Rhythm and Clues is the third in the Record Shop series. Juni Jessup and her sisters, Tansy and Maggie, run a record and coffee shop in Cedar River Texas. Business would be better if Juni didn’t keep finding bodies. Juni is also dating two men. Full disclosure, they know about each other. Beau is her longtime high school boyfriend. He broke up with her by text many years ago. Teddy is her lifelong best friend. When Juni moved back to Cedar River, she discovered he had grown up quite nicely. Beau also happens to be the detective in Cedar River. Juni finds herself overly involved in this murder partly because one of the suspects (and the victims business partner) is staying with Juni and Tansy. While solving the mystery for Beau, Juni also figures out which man she wants to be with. Coffee, murder and romance. A winner.

I had such high hopes for this book, and I was very disappointed.

The first promise of puns lured me in, but it certainly wasn't enough to save this book from its myriad flaws. The main character is the epitome of the Quirky Girl, and it was exhausting listening to her. You're telling me that this grown woman rides a TRICYCLE? The quirks can't possibly stop there...she loves to eat but can't cook! She's the only one in own who can solve crimes! She is the best barista in the entire world and her customers are completely fine having whatever she feels like making that day, no one actually has a coffee preference! And she has not one but two men head-over-heels in love with her and content that she's dating both of them (and not in a polyamorous way, in a "I can't decide uwu" way)?

The writing itself was just...not good. Every single character mentioned was introduced by their race first. The sentences were choppy; this book felt like the first draft a writer has ever produced, certainly not the third in a series and ready for the ARC stage. The only murder here was the murder of my excitement about this series.

Note: I have not read the previous books. It is fine as a standalone. Maybe if you've spent more time with Juni, you would like this, but otherwise I can't see why people would enjoy this.

The Jessup sisters, Juni, Maggie and Tansy, are approached by Fjord Capital, an investment firm,
about becoming partners in Sip & Spin Records. Zach Fjord was a classmate of Juni's who remembers Zach
cheating on one of her girlfriends. When Zach Fjord is killed , Juni ends up providing shelter for his business
partner Savannah. As Juni investigates the businesses Fjord Capital invested in, the owners either did
well or lost their businesses. Was a disgruntled business owner responsible for Zach's death?
Delightful addition to the series.
#RhythmandClues #NetGalley

What song makes you flashback to the past? Makes you remember who you were with and where? Makes you instantly remember the emotions that song conjures up?

Juni probably has that song on vinyl. She and her sisters operate Sip & Spin Records, It came into being on the back of nostalgia for vinyl records and although it's been doing okay, they are considering a proposal from a financier who turns out to have a sketchy record, both in business and his personal relationships. During a business meeting at a hockey game, he flirts openly with Juni despite "not my boyfriend" Beau being with her. I've been to hockey games and am amazed anyone would consider having a business meeting there but, well, to each his own. Not surprisingly, it's a no sale and Juni and Beau leave early.

Then a torrential storm hits, leading Juni and a sister to check out the status of the shop. Just as they're about to leave, they hear a horrible crash outside. Someone has hit their car during the downpour. Even worse, turns out someone is dead. Guess who? Yep, the too hands on financier, Zack. That's when things get complicated. Was it an accident or murder? Who'd be out in the middle of an almost historic storm, manage to hurl a brick at the windshield, and kill Zack? As it turns out, there are multiple suspects with good reason to wish him dead. Juni is determined to figure out whodunit, even while being warned away by Beau, the local detective and Juni's high school beau.

To be honest, although I didn't love this book, I didn't hate it, either, but never quite felt pulled into caring, if that makes sense. Although I like the characters and idea of the vinyl record shop, I just didn't feel invested enough in the story to care, although I will admit I was delighted to see the end of the love triangle. I don't care for that tactic in any book, to be honest. In this case, it seemed to be as much about that as it was the mystery. Juni's investigations seem to have even become a bit of a joke in the gossip-filled, or should I say fueled town, too, and the side stories were more a distraction than anything else. Toss in the weirdness of the unexpected guest and Juni's mom issues and it was hard to remain focused on whodunit.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike this book. It was a relatively quick read that did keep me reading until the end. I didn’t even have the culprit on my list. That said, I have enjoyed the series and look forward to getting back in sync with Juni and the gang next book. Curious to see if the end of the love triangle holds and what mischief Juni will get herself involved in next. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #StMartin'sPaperbacks for inviting me along for this nostalgic trip down musical lane.

This is the third in the Sip N Spin mystery series. This was another good addition to the series. In this one, Juni finds the body of an old college friend after a car accident in front of the record store. Then the town has to endure a storm and power outages. During which Juni tries to solve the murder. I suppose you could read this as a standalone, but it makes it easier to understand background with the characters to read this from the beginning. I am glad to see that the romance triangle has some resolution.

