the track, but no one was expecting to find a body deader than disco in the supply closet.
Family is everything to the Jessups, so when their uncle is arrested by Juni's heartbreaking ex on suspicion of murder, the sisters don't skip a beat putting Sip & Spin up for bail collateral. But their tune changes abruptly when Uncle Calvin disappears, leaving them in a grind. With their uncle's freedom and the future of their small business on the line, it's up to Juni and her sisters to get in the groove and figure out whodunit before the killer's trail—and the coffee—goes cold.
Music and mocha seem like a blend that should be "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," but caught up in a murder investigation with her family and their life savings on the line, Juni wonders if she might be on the "Highway to Hell" instead.
Audio CD
First published December 27, 2022
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About the author
Olivia Blacke
13 books595 followersMysterious, Spooky, Cozy & Kooky
Olivia Blacke (she/her) is the Anthony Award-winning author of the Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries, as well as the cozy Record Shop Mysteries and the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries. She had her first ghost encounter when she was five, but wasn’t involved with an active crime scene until much later, when she accidentally stepped into a chalk outline on a Manhattan sidewalk. Armed with a Criminology degree, she channels her love of the supernatural and passion for writing into darkly humorous supernatural mysteries. She wants to be a unicorn when she grows up.
A NEW LEASE ON DEATH: https://bit.ly/ANLOD
Social media links, blog, and up-to-date news is found at: OliviaBlacke.com
Newsletter signup: http://www.oliviablacke.com/newsletter
Olivia Blacke (she/her) is the Anthony Award-winning author of the Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries, as well as the cozy Record Shop Mysteries and the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries. She had her first ghost encounter when she was five, but wasn’t involved with an active crime scene until much later, when she accidentally stepped into a chalk outline on a Manhattan sidewalk. Armed with a Criminology degree, she channels her love of the supernatural and passion for writing into darkly humorous supernatural mysteries. She wants to be a unicorn when she grows up.
A NEW LEASE ON DEATH: https://bit.ly/ANLOD
Social media links, blog, and up-to-date news is found at: OliviaBlacke.com
Newsletter signup: http://www.oliviablacke.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 536 reviews
March 13, 2023
Not to out myself as a hipster Seattleite, but I LOVE record stores. They’re just so cool to me! Too bad I don’t own a record player. I really enjoyed this book’s setting. Anyway, the story has a pretty heavy emphasis on family, and I was a bit lukewarm on the whole thing. I feel like there are better ways to show the closeness between Juni and her family than forcing the narrative to a screeching halt to info-dump about each sibling’s personalities for several paragraphs each time they showed up. Maybe I was just impatient because I wanted to get back to the mystery. Seriously, I know more about Juni’s family history than my own. I feel like all the little side characters were supposed to be charming and quirky, like they’re in The Simpsons, but I just found them all vaguely irritating.
Also, there’s a love-triangle in this book… and not to sound like a broken record (ha ha), but I didn’t like one of the love-interests, Beau. But, but, but I feel like I’m justified in disliking this one because he’s not just an arrogant jerk, he’s also boring! And he kept popping up at random points in the novel like he’s Michael Myers. What a creep! As for Juni, I liked her as a main character for the most part, but she accuses the wrong person twice in this book. I know she isn’t literally a detective, but this is a mystery novel! Forgive me for wanting a main character that doesn’t luck their way into finding out the culprit. If I were to get technical, I’d say the general atmosphere and the mystery itself would land in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 easily, but the characters and romance aspect probably wouldn’t even be in the bubbling under.
“Daffodil - Daffy for short - was and enormous white-and-orange tabby cat that looked like a fluffy, novelty-size candy corn. He’d adopted us when we were setting up Sip & Spin, and decided to make this his home.”
Oh yeah, at least there’s a cute cat, so I guess I’ll read the sequels?
Also, there’s a love-triangle in this book… and not to sound like a broken record (ha ha), but I didn’t like one of the love-interests, Beau. But, but, but I feel like I’m justified in disliking this one because he’s not just an arrogant jerk, he’s also boring! And he kept popping up at random points in the novel like he’s Michael Myers. What a creep! As for Juni, I liked her as a main character for the most part, but she accuses the wrong person twice in this book. I know she isn’t literally a detective, but this is a mystery novel! Forgive me for wanting a main character that doesn’t luck their way into finding out the culprit. If I were to get technical, I’d say the general atmosphere and the mystery itself would land in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 easily, but the characters and romance aspect probably wouldn’t even be in the bubbling under.
“Daffodil - Daffy for short - was and enormous white-and-orange tabby cat that looked like a fluffy, novelty-size candy corn. He’d adopted us when we were setting up Sip & Spin, and decided to make this his home.”
Oh yeah, at least there’s a cute cat, so I guess I’ll read the sequels?
April 7, 2024
Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke is the first book in the new cozy Record Shop Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries this first book in the series does contain it’s own mystery that is fully solved so it can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so.
Juni, Tansy, and Maggie are sisters who all decided to take a risk together to change their lives by combining assets and opening Sip & Spin Records in their hometown of Cedar River, Texas. With vinyl records back in demand the girls thought now would be a great time to show their love for music but with a side of coffee shop in the store to hopefully maintain business.
Things do not get off to a good start for Juni, Tansy, and Maggie when after the opening night of Sip & Spin Records they find a dead body in the closet of their new store. When the ladies find out that their uncle Calvin is the prime suspect in the murder they of course decide to get down to business and find the real killer themselves.
Being a music and a cozy mystery fan I couldn’t resist checking out this opening book Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke. I found it interesting to really have all three sisters involved in the story quite a bit but it does seem that Juni stepped into the “main” character roll to still consider this a typical cozy. With just getting to know these characters and this new series I rated this first book at three and a half stars but found it a solid opener that will bring me back soon.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Juni, Tansy, and Maggie are sisters who all decided to take a risk together to change their lives by combining assets and opening Sip & Spin Records in their hometown of Cedar River, Texas. With vinyl records back in demand the girls thought now would be a great time to show their love for music but with a side of coffee shop in the store to hopefully maintain business.
Things do not get off to a good start for Juni, Tansy, and Maggie when after the opening night of Sip & Spin Records they find a dead body in the closet of their new store. When the ladies find out that their uncle Calvin is the prime suspect in the murder they of course decide to get down to business and find the real killer themselves.
Being a music and a cozy mystery fan I couldn’t resist checking out this opening book Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke. I found it interesting to really have all three sisters involved in the story quite a bit but it does seem that Juni stepped into the “main” character roll to still consider this a typical cozy. With just getting to know these characters and this new series I rated this first book at three and a half stars but found it a solid opener that will bring me back soon.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
February 14, 2023
What a great start to a new series! Really loved sip and spin...it felt like such a cool place! I would love to hang out there. I really liked the fun coffee names w/ music influences such as java be good and mocha places.
