A Fatal Groove

Vinyl records, coffee, family, love triangle, and murder. What's not to love about this series - The Record Shop Mysteries.
This can be read as a standalone, but trust me you'll want to read them all.

Juni, with her sisters - Tansey and Maggie - own Sip n Spin a coffee and record shop (that in my opinion should be an actual place not fictional). Anyway, the shop is doing pretty well until Juni finds Mayor Bob dead in his office, murdered, and it looks like it was by the coffee that he got from Sip n Spin that Tansey made. As in small towns, word travels fast and the people start avoiding the shop. With Tansey being accused of the murder, the sisters start their own investigation to find the real murderer and save their shop.

So, put on a record, grab some coffee, and read A Fatal Groove. You won't be disappointed.


#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #AFatalGroove

There was a lot to like about this book, from the relationship between Juni and her sisters to the music-themed drinks of the day. The main mystery was interesting, with plenty of twists and a...mostly satisfying ending. I had trouble buying the logistics of how the murder was carried out. Without spoilers--it seems like the victim should have been able to avoid his death if he'd been paying any attention.

The secondary mystery was great! I really liked hearing all about the bank robbery and the town's history. But then the resolution bummed me out, too. It's good. It actually makes sense--I just wanted better for Juni.

I'm not feeling the love triangle. I wish Juni would pick someone. I don't even particularly care who, which might be part of the problem. They're both great. Either would be a good love interest alone, but I don't need both of them.

When the mayor of Cedar River, Texas turns up dead holding a cup of coffee from their record shop, Juni and her sisters need to investigate. To complicate matters, the town is holding its annual Bluebonnet festival and, there’s a treasure hunt on for the missing money from a 50 year old bank robbery.

The characters are well written and just a bit quirky. I enjoyed the music references, and the combination of both a current murder and a cold case mystery.

Juni Jessup and her sisters are back to their sleuthing ways when the mayor is found dead in his office during the annual bluebonnet festival. Is the murder related to a decades old story about hidden treasure or something more personal? Can't wait for the next installment!

This fun cozy mystery is second in the series, but it could be read as a standalone novel. The characters are enjoyable and realistic. Buttercup, a cow, was a cute addition! There's a love triangle, but, thankfully, it's not an overpowering element to the story. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged and sleuthing along.

Another winner in this second installment in the Record Shop Mysteries series.

I love the characters, especially the three sisters who run the small town Texas vinyl record store and coffee shop and also the two love interests (the cop and the mailman) for Juni, the youngest sister.

Besides the interesting characters, this had an interesting plot, someone who is murdered after drinking a coffee from the sisters' coffee shop. In this one, I also loved how a long-ago bank robbery from the mid 1950's factored into the story.

A terrific cozy series and one I'd highly recommend!!

The annual Bluebonnet Festival in Cedar River, Texas, brings visitors from all over the world, and the Jessup sisters are hoping to relax and enjoy the festival along with everyone else. But when a body is found and one of the sisters is at the top of the list of suspects, Juni sets out to prove her sister’s innocence – and finding the treasure reportedly buried following a bank heist several years ago would be an added bonus.

This is the second book in this series, and I enjoyed it as much as the first one. The town of Cedar River sounds like the small town settings of many other cozy mysteries, where everybody knows everyone else’s business. But without that aspect, it would be much harder to gather the information needed to solve the mysteries in these books :) I like the sisters and how they put family first, but sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming. I tried to find out if Juni’s beloved adult tricycle would be street legal in Texas, but didn’t feel like digging through pages of legalese to figure it out. For some reason, her dependence on that mode of transportation annoyed me, possibly because I’m not sure of its legality?

There were several serious suspects to consider in this book, and I had a hard time deciding who I wanted to be the killer. As clues were discovered, the list was narrowed down, but I still wasn’t sure who the culprit was until just before it was revealed in the book.

I’ve marked my calendar to start looking for the next book in this series sometime early next summer :)

What a wonderful new cozy series this is! The first book was so strong I knew I’d be reading more. To start, I really love that our heroine has siblings. The sister’s relationship is definitely one of the highlights. Cozy leads usually rely on friendships so I appreciate this is a family. The Texas town is everything you want it to be, charming, quirky & full of interesting people (suspects). The Jessup sisters are clever, funny & readers will be able to relate to at least one of them I’m sure. Are you a Tansy, Maggie or Juni?

This time around we get a murdered mayor, right before the towns big festival & even the chance of buried treasure. There’s the right amount of suspects & possible motives to keep you entertained. Juni’s love triangle is also of interest, I’m not quite sure who she’ll pick. This has the perfect summer vibes & I feel would be an ideal beach read this season. I can’t wait for the third book!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters, they are really well done. I was worried that it would mostly be about records and the record store but it was. It has a cute cow even. I’m glad that they also found the treasure at the end. #AFatalGroove #NetGalley

local-law-enforcement, Texas, small-business, small-town, family-business, family, amateur-sleuth, situational-humor, family-dynamics, cozy-mystery, relatives, relationships, gossip, murder, murder-investigation, lawyers, rural, festivals, sisters, bank-robbery*****

Juni is the main character and is a former software developer who returned to live near her roots and the family business promoting vinyl records and adding a coffee shop after her father died. One sister is married to a lawyer, and that's useful as this is the second time Juni has found a dead body. In gossip central. Juni still has interests in the local police detective who was her love during high school. Good whodunit with lots of laughs! Not an unbiased review because I loved the first in series.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley. Thank you!

A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke is the second in the Record Shop Mysteries and the Jessop sisters are back. Sip & Spin's fairly new reputation is at stake when Tansy serves Mayor Bob a cup of coffee that is found at his desk when Juni stops town hall and finds him dead. Determined to clear her sister and their fledgling business's names, Juni butts heads with Sheriff Beau as she conducts her own investigation with sisters Maggie and Tansy. Could it be their mother's new boyfriend, used car dealer Marcus Best, who has teamed up with Uncle Calvin to beat Mayor Bob to finding missing money from a long ago bank robbery? Or Jen or Leanna, who are rivals to Juni and Tansy?

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

Juni Jessup and her sisters, Tansy and Maggie are hosting a booth at the Bluebonnet Festival, hoping to drum up business for their Sip & Spin Records store. When Juni discovers the body of the mayor in his office, he is holding a Sip & Spin coffee cup. Unfortunately, Tansy was the one who prepared the coffee and now becomes a suspect. Does the mayor's death have to do with a recent
real estate transaction or is tied to the buried money from the 1956 bank robbery?
Juni and her sisters set out to clear Tansy and save the shop.
 #AFatalGroove #NetGalley

I absolutely adore Olivia's style, she does not miss! I loved coming back to Sip & Spin and having another mystery with our cast of characters. This one was super interesting and I had a lot of fun trying to solve it with them.

another great entry in the Record Shop Mysteries series, it worked with what I was hoping for in the mystery genre. This was just as strong as the other entry and I enjoyed this one as well. Olivia Blacke has a great style for the genre and it left me wanting to read more in this series. The concept worked well overall with the mystery and I was engaged with what was happening and how to solve what was going on.

