Book Title: Vinyl Resting Place
Author: Olivia Blacke
Series: The Record Shop Mysteries
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pub Date: December 27, 2022
My Rating: 3.3 Stars!

My favorite genres are psychological thrillers and cozy mysteries ~ which are totally opposite!🤪
Since I just read two psychological thrillers aka “crazy people family dramas” and was ready for a fun cozy!!
Twenty-eight-year-old Juniper “Juni” Jessup was ‘let go’ from her tech job; however, the rental outside of Austin, Texas which once housed her grandparents' record store is on the market.
So Juni and her sisters open Sip & Spin, a vinyl record shop and café.
(Sounds like the soda shop my friends and frequent when we were teens.0
Since this is a cozy mystery, sure enough on opening night, Juni finds a body in the supply closet.

Uncle Calvin, a silent partner, is implicated in the murder as the victim is found with his business card. Uncle Calvin is arrested for unpaid tickets, and the sisters put Sip & Spin up as collateral to cover bail. Yikes Uncle Calvin and the sisters must find the real killer to save both the shop as well as Uncle Calvin. To make matters more complicated -Detective Beauregard Russell, the lead detective on this case and is the guy who broke Juni’s heart.
Nothing super exciting about this cozy but sometimes I a nice ‘cozy’ not only is enjoyable but just feels good!

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for granted me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 27. 2022

When Juni is laid off from her tech job in Oregon, she moves home to Texas, and she and her two sisters open a vinyl record/coffee shop in their small town outside of Austin. When someone is found dead at the grand opening and Uncle Calvin is arrested, the sisters leverage the shop to bail him out; when he disappears they are shocked, and vow to investigate. Juni has two men she knew in school interested in her--her ex BF Beau, a cop who wants her to stay out of the investigation, and former BFF, Teddy, the town mail carrier. It will be interesting to follow this new series to learn more about the characters and their interest in music, since this book was more plot-driven. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

3.5 stars

Likeable debut cozy featuring three Texas sisters and their family record - yes, as in vinyl - store. Juni Jessup returns to her home town near Austin after her corporate career in Oregon goes under. Juni, Maggie & Tansy have pooled their resources to open a vintage music and coffee business.

Things are going well at their Grand Opening, big crowds and lots of supporters. But when the party's over, they discover a dead body in the storeroom.

Evidence points to the girls' Uncle Calvin, and when he skips town after making bail, the police assume he is guilty. Tansy and crew need to insert themselves into the investigation to prove his innocence particularly since they used their new business as collateral for bailing him out of jail.

There are complications, of course. The investigating detective is Juni's old boyfriend. And another old high school buddy seems to want to move on from "just friends." Meanwhile Uncle Calvin can't be found and admittedly he is a bit of a rogue.

Fun setting and characters. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great cozy mystery. The Jessup sisters open a vinyl store together and get ready to rock and roll. There are wonderful characters who entertain the reader. This is an interesting and exciting plot as they try to solve the mystery of who murdered the girl in their store. The range of characters provides fun and witty conversations. The revelation of the murderer will come as a surprise which is a testament to how well the story is written.

I liked the fact that Juni and her sisters worked in a record shop/coffee shop because it’s not something I’ve seen represented in a mystery. Also, the tie-in with their grandparents’ record shop was a nice, sentimental touch. Including that element made for a seamless connection between the shop itself and the town.

When it comes to cozy mysteries, character development and/or familial dynamics play an important role. Blacke does a good job of finding the balance between the number of characters and the way with which they interact with one another. This is especially true when it comes to Juni and her two sisters. It was clear that each sister had personalities that carried over from childhood into adulthood, but it didn’t come off as too overbearing or annoying. It reminded me of the relationship I have with my siblings—there’s always going to be a sibling you connect with depending on the situation, and Blacke captured that beautifully. When it comes to the other (non-family) characters, this dynamic is (for the most part) captured.

Overall, a great start to a new mystery!

I enjoyed this well-plotted debut cozy mystery. The story has a younger vibe going which is great for a record/vinyl shop and coffee bar combo business. The setting takes place in a town just outside of Austin, TX. Three sisters—Juni, Tansy, and Maggie—own and operate Sip & Spin Records with their mother and Uncle Calvin as silent partners. When a body is found in the supply closet on grand opening night, Uncle Calvin is accused of the murder and puts the future of the record shop on rocky ground. The author throws in lots of red herrings and surprising twists and turns to keep readers’ on their toes until the murderer is revealed in this great mystery.