Enjoyed the main character and her relationship w/ her two sisters and partners in the record store. There were lots of twists and turns in this, and was guessing till the end!
I can't wait to see what happens next in this small town Texas cozy, and would recommend to cozy lovers!
Enjoyed the main character and her relationship w/ her two sisters and partners in the record store. There were lots of twists and turns in this, and was guessing till the end!
I can't wait to see what happens next in this small town Texas cozy, and would recommend to cozy lovers!
February 13, 2023
3.5 stars
Absolutely loved the vibes of this cozy mystery but wasn’t the biggest fan of the theme in the outcome.
Absolutely loved the vibes of this cozy mystery but wasn’t the biggest fan of the theme in the outcome.
December 9, 2022
When Juni is laid off from her tech job in Oregon, she moves home to Texas, and she and her two sisters open a vinyl record/coffee shop in their small town outside of Austin. When someone is found dead at the grand opening and Uncle Calvin is arrested, the sisters leverage the shop to bail him out; when he disappears they are shocked, and vow to investigate. Juni has two men she knew in school interested in her--her ex BF Beau, a cop who wants her to stay out of the investigation, and former BFF, Teddy, the town mail carrier. It will be interesting to follow this new series to learn more about the characters and their interest in music, since this book was more plot-driven. Three and a half stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
December 7, 2022
I enjoyed this well-plotted debut cozy mystery. The story has a younger vibe going which is great for a record/vinyl shop and coffee bar combo business. The setting takes place in a town just outside of Austin, TX. Three sisters—Juni, Tansy, and Maggie—own and operate Sip & Spin Records with their mother and Uncle Calvin as silent partners. When a body is found in the supply closet on grand opening night, Uncle Calvin is accused of the murder and puts the future of the record shop on rocky ground. The author throws in lots of red herrings and surprising twists and turns to keep readers’ on their toes until the murderer is revealed in this great mystery.
The main characters are a lively group of multi-cultural people. The three sisters all have different personalities, and I enjoyed meeting them in this debut, and look forward to future books. Some of the secondary characters played unusual roles, and all the connections to the victim were intriguing parts of the plot. There is a possible romantic interest set up for Juni, the youngest sister, with two men who treat her very differently. I enjoyed the humor! I also liked the music coffee names such as, Java Be Good, Friends in Mocha Places, and many more. 4-1/2 Stars. This was a fun, interesting story to read. I highly recommend.
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The main characters are a lively group of multi-cultural people. The three sisters all have different personalities, and I enjoyed meeting them in this debut, and look forward to future books. Some of the secondary characters played unusual roles, and all the connections to the victim were intriguing parts of the plot. There is a possible romantic interest set up for Juni, the youngest sister, with two men who treat her very differently. I enjoyed the humor! I also liked the music coffee names such as, Java Be Good, Friends in Mocha Places, and many more. 4-1/2 Stars. This was a fun, interesting story to read. I highly recommend.
I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 21, 2022
Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke, a new cozy mystery, Record Shop Mystery #1 with a cat!
Juni Jessup with her two older sisters, Tansy and Maggie want to reopen our parent record shop in a small town in Texas. On the party night of opening Sip & Spin Records, a record-slash-coffee shop, things get more complex than they were ever imagined!
A dead body was found in the supply closet, Juni’s uncle is arrested and Juni’s ex is in charge of the murder investigation.
How this can be worse? let me tell you a little, their uncle gets on the run, and they are out of money because of investment for opening the record shop which is now temporarily closed.
This was an entertaining story and I presume it will be better in the next books as we already know the cool and funny characters, then maybe get deeper into the story next time.
I listened to the Audio version and must say that was excellent, Nicol Zanzarella's performance was awesome!
Thanks to Tantor Audio via NetGalley for ARC, I have given my honest review.
Duration 9 Hours, 15 Minutes
Pub Date 27 Dec 2022
Juni Jessup with her two older sisters, Tansy and Maggie want to reopen our parent record shop in a small town in Texas. On the party night of opening Sip & Spin Records, a record-slash-coffee shop, things get more complex than they were ever imagined!
A dead body was found in the supply closet, Juni’s uncle is arrested and Juni’s ex is in charge of the murder investigation.
How this can be worse? let me tell you a little, their uncle gets on the run, and they are out of money because of investment for opening the record shop which is now temporarily closed.
This was an entertaining story and I presume it will be better in the next books as we already know the cool and funny characters, then maybe get deeper into the story next time.
I listened to the Audio version and must say that was excellent, Nicol Zanzarella's performance was awesome!
Thanks to Tantor Audio via NetGalley for ARC, I have given my honest review.
Duration 9 Hours, 15 Minutes
Pub Date 27 Dec 2022
August 8, 2022
The first track of The Record Shop Mysteries is a "number one with a bullet." There is so much to love about Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke. The story takes place in an Austin, Texas adjacent town. The contemporary setting has all the traditional cozy elements— a tight-knit trio of sisters as the shop owners, a prankster uncle getting into trouble, a small-town-everybody-know-you vibe, punny humor (the coffee names, lolz), and of course, amateur sleuthing. There is a lot to love about this series debut, including the musical artists referenced, from Bille Holiday to Britney Spears and everything in between.
June 16, 2022
A love triangle, quirky family hijinx, and a mystery at the family record shop. A great start to a new cozy mystery series.
March 10, 2024
a cute cozy mystery with a sweet main character. juni is kind, creative, and snoopy- great traits for someone looking for a murderer.
when juni returns to texas, she and her sisters decide to re-open her family’s record store shop and run it as a family- which is a great idea until they discover a dead body in their closet on opening day and their uncle is the number one suspect.
the plot moves at a good pace. the mystery is always the main focus and new clues are shown very frequently, making it easy to stay focused on it and make your own guess on who the killer is. the only thing i wasn’t a fan of was the romance plot which seemed unnecessary.
most of the characters are enjoyable, especially the main character! i loved juni. she’s very likable and has an interesting personality. i liked her relationship with her sisters, although neither one of their personalities really stood out to me. i wasn’t a fan of the detective or the mail man and neither were great love interests. i also hated hated hated juni’s brother in law jt. he was annoying, and part of the reason i took off a star. just a strange cowboy man.
the main reason i took off a star was the setting. i have no problem with texas but i swear the word “texas” was said twice every sentence of the book. i have never been so annoyed by the name of a state.
overall, a great book!!! i listened to this as an audiobook and it was generally very enjoyable.
thank you to netgalley and tantor audio as well as narrator nicol zanzarella!!!
