Rhythm and Clues is the third book of the Record Shop Mystery series. While this book is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone as well (although I would encourage you to read the first book because it's so good!)

This was a fun read for the cast of characters, small town vibe, and the record shop itself. Each time I read these books I end up wanting to listen to music due to the musical references made throughout the book. As far as the mystery is concerned, it was engaging and somewhat entertaining considering the situations/shenanigans Juni got herself into. I will say I’m glad the love triangle was resolved in this book. I’ve read other cozy series where the love triangle went on longer than I felt it should (personal opinion, I know) so it was great to see that Juni was able to make a decision before it went on for too long.

Looking forward to the next book in the series!

I loved this cozy mystery book! I will be reading more from this author. I would definitely recommend this book.

This is the third installment in the Record Shop Mystery series. I did not read book 2, but enough details are mentioned from that timeline so I didn't feel like I was missing context. This time there hockey games, rainstorms, and power outages contribute to this murder that needs to be solved.

I especially like that the love triangle is resolved in this book and I respect that the character didn't string both love interests along for years (ahem, Stephanie Plum and Hannah Swensen). I'm looking forward to continuing with this series.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

Gosh, I love Tansy and this series! Once again, Tansy finds herself at the center of another murder in Cedar River. With the help of her supporting cast of characters, Detective Beau and hunky Teddy, she sets about trying to solve the case. The growing love triangle is so fun. What was missing was more interaction with the sisters and their mother. We didn't get nearly enough of Juni and Maggie. I can't wait for the next installment in the series!

I have love all three of the books in the Record Shop series. In fact, as soon as a new one is released, I’ll be in line anxious to read it. The characters are well developed and I have loved getting to know Tansy, Maggie, and Juni ... sisters with very different personalities. This one has a lot of twists and turns and edge-of-your-seat moments as Juni works to solve the murder mystery. I remember the days of purchasing vinyl records and how excited I would be for the latest release. One of the things I absolutely love about this series are the names Juni comes up with for the drinks. They are so creative and have you thirsty for a taste. I can’t wait for the next adventure with the Sip and Spin gang and to see how relationships continue to develop.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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The following review was posted on Kings River Life Magazine online:

In Olivia Blacke’s Rhythm and Clues (the third entry in the Record Shop Mystery Series) readers are once again visiting Cedar River, Texas, but this time in a torrential Texas thunderstorm.

Juni Jessup, along with her sisters Tansy and Maggie, own Sip & Spin Records and are getting some serious pressure from predatory investors. The sisters aren’t ready to sign on the dotted line, and after Juni spends an evening at a hockey game with Zachary and his business partner Savannah, Juni’s even more sure she wants nothing to do with them.

Once she returns home that evening, Juni and Tansy brave the elements to check on their store and their store cat, Daffy. While mopping up water, there is a loud crash and they run outside to find a car up on the curb with the driver’s side door open and financier Zachary dead inside on the passenger side.

Did Zachary die from the crash or is foul play at work? And where is the driver? All roads in and out of town are washed out due to the storm so everyone is stuck, giving this well-plotted mystery a locked-room type of feel and this ups the tension even more.

I flew through this mystery in just two sittings, enjoying both the twists and turns of the mystery, as well as the wonderful small town details and the creative musically themed drinks served at Sip & Spin records. There’s also some light romance blended into the story, and while the love triangle trope can be frustrating, it seems to be resolved by the end of the book. I enjoyed Juni and her sisters so much, each funny and loveable in their own way. The family dinner scene and the other characters who are part of Juni’s extended family had me chuckling as I read. I’ll certainly be reading more in this series.

This is the third book in Blacke's Record Shop Mystery Series and it didn't disappoint. Sip and Spin is the small business run by Juni and her sisters. Unfortunately business isn't going all that well and the one shady investor interested in the Sip and Spin is found murdered outside their place of business. I enjoyed this cozy novel and would definitely sit down with the next!
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

Juni Jessup owns a record store and cafe with her sisters and all she wants in life is to make it a success, except she somehow always manages to be the one who finds the bodies in her small Texas town. In this case, it's a former classmate who was offering to buy out the sisters' business who died in a car crash right in front of their store during a stormy night. Juni's been told by everyone to stay out of it, but what harm can talking with some people in her small town do?
It's pretty much a basic amateur detective cozy mystery that stands out because all the characters are interesting and it's clear that Juni is curious and concerned and not just being a busybody. It makes it more a story about connections and people than the actual murder and that's something that I truly enjoy.
Bonus points are awarded for the fact that the dreaded love triangle finally gets resolved! It's nothing major to the story, but it's a pet peeve of mine to hate them and it makes me happy that this series is done with it. I also really like how it's resolved, so I'm extra happy about that.
I feel like you can definitely jump right in even though it's the third book in the series because Blacke never takes it for granted that you already know basic details while also not weighing the story down with old information. It's a delicate balance that not many authors manage and she has mastered.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for the most excellent read!