This is the first book I have read in this series. I really enjoyed getting to know Juni and her sisters. The mystery was interesting and the killer was a surprise. The issue I have, however, is that Juni had a major TSTL moment toward the end that just annoyed me. Why don’t MCs in cozies call the police? Why do they insist on charging into the unknown completely unprotected and alone? I read a lot of cozies and this bothers me each and every single time it happens in a story.

Ok, let's talk about the decision Juni finally makes towards the end of the book. Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Sigh, I guess we can't really talk about it because, well, I'm not one to write spoilers. So I'll just leave that here and get to my review.

Rhythm and Clues is another great book in the Record Shop Mysteries with a great cast of characters that are so relatable that they feel like family. This time Juni and her sisters don't find a dead body but it literally runs into them. They've also become much smarter in trying to find the murderer and does so in the most Jessup way possible.

So come visit Cedar River, Tx and hang with the Jessup family. Grab the latest coffee and peruse the vinyl. If you're lucky, maybe you'll get to help solve a murder.

Thanks to #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy for my honest review. #OliviaBlacke we need to chat about Juni and her epiphany. ;) Just kidding, looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: A pleasant diversion of a cosy mystery. Well written for its genre. The musical knowledge seems solid, the depth of the characters and the nature of the mystery less so. A pleasant read, but immediately forgettable. My rating reflects it within its genre. 3.5 stars rounded up.

I thoroughly enjoyed Rhythm and Clues, book 3 in the Record Shop Mysteries series by Olivia Blacke. This could be read as a stand-alone but you'll want to go back to Vinyl Resting Place to discover the relationship dynamics between Juni, and her two sisters and Juni's 2 love interests.

The deceased is a privileged creep who is easy to dislike and solving the murder led to so many interesting small businesses and their owners. I enjoyed all of the characters and the puns were contagious.

"Rhythm and Clues (Record Shop Mystery #3)" by Olivia Blacke is an early fall setting with a big southern storm has the big event. During all the storm activity a deadly car accident happens, of course it's right where Juniper has to be part of discovering it. We get the usual back and forth of Juniper (and a little of her sisters) trying to help solve it. Juniper is also regularly joined by a business acquaintance that is "stuck" in town because of the storm and her associate with the car accident.

So, I'm going to spoil a little bit. Thank you for ending the love triangle. it was getting a bit ridiculous for a woman her age and especially considering how she kept denying she was "not" dating the one guy. Um, you're totally dating.

amateur-sleuth, local-law-enforcement, storms, flooding, small-business, small-town, family-business, family-dynamics, relationships, relatives, sisters, murder-investigation, Texas, situational-humor, cozy-mystery, punny*****

It was a dark and stormy night. For real. Severe storm with flooding and local evacuations, all power out, and a dead man in a car in front of the family store.
Juni Jessup is a former software developer who returned to live near her roots after her father died and resurrect the family business (promoting vinyl records) by adding a coffee shop . One sister is married to a lawyer, and the other has financial sense. Juni still has interests in the local police detective who was her love during high school but remains conflicted between him and the postal delivery guy.
I think this might even have been better that either of the earlier two!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley. Thank you!

If you love small town mysteries with a splash of love and drama, this one is for you! The reader is left wondering what is next for the main characters. It was also lovely to be able to try to solve the mystery as it was not obviously evident. This is book 3 of 3 in the series but it is written so that readers can easily follow along and are in fact encouraged to go back and read books 1-2.

Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blake was a delight! This book could be read as a stand alone though I have read the first book in the series. I loved seeing the town pull together after flooding. It’s fun seeing Juni’s interactions with her sisters and be more in depth about how they run their small business.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Juni Jessup is at it again. Another dead body. This time it is Zach Fjord. Zach was attempting to invest in Sip & Spin. Juni and her sisters want nothing to do with Zach or his money. When Zach turns up dead outside the record shop, Juni jumps into action. What secrets is Zach's partner, Savannah, in business and love hiding? The list of people who may want Zach dead is a mile long. Juni's on-again off again date, Beau, asks her for helps solving another mystery. Is Juni up for the challenge? Of course!

I loved this book. It can be read as a stand alone book from the series. The pace was quick and fun. My favorite part is that Juni makes a decision on who she wants to date. Is it Beau or Teddy? You will have to read it to find out.