**edited rating because whenever i think of this book the main thing i think of was all the annoying stuff about texas
when juni returns to texas, she and her sisters decide to re-open her family’s record store shop and run it as a family- which is a great idea until they discover a dead body in their closet on opening day and their uncle is the number one suspect.
the plot moves at a good pace. the mystery is always the main focus and new clues are shown very frequently, making it easy to stay focused on it and make your own guess on who the killer is. the only thing i wasn’t a fan of was the romance plot which seemed unnecessary.
most of the characters are enjoyable, especially the main character! i loved juni. she’s very likable and has an interesting personality. i liked her relationship with her sisters, although neither one of their personalities really stood out to me. i wasn’t a fan of the detective or the mail man and neither were great love interests. i also hated hated hated juni’s brother in law jt. he was annoying, and part of the reason i took off a star. just a strange cowboy man.
the main reason i took off a star was the setting. i have no problem with texas but i swear the word “texas” was said twice every sentence of the book. i have never been so annoyed by the name of a state.
overall, a great book!!! i listened to this as an audiobook and it was generally very enjoyable.
thank you to netgalley and tantor audio as well as narrator nicol zanzarella!!!
**edited rating because whenever i think of this book the main thing i think of was all the annoying stuff about texas
January 22, 2023
Vinyl Resting Place is the first book in a new cozy mystery series, Record Shop Mystery. Three sisters, Juni, Tansy, and Maggie pool their money and talents to open Sip & Spin Records, a record-slash-coffee shop in Cedar River, Texas. After their opening night party, they find a body of a woman in their supply closet. When their Uncle Calvin is suspected of the murder, they dive in to find out what really happened, as well as to locate their missing uncle. With all of this putting their store at risk, Juni steps up her investigating. Will she find Uncle Calvin and figure out who the murderer is?
Vinyl Resting Place is a great start to this series. I really enjoyed getting to know the main characters in this series, especially Juni. It turned out that Juni knew the victim and her family, which added to her desire to find the real killer. Juni is a smart cookie and with her skills at deduction, she was able to follow clues, put pieces together and interview people to find answers. I love books with quirky characters and this book has them. Calvin and his ex-business partner/buddy Samuel were a hoot. They were two old curmudgeons who helped each other, and knew how to keep secrets. Juni had her hands full with those two. Tansy and Maggie were not as involved with the mystery, but I hope they will be in the next story and we will get to know them better. Beau is Juni's ex and is the local police chief, so I am thinking some romance down the road. He was constantly trying to keep Juni out of the investigation, but she didn't listen. This was a well written, plot driven cozy mystery with several red herrings that kept me guessing. The showdown was a good one with a lot going on and the final nail in the coffin of the guilty party was wonderful. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery, I recommend you pick up Vinyl Resting Place and get in on this series at the first book. Nicol Zanzarella narrated this book and did a great job. I have not listened to any books she has performed, but I did like this one. I hope she continues to narrate this series.
Vinyl Resting Place is a great start to this series. I really enjoyed getting to know the main characters in this series, especially Juni. It turned out that Juni knew the victim and her family, which added to her desire to find the real killer. Juni is a smart cookie and with her skills at deduction, she was able to follow clues, put pieces together and interview people to find answers. I love books with quirky characters and this book has them. Calvin and his ex-business partner/buddy Samuel were a hoot. They were two old curmudgeons who helped each other, and knew how to keep secrets. Juni had her hands full with those two. Tansy and Maggie were not as involved with the mystery, but I hope they will be in the next story and we will get to know them better. Beau is Juni's ex and is the local police chief, so I am thinking some romance down the road. He was constantly trying to keep Juni out of the investigation, but she didn't listen. This was a well written, plot driven cozy mystery with several red herrings that kept me guessing. The showdown was a good one with a lot going on and the final nail in the coffin of the guilty party was wonderful. If you enjoy a good cozy mystery, I recommend you pick up Vinyl Resting Place and get in on this series at the first book. Nicol Zanzarella narrated this book and did a great job. I have not listened to any books she has performed, but I did like this one. I hope she continues to narrate this series.
December 12, 2022
Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke is the debut of The Record Shop Mysteries. Juni Jessup along with her sisters, Tansy and Maggie open Sip & Spin Records in Cedar River, Texas. It is a shop that sells vinyl records and coffee with clever names. The sisters are cleaning up after their grand opening party. Juni opens the supply to find a dead woman. Unfortunately, the detective investigating the woman’s death is Juni’s ex-boyfriend, Beau Russell. Beau is quick to arrest the sister’s uncle, Calvin Voight. To get their uncle out of jail, the sister’s put Sip & Spin Records up as collateral. When Calvin disappears without a word, the sisters know there is only one thing they can do. They need to investigate the murder to clear their uncle’s name and save their shop. Vinyl Resting Place is a cute story. It has all the elements needed for a cozy mystery. There is a small Texas town, a charming shop, inquisitive sisters, a murder, a relative accused of the crime, and a frustrating detective. We get to know Juni, her sisters, and her immediate family. It is a small town where everyone knows you and nothing stays secret for long. There are two romantic interests for Juni. Beau Russell, the detective who wants Juni to leave the investigating to him, and her high school BFF, Teddy. The mystery is straightforward. There are multiple suspects. It seems that everyone in town attended the grand opening party. Beau tells Juni to leave the investigating to him more than once. The crime can be solved long before the reveal. The whodunit could have used work. I was not a fan of Uncle Calvin’s business, Prankenstein (I dislike pranks). People can order gag gifts sent to someone who wronged them (would you like to open a gift and have glitter explode all over you). There are cute puns throughout the story as well as musical references. I found the pacing to be sluggish and the writing a touch stilted. There is a lot of repetition. I lost track of how many times we are told that the grandparents had a record shop in the same location. The book could have used another round of editing. The author made sure we knew the book was set in Texas. There were interesting details about vinyl records. Vinyl Resting Place is a hoot with a Sip & Spin shindig, a right ruckus, a kin who lit out, rockin’ coffee drinks, a sorry suspect, a cold coke, and sleuthing sisters.
October 16, 2022
A fun record shop outside Austin and a punny title. How could I resist? I mean, I still own vinyl records, so this one spoke to my heart. I'm glad I dropped in as it was a fun, quirky read, full of characters who were, well, characters, and lots of down-home, Texas country charm.
