Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Black is a fun and captivating cozy mystery that hits all the right notes! Set in a charming record store in a small Texas town, this book follows Juniper Jessup as she returns home to help run the family business, only to find herself entangled in a murder mystery. With quirky characters, a tight-knit community, and a love for vintage vinyl, the story has a unique and nostalgic vibe. The plot is packed with twists and turns, keeping you guessing until the very end. Perfect for cozy mystery lovers who enjoy a mix of music, humor, and small-town charm!

Olivia Blacke knows how to write a compelling mystery. I loved this start to the series and look forward to learning more about the town and its murderous inhabitants!

Vinyl Resting Place is a cozy mystery set in a small town right outside Austin, Texas. Juniper Jessup just moved back home to open a vinyl record shop with her sisters. The business is practically in their blood. They're leasing the storefront that once housed their grandparents' record store, and the resurgence of the medium is a chance for them to recapture the family magic. It's also a coffee shop, and you better believe hearing about all their specialty drinks made me desperate for a cup on principle.

The grand opening of the shop goes sideways when Juni finds a dead woman in the supply closet during cleanup. She has a business card for Juni's uncle in her hand. Wanted for questioning, the police pull him in on over a thousand dollars of unpaid traffic tickets. While the Jessup sisters are less than surprised to hear he was playing fast and loose with the law where the fines are concerned, they know he couldn't have anything to do with murder. The only way to get him out on bail is to put the store up as collateral. When he goes on the run, the sisters are desperate to clear his name and save their fledgling store.

This is a cozy with smooth writing that doesn't get beleaguered by cute genre staples that slow the flow of the investigation. Yes, there are punny names and yummy foods and small-town charm, but they meld well into Juni's efforts to track down a murderer. The mystery is also supported by a fun combination of clues. Even red herrings and false leads are interesting in their own right, so it doesn't feel like a waste of time to wade through the various side roads Juni has to take on her way to a solution.

The only major downside for me was Juni's love triangle, a dynamic I generally dislike. In this case, it was made yet worse by the fact that one leg of the triangle is her annoyingly confident cop ex-boyfriend who I can't rule out. He leans into gender norms and their past relationship to lead Juni even when she doesn't need or want it, and I desperately hope he's not endgame.

The mystery isn't impossibly difficult to sort out as the reader, but it's a fun ride with a satisfying resolution. There's also a not-exactly rousing but still worthwhile condemnation of workplace harassment included in the mix. I recommend this to fans of the genre who like the mystery part to have a bit more emphasis and thought behind it. Thanks to St Martin's Press for my copy to read and review!

Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke is the first book in the new cozy Record Shop Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries this first book in the series does contain it’s own mystery that is fully solved so it can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so.

Juni, Tansy, and Maggie are sisters who all decided to take a risk together to change their lives by combining assets and opening Sip & Spin Records in their hometown of Cedar River, Texas. With vinyl records back in demand the girls thought now would be a great time to show their love for music but with a side of coffee shop in the store to hopefully maintain business.

Things do not get off to a good start for Juni, Tansy, and Maggie when after the opening night of Sip & Spin Records they find a dead body in the closet of their new store. When the ladies find out that their uncle Calvin is the prime suspect in the murder they of course decide to get down to business and find the real killer themselves.

Being a music and a cozy mystery fan I couldn’t resist checking out this opening book Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke. I found it interesting to really have all three sisters involved in the story quite a bit but it does seem that Juni stepped into the “main” character roll to still consider this a typical cozy. With just getting to know these characters and this new series I rated this first book at three and a half stars but found it a solid opener that will bring me back soon.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was super cute. I love the dynamic of the sisters and I’m not going to lie. I’m totally Team Teddy. And to be fair and tell the murderer was revealed, I had no idea who it was. That’s pretty good. Give me any hints. I’m really looking forward to the other books in the series. The pens were a little much, but they went along with the story and a cozy.

