Easy to like cosy mystery featuring sisters reopening their family’s old record shop. I am constantly surprised that people are listening to vinyl again. That’s what caught my eye about this book, but the mystery and likable characters kept me reading. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

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.

A Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke is another good addition to the cozy genre. I enjoyed the sisterly connections and the music background while having a fun murder to solve. I am glad to see there is another in the works.

Olivia Wilde must really know coffee drinks, music, and Austin, TX, as she brings Cedar River to life in this first in series mystery. The 3 Jessup sisters have opened up the Sip and Spin vinyl record/coffee shop. At their grand opening, a young woman is found murdered, and their uncle is the prime suspect.

Cat Daffy, ex-boyfriend Beau, and best friend turned possible love interest Teddy are just a few of the memorable characters in this small town cozy.

I can't wait to read #2, A Fatal Groove!

3.9/5

I wish to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Just in time for the resurgence of interest in old vinyl records along comes this book. If you are looking for a fun read set in a family owned record shop that also serves as a coffee shop then this is just the one for you. Three sisters decide to reopen an old family business in a small town in Texas. They name the shop The Sip & Spin Records and they pool all their resources to reestablish the shop once owned by their grandfather. On the night of their long awaited grand opening a body is discovered in a coat closet and they are afraid the shop will never survive. Life in a small town is at its best in this novel and you will love all the beautifully developed characters. Can the mystery be solved and their business be saved? I highly recommend this as a delightful read and look forward to more in this series. This one has it all and of course there is a cat!

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!

amateur-sleuth, cozy-mystery, family, family-business, family-dynamics, law-enforcement, lawless, missing-persons, murder, murder-investigation, new-business, relationships, relatives, situational-humor, small-business, small-town, texas, to-read, witty*****
Great new author and new series!
Small towns and gossip are the same anywhere, and some families really get it. Against this backdrop which includes three sisters resurrecting a family business promoting vinyl records and adding a coffee shop, a murder intrudes. Add in an absconding uncle, lawyers in the family, and the youngest sister's old boyfriends, and you have some great sleuthing! Absolutely loved it and will be restlessly waiting for the next one.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley. Thank you!

This was a cute start to a new cozy mystery series. Juni Jessop and her sisters Tansy and Maggie revive a family business by opening up a combo record/coffee shop. During the grand opening party a body is found in the store's supply closet and their uncle Calvin is the suspect. They put the store up as collateral for his bail and he takes off. Most of the book is focused on finding him, not so much on solving the murder. The cast of characters and the setting are quirky and cute and the punniness of the book's blurb is evident in the novel as well with cutesy names for coffee drinks etc. A light-hearted read and I will give #2 a whirl.

As a lover of cozy mysteries, how could I resist such a clever title?
The title gave me hopes for an equally clever book. All the predictable elements of this genre were there. A young woman returns to her small hometown to reopen the family business. There are lots of quirky residents and family, including a former romantic interest who is now a police officer investigating the crime and a possible new suitor. A murder occurs, and someone close to her is suspected, so she and her sisters investigate. She is obsessed with coffee and food in general, and the interior of her car is a mess. There is even Daffodil, a stray cat who has adopted the store as a base of operations.
The question is how the book fills out this pattern. There are lots of fun references to a VERY broad range of popular music, from Billie Holliday to Britney Spears, and I learned a good bit about present-day enthusiasm for vinyl music. The author’s talent for puns is showcased in the store’s names for daily special drinks, like Espresso Yourself or Excuse Me While I Kiss the Chai.
Characters make a story come alive. Juni and her sisters make a nice team, but some of the other “quirkiness” requires a pretty broad tolerance. For example, Uncle Calvin’s business, Prankenstein, sends out “gag gifts”, such as packages that explode and spew large amounts of glitter on the recipient and surroundings. Yuk.
Some of the plot details were a bit weak, including some specifically relating to the motive and circumstances of the murder. As a very small example that will not spoil anything, though, at one point Juni straps herself into the PASSENGER seat of Tansy’s car and drives off. If she can drive from the passenger seat she is very talented.
Despite the weaknesses, many readers who like cozies, music, and clever puns will welcome this new series.
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

When the three Jessup sisters decide to re-open their grandparent's and parent's record shop all does not go according to plan. When cleaning up after the grand opening party they find a dead body in the cleaning closet. This is an enjoyable cozy mystery with the theme of family at the center. I loved the girls and their surrounding family but felt the plot could have been developed a bit more. It took considerable jumps at times leaving me wondering how we got there, especially towards the end. But the theme of family and the interactions of the girls, their friends and the smaller town they live in made it an enjoyable read. This is the first in a series and I will definitely pick up the next when it comes out to continue their adventures.
#VinylRestingPlace#NetGalley#StMartin'sPress

I received a free copy of, Vinyl Resting Place, by Olivia Blacke, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Juni and he sisters ( Tansy and Maggie), just opened a music store The Sip and Spin, , but now they have a murder to solve, a woman is dead in their shop, everyone is a suspect. I really enjoyed this book, solving the mystery and Juni and her quirky family, are great characters.

Any book that takes place in a record store automatically moves to the top of my reading list. I love going to concerts, vintage band t-shirts and creative coffee selections. In “Vinyl Resting Place” Juni is the youngest of the three Jessup sisters and had recently moved back home to open Sip and Spin Records with them. She was happy to be back because she missed her sisters and her quaint small town.

I loved Juni’s eclectic collection of t-shirts, her curious mind and the devotion she has for her sisters. Juni has two handsome men vying for her attention but she had no time for romance when she had a murder to solve. Who would have thought that a murder would occur the night of their grand opening; talk about bad luck! Juni could definitely have a side job as a detective with all the time she spent following the clues in hopes of clearing her uncle’s name.

I love everything about this book and I am thrilled that it is part of a series because I need to find out what happens next in the small town of Cedar River, Texas. Will Juni keep herself solely focused on work or will she let her heart lead her to the man of her dreams? Will Sip and Spin Records become a success under the watchful eye of the Jessup sisters? What new concert t-shirts will Juni add to her collection and is there a possibility of bringing live music to the store? The allure of the small town and the importance of family makes this an entertaining and enjoyable story!!

I loved Olivia Blacke's Brooklyn Murder Mystery series, so I'm not surprised at all to love Vinyl Resting Place too! Juni and the whole cast was great (even the ones I'm clearly going to hate were so well done in how they annoyed me), and the record shop needs to be a real place. Do I listen to vinyl? No, but I want to hang out there and sip coffee drinks with punny names while appreciating album art. I actually guessed the murderer this time (rare for me), but even though I suspected the culprit I couldn't figure out how Blacke was going to tie it all together, which had me turning the pages and thinking I had to be wrong. A great cozy sets a mood, and this did not disappoint!

Juni has just moved back to Texas to hope her sisters open a vinyl record store. The grand opening party is a huge success until the sisters start to clean up afterward. Full of interesting family members and old friends, I hope there are more stories to come.

this was a great beginning to the Record Shop Mysteries series, it was what I was hoping for from the description. I enjoyed how Olivia Blacke wrote this and wanted more from this universe. I had a great time reading this and going through this mystery. The characters were smartly done and I was glad to get to meet them in this story. I look forward to reading more in this series.

"We headed toward the Prankenstein warehouse. It was low-slung with corrugated metal on the storefront in lieu of siding. It had been bright yellow once upon a time, but the Texas sun had faded it to beige. There was no sign over the door, just the suite number. I tried the door. It was locked. There was a small window next to the door, but it was plastered over with newspaper from the inside. “I don’t think they get a lot of visitors,” I said."

Rounded to 3.5 stars.

CONTENT WARNING: murder, blood

I’m always a sucker for a good cozy mystery, and I couldn’t resist this one with it’s punny title and music-themed story. It definitely had it’s ups and downs, but this is one that was I was really looking forward to reading.

I loved the sisters in this story. They have a fun bond, and while they don’t always see eye to eye, I enjoyed the interactions between them. It felt realistic, and I was able to identify with Juni’s feelings as a younger siblings, especially with the age gap between her and her older sisters. The Texas charm was turned up way high on this one, and I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, especially since I’ve never been there. I did like one of the love interests, even if he was a bit wishy washy. As for the other one, I absolutely despised him. He was pushy, manipulative, and just felt like he needed a good slap across the face.

The puns in the story were outstanding. As a record store/coffee shop, they made sure to have a punny music-related coffee name that changed daily, and I absolutely adored all of them. I’d have to say that my favorite was “excuse my while I kiss the chai,” but each of them were amazing. Each time, they made me smile, and I found myself looking forward to seeing what it was going to be.

However, there were some downsides to the book. The writing felt a little clunky and repetitive, and definitely needed some more editing, which I hope will be done before the final product goes out, since this is an ARC and is an unfinished product. It wasn’t too suspenseful, and I definitely figured out who did it well in advance of the big reveal.

Overall, I did enjoy the read and would definitely be open to reading more in this series. I’m hopeful that future books would have the kinks worked out, and I’m curious to see where it goes next. There’s some good stuff in this one that makes me want to stick with it even with the things that I didn’t like as much, and they’re not nearly enough to make me give up just yet.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

In this new cozy series sisters open up a vinyl coffee shop. They get more than bargained when they discover a dead body while renovating. One of them becomes prime suspect and is arrested for murder.

The sisters will rally together to prove her innocence. It is an exciting new series with potential.

Imagine my delight when I received an invite to read the arc of Vinyl Resting Place, the new Recond Shop Mystery #1 by Olivia Blacke, for an honest review! Nothing better to settle in with on an overcast, lazy day.

Juni moves home to start a new business with her sisters and silent partners, bringing vinyl records back into focus. The mystery and race to solve the murder, successfully open their business and find their uncle keeps the pages turning right to the end. I loved the twists and the reveal of who dun it was a surprise!

I look forward to the next in the series and what may come of the Beau vs Teddy situation.

This review is in exchange for getting a free digital copy. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this story.

I LOVED this book. So cozy, such lovable characters, charming little record shop...I was hooked from the beginning! The pace is slower but I actually loved it for this book, it definitely kept you wondering where the story would go or the next clue.

This is a story you can curl up with and accidentally stay up reading all night. I can't wait for more from this author!

Sip & Spin should be a real place - the vibe, the cafe, all of it was perfect. The backstory of the record shop - three sisters Tansy, Maggie and Juni, worked together to open their business, in the same spot their grandparents had once owned a record shop, was a charming piece of the story.

The mystery begins at the grand opening of the sister's record shop in a small Texas town and the prime suspect, Juni's Uncle Calvin. Juni does a fine job putting together the pieces while being mixed up in a love triangle.
The pace was somewhat slow but the mystery was intriguing enough to keep me hooked, each chapter had me guessing about the next clue. This was a great beginning to a new series and I look forward to the next Record Shop mystery!

Thanks to NetGalley and St.Martin's press for providing a digital reviewer copy for my honest opinion.