Even Uncle Calvin, who seems to tread only the edge of the law was likable, even if he created a major headache for the Jessup sisters, Tansy, Maggie, and main character Juni (Juniper). They've invested everything they have in Sip and Spin Records and when they find a body in their supply closet after the grand opening, Calvin is a suspect. He's arrested but disappears after they put up the shop as bail. The sisters, lead by Juni, set out to prove his innocence but, well, first they've got to find him. Hence, they have two mysteries to solve, who killed Monica Mayhew and where is Uncle Calvin. It's actually the second that dominates much of the book as, quite frankly, Juni doesn't even know the name of the victim for some time. In her defense, it's because everyone thought she'd recognized Monica since she'd babysat her as a child.
While I found Juni likable, she didn't strike me as the person I'd want trying to prove my innocence of even a traffic ticket, however. Her investigative tactics are basic, in her defense not abnormal for someone new at it, and she's quick to not just jump to conclusions but confront suspects with accusations of being the murderer. Heck, she even accuses her own brother-in-law of being the murderer. What is Juni basing her accusations on? Will withholding information from an ol' flame, Beau, now detective, slow down the investigation? Will she get glitter bombed again? Who attacked her in Calvin's house? Why does she arrive at the shop one day to find it surrounded by firetrucks and rescue personnel? What is the "game" some are asking about? Is Beau using her or genuinely still attracted to her? How about ol' friend Teddy? Could he become more than a friend or is she still too tied emotionally to Beau? What could possibly go wrong when she borrows Calvin's unused truck? Uh, lots.
And, wait, enough teasers. This brand new series has promise and I look forward to seeing how it develops. As with most new series, the characters aren't fully fleshed out, so it'll be fun to get to know them as it progresses. Heck, even prankster Uncle Calvin was showing promise at the end. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for introducing me to Sip and Spin. I'm looking forward to many a return visit.
Even Uncle Calvin, who seems to tread only the edge of the law was likable, even if he created a major headache for the Jessup sisters, Tansy, Maggie, and main character Juni (Juniper). They've invested everything they have in Sip and Spin Records and when they find a body in their supply closet after the grand opening, Calvin is a suspect. He's arrested but disappears after they put up the shop as bail. The sisters, lead by Juni, set out to prove his innocence but, well, first they've got to find him. Hence, they have two mysteries to solve, who killed Monica Mayhew and where is Uncle Calvin. It's actually the second that dominates much of the book as, quite frankly, Juni doesn't even know the name of the victim for some time. In her defense, it's because everyone thought she'd recognized Monica since she'd babysat her as a child.
While I found Juni likable, she didn't strike me as the person I'd want trying to prove my innocence of even a traffic ticket, however. Her investigative tactics are basic, in her defense not abnormal for someone new at it, and she's quick to not just jump to conclusions but confront suspects with accusations of being the murderer. Heck, she even accuses her own brother-in-law of being the murderer. What is Juni basing her accusations on? Will withholding information from an ol' flame, Beau, now detective, slow down the investigation? Will she get glitter bombed again? Who attacked her in Calvin's house? Why does she arrive at the shop one day to find it surrounded by firetrucks and rescue personnel? What is the "game" some are asking about? Is Beau using her or genuinely still attracted to her? How about ol' friend Teddy? Could he become more than a friend or is she still too tied emotionally to Beau? What could possibly go wrong when she borrows Calvin's unused truck? Uh, lots.
And, wait, enough teasers. This brand new series has promise and I look forward to seeing how it develops. As with most new series, the characters aren't fully fleshed out, so it'll be fun to get to know them as it progresses. Heck, even prankster Uncle Calvin was showing promise at the end. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for introducing me to Sip and Spin. I'm looking forward to many a return visit.
January 9, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks for accepting my request to read and review Vinyl Resting Place.
Author: Olivia Blacke
Published: 12/27/22
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Cute cozy mystery with the shop being a record store where vinyls are sold, as well as record players. There were a few fun trips down memory lane and my vinyl days where the Osmonds and the Carpenters Christmas albums were always on my bed, and of course I had my floor scattered with 45 records -- she's just a devil woman: Adele? let the sky fall. But, I digress.
This is a cozy mystery with all the tropes checked, but perhaps one; I don't recall a dog. I had a good time with the shop lingo and the references to sound quality of vinyl versus digital. Funny, I have now hit that age of, oh yes, I had vinyl. Was there any mention of 8-tracks (No, not in the book.)?
Here is my problem, I didn't like the characters. The flower names of the siblings will haunt me. The ex-boyfriend and his Juni jingle was old right away, and it kept going. There were the extended characters: Mom, Uncle, etc., and I didn't care for them. I did like the adoptive uncle and I did like Juni's childhood male friend.
The vinyl shop kept me going, but I'm not sure I will pick up the second.
There is an audience for this style. The story is clean, no profanity, and there are clever things that stick (I couldn't resist.). If you would name your kids all flowers or all with the same initial, this is for you.
Author: Olivia Blacke
Published: 12/27/22
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Cute cozy mystery with the shop being a record store where vinyls are sold, as well as record players. There were a few fun trips down memory lane and my vinyl days where the Osmonds and the Carpenters Christmas albums were always on my bed, and of course I had my floor scattered with 45 records -- she's just a devil woman: Adele? let the sky fall. But, I digress.
This is a cozy mystery with all the tropes checked, but perhaps one; I don't recall a dog. I had a good time with the shop lingo and the references to sound quality of vinyl versus digital. Funny, I have now hit that age of, oh yes, I had vinyl. Was there any mention of 8-tracks (No, not in the book.)?
Here is my problem, I didn't like the characters. The flower names of the siblings will haunt me. The ex-boyfriend and his Juni jingle was old right away, and it kept going. There were the extended characters: Mom, Uncle, etc., and I didn't care for them. I did like the adoptive uncle and I did like Juni's childhood male friend.
The vinyl shop kept me going, but I'm not sure I will pick up the second.
There is an audience for this style. The story is clean, no profanity, and there are clever things that stick (I couldn't resist.). If you would name your kids all flowers or all with the same initial, this is for you.
March 10, 2023
I've grown up surround by vinyl records, and my husband is currently in his vinyl phase of DJing, so I was very excited to read this book. The premise sounded like a fun mystery, and I was hoping for some good music references throughout. Unfortunately it didn't quite live up to those expectations.
The mystery was the only reason I kept reading this book, and not necessarily because it was good, but mostly because I just wanted to see who the killer was. I didn't realize I would have to go through the main character literally accusing almost every side character of being the murderer, often with no evidence to back it up. Also, her cop ex-boyfriend was awful and definitely did a lot of shady investigating to try and find clues, which honestly would not have held up in court.
The last thing that really bugged me was the constant mention of her adult tricycle. I live in Portland and in the 10+ years I've been here, I've seen maybe 2 people riding adult sized tricycles. Yet from this book you'd think every person in Portland owned one. Of course this was supposed to make her seem super quirky and out of touch with her Texas roots, but it just came off as annoying because it was mentioned every other page.