Rhythm and Clues is the 3rd book in The Record Shop Mysteries series. The characters are likeable but the.main character Juniper (Juni) Jessup is curious and smart enough but is a.little immature. Juni and her sisters, Maggie and Tansy opened a coffee shop/record store, Sip and Spin. It is struggling but they are managing. An investor that Juni knew in college is in town and is pressuring the sisters to let them invest in Sip and Spin. One of the investors ends up dead. Juni has 2 men who like her, Beau who is a detective on the local police force and Teddy who is a mail carrier. Beau was Juni's boyfriend in high school and.college until he broke up with her. Juni and Teddy have been friends since high school. Juni needs to make a decision and choose one of the guys but she likes them both. Juni finally picks one of them but I wasn't happy with it or how it was done. The discussion with the chosen guy was very anticlimactic and could have been an opportunity to portray
her feelings for the guy. It does happen later. The mystery kept me guessing and the ending had everyone as friends which was nice. Overall I enjoyed this book and the series. #RhythmAndClues #RecordShopMystery #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

Rhythm and Clues is the delightful third in The Record Shop Mysteries series. When Juni finds another dead body no one is surprised. But finding the killer is going to take some doing. I kept guessing wrong but had a lot of fun along the way. I adored the punny drink names and quirky characters. Highly recommend.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for an ARC of this book.

In Rhythm and Clues, we find the Jessup sisters debating on inviting an investment firm, Fjord Capital, into their business when one of the partners of the firm is murdered. The surviving partner begs Juni for her help in solving the murder. This is the third installment of The Record Shop Mysteries series.

This is also the weakest novel in the series thus far. Disregarding spelling and grammatical errors that are inevitable in ARCS, this story had a lot of structural as well as narrative issues. The plot was disjointed with the unnecessary introduction of a second mystery of discarded mannequins. Juni’s inner dialogue was either erratic and hard to follow or repetitive in which she would mention the same unimportant facts multiple times throughout the story. I found myself slogging through this one just to get to the end, to find out the identity of the murderer- which was disappointing. There were absolutely no clues that led the reader to believe that this particular character was the culprit. It was just revealed at the end with the most inane reasoning for the murder. And speaking of disappointment, the love triangle between Juni and Beau and Teddy finally comes to a conclusion with the one I was rooting for left out in the cold. This novel did not work for me and it remains to be seen if I decide to continue the series.

When it comes to cozy mysteries, 2023 was marked by finding and reading the first two in this series. What better way to start out 2024 than by reading the ARC of this thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press.

Olivia Blacke hit another home run with this quirky, cozy, and fun mystery. If you are a fun of puns and music, you will find some gems within the pages of this one. I continue to love the characters and the plots of these books. I cannot wait to see what the next one has in store.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Rhythm and Clues", the third book in the Sip & Spin cozy mystery series from Olivia Blacke.
I must admit, when I saw the ARC on NetGalley I had yet to read any of the books; so I remedied that situation right away by reading "Vinyl Resting Place" and "A Fatal Groove", in preparation for this one.
The Record Shop Mysteries are right up my cozy mystery alley - I'm a big music fan and have a rapidly growing vinyl collection. However, I don't drink coffee, but I do appreciate all of the drink names that Juniper comes up with, book after book.
As in the previous two instalments, Juniper is right there to discover the latest murder - which coincidentally happens right outside their record store/coffee bar. And of course, she just has to investigate - after all, she did solve two previous murders just before the authorities!
This time, the body belongs to Zach Fjord, a predatory investor with a checkered history when it comes to some of the stores in Cedar River - killed when a brick is launched at his car at the height of a storm that takes out the electricity system and strands everyone due to downed trees.
As the town recovers from the storm, Juniper, Maggie and Tansy (her two sisters) are also saddled with Zach's former partner/paramour/fiancée, Savannah - who had been driving the car at the time.
The list of possible killers grows exponentially as Juniper visits and interrogates the various store owners who had done business with the investors, and it's going to take some figuring out just who has the better motive.
Added to the mystery is why/how a number of handless mannequins ended up in the river, and whether on not Juniper can finally decide which boyfriend - Beau or Teddy - deserves all of her attention.
If you like cozy mysteries with a lot of humour, music and punny drink names, this series is for you. Highly recommended.

Cedar River, Texas is a small town outside of Austin, Texas. It is where Juni and her sisters, Tansy and Maggie, have their combination record shop and coffee shop.
They also are good at finding killers. It’s been a few months since they have had one and they are good with that!


As a small business, money is tight and there are some sketchy investors looming. When they meet with them, they still think it’s sketchy but the next day, one is dead. And with a Texas sized rainstorm on the way, no one is getting out of town. Including a killer.


When Detective Russell asks for Juni’s assistance in the case, it may lead to the end of her shop and her life!


This is one of the nicest cozies out there. Combining my love for vinyl and coffee!


Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher.