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!

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. There was a good amount of suspense and characters/ suspects. I loved the main characters and the sister dynamic. This was my first book in the series but it wasn’t hard to get right in. I will definitely be reading the others. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

Over the past few months, I have read cozy mysteries that take place in various places. But a vinyl record shop/coffee nook wasn’t even on my radar for cozy mystery settings. I can check it off because Rhythm and Clues is set in such a place. That was one of the main reasons I decided to review the book. Not because of the mystery or because it was in Texas (which weirdly is a huge deciding factor in some of the books I read) but because it features a vinyl record store.

Rhythm and Clues is the third book in The Record Shop Mysteries series. It can be read as a standalone, but I strongly suggest reading the first two books to gain an understanding of the different relationships in the book. I wish I had because I needed clarification on the love triangle presented.

The main storyline of Rhythm and Clues centers around the murder of a financier in front of Juni and her sisters’ shop. The story also focuses on Juni’s relationships (love and otherwise) and her investigation into the death. I found the storyline engaging, often funny, and a little twisty (the murderer did surprise me).

I liked Juni, but she managed to get into trouble. As I read the book, I realized there was no holding her back when investigating the murder. She was going to find out who killed Zack, even if it meant putting herself up as bait and possibly getting hurt.

I found the mystery angle of Rhythm and Clues to be a little twisty, which surprised me. In my experience, cozy mysteries are usually written with a particular character in mind, and twists are not the norm. But, in this case, I was genuinely surprised by not only who the murderer was but also the motives behind the murder (minor spoiler: it was an accident). A smaller side mystery about handles mannequins also started about the mid-book. I did figure out where that one was going, but how it tied into the main mystery was revealed at the end of the book.

Juni’s relationships were a huge part of the Rhythm and Clues storyline. Her relationships were the bedrock of the storyline. Those personal relationships helped her with investigating Zack’s murder. She got information out of people that the police would have had to fight for.

Juni’s love life was also a significant part of the storyline. For a good part of the book, she was in a love triangle. Since I hadn’t read the previous two books, I was confused. There is a resolution to the love triangle, but I was a little disappointed with who she picked.

The end of Rhythm and Clues was perfect for the book. I liked how the author revealed who Zack’s murderer was and the reasons behind it. The author also showed the fallout from the murder. The author also left some room open for book four.

Many thanks to Saint Martin’s Press, Saint Martin’s Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Olivia Blacke for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Rhythm and Clues. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Juniper needs to stop finding dead bodies everywhere. Also she needs to stop meddling with police business. I accept that Beau is not Sherlock and he might need help to go into right direction, but one day Juniper is going to be the suspect number one.

Sip & Spin is still in business thanks to amazing coffee and creative events. But still Jessup sisters are struggling to keep the business afloat and they know that they are one step away from disaster. However, they do not want to fall into claws of Zack and his little investment company. When Zack died in an accident during a stormy night right in front of the record shop, Jessup sisters were "saved" from him. But now, they have this accident/crime to solve. Good luck to Beau trying to stop them.

I love how Sip & Spin is always in some trouble at the beginning of the each story and dead bodies showing up here and there always saves them from the trouble they are in. I start to wonder if these sisters are actual criminal masterminds manage to put their crimes on other people. After all they have police and law on their side :) Let's see how they are going to save themselves in the next story!

I am really enjoying this series.

Juni is busy with her sisters, running their record/coffee shop and she is currently juggling two men - her life is busy!

The Jessup sisters are approached with an investment company to help their growing business, but something seems off. A huge storm hits their small town and one of the investors winds up dead.

Juni is, of course, on the case! While trying to solve the murder, she comes across another mystery - mannequin parts flooding the lake - weird right? However, solving the mannequin mystery leads into solving the murder mystery, in a roundabout way.

This story was fun, a quick read, and extra exciting, because Juni makes a choice about her love life that I have been waiting for for 3 books!!!

Check this book out and check out the first two in the series as well (Vinyl Resting Place and A Fatal Groove)

4.5*

***Amazon post is being reviewed***

Rhythm and Clues is an entertaining cozy mystery by Olivia Blake. Although it’s the third in The Record Shop Mysteries and there are a few references to the previous books, I had no trouble following along. Set in small town Texas, Juni and her two sisters own a small and struggling record and coffee shop which has attracted the attention of predatory investors. When one of the investors is killed during a major storm, Juni is asked by his partner to investigate. She agrees and soon discovers there are a number of small business owners who have good reasons to dislike the investor but enough to want him dead? Juni and her sisters decide to set a trap for the killer but it may prove to be a lot more dangerous than they could have anticipated.

I quite enjoyed this book. The mystery was interesting, Juni is a very likable protagonist, and there’s a nice touch of humour throughout. I especially liked the punny names Juni gives to the coffee drinks she creates for the store. This is a fun fast read perfect for a lazy afternoon.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review

I thought this was a cute fun mystery read and didn’t realize it was a series! Definitely will be picking the others up.

Olivia Blacke continues the Record Shop mysteries with Rhythm and Clues as Juni Jessup and her sisters try to keep their record and coffee shop afloat in their small Texas town. The entrepreneur who is trying to get them involved in his investment scheme ends up dead in a car accident just outside their store during a strong storm. Savannah, his partner, was with him at the time, bit claims to not be involved in the planned murder. Whodunit? Lots of suspects in this cute cozy.

Rhythm and Clues

The Record Shop Mysteries

By: Olivia Blacke

Publish Date: 26 March 2024

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press/ St. Martins Paperbacks

Mystery and Thrillers #RhythmandClues#NetGalley

100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

This is the third book in the Record Shop Mysteries. I have book two but not the first book yet. I enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. This book starts out with Beau and Juni at a hockey game with possible investors. Juni and her sisters don’t want to be pressured into commenting themselves to investors because of the contract which is very iffy. Juni can’t give up a chance to see her first hockey, so she goes and takes Beau along with her. Later that night a big storm comes, and it is bad. The power goes out and Juni and her oldest sister, Tansy, go to check on the shop and to bring the cat home. While they are their Tansy car is hit and when they go to investigate, they discover that the investor is dead. They can’t find the driver of the car who happened to be the investors partner and why were they in town since they live in Austen. Juni as usual gets herself involved in the investigation. While all this is going on Juni finally makes a decision about the two men she has been dating.

I love how the sister’s work together and stand by each other. I also like how the town is small and everyone know everyone, and you can’t keep anything secret. This can be frustrating at times but also very helpful.