Really wish this book had a little more editing to tighten stuff up, and not make the mystery seem like the side character.
The mystery was the only reason I kept reading this book, and not necessarily because it was good, but mostly because I just wanted to see who the killer was. I didn't realize I would have to go through the main character literally accusing almost every side character of being the murderer, often with no evidence to back it up. Also, her cop ex-boyfriend was awful and definitely did a lot of shady investigating to try and find clues, which honestly would not have held up in court.
The last thing that really bugged me was the constant mention of her adult tricycle. I live in Portland and in the 10+ years I've been here, I've seen maybe 2 people riding adult sized tricycles. Yet from this book you'd think every person in Portland owned one. Of course this was supposed to make her seem super quirky and out of touch with her Texas roots, but it just came off as annoying because it was mentioned every other page.
Really wish this book had a little more editing to tighten stuff up, and not make the mystery seem like the side character.
December 13, 2022
I’m a lifelong vinyl collector, and I was in the mood for a fun mystery, so this book seemed like the perfect fit. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me.
I didn’t feel any of the characters were well developed. I liked Juni, our narrator, but her love interests had no spark whatsoever. Beau was an arrogant bully with absolutely no redeeming qualities I could find. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why anyone put up with the guy. Teddy was the exact opposite, practically a wallflower, with little personality on display.
The plot felt weak to me, as well as the resulting whodunit and why.
Pacing was sluggish, with lots of repetition.
I enjoyed the musical references, but I needed more to hold my interest.
*I received an eARC from St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley.*
I didn’t feel any of the characters were well developed. I liked Juni, our narrator, but her love interests had no spark whatsoever. Beau was an arrogant bully with absolutely no redeeming qualities I could find. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why anyone put up with the guy. Teddy was the exact opposite, practically a wallflower, with little personality on display.
The plot felt weak to me, as well as the resulting whodunit and why.
Pacing was sluggish, with lots of repetition.
I enjoyed the musical references, but I needed more to hold my interest.
*I received an eARC from St. Martin’s Press, via NetGalley.*
August 5, 2023
Dollycas's Thoughts
Family is everything to Juni Jessup and her sisters Maggie and Tansy and they are so excited to reopen the family record store now that vinyl records are in demand again. They have now added coffee to the mix and Sip & Spin Records' grand opening is set to be a huge event.
With a food truck out front and records spinning inside it feels like the whole town turned out. The sisters are ready to call the opening a great success until they find a dead body in the supply closet. When their Uncle Calvin is arrested by non-other than Juni's ex, Beau Russell the girls almost spin out but decide to put their new business up as collateral to get him out on bail with plans to prove his innocence as quickly as possible. But then Calvin disappears without a trace. His truck is still in the driveway. He clearly wasn't at home. And Juni's detective ex keeps showing up like a bad penny in hopes she will lead him to her uncle.
Before the coffee stops brewing and the records stop spinning Juni knows she needs to find the real killer and her uncle all while not becoming the killer's next victim.
___
I like the Jessup Family and I think it is so cool that they get to reopen a record shop in the exact same place where their grandparents had it in vinyl's original heyday.
Each member of the family has their own strengths and they came together to get their new venture off to a great success. Juni, Maggie, and Tansy are the ones who are running the shop day to day with their Mom and Uncle Calvin being not-so-silent partners. Tansy knows so much about music and is great at helping customers find what they want. She also had the idea to add the coffee corner. Maggie is "fastidious" and strives to keep everything in the store clean and in its proper place. Juni, a former IT tech, focused on organizing the shop and advertising the grand opening. And of course, now sleuthing out a killer. We also meet Juni's ex, Detective Beau Russell, and her BFF Teddy Garza, a postal worker. There is the start of a romantic triangle here and usually, I don't mind those, but Beau was a real jerk and Teddy is such a nice guy. At the moment for me, it is no contest. All the characters are realistic with a lot of room for growth. I want to get to know them all better.
The mystery was really interesting especially when everyone assumed Juni knew who the victim was when she was found when in fact she didn't and the person turned out to be someone she knew in her past but didn't recognize all grown up. That gave her added motivation to get justice for the deceased. The author gave us plenty of suspects and threw in some really nice twists and turns, the last one was pretty epic because my focus was on another character. I really enjoyed the showdown as the clues literally fell into place for Juni in real time with a feline assist.
Ms. Blacke's cozy theme of a record store/coffee shop feels new and fresh and she has set the series near Austin, Texas. "The live music capital of the world." and "Known as the state’s weird city, Austin is a haven for artists and hippies. It’s famous for its tacos, lakes, and cool festivals." Sounds like a perfect place for a cozy mystery series to take place.
Vinyl Resting Place, the first Record Shop Mystery, was a very entertaining read. I loved all the music references and the unique brews featured. The characters were engaging and the mystery was compelling. The author's use of humor hit all the right notes but I am not sold on the romantic triangle yet.
The next book in the series is already out. I have A Fatal Groove on my Kindle's To-Be-Read shelf and plan to be reading and reviewing it soon.
Family is everything to Juni Jessup and her sisters Maggie and Tansy and they are so excited to reopen the family record store now that vinyl records are in demand again. They have now added coffee to the mix and Sip & Spin Records' grand opening is set to be a huge event.
With a food truck out front and records spinning inside it feels like the whole town turned out. The sisters are ready to call the opening a great success until they find a dead body in the supply closet. When their Uncle Calvin is arrested by non-other than Juni's ex, Beau Russell the girls almost spin out but decide to put their new business up as collateral to get him out on bail with plans to prove his innocence as quickly as possible. But then Calvin disappears without a trace. His truck is still in the driveway. He clearly wasn't at home. And Juni's detective ex keeps showing up like a bad penny in hopes she will lead him to her uncle.
Before the coffee stops brewing and the records stop spinning Juni knows she needs to find the real killer and her uncle all while not becoming the killer's next victim.
___
I like the Jessup Family and I think it is so cool that they get to reopen a record shop in the exact same place where their grandparents had it in vinyl's original heyday.
Each member of the family has their own strengths and they came together to get their new venture off to a great success. Juni, Maggie, and Tansy are the ones who are running the shop day to day with their Mom and Uncle Calvin being not-so-silent partners. Tansy knows so much about music and is great at helping customers find what they want. She also had the idea to add the coffee corner. Maggie is "fastidious" and strives to keep everything in the store clean and in its proper place. Juni, a former IT tech, focused on organizing the shop and advertising the grand opening. And of course, now sleuthing out a killer. We also meet Juni's ex, Detective Beau Russell, and her BFF Teddy Garza, a postal worker. There is the start of a romantic triangle here and usually, I don't mind those, but Beau was a real jerk and Teddy is such a nice guy. At the moment for me, it is no contest. All the characters are realistic with a lot of room for growth. I want to get to know them all better.