Rhythm and Clues is the third book in Olivia Blacke's record shop storefront cozy series. Released 26th March 2024 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. The first two books in the series are also currently available for subscribers to borrow and read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

This series features a trio of sisters who are running their family's vinyl record store with collectible records along with a cafe and coffee shop on the same premises. The dialogue is witty and sometimes snarky (they're sisters, and it's in Texas) but generally good humored and supportive. Their family vibe is close and functional and despite the occasional spats, they really do care for and protect one another. It's also nice to see a cozy series featuring protagonists of color who are intelligent, well spoken, and female and not tangential to the plot. Representation is important.

The writing is engaging and the author has a solid feel for plotting and dialogue. Some of the eccentric small-town secondary characters were a bit archetypal and "trope-y" but they weren't overly intrusive or only there as window-dressing, and readers won't be yanked out of their suspension of disbelief by their overdone quirkiness. The climax, denouement and resolution are satisfying.

This story has a cool closed circle of suspects setup (the town is isolated by a storm, and there's a murderer on the loose). It's a neat classic trope and the author does a good job with the story progression and resolution.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 54 minutes and is well narrated by series narrator Nicol Zanzarella. She has a well modulated alto voice and does a good job with a large cast of characters and manages to differentiate all of them well enough that they're easy to distinguish and never monotonous or confusing. Sound and production quality were high throughout.

Four stars. Readers will enjoy the musical trivia and word play throughout. There was some repetition but all in all, it's a fun shopfront cozy. With three books published, it would be a good choice for a short weekend binge or buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

In the third record shop mysteries book, we see Juni torn both between two men and whether to take on an investor for the record shop. Zach and Savannah promise a hefty return and woo Juni and her sometimes-beau, Beau, with hockey tickets, but when Zach shows up dead in the passenger seat of his car outside their shop, Juni is once again determined to get to the bottom of a murder.

Olivia Blacke is a fun writer and I love Juni and her sisters. Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of the series so far. So many decisions by Juni were so incredibly stupid they could only be done by a cozy mystery heroine. I don't want to spoil the book, so I won't get more specific, but imagine yelling at the lead in a horror movie who leaves the nice, warm car for a graveyard and then tells her friends "Let's split up!" I also wasn't satisfied with how her love triangle was resolved. But, I guess, at least it was resolved. I'm not sure if there will be more books in this series, but I'm curious to see what direction Blacke takes it in, if so, now that she's wrapped up one romantic plotline.

Thanks to St. Martin's for my eARC and finished copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 7/10

This was a nice basic cozy mystery with all the elements that keep you guessing until the very end (and I can say I was shocked!) I would highly recommend starting with the 1st in the series to really get to know the characters. The coffee and record shop sounded adorable and I loved all the fun drink names!

There were just a few too many TSTL / strange decisions for me to fully enjoy. Letting a strange and suspect in a murder case stay with?? And walking straight into clearly dangerous situations just makes me so frustrated.

The Jessup sisters work hard to keep their shop afloat, but it’s not always easy. When a financier swoops in to help them save the day, they aren’t sure they want to relinquish control of their shop to a stranger. They ask around town - some are happy with the financier’s help and others not so much.

All talk of their financial situation comes to an abrupt end when one of the financiers is found dead right outside their shop. It’s up to Juni to solve this case before anyone else is hurt.

I’ve been excited about this series since the first book. Each book gets better and better. The two aspects of the book that really get to me are the three sisters’ relationship and the record shop setting. It’s a unique cozy mystery setting. So different than a bookstore, cafe or yarn store. I love all of those settings as well, but it’s so nice to find something a bit different.

The rapport between the sisters is lovely. Each character in the book is written to perfection. They are well developed right from the start.

The story moves along at a fast pace. I was shocked by the ending. I didn’t see that coming. This is book #3 of the series. All three books are must reads for me. I’m anxiously awaiting for book #4.






FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Rhythm and Clues is a fun cozy mystery. The setting is fabulous - anything small town and coffee related is a win for me. The record shop was a nice change from the usual bookstore or gift shop and it made for witty drink names. The characters are even more fabulous. The family dynamic and the quirky neighbors draw you in. The pace is great with a slower burn until the quicker pace of the ending with a surprise twist. This is book three in the series but it works fine as a standalone.

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This is a great cozy mystery. It's full of twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the end. I've enjoyed every book in The Record Shop Mysteries series and look forward to the next book in this series.
I received a complimentary copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Juni seems to have a knack for coming across unalived bodies. An investment team has made Juni and her sisters an offer to invest and help grow their record/coffee shop. After meeting with the team Juni goes back to the record shop and a car accident takes place. The team she met with earlier were in the car, but one of them is now dead. She is now working to find the killer and determine what is right for the family business.

This is a fun, cozy read. The characters are enjoyable to read and I love the family aspect in this series. Each character has something to add to the story and to Juni. As Juni interviews businesses who have received the investment in their business, the author gives different perspectives. One is doing well while another isn't, but we also see why each ones works and doesn't. I enjoyed each of these perspectives.

This story may be my favorite in the series. Overall I enjoyed reading this story and watching it unfold. How they caught the killer was creative and I was surprised by who it was.

This is the third book in the series, but each book reads as a standalone.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Another fun cozy from author Olivia Blacke. The characters and storyline are real to life. I enjoyed the continuing saga between Beau, Teddy, and Juni. I loved the creative names of the coffee blends.

Dollycas's Thoughts

Like many new small businesses Sip & Spin Records is struggling but the Jessup sisters are not ready to give up. An investor has approached them but Juni remembers Zachary Fjord from college. She wasn't impressed then and isn't impressed now. Following a "meeting" at a hockey game, Juni is positive she wants nothing to do with his offer.

Then a huge thunderstorm hits the small town of Cedar River knocking out the power. Tansy and Juni go to check on their shop and its resident cat, Daffy. They found the rising water from the sidewalk seeping under the door and a very scared kitty. After finding something to block the water and getting Daffy into his carrier they are about to leave when they hear a crash. A car traveling down Main Street had crashed into Tansy's car. When they reach the vehicle they find Zach Fjord dead and not from the accident.

Now with all the roads in and out of town washed away by the storm, the sisters realize they are trapped in Cedar River with a murderer. Juni is ready to make the killer face the music on her own but is surprised when Detective Beau Russell asks for her help. Can they apprehend the killer? Or will Juni be their next victim?

_____

I love that the Jessup sisters each bring their own strengths to the business. According to Juni, Tansy is the oldest and "the responsible one". Maggie is "the organized one" and the "numbers person". Juni is "the baby" and a "hot mess". I disagree with Juni about herself. She is a former IT tech and has found her place in the business along with becoming quite the amateur sleuth. She is also in a romantic triangle with her ex Detective Beau Russell and BFF Teddy Garza. I enjoy the way these characters continue to develop. Their interactions feel true to life and genuine.

Ms. Blacke has penned a very entertaining and well-plotted mystery. I enjoyed Juni's determination and her ability to question her theories and follow each clue and twist. The final twist was a complete surprise to everyone and the reveal was marvelous.

I really like the record store theme and the Jessup history of the building and the business. It was cool that piece of that history has now returned to the Sip & Spin. I love the themed coffee drinks, the karaoke nights, and Juni's vintage denim and concert t-shirts, like my faves, the Backstreet Boys! The Jessup sisters have a lot of great ideas and I hope their business continues to grow.

Rhythm and Clues features a clever mystery, a cool theme, engaging characters, and a little bit of romance, all set in a small Texas town. I enjoyed my visit to Cedar River and my time with the wonderful Jessup sisters.

Rhythm and Clues is the third in this cozy series but I didn't feel lost at all.

Juni and her two sisters own a small, struggling record and coffee shop and when an investor is killed during a major storm, Juni begins to investigate.

I enjoyed thoroughly enjoyed this book. The right amount of mystery, humour, likeable characters and pacing.

Pick this one up, you won't be sorry!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Oh this was the best one from the series for so many reasons! First, I loved that Juni was solving a murder without her or anyone in her family being a suspect. A refreshing change in a cosy. I also absolutely loved how Juni picked one guy rather than stringing along both Teddy and Beau. The mystery of this one was good, but the character development was the most exciting thing about reading this. I can't wait for the next book!