* I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

**3.5 stars**

This was a very fun debut for a new cozy series filled with a quaint small town setting, likable and nice people, a unique idea of a family owned record and coffee shop and even includes a cute shop kitty. I kind of guessed the killer but not 100% which I like when I’m not totally sure by the end if I’m right. Our main character, Juni, does do one stupid thing near the end which is why I knocked off half a star but otherwise if you enjoy cozy mysteries give this one a try. I already have the second book in the series lined up and ready to read.

Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first in the new Record Shop Mysteries. Juni (Juniper) Jessup has moved back to Cedar River Texas just outside of Austin. Juni along with her sisters Maggie (Magnolia) and Tansy have opened up Sip and Spin a vinyl record shop in honor of their family history with a coffee shop included. All sisters have invested everything they have and the location is the original location of their grandparents/parents shop that went out of business when vinyl was replaced. The sisters host a huge grand opening which was a huge success until Juni finds a dead body in the supply closet. The body has her Uncle Calvin’s business card and the detective who shows up is Juni’s ex (Beau) who broke her heart. Now Juni and her sisters put the business up for bail for her Uncle and then he disappears. Juni now must find her Uncle as well as the murderer. She is constantly butting heads with Beau and finding secrets in their town and family and friends. This was a good start to a new series. Juni has a little love triangle going on as Beau wants to get back together with Juni and a friend Teddy who has always had a crush on Juni is now in the picture as well. I will just say I am not a fan of love triangles in books so I hope this gets resolved soon. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

I absolutely adored @oliviablackeauthor first series, the Brooklyn Murder series. So I’m super excited she’s back with the Record Shop Mysteries! I really the first book in the series, Vinyl Resting Place. I just love the punny names!

After moving home to open a combined record store and coffee shop, Juni Jessop is happy to be back in her hometown. After her startup firm closed overnight, she decides to head home to start a family business with her two sisters. Things were just starting to pick up when Juni finds a dead body in their supply closet one night.

Family comes first to the Jessops, and when Juni’s Uncle Calvin is accused of murder, the sisters use their record shop as collateral for his bail. But once he was released, he skipped town! Now the sisters have to find out what happened so they can keep their small business dream alive.

This was such a fun start to the series! I felt for Juni having to start life over again when she moved home. But it’s worth it to be close with her sisters. I loved all the punny coffee names and I would love to check out Sip and Spin! I’m looking forward to reading more.

Thank you @stmartinspress and the author for my gifted ebook. Books 1 and 2 in the series are out now and book 3, Rhythm and Clues is out in March!

When Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie open Sip & Spin Records, a record/coffee shop in Cedar River, Texas, they weren't prepared to find a dead body in a closet. After their uncle is arrested on suspicion of murder, the sisters put Sip & Spin up for bail collateral. When Uncle Calvin disappears, it’s up to Juni and her sisters to figure out whodunit before the killer’s trail goes cold.

This was a great beginning to a new cozy mystery series. I loved the main characters and how they related to one another. The plot was very intriguing and kept me interested in the story until the end. The only drawback was the repetitive comments about the sisters and their different personalities. I felt that without those comments the story would've been more concise, and less wordy. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the honor of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

First time reading this author. Looks like it will be an interesting series. The mystery kept me guessing and I like the characters.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

In a new series by Olivia Blacke, Vinyl Resting Place is a cozy mystery about three sisters that open a record/coffee shop in the same location as their grandparents original record store. Juni Jessup moves back home to little Cedar River, TX after the tech company she worked for closed up shop. Tired of the corporate life, she agrees to become a part owner of the shop with the rest of her family.

At the grand opening, after everyone has left, a body is discovered in the supply closet when Juni goes to get a broom to help with clean up. More shocking - their uncle is arrested for suspicion of murder! The sisters put up the building as collateral thinking that the uncle would not skip as he is partial owner. However, within a few minutes of leaving the courthouse, his ankle monitor is found on a sidewalk and the uncle is missing. The sisters are trying to solve the murder since the police seem fixated on the uncle. However, it may not end well for one of the sisters if they are not careful.