The mystery was really interesting especially when everyone assumed Juni knew who the victim was when she was found when in fact she didn't and the person turned out to be someone she knew in her past but didn't recognize all grown up. That gave her added motivation to get justice for the deceased. The author gave us plenty of suspects and threw in some really nice twists and turns, the last one was pretty epic because my focus was on another character. I really enjoyed the showdown as the clues literally fell into place for Juni in real time with a feline assist.
Ms. Blacke's cozy theme of a record store/coffee shop feels new and fresh and she has set the series near Austin, Texas. "The live music capital of the world." and "Known as the state’s weird city, Austin is a haven for artists and hippies. It’s famous for its tacos, lakes, and cool festivals." Sounds like a perfect place for a cozy mystery series to take place.
Vinyl Resting Place, the first Record Shop Mystery, was a very entertaining read. I loved all the music references and the unique brews featured. The characters were engaging and the mystery was compelling. The author's use of humor hit all the right notes but I am not sold on the romantic triangle yet.
The next book in the series is already out. I have A Fatal Groove on my Kindle's To-Be-Read shelf and plan to be reading and reviewing it soon.
January 1, 2023
This was yet another audiobook I decided to listen to on a whim when it came up on NetGalley and it turned out to be yet another good one. I have enjoyed quite a lot of audiobooks this way this year and I think I will continue with the process... certainly seems to be foolproof 😅.
I liked the setting of a vintage record shop/cafe. We see a lot of library/book store/cafe setting in cozy mysteries so this was something new. I also loved the name of the shop 'Sip & Spin Records'... authors do know how to come up with the most clever names for shops, cafés, etc. in cozy mysteries!
The plot, setting, characters and pacing were good and the narration by Nicol Zanzarella helped liven up the story.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Tantor Audio and the author Olivia Blacke for the audio Arc of the book.
Publication date was 27th December 2022. Since the audiobook edition option is not available on Goodreads, I am leaving my review under the paperback edition of the book.
I liked the setting of a vintage record shop/cafe. We see a lot of library/book store/cafe setting in cozy mysteries so this was something new. I also loved the name of the shop 'Sip & Spin Records'... authors do know how to come up with the most clever names for shops, cafés, etc. in cozy mysteries!
The plot, setting, characters and pacing were good and the narration by Nicol Zanzarella helped liven up the story.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Tantor Audio and the author Olivia Blacke for the audio Arc of the book.
Publication date was 27th December 2022. Since the audiobook edition option is not available on Goodreads, I am leaving my review under the paperback edition of the book.
June 18, 2023
Pretty decent. An LGBTQ love story really would have made it even better
October 24, 2022
As if Olivia Blacke hadn't already stolen my heart with her Brooklyn Murder Mysteries series from Berkley, I could not wait to read this one -- coffee, records, and another cozy mystery from her, yes PLEASE! I was lucky enough to be sent a widget for this one thanks to St. Martin's Press and I didn't even get past the subject line before getting super excited to drop everything to read it and gushing to Olivia about it in her DMs.
Title with a funky + fun play on words that captures the vibe of the book CHECK A modern take on the cozy mystery that manages to also make me want to visit the destination it's based in CHECK Sisters who are the best of friends and there for each other no matter what CHECK
Blacke writes characters that I adore, in places I fall for with her incredible descriptions that perfectly capture the ambiance of each story and make me feel a part of the action. I'm always happily surprised with the direction she takes a murder -- like somehow I really ENJOY the story, as if the family, friends, and what's happening around the MC's sleuthing that is the most important, there just happens to be a mystery in the background lol
I can already tell the Jessup sisters are going to remain in the front of my mind for a long time, I love the dynamic of the family and how different each sister is. Blacke sets up plenty of characters for future books in the series without overwhelming and I look forward to plenty more like this one! Highly recommend VINYL RESTING PLACE for anyone who can appreciate a good record store, who loves a family who fights for one another, and a small-town feel with a contemporary twist. I gave this one 4.5 stars and will definitely be watching for where the series goes from here!
Title with a funky + fun play on words that captures the vibe of the book CHECK A modern take on the cozy mystery that manages to also make me want to visit the destination it's based in CHECK Sisters who are the best of friends and there for each other no matter what CHECK
Blacke writes characters that I adore, in places I fall for with her incredible descriptions that perfectly capture the ambiance of each story and make me feel a part of the action. I'm always happily surprised with the direction she takes a murder -- like somehow I really ENJOY the story, as if the family, friends, and what's happening around the MC's sleuthing that is the most important, there just happens to be a mystery in the background lol
I can already tell the Jessup sisters are going to remain in the front of my mind for a long time, I love the dynamic of the family and how different each sister is. Blacke sets up plenty of characters for future books in the series without overwhelming and I look forward to plenty more like this one! Highly recommend VINYL RESTING PLACE for anyone who can appreciate a good record store, who loves a family who fights for one another, and a small-town feel with a contemporary twist. I gave this one 4.5 stars and will definitely be watching for where the series goes from here!
July 20, 2022
Disclosure: This book was provided to me by Edelweiss free of charge in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I just can't resist a book with a punny title.
When the former location of their parents' record shop becomes available for lease, Juniper (Juni) Jessup and her two sisters put everything on the line and open Sip & Spin - a hip coffee/record shop in small town Texas. Unfortunately, their grand opening does not go according to plan when a young murdered woman is found in the record shop's supply closet during the launch party. To make matters worse, Calvin, uncle to the Jessup girls and a silent partner at Sip & Spin, disappears shortly after the murder and quickly becomes the prime suspect. Can Juni and her sisters find their uncle, reveal the true murderer and save their shop before it's too late?
"Vinyl Resting Place" is good. It's filled with cute puns (loved the daily drink specials) and a decent amount of musical references. I enjoyed the characters and their backgrounds (especially Juni). The pacing of the book, however, is a little slow and the writing is slightly awkward. Plus, I had zero investment in either of the love interests for Juni. I suspect that maybe the book was just a little too "Texas" for me (cowboy hats and guys named Beau and such). But that's entirely a me problem so I don't fault the book for that. I did guess the murderer really early on, though.
That being said, I think that this series has potential. I would love to see more mysteries involving Sip & Spin, especially ones that are music-centric.
I just can't resist a book with a punny title.