A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke is book #2 in the Record Shop Mystery series. Juni Jessup and her sisters, Tansy and Maggie run the Sip & Spin Records shop. This enterprise consists of selling vinyl records and coffee. As if running their shop doesn't keep them busy enough they also find themselves involved in a murder investigation. Once again Juni takes the lead. During the Blue Bonnet Festival Juni finds Mayor Bob dead in his office with a Sip & Spin cup in his hand. That's trouble for the sisters. I really liked how the sisters worked together on this case. They are very different but work well together. This storyline flows smoothly and I was kept guessing til the end. This is a well-written and fun series. I look forward to the next book in the series.

When the mayor is murdered, the Jessup sisters find themselves in the middle of it all. Juni found the body, but it was Tansy who made the coffee that killed him. With Tansy as a suspect, the sisters need to work fast and furiously to figure out who had it in for the town’s leader.

This series is always a fun read. Small town Texas, local mayhem and people along for the ride on each whodunit makes this one truly enjoyable. With enough red herrings and suspects to keep your guessing, you’ll find this mystery fits the cozy bill perfectly.

Murderously fun, cozy and caffeinated! 💀 ☕️🎧

We are back in Cedar River, Texas with Juni, Tansy and Maggie just in time for the annual Bluebonnet Festival! The sisters are busy gearing up new coffee recipes to debut at their Sip & Spin Records booth when the Mayor dies right after drinking one of their coffees! The rumor mill goes into overtime blaming the sisters for the mayor’s untimely demise and threatening their business! With their coffee’s reputation and their shop on the line the sisters spring into sleuthing action to solve the mystery & catch the killer so they can get back to the festival (that holds a mystery of its own!)!

I absolutely love The Record Shop Mysteries series by Olivia Blacke! Cozy, murderous fun filled with quirky characters, head scratching mysteries, small town life, sisterly love and endless coffee & music puns!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the gifted arc!

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

A solid second book in this cozy series set in smalltown Texas. The characters are developing nicely and the writing held my interest. Two mysteries to solve. While the first was obvious despite some clues being held until the end, the other was beautifully interwoven into the investigation. I look forward to reading the next one.

This was a fun and delightful cozy mystery. It's the second book in the series but it would be easy to read as a standalone.

Juni and her sisters are great! There wasn't enough Daffy but I love the addition of Buttercup, the cow. I hope she shows up in future books.

There is a bit of a love triangle (which is my least favourite romantic trope) but it doesn't take up too much of the book and both men are really great. Not sure how Juni will make the decision but I hope she does soon.

This book features a mystery within a mystery with the girls investigating a modern day murder as well as a decades old bank heist. Both resolve well.

I'm looking forward to reading more of this 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!

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

Juni and her sisters are involved in another murder investigation in A Fatal Groove.
During the Bluebonnet festival, Mayor Bob becomes the victim of a crime, but no one is sure who the perpetrator is.
It was Juni's sister that served the mayor his killer coffee, but Juni knows she didn't kill him.
On top of the murder, it seems someone believes Juni has evidence proving the location of missing money from a bank robbery years before.
Juni insists on trying to figure out who killed the mayor, and finds herself in hot water.
I enjoyed this story, the characters are good, but I haven't found myself attached to any particular one.
I did like the part where Juni wins a cow, it added a few chuckles to the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.

With this one, you get two mysteries, one old, one new. The old one involves a bank robbery and the never recovered loot supposedly buried...somewhere. The robbers were killed before they could recover it. The second, newer mystery, who killed Cedar River's Mayor Bob? Juni(per) Jessup finds the ineffectual but relatively harmless mayor dead in his office during the town's bluebonnet festival. He's still holding a coffee cup from, you guessed it, the Sip & Spin Record shop which Juni co-owns with her family. Her sister Tansy made the coffee for him. The investigator in charge is Juni's old beau, uh, Beau.

Cedar River, near Austin, is a small town and gossip spreads fast. How fast? Almost before Juni can ever return home after giving a statement about how she came to discover the body. In this case, the gossip seemed to spiral, from a mutilated body to little green men with probes, no lie. So, outrageously humorous and insightful into small towns and how gossip grows wilder with each sharing. Although sworn not to talk about the case, Juni does attempt to calm minds, albeit with limited success. Mayor Bob's wife is reportedly away on an Alaskan cruise.

Juni is soon investigating with the help of sisters Tansy and Maggie, with input from Uncle Calvin, who has mellowed a tad since book one, I note. His stories still tend to be long and rambling, however, they're also often revealing once Juni manages to get him to the point. What connection did Mayor Bob have to used car salesman Marcus? Does Marcus have an ulterior motive for dating Juni's widowed mother? Juni could use a map to sift through all the clues piling up, so where is that map when she needs it? Why doesn't Juni simply share the info she gets with Beau? Will people ever trust Sip & Spin for coffee again?

And, will Buttercup be a recurring character? Don't ask, just read. Daffy the cat gets some space, too, I'll note. Bottom line, it's a fun, relatively quick read with humor and romance, so lots going on. Heck, first time I've ever heard of a hole digging contest. I'm not a fan of love-triangles, however, so hope the Beau or Teddy triangle is resolved soon. Both seem great guys.

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress - #StMartinsPaperbacks for inviting me back to Cedar River, Texas. The bluebonnets are lovely.

What a fun and innovative cozy! I loved this fresh take on the genre, set around three sisters and their coffee/record shop. Looking forward to seeing where this series goes and can't wait to see what Olivia Blacke does next.

I love this cozy mystery series. This is only the 2nd in the series but I am anxiously awaiting the next one! This was so good. I love the characters in this series!
I just reviewed A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke. #NetGalley
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I enjoy this refreshing cozy series that takes me back to the time of vinyl records! Three African American sisters manage Sip & Spin Records; a store their grandparents originally ran. Juni Jessup, the youngest, is the main protagonist. The sisters share the running of the business and make delicious special coffee blends each day in addition to selling old records. I like the cool names they come up with for the drinks, i.e., Sweet Home Cappachino, after song titles.

The murder mystery begins when the long-running town mayor is found deceased gripping a to-go cup of Sip & Spin coffee in his hand. Tansy, the oldest sister, served him the coffee so she’s immediately put on the suspect list. Juni’s admirer, Detective Beau Russell, leads the investigation. An old bank robbery is a nifty addition to the plot.

The Central Texas setting is appealing as is the town’s Bluebonnet Festival activities. The main characters give the story a hip vibe. I had a suspect in mind for the killer, and the author reveal confirmedI had figured out whodunnit correctly. Cozy readers will have fun relaxing and reading this charming mystery.

I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.

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

This is a great cozy mystery series. The characters are pretty great - although I'm not a huge fan of the love triangle with Juni, Beau, and Teddy. Having sisters working together and solving mysteries together is a fun adventure every time. I like the dual mysteries in this book. I also really appreciate the punny coffee names!

I am really starting to look forward to my visits to Cedar River, TX and Sip and Spin Records.

Having lived in TX before and for several years, this series is like a trip back and a reminder of all the things I love about Texas.

The Jessup sisters are great and I love how different they are and yet how they have each others backs.

When they mayor is found dead by Juni, she is immediately under suspicion along with her sisters. Their stand at the Bluebonnet Festival is the last place he was seen alive, getting the coffee that is now under suspicion.

This book is full of fun characters, a great setting, and events that have you laughing one minute and guessing the next.

I am already looking forward to the next in the series.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Engaging cozy mystery. Nice to be back at the record shop. Interesting characters and family. Coffee and music. Love triangle and a cat add to the fun. Clever mystery that kept me guessing. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

This second book in the Record Shop Mystery series is just as good as the first one. The action takes place in a small town outside Austin, Texas, and the author did a great job of making you feel the local color, from the ever-present cowboy hats to the Bluebonnet Festival.

The focus on family makes this series especially enjoyable. The main character is Juni (short for Juniper), the youngest of three sisters, who all have flower names; Maggie (Magnolia) and Tansy are the other two. Their relationship is wonderful and realistic. The three are running a record shop/coffee bar and are trying to get the store to be profitable. At the annual Bluebonnet Festival, the sisters are staffing the DJ booth and are also serving coffee. But when Juni stops by the town hall, she finds the long-term mayor dead in his office chair, holding a coffee cup from their business: Sip & Spin. The sisters worry that their business will totally dry up if the town thinks their coffee killed the mayor! Who wanted the mayor dead and did it have anything to do with the bank heist from way back in 1956? The money was never recovered and people are still searching for it. There’s even a hole-digging contest as part of the annual Bluebonnet Festival!

Building on the first book, Juni is still trying to figure out her relationship with her old friend, Ted, and with her ex-beau, Beau (ha!), the local detective. I’m still rooting for Ted, personally. There were some nice flashes of humor throughout, including the punny names for their coffee and tea drinks, such as My Heart Will Go Oolong, Don’t Worry, Be Frappé, and I Only Want To Be With Brew.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Juni continued to crack me up as I thought about her compared to other main characters around her age. But Juni wasn’t really annoying because her personality was so over the top fun. She even makes a usually loathsome love triangle not such a big deal. Not saying I changed how I don’t like love triangles and the fact I’m still Team Beau lol. Teddy’s adorable but he seems more like a brother type friend. These sisters are all so different but when push came to shove, they had each other. Even though Juni’s definitely young enough to be my daughter, she’s the one I’d choose of the sisters as the most fun to hang out with.

I had someone in mind for the whodunit but was completely wrong about it. I loved how Juni just blurted out what she was thinking about whodunit, and since there were tons of people around, there wasn’t any danger from the killer. I loved how her mom stood up for her too. Bea’s always hit me as either complaining about Juni not doing something or having a guy yet, so I was happy to see she can be a momma bear when she wants.

Even the bank robbery mystery got some closure after the killer was caught and waiting for trial. I thought it was pretty cool that the bank robbery date mentioned just happened to be the exact day my parents got married, except not in Texas. I noticed the next book’s coming out in March and I know I’ll be reading it too. This book releases next Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Cozy mysteries are a guilty pleasure of mine.  Mainly because they often hit on a hobby or favorite subject of mine.  Cooking.  Bookstores.  Sherlock Holmes.  However, this series takes two things I love the most - music and coffee - and combines them into a fun adventure through small town Texas.  Setting the series in a record shop that also has a coffee bar inside is a brilliant idea as far as I'm concerned.  It seems like one of the town's hubs of activity, which is even better.

Juni Jessop is a lot of fun and very likable.  Often, in cozies, the main sleuth can be annoying or treats the local law enforcement as incompetent.  Juni isn't like that, thankfully.  While she continually breaks her promises to Detective Beau Russell to stay out of it, she just can't help herself.  And, in some cases, she's hit in the face with information without looking for it.  

Her relationship with her sisters, her mother, and even her crazy uncle, is heartwarming.  The way they aren't afraid to disagree is nice.  They know in the end that all will be forgiven and that they'll always have one another in a pinch.  

As is often the case, there is a bit of a love triangle as well.  Juni is torn between her childhood friend, Teddy, and her ex-boyfriend, Beau.  Beau also happens to be the local detective, so he's not going anywhere anytime soon, nor should he.  Juni needs someone keeping an eye on her.  Since I haven't read the first book in the series, something I'm going to remedy soon, I can't say which I like better.  Although, Teddy seems like he'd be more fun, even if Beau comes off as an upstanding sort of guy.

The mystery itself is good.  I'm never very good at guessing who did it, but at times I thought I did know.  However, the author is good at distracting and placing red herrings to knock you off track.  In the end, it was both a surprise and not.  The murderer wasn't a surprise, but their motives weren't what I would have guessed in the beginning.  

Despite not having read the first in the series, I didn't find myself too lost.  The author is good at giving you just enough backstory to keep you from being confused while not bogging down the flow of the story.  I'm eager to go back and read the previous novel while I anxiously await more antics from Juni, Tansy, and Maggie.  A quick and fun read for anyone who enjoys music, coffee, and crazy small towns where everyone knows everyone else's business.

The sister relationship is awesome. I loved the Bluebonnet Festival! It sounded like so much fun. The ‘Karen’ incident made me chuckle. The mystery and the treasure hunt were well done and clever. So there was a lot of good things in this book.
The love triangle is not my favorite, so those parts of the book weren’t my favorite. If you like a love triangle, you will like this. If you don’t, you will enjoy the mysteries.

This is the second in the series. I love that it’s set outside of Austin in the Texas Hill Country and it deals with a record/café store. The coffee names are unique and whimsical.

Juni Jessup discovers the mayor dead in his office just before the Bluebonnet Festival is going to kick off. This is a locked room mystery. I enjoyed the characters, the history of bluebonnets, and the mystery. There were plenty of misdirection and twists to keep this interesting. I enjoyed the legend of the bank robbery and the dig competition.
The three sisters running the vinyl shop is unique. Love that they support each other. I especially like J.T. Juni’s brother-in-law.

I was given a digital unedited copy of this book to read. These are my own opinions. I recommend this book if you like mysteries with local feel and charm.

Vinyl records and a coffee shop aren't your usual suspects when it comes to settings for a cozy mystery but the author pulls off the right atmospheric groove and she might have a hit on her hands.

It is Blue Bonnet Festival time in Cedar River, Texas (near Austin). When Juni stops by the mayor's office to drop off some coffee and finds him dead with a cup of coffee from their store nearby. When poison proves to be manner of death, suspicion falls on Juni's sister Tansy. So family bonds together to track down the killer.