This book was so cool. As a music and coffee lover - the puns were fantastic. Heading to the library to get book #2.

I have just about given up on Cozy mysteries until I read this book. The characters feel like real people who have real relationships with each other. They all have history and personalities. The mystery is take seriously and the main character has a real reason to investigate on her own. She also knows when to ask for help. I will definitely be reading more in this series.

Who is a sucker for cozy mysteries? ME!

I just love sitting down with those super entertaining books that promise to make you feel like a newbie detective. Cozy mysteries are just that. If you have not read one and are wondering where to start, this is a great book for that. You can always read Christie later.

Rating : 4 out of 5
Blurbs :
When Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie put all their beans in one basket to open Sip & Spin Records, a record-slash-coffee shop in Cedar River, Texas, they knew there could be some scratches on the track, but no one was expecting to find a body deader than disco in the supply closet.

Family is everything to the Jessups, so when their uncle is arrested by Juni’s heartbreaking ex on suspicion of murder, the sisters don’t skip a beat putting Sip & Spin up for bail collateral. But their tune changes abruptly when Uncle Calvin disappears, leaving them in a grind. With their uncle’s freedom and the future of their small business on the line, it’s up to Juni and her sisters to get in the groove and figure out whodunit before the killer’s trail—and the coffee—goes cold.

Music and mocha seem like a blend that should be “Knockin' On Heaven's Door,” but caught up in a murder investigation with her family and their life savings on the line, Juni wonders if she might be on the "Highway to Hell" instead.
Thoughts :
This is a cozy mystery book that make me can't put it down. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!

This was a fun cozy mystery. I loved the diversity and atmosphere. I also love that this cozy takes place at a record store. It makes it feel young, fresh and new. The characters were fun and the family dynamic was perfect. This cozy kept me guessing all the way till the end. I can’t wait to continue with this series.

A super cute cozy mystery in a fun setting! I enjoyed the story and family dynamics but felt like some parts lagged a bit. In these parts it was more telling than showing and character background and personality could have been developed over the story. Overall very good!

4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book!

Cozy mystery author, Olivia Blacke offers the first of a new series set in Cedar River, a fictitious suburb of Austin Texas. The Jessup sisters, Juni, Tansy, and Maggie have gone all out rebuild the family's record shop. Now that vinyl is having another moment, the sisters feel combining a coffee boutique with the records is a winning combination. Hence the opening of Sip and Spin Records.
A cozy mystery feature that I enjoy is the focus on family connections. Here Uncle Calvin is accused of murder. The sisters put up bail, while Juni, our lead character, is distraught. The arresting officer is her ex. And his is still arresting in looks as well as demeanor. Then Uncle Calvin goes missing.
Will the coffee at Sip and Spin go unsold? The records returning to dusty boxes? Book One of this series is as welcome as a hot mocha on a cold day.

What a fun start to a cozy mystery series!
I loved both the "cozy" side, the setup, the record shop, our main character's loving and supportive family, as well as the mystery side.

The clues kept me guessing until the end when everything wrapped up.

Also, as a woman who was once much younger and had a thing for bad boys, I can understand the draw Beau has.
As a grown woman, that man is ALL red flags!!!
For the love of God, go with Teddy!

I adore this series! As a music lover, it's nice to read about so many different artists and music genres. I also love the idea of a vinyl store with a coffee cafe inside! I love Juniper, Marigold, and Tansy and all their family and friends. The story was cute and funny, but also had a decent mystery death. I really like this series!

What a fabulous ride! I loved this first in series by Olivia Blacke. Such a fun and unique setting. I love that the author combined a much loved theme (coffee shop) and combined it with a unique theme (record shop). I am already looking forward to reading the next book in this series.