Olivia Blacke's latest addition to The Record Shop Mysteries, Rhythm and Clues, strikes a perfect chord of suspense, humor, and small-town charm. Set against the backdrop of Cedar River, Texas, this novel takes readers on a bumpy rider through the quirky world of the Jessup sisters and their vinyl records shop/coffee nook, Sip & Spin Records.

In this installment the Jessup sisters are feeling the financial tension of their struggling business when a predatory, potential investor comes to time. Blacke skillfully weaves the elements of business woes into the narrative, making the characters and their circumstances relatable to readers. The tension escalates when a murder occurs outside their shop during a thunderstorm, throwing the sisters into a web of danger and intrigue.
Juni Jessup, the protagonist, is a tenacious and determined investigator, adding a refreshing twist to the amateur sleuth trope. The dynamics among the sisters bring warmth and humor to the story, creating a delightful blend of familial bonds amid the chaos of a murder investigation. The atmospheric setting of Cedar River, with its washed-out roads and tight-knit community, adds an extra layer of suspense. Blacke's vivid descriptions paint a picture of the small town, making readers feel the intensity of the storm and the claustrophobia of being trapped with a killer on the loose.

One of the novel's standout features is the unexpected surprises thrown Juni's way, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Rhythm and Clues seamlessly blends the love for music with the thrill of a murder mystery, creating a unique and engaging narrative. Olivia Blacke's writing style is immersive, and her ability to balance suspense and humor makes this installment a standout in The Record Shop Mysteries series. (I received an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.) With the whole town watching, the Jessup sisters embark on a quest to catch a killer, making this book a must-read for mystery enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates a well-crafted tale of intrigue and sisterly bonds.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the ARC of this book. all opinions are my own.
Due to the current SMP boycott, I will not post my thoughts on this story until the concerns are addressed. At that time, I will be happy to post my full review.

Here we are at the start of a new year, and I was thrilled to ring it in with Olivia Blacke's latest installment of the Record Shop Mysteries.

As with the first two, third was a fast paced adventure full of small town politics and a little murder. It was nice to step back into Juni's life as she stuck her nose into investigating things she was told not to; such is her way.

This was Juni heavy, but we do get some advancement on her love life this time. There was a decent amount of Beau in the book (loved the karaoke scene), but I felt like we needed more Teddy to balance things out.

I wanted more of the sisters as well.

I didn't guess the outcome this time, but I feel silly for not having seen it.

This was a strong third showing on the series and I'm looking forward to #4.

I read this book, as I did the two previous entries in the series, courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.

<i>Rhythm and Clues</i> continues one of my current favorite cozy series, set in a small town outside of Austin, Texas, where Juni and her two sisters run a coffee and vinyls store that revives the record store once owned by their grandparents. Juni has displayed a knack for solving murders--and that doesn't change this time around, when the handsy jerk who wanted to invest in her business ends up dead in his car. Fortunately, this time around she's not the suspect, but she's immersed in the mystery all the same. She's also coping with romantic entanglements as her ex-boyfriend now-town-detective Beau and wholesome mailman Teddy vie for her affection.

I really don't like love triangles, so I was a bit worried about the attention paid to the drama in this book--and then was profoundly relieved with how things played out. So if you're like me, keep reading! I think the developments here will make the next books even stronger.

The deep mystery here was quite fun. I guessed the correct murderer early on, but the end still delivered plenty of complications and surprises.

I love the Record Shop Mystery Series by Olivia Blacke and in her latest book, “Rhythm and Clues’, Juni Jessup and her sister are once again in the middle of a murder investigation. Juni is still being pursued by two handsome men who both want to win her heart. Her old boyfriend, Beau, is trying his hardest to be the front runner but soft spoken mailman Teddy, is doing his best to be the man of her dreams. Juni really doesn’t have time for romance because she is determined to solve the mystery of the latest murder to befell her small town. It wasn’t her fault that her sister's car was hit by a runaway car that had a dead body in it! Some people think Juni likes this kind of attention, but that is certainly not the case. Juni, Tansy and Maggie worked together to piece together the clues, with help from the worried residents of Cedar River, so that their town will be safe once again, or until Juni stumbles upon another mystery to solve.

I love this series for many reasons, but most importantly, the pairing of good music and a delicious cup of coffee or tea. The idea of a record store/coffee shop, such as Sip and Spin records, is so much fun, as are the creative names Juni comes up with for her daily specials. I love Juni’s eclectic collection of vintage band tees that she proudly wears every day, which reflect her carefree and sunny personality. She strives to bring people together with the perfect song, a new melody and the right drink to start your day!!