The author's love of Texas and, particularly, the special Blue Bonnet flower comes through strongly in the book. It adds a nice touch of place to the story. This couldn't be anywhere but in Texas. Some quirky but relatable characters, a quaint small town, a dash of romance and murder and you are all set. I hope to visit again soon.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I love this series! The sisters are so much fun and are written so well that their own distinct personalities leap off the page. The setting is quaint and cozy and the record shop adds just the right amount of edge to the coziness. I enjoyed following the clues with Junie and found the mystery to be well-paced. My only concern is the love triangle. Otherwise, I’m ready for the next one!

4.5 rounded up!!

I love this series!! I love the Texas setting. I love the 3 sisters with their individual and unique personalities and styles. I love that they are carrying on a family business in their hometown. I love Teddy and Beau... how will Juni ever choose between the two potential romances?! I loved all the small town politics, the decades old town lore of missing treasure, and the beautiful bluebonnets. The mystery was so good and kept me turning the pages as quickly as I could. Loved it and can't wait to read more into this series to visit Cedar River again!

A Fatal Groove released yesterday so you can grab it now! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my e-arc!

Juni, Tansy and Maggie once again make a wonderful team as amateur detectives in this cozy mystery. As the second in series reading feels like visiting friends in this Texas small town. It is lighthearted and a fun read. The author has created wonderful characters that witty and funny. The story is easy to read and will offer lots of fun.

It’s time for the Cedar River Bluebonnet Festival, and Juni Jessop and her sisters are providing the music, courtesy of their Sip & Spin record shop. There is a stage for local bands to play, but in between, they’ve got the music spinning to keep everyone happy. While Juni had only moved back to Texas recently, she remembered the festival from when she went as a kid with her sisters. Now it’s even bigger, with more rides and food trucks, but still with the 4-H animal tent and the pole-digging competition.

While the pole-digging competition was a throwback to a bank robbery that had happened in the town over sixty years before, it was a much more recent crime that occupied Juni that first morning of the festival. The mayor, Bob Bobbert, had stopped by the Sip & Spin booth for some coffee, and he wasn’t too impressed with the one selection they had chosen to feature there. As Juni had to get something from the shop, she decided to make the mayor one of his favorite drinks and take it to him at his office. But instead of finding a grateful coffee fan, she finds the mayor dead, still holding in his hands the coffee cup with the Sip & Spin logo that he had gotten from their booth, made by Juni’s sister Tansy.

Juni calls the police right away, and her ex-boyfriend Beau show up to start the investigation. He won’t give her many details from what he and the crime scene team find out, but she knows that as soon as it gets out to their small town that the mayor had been killed and had been clutching one of their coffee cups when it happened, that the foot traffic for their coffees would grind to a halt. And she and her sisters counted on those coffee drinkers to stay and buy some records. She had put all of her money into the business, and she just couldn’t sit back and watch it go under because of this.

As Juni and her sisters go around town, trying to learn more about the mayor and who might have wanted him out of the way, they find some interesting suspects. Marcus Best is a used car salesman and their mother’s new boyfriend, but he had recently invested in some real estate in a secret deal with the mayor. Could that have had something to do with the man’s death? Or Leanna, the head of the town’s council and Tansy’s long-time rival, swoops in to become acting mayor mere hours after the man died. Could she have killed him to further her own political career? Or was it someone online who had been bidding against the mayor in his drive to accumulate as much memorabilia as possible for that old bank robbery? Even Juni’s uncle Calvin was interested in buying some of that.

All Juni knows for certain is that she and her sisters had nothing to do with the murder. And she wants to get to the bottom of the mystery before they lose their family business to rumors, lies, and small town gossip.

A Fatal Groove is the second book in Olivia Blacke’s Record Shop mysteries, set in the heat of a Texas summer, but filled with country warmth and the camaraderie of a small town. Juni and her sisters and their beloved record store fill these pages with family love, companionship, and lots of good food and music while they try to find the truth.

I loved A Fatal Groove. The backdrop of the Bluebonnet Festival added brightness to this murder mystery, and the relationship of Juni and her family adds a lot of love and a little snark to the story as well. The coffee names are extremely punny, and who doesn’t love a surprise cow? And while I figured out who the killer was pretty early, I still enjoyed reading this book as it was just a pleasure to read. The words glided across the page, making me feel like I was having a great time at the festival, except maybe for the stomachache from eating too much. A Fatal Groove is a lovey addition to this series, and I genuinely can’t wait to see what Juni and her sisters will be up to next.

Egalleys for A Fatal Groove were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

It’s the weekend of the Bluebonnet Festival in Cedar River, Texas, and Juni Jessup and her sisters are looking forward to fun while also selling coffee and introducing the bands on the main stage. Their first customer of the first day is Mayor Bob. When Juni goes to drop something off at his office a little later, she finds him dead. With their reputations once again on the line, the sisters try to figure out what is happening. Mayor Bob was popular because he didn’t make any waves, so who would want to kill him?

After an initial strong start, the book stalled a bit introducing some sub-plots before it really got started again. I did guess the killer a little early, but I needed Juni to fill in most of the rest. Once again, there are some odd uses of they/them pronouns, and Juni’s first-person narration comes across as judgmental a few times. Overall, I do like her and I love her relationship with her sisters. The love triangle is still in play, although it takes a back seat to the rest of the happenings. There are lots of smiles and some laughs along the way as well. If you enjoy music and are looking for a fun mystery, this is the series for you.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Such a fun follow up to the first book! Juni and her sisters stay sassy while helping to solve the latest mystery, which was filled with red herrings and fun. While I wasn't much interested in either of her love interests, I will say they've done a bit better in making me not actively want a better love interest for her. Good to see a little more about everyone's lives and loved that little tidbit about Tansy's "nemesis"!

Music, mayhem and loads of drama await us in “A Fatal Groove”, the second in the Record Shop series by Olivia Blacke. Juni, and her sisters Tansy and Maggie (who are all named after flowers), are thrust into a police investigation when the mayor was found dead holding a coffee cup from their shop, Sip & Spin Records. Juni, who is a fledgling detective, was determined to get to the bottom of the latest murder to hit her small town of Cedar River. It certainly helps when the lead detective on the case, Beau, is vying to win back Juni’s heart and she uses that in an attempt to get information out of him. Of course, he sees right through her deviousness, but he will do anything in the name of love.

Juni and her sisters compiled a long list of suspects, which included their mother’s new boyfriend, and they methodically investigated all of them. If the murder wasn’t enough to deal with, there was also a renewed interest in an unsolved bank robbery from 1956 where the money was never found. Strangers were infiltrating Cedar River with their metal detectors looking for the money which just added to the chaos and speculation. Was the mayor’s death somehow connected to the missing money and more importantly, who would benefit most from his death? Cedar River, Texas is a small town filled with quirky characters, beautiful and abundant bluebonnets (the state flower) and a peacefulness that we all need in our lives. I love Juni, Tansy and Maggie and I am confident that together, they will make their town safe once again!!

A Fatal Groove by by Olivia Black is the second in the Record Shop series and does not disappoint. Juni and her sisters, owners of Sip & Spin Records, are sponsoring Cedar River’s Bluebonnet Festival, running the DJ booth and providing the coffee. The festival has barely begun when tragedy strikes and Juni’s sister Tansy is a prime suspect.

