I really liked this tale, to a point. At times it was repetitive, not once did the author let me forget that yes, this story is based in Texas. And the "whodunit" was a bit of a "what the heck?". I enjoyed the spunky main character Juni Jessup and the tight familial unity with her sisters. Uncle Calvin is a hoot until he is gone, and even then, there's many a reference to his quirky personality. The sleuthing was a bit meh, but then Juni is not a real detective by a long stretch. The toying of the relationship between her and her ex Beau lent enough drama to the tale to keep one guessing is she camp Beau or camp BFF Teddy? Also, I LOVED the tricycle! I want one now. If you like coffee, music, murder, family, friendship, mystery, tension in the relationship department, clean non-graphic sex of any kind reads then you too might enjoy this story.

Vinyl Resting Place Earns 5/5 Classic Albums … Engaging & Entertaining Hit!

Residents of Cedar River, Texas, are so excited the Jessup sisters are reopening the record shop, yet it is bittersweet, though. Their father passed away a couple of years ago, but their mother and Uncle Calvin know he’d be just as proud as they seeing the girls carrying on the family business. The retro environment, friendly attitudes, and clever names for the coffees of the day, like Java B. Goode or Espresso Yourself, ensures the future is bright! Until, cleaning up, Juni discovers a dead body in the supply closet. Immediately, the official radar of Detective Beauregard Russell, Juni’s childhood heartache, is her uncle whose absence does little to dispel the premise he is the killer. Sure Uncle Calvin is a prankster, he made a business selling pranks, and some describe him as “reckless,” “a rule breaker,” and “juvenile delinquent,” but a murderer? The victim did have his business card in her hand. Juni can’t see her uncle capable of murder, and although she runs into some resistance from her sisters and former boyfriend Detective Russell, she’s determined to prove it. But, then Uncle Calvin does a runner making it harder to believe his innocence and puts the family in jeopardy.

Olivia Blacke is spinning a cozy hit! Her tale of family, coffee and vintage records, and murder was quite clever with the Jessups a close, if not quirky, family with ups and downs and agreements and disagreements portrayed realistically so that many, including myself, might see their own sibling dynamic. The sisters are varied in personality and often have a selective memories about growing up together, but teamwork ultimately is their super power. The theme of vintage records and song puns for coffee drinks is a unique and interesting combination as well as adding witty insights into Texan culture. The murder occurred early in the story, a favorite occurrence, so the investigation, accusations, and family entanglements are all central, and with nearly the whole town having been at the crime scene, it is a complicated search for a killer. With Uncle Calvin on the hook, the record shop on the hook, and Juni’s ex-boyfriend in charge of the investigation wanting nothing more than to put his hooks into Juni, the story heats up with twists, more felonies revealed, and concerns over who to trust, ending with a clever, yet surprising, wrap up. Well written murder mystery with a bit of personal peril and romantic triangle angst is a perfect beginning for what looks like a popular series to come.

I read cozy mysteries to relax in the evenings after work. I love the humor, the quirky background plots, cute pets, etc. For me, reading purely for entertainment is incredibly relaxing and enjoyable.

When I read the blurb for this first book in the Record Shop Mystery series, I knew I had to read a review copy of this book! A coffeeshop/record store!! OMG! I wish Sip & Spin Records was a real shop!! I would be in there all the time! And I'm glad I jumped at the chance to read this book -- I enjoyed it immensely!

The basics: Juni and her sisters Tansy and Maggie decide to collaborate on a business venture. They open a coffee shop and record store. Things get off to a rocky start when a family member is accused of murder and they put their new shop up as guarantee on the bail bond. Can the sisters do some sleuthing and save not only their uncle, but also their new store?

I love the characters, the premise, the idea of the shop.....I just had fun reading this book! But the book wasn't just fun to read -- the plot was well-written and interesting! The story definitely kept my full attention from start to finish! Sometimes cozies can be a bit heavy on the cute/humor and light on plot. This book was a nice mix of it all -- great plot, humorous and quirky! Loved it!

I can't wait to find out what happens next in this new series!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

When Juniper Jessup, Juni, decided to move back home to Cedar River, Texas, to open a record and coffee shop with her two older sisters, she knew that there would be challenges. What she didn’t expect was that the grand opening party they had planned for weeks would end with murder. But when Juni opened the door to the supply closet at the end of the night, ready to clean the place up for the official opening the next morning, she found the body of a young woman.

Juni had grown up in Texas but had left to go to Oregon after college, to be a part of the tech industry. As a coder, she loved the fast-paced environment and the challenges of creating something from nothing, but when the startup she had been working for shut down with no notice, she decided it was time to move back home. One of her sisters had discovered that the storefront where their grandparents had opened a record store decades before had come available, and the Jessup sisters decided to pool their money and rent it.

Juni, Maggie, and Tansy had grown up in the store, as their parents had taken it over, and they watched as the original records their grandparents had sold turned to cassettes, then CDs. Once streaming hit big, their parents had been forced to close the store. But now vinyl is back, and being close to the music scene in Austin means that there are lots of music fans who are looking for a hip store to learn more about records. And the addition of the coffee shop with the punny daily specials adds character and fun to the shop.

But the dead body in the closet does not.

Juni’s high school boyfriend is now a detective with the local police, and his attention goes to Juni’s uncle Calvin very quickly. Beau Russell notices that Calvin has a bunch of moving violations that he hasn’t answered for, and now there’s a bench warrant for him. Beau arrests Calvin, so he could also question him about the murder. But when Juni and her sisters get him out on bail, by putting up the record store as collateral, Calvin repays them by disappearing.

Juni can’t help but notice that it only makes him look guiltier.

She didn’t have much when she left Oregon to move back to Texas to open her own business. She’s currently living with one of her sisters and riding a tricycle instead of driving a car of her own. She’s not about to let her one investment slip away, and she doesn’t for one second believe that her uncle could kill anyone. She decides that she will have to find the killer in order to clear Calvin’s name, and her sisters agree to help.

As Juni revisits the city where she grew up and reconnects with old friends, she finds herself with an increasingly confounding set of clues that lead her in different directions. But she is as determined to save Sip & Spin Records as she is to show off her collection of vintage rock-n-roll t-shirts, and she will not let herself get distracted by old boyfriends, angry strangers, dangerous thunderstorms, Baby Shark, frustrated grad students, pecan pancakes, or postal workers.

Vinyl Resting Place is the first cozy in the new Record Shop Series by Olivia Blacke. The characters are interesting and multi-layered, and the record shop adds a lot of texture to the story. The combination of the small town and the nearby Austin creates a lovely juxtaposition of the intimate family space and the larger music scene. And the puns of the coffee drinks shoe a playfulness that runs throughout the story.

I enjoyed Vinyl Resting Place. I loved the store and the relationships between the sisters. The small town of Cedar River has a lot of charm and what sounds like very good food. Juni and her sisters have a lot of confidence and all seem to be bringing their best to the shop. But I thought the plotting could have used more surprises, as I figured out who the killer was without a lot of work. However, I did enjoy this story, and I look forward to visiting the Sip & Spin again soon.

Egalleys for Vinyl Resting Place were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

This is a good introduction to this promising new cozy mystery series. The setting of a vinyl record store adds a retro vibe to this modern day murder mystery. The emphasis on family and the relationship that the three sisters have is a nice addition to the story. The mystery was well done and will keep you searching for clues to find the murderer along with Juni, Maggie and Tansy.

Vinyl Resting Place is the first in a cute new cozy mystery series by Olivia Blacke. Juni, Maggie, and Tansy are sisters in a small Texas town who decide to go into business together by reopening their family’s record shop.

In true cozy fashion, one of the sisters immediately stumbles upon a dead body and tries to solve the mystery. The story was predictable but I liked the characters. I felt like it was a little dragged out for the storyline and maybe could have been a few chapters shorter, but I know as the first in a series, the author was probably trying to lay down background. I enjoyed it enough that I would be interested in reading the next book in the series.

Fun first book in a new cozy mystery series featuring three sisters who open a vinyl records store and coffee bar. The mystery and storyline are interesting, and I enjoyed the interaction between the sisters. Plus there's a cat. I took away a few points for a possible love triangle (which is not my favorite), but then added them back for the really cute cover.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

🎶BOOK REVIEW🎶

Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

“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.”

I enjoyed this first book in a new series! The small town, gossip mill features were so spot on - I found myself laughing at the familiarity of it. This was JUST published, so check it out now!

Recommend if you like:
🎶Cozy mysteries
🎶Small town stories
🎶Amateur sleuthing
🎶Possible budding romance
🎶Family dynamics
🎶Music references
🎶Puns

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, @tantoraudio and the author for access to this ARC!

Publish date: December 27, 2022 (out now!! ✨)

#netgalley #oliviablacke #vinylrestingplace #audiobookreview #bookreview #arcreview #outnow #books #bookish #booktrain #bookstagram #read #goodreadschallenge #bookchallenge #earc

So excited I was approved for this series! I love cozy mysteries in the fall and when there is a cat, even better! I love the three sisters and how different and unique each was and I cannot wait to continue in this series!

First of all this cover is seriously adorable and I knew right away this would be a great cozy mystery and I was not wrong! The time between Christmas and New Years calls for a cozy mystery and this fits the bill. If you are looking for some family drama, a murder, a classic whodunit and as a bonus set at a record/coffee shop this is for you.

Thank you #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke is the first in a new and different series. Juniper (Juni) Jessup has returned to Texas to open a record store with her sisters, Magnolia (Maggie) and Tansy. Their grandparents, and then, their parents had had a record store in the same spot before it aged out with the advent of cds and streaming downloads. Now vinyl as back and just as the business Juni worked for closed and took with it her 401K. Not even a hint of trouble until the day she drove up and found the place locked up. She had invested all her savings in this store and now it was the grand opening party. It looked like the entire town had turned up. It all ran smoothly until Juni went to the supply closet for trash bags and found a mess, and a dead body. The police were called, and who should appear but Detective Beauregard (Beau) Russell, the man (boy) who had broken up with her by text and broken her heart in the process. He was still gorgeous, and bossy. He was at her door the next morning, asking about her uncle Calvin, who apparently wasn’t answering his door. Odd, that. He was a sound sleeper. She was sure that was all.

What a fun premise for a book. These sisters, and the lawyer husband of one of them, are destined to get up to all kinds of mischief, not to mention the girls’ mother, Bea, and uncle Calvin. Juni has two men “chasing” her: Teddy Garza, her childhood best friend, and of course, Beau Russell. So that bodes well for storylines. This mystery was solved at the very end when it all came together, really, when the actors all came together and contributed the various pieces of the mystery, which came together to make a complete picture. . Fortunately the murderer was present, so that got cleaned up quickly. There were funny spots and some very sad spots in this story. The personalities are divergent and mostly likable, on different levels. The setting is exciting and different. The plot was excellent. We had believed the killer was one of the good guys, until he wasn’t. Good book. I look forward to more.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Vinyl Resting Place by St. Martin’s Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #OliviaBlacke #VinylRestingPlace

This was such a great series starter. I love the vinyl record store setting in this cozy mystery. The family dynamic between Juni, Tansy, and Maggie gives this story its backbone. Each sister has put everything into opening their store, Sip & Spin. With lots of vinyl to choose from, and a barista bar with unique musical drink names, Sip & Spin is set to be the hottest new business in Cedar River, Texas. The murder of Monica Mayhew in their shop definitely caused a mess of things, but Juni does everything she can to get to clear her uncle's name, save their business, and find a killer. This is definitely a mystery that has a killer that you least expect, and you won't find out until the very end. I absolutely loved this.

The first in a new mystery series introduces the Jessup sisters. Tansy, Maggie and Juni opened up the Sip and Spin, a vinyl record store with a coffee bar, using all their savings. On opening night, a woman is found murdered in a storage closet. When their uncle is under suspicion, Juni begins to investigate. I enjoyed the setting, with the musical mentions, as well as the sisters’ relationship. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Vinyl Resting Place is a fun cozy mystery that takes place in a record/coffee shop. It’s a light hearted murder mystery about three sisters who open a record shop. The plot driven story is entertaining and includes the requisite small town eccentric characters.