Rhythm and Clue by Olivia Black is the third installment in the Record Shop Mystery Series. Junie and her sisters are back, ready to serve up fun punny coffee drinks with a side of mystery and murder. I enjoyed going back to Cedar River, catching up with the sisters and imaging what the different coffee options tasted like, while trying to guess who could have been the one to cause the death of financial investor Zack.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This cozy series is developing nicely. I enjoyed the primary and secondary characters and the interactions of the small town. While the resolution was satisfying, the plot took a lot of time to move forward, and the ‘locked room’ element of the storm and its long aftermath slowed the story down. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my opinion.

Leave it to Juni to be securing Sip & Spin Records during a torrential storm and come face-to-face with a dead body. Juni and her old boyfriend Beau (it’s complicated) just went to a hockey game with Zack and his partner Savannah, who are trying to buy a stake in the record store/coffee business. But when someone throws a brick through Zack’s car window, well, he won’t be making any more deals. Maybe Juni should make a Cup of Murder one of the daily coffee specials?
Savannah is crushed and asks Juni find out whodunnit. Now she will really need extra coffee! Her love life is a mess (torn between two guys), Savannah’s staying with her at her sister Tansy’s house and driving Juni a bit insane, and Daffy (the cat) does not appreciate being moved around. Oh, and of course, there is the murder she is trying to figure out.
This is the third book in the Record Shop Mystery series and as usual there’s a lot of mayhem, some delicious coffee, some good food, some unique characters and of course, the love between three sisters. It was an enjoyable read, and I did not figure out who the killer was. I’m already looking forward to the next book.

The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
Third in the oh-so-smooth Record Shop series by Olivia Blacke, Rhythm and Clues is a mystery that will have you dancing along.

It’s been five whole months since the last murder in Cedar River, Texas, and Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie have been humming along when disaster strikes again.

Their struggling vinyl records shop/coffee nook, Sip & Spin Records, is under pressure from predatory investors, though the Jessup sisters aren’t ready to face the music and admit defeat. But the night after their meeting, the sketchy financier is killed outside their shop during a torrential Texas thunderstorm that washes out all the roads in and out of town. Now the sisters find themselves trapped in Cedar River with a killer, and Juni is determined to solve the case.

When the river spits out an unexpected surprise, Detective Beau Russell asks for Juni’s help, never predicting her investigation will spin her into danger. Up until now, the Jessup sisters have been playing it by ear, but with the whole town watching, can they catch a killer before he strikes again? The rhythm is gonna get you March 26, 2024 from St. Martin’s Paperbacks.

It was a delight being back in Cedar River, Texas! This is the third book in the series. The mystery is self-contained and can be read as a stand-alone but the relationships evolve since book 1 and I'd recommend them all.

I hope there are many more books to come in the Record Shop Mystery series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, St. Martin's Press!

#RhythmandClues #NetGalley is the third book in this fun series, featuring sisters Tansey, Maggie and Juni, owners of Sip and Spin, a local coffee and vinyl record shop
The sisters enjoy their shop, but have financial struggles like other small businesses do. An investor is interested in Sip and Spin, but Juni remembers the main investor from her college days, and her opinion of him hasn't changed.
The last thing Juni needs in her life is another man, especially when she's trying to sort out her feelings for her high school sweetheart Beau, and childhood friend Teddy.
Juni isn't impressive with the investor, especially when he becomes a little too hands on with her.
A major storm soon brings down buckets of rain, and when Juni and her sister check on their shop, a loud crash has them rushing outside, to find a car up on the curb, hitting Tansey's car in the process.
The only occupant is in the passenger seat, covered in glass and unresponsive. Juni takes a closer look only to find Zack, the investor she was with earlier, and he's not breathing.
Juni soon finds herself wrapped up in the murder investigation, while providing shelter for Savannah, Zack's investment partner, who is grieving his death.
I found myself loving this book, the mystery was really good and I was shocked when the actual perpetrator was revealed.
I love the record shop vibe in the series, I remember my own excitement when a new record was released and the joy of browsing through the stores.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

Another book in the Record Shop Mystery series.
This time the proprietors are in a bit of a sticky financial state. After meeting with a sketchy man who could be their lender, he is found dead.
A storm has washed out the ability to leave the area. The police enlist the sisters to help solve the mystery. It put them straight in the eye of danger.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery

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

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

The Jessup sisters are struggling with their vinyl/coffee shop. As they seek financial help or watch their businesses collapse. They find themselves out of town in the midst of a storm after meeting a sketchy investor whose body winds up outside their shop.

The girls will have their work cut out for them as they seek a killer in a storm. Will they be able to catch a killer before another body is found? A cool addition in this series.