I loved the mystery within a mystery aspect of this book as well as the background on Texas Bluebonnets. It was a well-paced page-turner with interesting characters and a charming small town location that held my interest throughout. The sisters connect and interact in a way that adds to the story. (I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)
This series is definitely on my “must read” list.

Almost seven months ago I read the first book in this series- Vinyl Resting Place- and was enchanted by the Jessup sisters, their record store, and a new cozy series. Tonight I finished the second book and it was just as wonderful and fun!

It's been a whole month since Juni Jessup found a body and had to solve a murder. Now, on the day of Cedar Rivers' Bluebonnet Festival, Juni finds another body and the Jessup sisters have another murder to solve.

What follows is a great mystery with all the twists, turns, and drink puns you could possibly want. I am still cackling over Sweet Chai of Mine. The characters are well drawn, the mystery has some good reversals, and there's even some educational moments thrown in for good measure. And there are two mysteries being solved and the solutions to the older mystery is just as satisying.

I love this series. I love the way Olivia Blacke is filling the town with interesting characters. I look forward to many more Record Shop Mysteries in the future!

A Cozy Whodunit with a Side of Sisterly Bonding - 4 Stars!

Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke is a delightful cozy mystery that takes readers on a fun and quirky journey through the charming town of Cedar River, Texas. Set during the Bluebonnet Festival, the story revolves around three spirited sisters - Juni, Tansy, and Maggie - who find themselves entangled in a murder mystery that threatens to shake the harmony of their tight-knit community.

One of the strongest aspects of this book is its well-crafted characters. Each sister is distinct and brings a unique personality to the story. Juni, the protagonist, is relatable and endearing, making it easy for readers to connect with her. The author's skillful development of the supporting cast ensures that navigating the diverse characters is effortless.

The plot is a delightful blend of mystery, adventure, and family ties. The murder mystery at the heart of the story unfolds gradually, allowing readers to engage in the process of piecing together clues alongside the Jessup sisters. While the pacing may be a touch slow for some readers, the steady progression ultimately adds to the coziness of the narrative.

Incorporating a treasure hunt adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story, keeping readers on their toes as they follow the thrilling twists and turns. Olivia Blacke masterfully weaves this subplot into the main storyline, enhancing the reading experience.

The dialogue in Fatal Groove is a highlight, filled with humor and snark that adds an enjoyable flair to the interactions between characters. This wit brings fun to the murder investigation, making the book even more entertaining.

Furthermore, the small-town atmosphere of Cedar River is vividly depicted, immersing readers in the quaint charm of the community and making them feel like they are part of the festivities themselves.

Though there is a hint of romance in the background, the focus remains primarily on the mystery and the sisters' determination to clear Tansy's name. This balance between the personal and the investigative elements is well-maintained, creating a well-rounded and engaging narrative.

In conclusion, Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke is a delightful and entertaining cozy mystery that offers a heartwarming mix of small-town charm, family bonds, and suspenseful sleuthing. While the pacing may be a bit slow at times, the well-developed characters and the witty dialogue more than make up for it. This book is a must-read if you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a strong sense of community. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Cedar River. I will eagerly be on the lookout for more works from Olivia Blacke. Four solid stars for this engaging and charming tale!

This is the second installment of Olivia Blacke's Record Shop Mystery series, and I think I enjoyed it more than the first. Juni and her sisters are getting into the groove of owning their own record/coffee shop. Business is great until another unexpected murder is tied to their shop. Poor Mayor Bob! The story follows Juni, Maggie, and Tansi as they set out to solve the mystery and clear their good name!

The little love triangle between Juni, Beau, and Theo makes for a great side story. Plus, the music-themed coffee drinks are a great touch!

I can't wait to read the next story in this series!

In the second book in Olivia Blacke's record shop mystery series, we see Juni discover yet another dead body--this time the body of the town mayor, who is unfortunately clutching a coffee cup from their shop! Desperate to clear her sister's name (Tansy, the one who poured the coffee), Juni starts poking her nose into the death, which seems to be tied to a bank heist from decades prior. Despite seeming to have made a living off of never upsetting anyone, Mayor Bob seems to have made a lot of enemies... and Juni is torn between rekindling things with her ex-boyfriend, cop Beau, or starting something new with hot mailman Teddy. If only we all had these choices!

Blacke's record shop mystery series is quickly becoming one of my favorite cozy series. It came out swinging with book one, and book two was a stellar follow-up! I love to see a millennial heroine but in a classic small-town setting, and it's fun to see Juni's relationship with her sisters. The mystery flowed nicely, and I thought the ending was interesting. It has the much-maligned cozy love triangle, but I suspect Juni may make a choice soon... I'm personally rooting for Teddy! Beau doesn't need a second chance. Overall, this book was extremely solid, hitting all the checkpoints, and I imagine any cozy mystery fan would enjoy it.

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

5 stars - 9/10

The second book in The Record Shop Mysteries series this follows the escapades of Juni and her sisters as they attempt to solve the murder of the town's beloved mayor. This would work well as a stand alone as the author introduces the main characters and gives a little bit of their history. Of course those of us who have read "Vinyl Resting Place" feel that we already know them quite well. This is a wonderful cozy mystery to relax with on a quiet afternoon.
#AFatalGroove#NetGalley#StMartinsPress

This was a fun second installment in the Record Shop Mysteries series. I was happy to return to Cedar Cove to see what trouble Juni, Tansy and Maggie were going to get into this time.

This time, town major Bob Bobbert is found dead while holding a cup of coffee from the Sip & Spin. It's the second body that Juni has discovered in two months (the first having been the focus of Book One). So, she's just barely recovered from her last experience with a dead body when this one shows up. And, unfortunately, there's no lack of suspects, including Juni's sister Maggie and their mother's new boyfriend!

Determined to clear her sister's name, Juni inserts herself into the investigation again, and it's just as enjoyable as the last time, although I think this book works perfectly fine as a standalone too.

Thank you to Olivia Blacke, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

It's the day of the Bluebonnet Festival in Cedar River. Maggie, Tansy, and Juni, as owners of Sip 'n Spin, are tasked with manning the DJ booth and serving coffee. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful day in the park where the bluebonnets flowers are in full bloom. Unfortunately, Juni's attempt at a good deed ends with her finding a dead body. And to make things worse, he's holding a Sip 'n Spin coffee cup. Can Juni find the killer before the family business is ruined?

A Fatal Groove is the second book in the Olivia Blacke's Record Shop Mysteries series. I read book 1, Vinyl Resting Place (read my review), but you don't have to read it first. There are plenty of details about the characters in this book that you won't feel lost.

The murder mystery is steeped in a town bank heist mystery from the 1950s. So you really get 2 mysteries in 1 book. It was fun learning the history of the bank heist, the town, and the bluebonnets.