**Thank you NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this novel.

In Vinyl Resting Place, Juni Jessup and her two sisters are excited to open Sip and Spin, a record store and coffee shop in their hometown just outside of Austin Texas. Almost everyone in town is at their grand opening. It is a perfect night with music, drinks, and a taco truck until Juni finds a dead body in the store’s supply closet. Juni’s, ex-boyfriend Beau, now a detective, identifies her uncle Calvin as the prime suspect since the victim was holding one of his business cards in her hand. Juni and her family don’t believe that Calvin could do anything so horrific.

When he is arrested, Juni and her sisters unquestionably put up the record store as collateral for bail. They are as surprised as the police when he skips town shortly after his release. Juni knows there must be a good reason for his flight. Regardless, if they don’t exonerate him and make it safe for him to return to Cedar River, he will forfeit bail and the sisters will lose the record store they’ve worked so hard to build. Juni uses all the tools in her arsenal to find out who really killed the woman in the closet but as she gets closer to answers, the killer proves how far they will go to keep the truth from coming to light.

I am always interested in cozy mysteries, but I specifically requested this one because its record store setting. George loves vinyl and we sometimes listen to records together The book includes references to records, different genres of music and the Austin music scene, which I really enjoyed. Juni has just returned to Cedar River after working in Oregon, so the book delivers interesting interactions with people she hasn’t seen in years—including ex-boyfriends!

The book also has all the elements that make cozies enjoyable: a likable amateur sleuth, an animal companion, in this case a stray cat, and an interesting setting and mystery. Blacke included several potential avenues of investigation that had me guessing. It’s not as saccharin as some cozies, which is a plus for me.

A few details took me out of the narrative. Juni and her sisters put the record store together in just a few weeks (my brain is interrupting and saying no business can become established so quickly). Uncle Calvin, besides being family, seemed like a bit of a jerk, so it was hard for me to understand the risk the sisters took in using their store for collateral. Also, Juni didn’t seem interested in the identity of the victim for an unusually long period.

With winning characters, a fun location, and a hotbed of entangled relationships, VINYL RESTING PLACE provides a strong foundation for this new series. I will certainly read future books!

This was a great mystery series debut. I liked that the main characters are three sisters in their 20s with plenty of quirky family and friends. The setting of a record shop in Austin was also fun. I'm not sure about the love triangle; but it seems like a prerequisite for a mystery series.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

Great read! Back in her hometown, Juniper Jessup is in business with her sisters in a vinyl record shop that also serves coffee. The soft opening leads to a dead body in a closet and their uncle as a prime suspect. After putting their shop up as collateral to bail him out of jail, he is on the lamb and Juni and her sisters work to find the real murderer. Interesting premise with great characters!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Vinyl Resting Place is the first in a new series. The story is told from the point of view of the youngest three sisters, Juni. Each of the main characters is interesting and adds to the storyline. The mystery is well written and developed and makes for a pleasant, entertaining read. The setting and characters can be appealing to younger readers, as they can relate more to both. I will definitely read the second book in the series as I really enjoyed this book. Read this book, you won't regret it!

Vinyl Resting Place takes the resurgence in popularity of vinyl records and creates a fun mystery set in a small town just outside Austin, Texas. Tansy, Maggie and Juni open a record and coffee shop in the same space that their grandparents had a record shop.
Juni is our narrator and main investigator in the mystery of a girl murdered in the storage closet on the night of Sip & Spin’s grand opening.
The mystery is well done. I didn’t suspect who done it until it was being revealed. The clue were parsed out in such a way that it took time to see where the author was leading the characters and readers.
It looks like the author is setting up a love triangle for Juni between old love Beau, now a detective, Teddy, best friend growing up. I think I’m going to have to root for Teddy.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book. I recommend checking out Vinyl Resting Place. You’ll enjoy an interesting mystery and learn about music.

Juniper Jessup and her sisters put everything they have into opening Sip & Spins, a reinvented take on a record store with a trendy coffee shop. When they find a dead body in the cleaning closet after their grand opening party, they are shocked, especially to find out their uncle is a prime suspect.
This was a great cozy mystery, with a fun cast of characters and a unique setting. I did find it a bit repetitive and overly explained in the beginning, but once the story was established, the pacing and flow were great. I enjoyed the different relationships between the family members. I am excited to see where this story goes and maybe experience a point of view from a different sister?
Thank you St Martin’s Press for the eGalley in exchange for an honest review.