When the former location of their parents' record shop becomes available for lease, Juniper (Juni) Jessup and her two sisters put everything on the line and open Sip & Spin - a hip coffee/record shop in small town Texas. Unfortunately, their grand opening does not go according to plan when a young murdered woman is found in the record shop's supply closet during the launch party. To make matters worse, Calvin, uncle to the Jessup girls and a silent partner at Sip & Spin, disappears shortly after the murder and quickly becomes the prime suspect. Can Juni and her sisters find their uncle, reveal the true murderer and save their shop before it's too late?
"Vinyl Resting Place" is good. It's filled with cute puns (loved the daily drink specials) and a decent amount of musical references. I enjoyed the characters and their backgrounds (especially Juni). The pacing of the book, however, is a little slow and the writing is slightly awkward. Plus, I had zero investment in either of the love interests for Juni. I suspect that maybe the book was just a little too "Texas" for me (cowboy hats and guys named Beau and such). But that's entirely a me problem so I don't fault the book for that. I did guess the murderer really early on, though.
That being said, I think that this series has potential. I would love to see more mysteries involving Sip & Spin, especially ones that are music-centric.
February 22, 2023
I’m writing this review days after finishing and I’ve already forgotten most of this book. 😬 I got excited about a story with three sisters opening up a record and coffee shop together and they were a cute family… until I got tired of hearing for the millionth time how different and yet alike the sisters were. In fact, every detail of this story was so repetitive and drawn out in explaining every step that the main character takes that it was jarring when the reveal scene happens and Juni has done so much without narrating any of it somehow?! Idk - maybe I’m being harsh. This book might be fun for someone but I solved the mystery early. This book shouldn’t have been so long.
December 16, 2022
Juni and her sisters couldn't imagine what would unfold after finding a woman murdered in their record shop on opening night.
I was definitely thrown off from who might be responsible since so much time was dedicated to trying to find Uncle Calvin. Juni became an amateur sleuth in the process. I liked some of the conflict added by Juni's ex being the detective on the case. They definitely knew how to aggravate each other.
The middle of the book was a bit slow, but the setting and explanation at the end were well done. I'm looking to more mysteries surrounding the Sip n Spin record shop!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC for my honest review.
I was definitely thrown off from who might be responsible since so much time was dedicated to trying to find Uncle Calvin. Juni became an amateur sleuth in the process. I liked some of the conflict added by Juni's ex being the detective on the case. They definitely knew how to aggravate each other.
The middle of the book was a bit slow, but the setting and explanation at the end were well done. I'm looking to more mysteries surrounding the Sip n Spin record shop!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC for my honest review.
March 26, 2023
I don’t read cozy mysteries often, but I really should read more of them because I absolutely enjoyed this one. First of all it was set in Austin and I love a Texas setting, and two, it was also set in a record store, Sip & Spin, that served coffee and the names of the drinks were fantastic as they had music puns and all. The audiobook was well done and when you throw in the mystery to solve I was hooked on this book. This is the first in a series and I will definitely be reading the next one.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy to review.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy to review.
October 27, 2022
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
What a fun kick-off to a rockin' new mystery series! This perfectly-paced cozy mystery is set in a small town outside Texas and focuses on Juni, recently returned to her hometown to start a coffee and record albums shop in the same location their grandparents had a music store for decades. During their big grand opening, she finds a woman dead in a supply closet, holding the business card of her scalawag of an uncle. When said uncle vanishes once he'd out on bail, Juni contends with the pushy advances of her ex-boyfriend-now-detective and starts a possible romance with her childhood best friend as she seeks to clear her family from involvement in the crime.
This read is just plain fun. Blacke seems to know her Austin-area setting very well, nailing the proper food references and cultural details. The family's shop has drinks that are based on punny song titles, and they are an absolute hoot. The mystery feels nicely modern, too. Food delivery couriers play a big role, as does social media use, but everything is explained in a way that makes the references accessible to all readers. I didn't correctly guess the guilty party, and I love being surprised like that!
I would definitely read more in this new series.
What a fun kick-off to a rockin' new mystery series! This perfectly-paced cozy mystery is set in a small town outside Texas and focuses on Juni, recently returned to her hometown to start a coffee and record albums shop in the same location their grandparents had a music store for decades. During their big grand opening, she finds a woman dead in a supply closet, holding the business card of her scalawag of an uncle. When said uncle vanishes once he'd out on bail, Juni contends with the pushy advances of her ex-boyfriend-now-detective and starts a possible romance with her childhood best friend as she seeks to clear her family from involvement in the crime.
This read is just plain fun. Blacke seems to know her Austin-area setting very well, nailing the proper food references and cultural details. The family's shop has drinks that are based on punny song titles, and they are an absolute hoot. The mystery feels nicely modern, too. Food delivery couriers play a big role, as does social media use, but everything is explained in a way that makes the references accessible to all readers. I didn't correctly guess the guilty party, and I love being surprised like that!
I would definitely read more in this new series.
December 27, 2022
This is the first book in the Record Shop Mystery Series by Olivia Blake, A new to me author. The book is centered around Junie and her two sisters in Austin Texas. Junie has recently moved back to their hometown to open a record shop, Sip & Spin with her siblings in the building her parents and when they were little girls. with all of the new technology in the world, vinyl records have fallen by the wayside but they are hoping to reignite the interests and introduce some old school vinyl to a new crowd. This venture is near and dear to their hearts and they have put everything on the line. they are so excited and have planned an opening night party at the shop and it seems to be going extremely well until late in the evening when a body is discovered in the supply closet.Junie’s Long time ex boyfriend is the cop in charge of the investigation and with a shop full of patrons, the list of suspects is plenty. It’s an awkward situation made it even worse when their uncle Calvin is wanted as a person of interest. The police use minor traffic offenses to arrest him and the girls put up the record shop as collateral to get him out of jail. they are confident they can get all of this straightened out and clear their uncles name but as soon as he is out on bond he disappears and they face the reality that they could lose their dream of continuing their parents legacy.Junie Will stop at nothing to find her uncle and clear his name even if it means straddling the law to do so.
I found this to be a fresh take on a cozy mystery. there are so many cozy series out there centering around Library‘s, bakeries, and a plethora of other food shops, I thought the record shop put a new spin on A well-established and saturated genre. I liked the small town locale and the supporting characters were well thought out and entertaining.With Junie at the center and her connections to the locals, there is a lot of room for her character to grow and the story to evolve. this first book shows a lot of promise and I am interested to see where Olivia Blake will take these characters in the books to come. I would definitely recommend this fun new series and will be looking for the next installment.
I’d like to think St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy and exchange for a fair and honest review.