The characters are enjoyable though they sometimes border on being a bit cliche. I don't know if there is a such a thing as a family cozy, but I like how Juni's sisters help her solve the mysteries. It is kind of like the way Hannah's sisters help her in Joanne Fluke's series. The family dynamics add another layer to the story that is different than when it is just friends. Another similarity to Joanne Fluke's series is the love triangle. I sure hope it isn't dragged out as long as Hannah's love triangle.

One thing that I found kind of disconcerting was when the characters were described. When a character first walked on the page they were always described a white woman or a white man. One, I prefer there to be a more generic description so that I can picture the characters how I want to. Plus, I usually find specific descriptions to mean something important to the story. But that wasn't what I found disconcerting. It was the fact everyone was white. There there was the description of the mayor's home - white on white on white. It kind of made me feel uncomfortable. Is a town outside of Austin, TX really that white?

If you are a fan of coffee, I'm sure you will enjoy the descriptions of coffee drinks. I don't drink coffee but some of them didn't sound too bad and I liked the sound of the tea served at the craft night. I think a recipe for a coffee or tea drink would be a good addition to the story like you get with the culinary cozies.

I think fans of the Hannah Swensen series would like this series too. It is different enough to add variety to your cozy mystery reading, but the vibe will be familiar.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/07/a-fatal-groove-by-olivia-blacke-review.html

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This is the second in the Record Shop Series and it's well crafted, well plotted, has a well developed sense of place, and well drawn characters. The story drew me in immediately. Excellent cozy mystery and no sophomore slump here.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. A Fatal Groove is the second book in the Record Shop Mystery series, a great follow-up to A Vinyl Resting Place. This time, aside from running the record and coffee shop, Juni and her sisters take part in their town's festival, serving coffee and DJing. Juni once again stumbles upon a dead body, only this time, she finds the mayor dead, holding a coffee cup from her shop. Of course, this means that Juni and her sisters are going to investigate in order to clear their name and find the real culprit.

The characters are fun, and the mystery is well written. I really like that the setting combines two things that I enjoy, namely coffee and music. I look forward to the next book in the series.

When the mayor is found dead after drinking a coffee from Sip & Spin Records Juni is determined to get her sister Tansy off both the suspect list and town gossip line. With help from friendly Teddy and clashing with detective Beau Juni uncovers a link to a bank robbery and stolen treasure from the past clues start to make sense. Can Juni help Tansy from being arrested and find the actual killer?

This is a wonderful second installment of this new cozy mystery series that is becoming an automatic read for me. Music and coffee lovers rejoice, this Texas small town mystery is for you!

I am loving this musical cozy mystery series. I love the mysteries. There are so many things to follow and guess. I am still not sure which guy I want out MC with. Normally I have a favorite but both of these guys are pretty great. I just love Junie and her sisters. Their relationship is wonderful. I cannot wait to read the next in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free copy of, A Fatal Groove, by Olivia Blacke, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book 2 of 2 in The Record Shop Mystery's. The annual Bluebonnet festival is going on but Juni and her sisters Tansy and Maggie are not celebrating, the mayor has been poisoned by their coffee. I enjoyed reading to see who really killed the mayor. A really good read.

Quite enjoyed this cozy mystery! Second in the series, the interactions between Junebug and her beaus was more entertaining.

Thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Another super fun installment in this series from Olivia Blacke! The humor, colorful side characters, and depiction of small town life all shine.

I absolutely loved this book about a Record Store and coffee shop run by three sisters. There is a Blue Bonnet Festival in Cedar River Texas and Juni Jessup and her sisters Maggie and Tansy are running the Dj booth and serving coffee to the festival goers the Mayor stops by for a cup of coffee and is in a rush to go to the Courthouse after he receives a phone call. Juni stops by the record store and decides to brew the Mayor a cup of coffee and bring it to him since he was unhappy with the drip brew they brought to the festival. She is surprised when the Courthouse is open since the entire town is at the festival she finds the mayor dead holding onto the cup of coffee her sister brewed at the festival. There is also a cold case of a bank robbery that took place in the town at a Blue Bonnet Festival in the 50's and the Mayor was involved in buying things connected to the robbery like a map and a paperweight with a blue bonnet in it that was a clue from the robbery. This was so fun I enjoyed some laughs at things that happened and following along with Juni and her sisters.

Another great installment in this series! The characters are developing so nicely and the mysteries are interesting! I only wish there were more books in the series to read now!

Thank you to St. Martin's and NetGalley for an ARC of A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke, the second in the Record Shop cozy mystery series. I haven't read the first book, but the author provided enough background details that I had no trouble enjoying this one as a standalone.
The story is told in first person from the point of view of Juni, the youngest of three sisters who own a vintage record store/coffee shop called the Sip & Spin. It takes place in Cedar River, Texas, a fictional suburb of Austin, during the annual Bluebonnet Festival. But the celebration is marred by the murder of Mayor Bob Bobbert. Juni finds his body, and her oldest sister, Tansy, served him his last cup of coffee, which contains the poison that killed him. The three sisters launch an investigation to clear Tansy's name and save the reputation of their business.
Juni is in a love triangle with police detective Beau Russell and mail carrier Teddy Garza, a childhood friend. Another subplot is an unsolved mystery involving buried treasure; during the 1956 Bluebonnet Festival, four robbers held up a bank and buried the loot, but then were killed in a shootout with police. Every year, as part of the festival, hopeful contestants dig for the treasure. Juni discovers that Mayor Bob was obsessed with the robbery and collects memorabilia from that event. Also, he had a map of the area that might lead to the treasure. After his death, the map went missing—a possible motive for murder.
I grew up in Texas, and my brother went to the University of Texas at Austin, so I spent some time in the region and thus enjoyed the author's portrayal of the setting.
The characters are likable, and the mystery is well done. Recommended for cozy mystery fans.

Maggie, Tansy and Juni are back again in another fun episode of the Record Shop Mysteries.
This story brings us to the Bluebonnet Festival where they have a coffee and DJ booth set up. They operate the Sip and Spin store, and they are in need of getting more customers in the store. Being at the festival is just what they think will help. But that is not going to be how things work out for them. Instead, one of their cups is found in the hand of the dead body of the mayor!
So, solving the mystery is in their future. This book was so much fun to read.
Thank you NetGalley, Olivia Blacke and St. Martin's Press for the copy of
A Fatal Groove. This is my personal review.

This is a super fun series! I really enjoyed the first and was exciting to see the second one available. Juni is a thoroughly enjoyable protagonist and I particularly like the setting, super close to a large city while remaining a small town. The mystery this time was pretty complicated, with several different threads coming together and diverging. All in all, a solid second entry in a delightful series.

I really enjoyed this next chapter at Sip and Spin Records!

I had never heard of Bluebonnets before and they are very beautiful. The murder of the do-nothing Mayor Bob - not so beautiful.

Tansy is in the murder seat in this story as she is the one who served the coffee to Mayor Bob, but there is no shortage of other suspects and Juni is out to prove her sister's innocence.

I must say I am still on Team Teddy, but the hunky cop started to grow on me in this book.

I really like the family dynamic in this story, it's not just the protagonist solving the crimes with a friend occasionally helping or anything like that - this family works together and solves crimes together! Can't wait to see what the girls get into next!

This is a perfect cozy mystery. I love the family elements and the strong sister bonds- especially in the face of one of them coming under suspicion for an unexpected tragedy. And like other books in the genre, the characters shine are are a service to the plot, which tends to be more formulatic or expected, but no less enjoyable.

This is the second book in the Sip & Spin series and I loved it!! I really enjoyed the first, and then this one was even better. It's Blue Bonnet Festival in Cedar Rapids, TX. Juniper "Juni" and her sisters Tansy and "Maggie" Magnolia run a record shop in town. They are running a music and coffee booth at the festival. The local mayor, Mayor Bob, who is more of a figurehead in town, than a leader. He stops by the festival and Juni serves him a cup of coffee. Later that day, she finds him dead in the town hall, with the Sip & Spin coffee cup right in front of him. Juni knows they are not responsible for Mayor Bob's death, but doesn't like how Sherrif Beau Russell, her former flame is sniffing around and questioning her sisters. I love the combination of the new mystery with an old mystery from 50 years before.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. This is the second book in the series.

Juni Jessup and her sisters are the owners of Sip & Spin, a record store/coffee shop in Cedar River, Texas. They are thrilled to be spinning vinyl and creating music themed coffee drinks at the annual Bluebonnet Festival until the mayor dies of suspected poison from their coffee! Juni's sister, Tansy, is the main suspect.

Juni is determined to prove her sister's innocence and investigates the beloved mayor's death with assistance from family and friends.

I love this series. The music references are great. I enjoy the family connections in this one, and I love Juni rediscovering her home.

The second book is just as good the first!

Its springtime in Cedar River, Texas, and time for the annual Bluebonnet Festival. Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie are the proprietors of the Sip-N-Spin, a record store and coffee bar. They have set up a DJ booth at the annual festival and will offer a coffee selection as well. They Mayor stops by for a cup of coffee on his way to City Hall. Juni later discovers the mayor dead in his office with his coffee nearby that her sister, Tansy, served him earlier. Now that her sister appears to be the prime suspect, and with the livelihood of Sip-N-Spin on the line; Juni and her sisters decide they need to solve this case, and quick!

While this is the second book of the series, you could easily read it as a standalone. The story pulls you in and the characters quickly become favorite friends. I like the close-knit family dynamic with the sisters, Uncle Calvin, JT and their mom. I enjoyed the budding love triangle as well. It is fun but does not take over and overshadow the mystery.

I LOVE this series and can't wait for the next installment so I can return to Cedar River and my friends there!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the chance to read this book and give my honest opinion.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Three sisters run a vinyl record cum coffee shop that is doing fine. That is until the long time mayor of their little town is found dead with one of their coffee mugs in his hand and poison in his system. The rumour mill around town is soon abuzz and Juniper’s sister, Tansy, is convicted by the gossips. If they and third sister Marigold don’t figure out who killed the popular politico, their business and their lives will be in jeopardy.

Juni takes the lead since each of the other sisters have their favourite suspects and only Juni is looking at things with an open mind. Her mind is perhaps a bit too open. She has two fellows who both want to be her special guy and she cannot make up her mind. Since both of them are appealing characters, I cannot say that I blame her.

Lots of southern country characters in the book including their uncle who has an encyclopedic brain and a mouth without an off switch. It is an entertaining read and perfect for a late summer break. Four purrs and two paws up.

The second book in the Record Shop Mystery series.  Juni and her sisters are excited to be a part of the local Bluebonnet Festival.  But when Juni discovers the town's mayor dead in his office, things take an unexpected turn for the worse.   The first book in the series, Vinyl Resting Place, captured my attention with interesting characters and a well-paced story.  This second title did not disappoint.  The mystery is solid, and the characters are becoming some of my favorites in the cozy mystery genre.  There is no sophomore slump here, and I'm looking forward to the next story in this fun series.

"A Fatal Groove" by Olivia Blacke dances its way into my heart. This series entry is a delightful medley, boasting mystery, humor, a charming love triangle, and a refreshingly relaxed intensity. The characters shimmy off the page, particularly the vivacious sisters who are utterly impossible not to adore. With each installment, I find myself not only engrossed but entangled – a literary tango that's hard to resist.

this cozy series is so fun. olivia blacke has proved that she can make a consistent series with charismatic characters, wholesome setting and i love the sit and spin. you don't need to have read the first book to pick up this one. this time around, the mayor has found himself dead and juni has to solve the mystery -- like you do. it's a great summer/fall read. can't wait for the next book! thank you to St. Martin's Press for the release copy! it was amazing -- definitely do yourselves a favor if you like music, cozy mysteries and a fun read!

Another very interesting mystery with small-town busybody and record store owner, Juni Jessup.

Juni thought she was done with solving murders, but it's not just her trying to solve it this time. Even her sisters step in after she finds the murdered town mayor and circumstantial evidence points to one of them and the coffee they sell in the record store.
It has a very different feel from the mystery Juni solved in the previous book. There are still all the small-town rivalries and secrets to navigate as the sisters try to figure out the culprit before their store is forced to close, but the switch from a young girl to the mayor being the victim changes the entire feel of the book. It's still interesting to follow Juni around and see her deal with the small-town hell that is gossip, especially when it's a different type of gossip thanks to the political and historical angle.
There are also the mandatory bits of romance with a love triangle that, even two books in, I'm not entirely sure I support. I just know the nice guy is going to be the one getting the short end of the stick.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for the great mystery!

When the mayor is killed, the Jessup sisters are caught in the thick of things. One finds the body and the coffee that killed him is linked to their record/coffee shop. I enjoyed this second book in the series just as much as the first. The setting is very cozy and I just love the sisters. I can’t wait to read the third book..

The second book does not disappoint in this series. When the mayor is murdered and is holding a cup from Sip &Spin Tansy is the prime suspect. Juni and company work their magic to find the real killer. A fun read with a great vibe. Great characters and a good plot keep you reading past midnight! Looking forward to the next adventure.

The idea of a coffee shop and record shop combo made this an interesting storyline. I liked the small town setting and the interactions of the sisters with the cool names! The characters are a bit quirky and the combination of two different mysteries adds interest to the story. Skip the love triangle though.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

In the second book in the series, Juni and her sisters, Maggie and Tansy, once again find themselves caught up in a murder investigation. Taking place not too long after the first book, maybe a month or two, Juni just wants to see their record shop be successful. However, finding another dead body puts her smack in the middle of a crime scene.

Fatal Groove is less about the music than the first story and more about the relationships between the three sisters and other members of their town. With Juni’s wit and instincts, it doesn’t take her too long to figure out who the real murderer is! There are some light side stories too, which round out the book well, including Juni's two suitors. I am looking forward to the third installment in the series.

I receive a copy of this book from NetGalley and have written an objective review.

Olivia Blacke mixes vinyl records and decadent coffee in the second of the Sip and Spin mysteries. When one of the three sisters that run the shop is accused of murder, the girls have to prove their sister didn't do it. Maggie, Tansy, and June make this a good read and the sisterly bond is well done. I hope there are many more in the series.

My favorite of the Record Store Mysteries so far! I'm rooting for Juni to pick between Beau and Teddy (I'm team Teddy) and this one made me want to hop into the book and their town with them. I can't wait for the next one!

Bluebonnets, vinyl records, and coffee. Sounds perfect to me.
This was a fun read, and it’s got to be the most welcoming record store in the book universe. No one here is judging anyone’s music taste, just enjoying the music and the coffee. I really appreciate that, wish I could visit this record store in real life!
The main character is Juniper, one of the 3 sisters that own the Sip&Spin record store/coffee shop. Juniper tries to solve the murder of the town’s mayor, which was a bummer cuz he never even got to drink his iced amaretto coffee with whip. The mystery itself was clever and brought in a cold case that made it very interesting. I read maybe half of Vinyl Resting Place, but I liked this one a lot more.
Daffy🐈 has my heart he has the cutest antics. For me, having a pet in a cozy mystery is either one of my favorite parts of the book or it just feels very forced and flat. I really enjoyed the diverse cast of characters, which is weirdly not always found in cozy mysteries. Juniper is a likeable protagonist, and the town’s residents are very sweet. I love all the drinks named after classic songs.
Anyway I liked this book, and I think I’m going to go back and finish the first one.

I have enjoyed both of the books in the Record Shop series I have read by Olivia Blacke. Great cozy mystery with wonderful characters. The author does a great job of getting you invested in the lives of the Jessup sisters — Maggie, Tansy, and June. They have great and differing personalities which makes life interesting as they work together in their record shop/coffee shop. While there is the typical mystery, there is also the added intrigue of a treasure hunt. I would just encourage you to grab a copy and get lost in the pages as you explore all the clues. It will be time well spent.

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

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I really enjoy this series. The relationship between Juni and her sisters is cute and funny. The rest of the cast of characters make the story that much better. And all the music talk makes me so happy! I can't wait for the third book!

Juni Jessop is a lot of fun and very likable. Often, in cozies, the main sleuth can be annoying or treats the local law enforcement as incompetent. Juni isn't like that, thankfully. While she continually breaks her promises to Detective Beau Russell to stay out of it, she just can't help herself. And, in some cases, she's hit in the face with information without looking for it.

Her relationship with her sisters, her mother, and even her crazy uncle, is heartwarming. The way they aren't afraid to disagree is nice. They know in the end that all will be forgiven and that they'll always have one another in a pinch.

As is often the case, there is a bit of a love triangle as well. Juni is torn between her childhood friend, Teddy, and her ex-boyfriend, Beau. Beau also happens to be the local detective, so he's not going anywhere anytime soon, nor should he. Juni needs someone keeping an eye on her. Since I haven't read the first book in the series, something I'm going to remedy soon, I can't say which I like better. Although, Teddy seems like he'd be more fun, even if Beau comes off as an upstanding sort of guy.

The mystery itself is good. I'm never very good at guessing who did it, but at times I thought I did know. However, the author is good at distracting and placing red herrings to knock you off track. In the end, it was both a surprise and not. The murderer wasn't a surprise, but their motives weren't what I would have guessed in the beginning.

I’m stanning this cozy mystery series big time! Book 2 did a great job of fleshing out the characters even more and the mystery kept me intrigued the whole time. Juniper, Maggie and Tansy are a great trio, Juni herself being a great lead character. Add in her flirtations with Beau and Teddy and I see so much potential for this series. It’s also making me crave delicious coffee and good music, and I’m debating moving to the Austin area so I can run into Jessup sisters.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins for the arc.

It was wonderful to spend more time in Cedar River, Texas, with Juni and her sisters. Under unfortunate circumstances, sure, but Olivia Blacke has written some quirky characters finding themselves in ill-fated scenarios and I enjoy the adventures.
When Juni has the bad luck to stumble upon the poisoned mayor, she finds herself tangled up in finding out who did it in order to clear her sister and their record shop’s name.
Juni is very likeable and I find her inner dialogue funny. The setting and other characters make this a great cozy mystery.
Can’t wait for the next book!
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Fatal Groove is the second 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 (the dynamic between Juni and her sisters, Maggie and Tansy, is great), 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 the motive for the murder was surprising even if the murderer was not.

Overall, a solid addition to the series!

Thank you St. Martin's Paperbacks and Netgalley for providing an ARC of the book.

I loved this fun cozy centered around a record store that full of sister relationships, family and trying to get into the groove of getting their small business up and oh and of course while trying to figure out while finding a dead body.

I loved the relationship the main character had with her mom and sisters. The musical references intersected in this was *chef’s kiss* it wasn’t forced, but natural. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

I chose to interview author Olivia Blacke on Fresh Fiction's Cozy Corner on 7/24/23 because of the original premise behind the series and it's a great mystery.;)

This second book in the series was an enjoyable read. I liked all the characters and the long list of suspects to choose from. It kept me guessing about who killed Mayor Bob until the end. I also liked that there were several layers to the story because it kept it interesting. It gets a little preachy about being environmentally conscience and is a little awkward with describing the characters' physical features, but the plot was well written. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out in March of next year!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What a delicious cozy mystery featuring three sisters who run a family coffee and vintage record shop in a small Texas town full of mischief, gossip, and a deep sense of community. During the Annual Bluebonnet Festival, Mayor Bob is found dead holding one of the coffee cups from the Sip and Spin Shop and he as been poisoned. Once again three sisters, Tansy, Maggie, and Juni, set out to find out who is the murderer whole also trying to appease the local detective, ex-boyfriend Beau. In addition, there is an underlying mystery of a bank robbery that is more than 50 years old. Could there be a connection? Lots of suspects, twists and turns, it was a delightful and harmless mystery that was fun to read. Loved learning about bluebonnets and how they were at the heart of the solution too. I'm going to have to look for more stories by Olivia Black because I like her style, such as the story that features the first murder victim that Juni discovered in the closet at the shop. Delightful characters abound such as their uncle and mother. I love when everyday folks step in to help solve a crime because they all have ownership in their community. This is a great little mystery to cozy up with and sip a lovely cup of coffee (or tea). Many thanks to #netgalley #afatalgroove #oliviablacke #stmartinspress for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This author is an auto buy author for me.

A Fatal Groove is a fun mystery with small town life and an entertaining cast of characters.

Our main character finds another dead body and while it seems like it happened of natural causes, there appears to be more. . I’m not one to try and guess the who and why and like reading to see how the author brings the story together.

The main character seems to be deciding between two men, but one is more prominent than the other and it doesn’t seem like the other is in the picture. Maybe it’s clear there is a favorite?

If you have lived in a Texas for any amount of time you know just how important the Bluebonnets are.

This is the second in this series, but reads as a standalone.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.