I found this to be a fresh take on a cozy mystery. there are so many cozy series out there centering around Library‘s, bakeries, and a plethora of other food shops, I thought the record shop put a new spin on A well-established and saturated genre. I liked the small town locale and the supporting characters were well thought out and entertaining.With Junie at the center and her connections to the locals, there is a lot of room for her character to grow and the story to evolve. this first book shows a lot of promise and I am interested to see where Olivia Blake will take these characters in the books to come. I would definitely recommend this fun new series and will be looking for the next installment.
I’d like to think St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy and exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 23, 2022
I had read and enjoyed Olivia Blacke's other series (Brooklyn Murder mystery series) and was glad to have the chance to read an ARC of her new series. I'm a fan of vinyl records and the setting was something new. I was ready for something other than libraries, bookstores, craft shops, etc. though I do enjoy those, too. Combining vinyl records and coffee was just right.
Juni (Juniper) and her two sisters, Tansy and Maggie (don't ever call her Magnolia, she hates it big time) have sunk every cent they had into opening Sip and Spin, getting the extra needed from family. They have a lot riding on this venture and it's got a lot of family history behind it. Fate has made it possible for the sisters to open their business in the exact same store front that their grandparents had when they owned a vinyl record shop. The space holds many joyful memories for them but, if they can't catch a killer. their dream will go up in a puff of smoke along with their money and their planned future. Juni isn't about to let that happen and it turns out she's a pretty good amateur sleuth. The dead body in their store room is shocking enough but when their uncle Calvin is arrested for the murder and then vanishes - leaving the sisters on the hook for the bail bond (aka The Sip and Spin) - it's a race to find the answers.
The Jessup family sticks together and the Sip and Spin sounds like a great place to get lost in. Add to that some well developed main characters and a good puzzle to solve and I know I want to read the next in the series, A Fatal Groove - July 25, 2023) There is a spot on my TBR list waiting for it.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Juni (Juniper) and her two sisters, Tansy and Maggie (don't ever call her Magnolia, she hates it big time) have sunk every cent they had into opening Sip and Spin, getting the extra needed from family. They have a lot riding on this venture and it's got a lot of family history behind it. Fate has made it possible for the sisters to open their business in the exact same store front that their grandparents had when they owned a vinyl record shop. The space holds many joyful memories for them but, if they can't catch a killer. their dream will go up in a puff of smoke along with their money and their planned future. Juni isn't about to let that happen and it turns out she's a pretty good amateur sleuth. The dead body in their store room is shocking enough but when their uncle Calvin is arrested for the murder and then vanishes - leaving the sisters on the hook for the bail bond (aka The Sip and Spin) - it's a race to find the answers.
The Jessup family sticks together and the Sip and Spin sounds like a great place to get lost in. Add to that some well developed main characters and a good puzzle to solve and I know I want to read the next in the series, A Fatal Groove - July 25, 2023) There is a spot on my TBR list waiting for it.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 1, 2024
While I think this book is probably better than I'm giving it credit for, I just speed-read through the last seven chapters to get it done. I was going to mark it DNF but since I actually read the rest (just fast), I'm giving it three stars. It's okay.
The problem is that I just never really cared about Juni. I didn't care about her friends, couldn't care less if her uncle did it or not, and if he'd stayed gone forever, I wouldn't have cared either.
Additionally, the motive for murder felt like a cop out--like the whole book was there for the purpose of sharing the lives of the characters and clues but no one really had a reason to kill the girl so we are supposed to buy the story that we're eventually given because it's the character's "why." In other words, "because reasons."
What the author did really well was the twist before the reveal. I thought for a moment I'd gotten it wrong. That was one area the odd "why" actually worked a bit. But only for the couple of pages before the twist.
Additionally, the book was clean. No smut and I don't recall any language use that I didn't appreciate.
The problem is that I just never really cared about Juni. I didn't care about her friends, couldn't care less if her uncle did it or not, and if he'd stayed gone forever, I wouldn't have cared either.
Additionally, the motive for murder felt like a cop out--like the whole book was there for the purpose of sharing the lives of the characters and clues but no one really had a reason to kill the girl so we are supposed to buy the story that we're eventually given because it's the character's "why." In other words, "because reasons."
What the author did really well was the twist before the reveal. I thought for a moment I'd gotten it wrong. That was one area the odd "why" actually worked a bit. But only for the couple of pages before the twist.
Additionally, the book was clean. No smut and I don't recall any language use that I didn't appreciate.
January 25, 2023
Three sisters come back together in their Texas hometown to open a record shop/coffee bar in the same store where their grandparents used to own a record shop. A body is discovered in their storeroom on the night of their grand opening party.
This book is the first in a new cozy mystery series. I liked that the business idea was unique. The author did a fantastic job writing this book so that it doesn’t feel like the first in a series. I quickly felt like I knew the characters and never had a problem trying to keep everyone straight. I loved the relationship between the sisters and can’t wait to read more about them. There is a love triangle and I really did not Ike one of the characters in the triangle. Hopefully he will grow tremendously or disappear.
This was a wonderful start to the series and I cannot wait for the next book.
4.5 stars
This book is the first in a new cozy mystery series. I liked that the business idea was unique. The author did a fantastic job writing this book so that it doesn’t feel like the first in a series. I quickly felt like I knew the characters and never had a problem trying to keep everyone straight. I loved the relationship between the sisters and can’t wait to read more about them. There is a love triangle and I really did not Ike one of the characters in the triangle. Hopefully he will grow tremendously or disappear.
This was a wonderful start to the series and I cannot wait for the next book.
4.5 stars
December 14, 2022
As a cozy mystery fan, I am always excited for a new cozy series. Vinyl Resting Place is the first in the Record Shop Mystery series. Juni is our narrator and, along with her two sisters, is reinventing their family's record shop. Unfortunately, their opening celebration has turned deadly, as the sisters find a dead body in their storage closet.
I like the characters of the three sisters. The author has given them all unique personalities which seem to line up with their birth order. Juni is the youngest and her family seems to be trying to take care of her to some extent. We also get a start to two possible romances, one with an ex-boyfriend who is now the detective working the murder case, and the other with her former best friend. The police are focusing on Juni's Uncle as the main suspect in the murder, so the sisters need to figure out what really happened to the victim. The story is twisty and I didn't figure it out before the reveal of the murderer.
I will pick up the next book in the series to see what happens next with these characters.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy!
I like the characters of the three sisters. The author has given them all unique personalities which seem to line up with their birth order. Juni is the youngest and her family seems to be trying to take care of her to some extent. We also get a start to two possible romances, one with an ex-boyfriend who is now the detective working the murder case, and the other with her former best friend. The police are focusing on Juni's Uncle as the main suspect in the murder, so the sisters need to figure out what really happened to the victim. The story is twisty and I didn't figure it out before the reveal of the murderer.
I will pick up the next book in the series to see what happens next with these characters.
Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy!
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