The main characters are a lively group of multi-cultural people. The three sisters all have different personalities, and I enjoyed meeting them in this debut, and look forward to future books. Some of the secondary characters played unusual roles, and all the connections to the victim were intriguing parts of the plot. There is a possible romantic interest set up for Juni, the youngest sister, with two men who treat her very differently. I enjoyed the humor! I also liked the music coffee names such as, Java Be Good, Friends in Mocha Places, and many more. 4-1/2 Stars. This was a fun, interesting story to read. I highly recommend.

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

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: An enjoyable and well-crafted book. Blacke employs subtle humor and a great sense of place in this first of a series of cozy mysteries set near Austin. The protagonist--youngest of three sisters-- has returned to her home town from a failed tech company and opened a vinyl record shop with her sisters and investigates a murder. The story moved quickly, was engaging and interesting. A solid start to what will be a series. Very enjoyable read.

A nice start to a new cozy series, particularly for those who like puns. The Jessup sisters have taken a collective leap of faith by opening Sip and Spin, a coffee shop/record store in their small Texas hometown. Memories- an old relationships- lurk around every corner, as does, it turns out, a villain! Juni doesn't believe uncle Calvin killed Monica and put her body in the supply closet but he's disappeared and well, Juni, along with her sisters Tansy and Maggie must find him and the bad guy. Juni's old beau Beau is now a detective and he's not so thrilled with her poking around. And then there's her childhood BFF. This is very much classic cozy, with a boisterous family and a new business. I liked the way Blacke incorporated music even as I tired of the puns. The humor is broad in spots but it works. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next installment.

Juniper Jessup, Juni, leaves Corporate America to join her two older sisters, Tansy and Maggie, to open Sip & Spin, a vinyl record store. The same store that their grandparents and parents had before they sold it.

After the grand opening, Juni finds a dead body in their supply closet and their Uncle Calvin goes missing. Juni and her sisters struggle to understand what business their uncle has with a dead girl, while also trying to prove his innocence.

Juni feels it’s important that she find him before anyone else. Before someone manages to successfully stop her from doing anything ever again.

I have not read any of Olivia Blacke’s novels prior to this one.

I liked the beginning of this series. Sometimes, it felt like the “justice system” aspects went a little faster than what would actually happen in real life. However, I understand also that this is a cozy novel and it's meant to make the events flow.

The one thing I am very concerned about is the potential love triangle that appears to be forming. I am firmly on Tansy and Maggie’s side of the debate. I strongly did not like Beau and how he treated Juni. I really hope the author doesn’t take the reader down that road in future novels, but I also cannot wait to see what happens next with the Jessup sisters. Maybe one a novel from each’s point of view?

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

Perfect title for this book and very time appropriate. I have to admit I never thought vinyl records would make a comeback. I love how these three sisters have each other’s backs and always stick up for each other. Family businesses aren’t always the easiest opportunities to make a go of but I think Sip & Spin has a bright future. I hope to make a return trip to Cedar River and see how things are progressing. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

I really enjoyed this first book in a new series! Juni and her sisters were engaging characters. I really enjoyed getting to know them and their stories as well as the mystery. My only complaint is that I, too, live in small town Texas (and have lived in small towns in different parts of Texas for many years) and find the “Texan-ness” to be a bit over exaggerated. All in all, a fun read. I look forward to the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the opportunity to read and review this book.

For a cozy mystery, the title is perfect! As a music lover, I couldn't resist checking this one out. There's a wide variety of music included, which I loved, as I have eclectic taste. The author's puns put a smile on my face.
The quirky characters are fun and engaging. Some plot points weren't as strong as I'd anticipated, but it was still a fun read overall.

Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke is book #1 in the new Record Shop Mysteries.

Going to go ahead and say it..... This is one Cozy Mystery Series I'm going to be following!
Juni, Tansy and Maggie own Sip & Spin Records, a record-slash-coffee shop in the small town of Cedar River, Texas.
They never thought they would end up findig a dead body in their little shop.
When their uncle is arrested for suspicion of murder, the sister's don't hesitate to put Sip & Spin up for bail collateral.
But when Uncle Calvin suddenly disappears, putting them in a bad spot the trio start their own investigation to uncover the truth before it's too late!

Vinyl Resting Place is most certainly a page turner. I haven't enjoyed a Cozy Mystery this much in some time!
The story has enough twists to keep it interesting and intriguing.
Olivia Blacke describes the characters with great details. I could vividly picture everything so perfectly.
I loved the author’s writing style she really set the tone which made for an easy and fun read.
An engaging dialogue and a great atmosphere, this was a delightfully entertaining whodunit and I look forward to more exciting adventures ahead!

I will most definitely pick up book two A Fatal Groove. Looking forward to this one!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

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

Thank you NetGalley, Olivia Blacke and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Vinyl Resting Place. This is my personal review.
I want to give the author a huge thank you for this first book in a new cozy mystery series. I loved this book so much.
Three sisters put everything they have into running Sip & Spin. This is a combination record and coffee shop. This is a great idea, and they are excited to have it.
Finding a dead body in the supply closet just after they had their grand opening isn’t what they thought would happen. And never did they imagine their Uncle Calvin would be the prime suspect.
This sets them off on a mission to find the real killer.
I am so looking forward to the next book in the Record Shop Mystery series.

If you think of the opening bit of the Rembrandt's "I'll Be There For You", you'll have a sense of what Juni (Juniper) Jessup is dealing with....except she loves her new job.

After getting downsized from her software developer job, Juni's moved back home to Austin-adjacent small-town Texas. She and her sisters have sunk their savings into rebirthing their grandparents' record shop as the hip and cozy Sip and Spin. She's effectively ignoring her former beau, now cop. She's rooming with her mom and sister, and kind of liking it.

And then a body shows up in the stockroom at the store opening, the sisters' favourite uncle is the prime suspect AND disappears, and everything is at risk of falling apart.

I figured this one out sooner than I should have. Didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book. I'd like to visit the Sip and Spin, and the musical beverage names are hilarious. This is first in a series, and I'm looking forward to more. The family dynamics are actually kind of real, and I enjoyed that.
4 stars from me. Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the e-arc. #AvivaAndFriendsRecos #NetGalley #VinylRestingPlace

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free eBook in exchange for my review.

This was a cute cozy mystery, full of quirky characters and would be enjoyable for anyone wishing for a light and fun mystery.
The edition I received was full of proofreading errors - this was an uncorrected proof, so I'm really hopeful that those will get fixed before the book is published and released, but for me, it was very distracting and took away from the story for me.

book rating 4 stars for 'i liked it'
this edition rating 2 stars - it was ok, but the editing - ugh!
average rating: 3 stars

Juni Jessup has lost her tech job in Oregon and come home to Cedar River just outside on Austin to open a record store. All three sisters are taking a big financial leap to make this possible. They really don't need to find the body of a young woman in their storage closet at the end of their Grand Opening. They really don't need to find out that she is clutching one of their Uncle Calvin's business cards in her hand.

When Uncle Calvin is arrested by Juni's ex-boyfriend, they use their store as collateral to get him out of jail. When he skips out on the bond and disappears, they need to find him and clear his name if they want to save their fledgling business.

Juni and her sisters Tansy and Maggie team up to investigate in this entertaining first of a series. I liked the Texas setting. I liked all the shout-outs to musical artists. And even though I'm not a coffee drinker, I found the names of their specialty drinks entertaining.

Sometimes you just need a cozy mystery and Olivia Blacke always delivers. Coffee, records, and murder? Yes please. I knew I would adore this book from the punny title alone, but I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. Juni as a heroine is absolutely adorable and I am team Teddy Garza ALL THE WAY. (Like seriously if you like Beau, wtf). I did predict the killer about halfway through, but the twists and turns were still really enjoyable. It had so many red herrings! But seeing a tightly knit family, a small business just starting out, and a teeny tiny Texas town is my cozy kryptonite. And there are SO many gems in this book, from Prankenstein to pecan waffles, I'm in love with Cedar River.

*Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

A little bit of coming-of-age story is embedded in the new cozy series by Olivia Blacke. Juniper 'call me Juni' and her sisters open a record shop in a suburb of Austin. The location holds family memories for all 3 sisters as it is the same location where their grandparents owned a similar shop. Of course, it's 2022, so now they sell designer coffees (with punny names) alongside the vinyl. Unfortunately, during their grand-opening festivities, a dellvery driver goes missing and is found in a storage closet, dead. When their Uncle Calvin is arrested (by Juni's high school boyfriend!) the girls team together to solve the mystery.
This is a well-written cozy and I am looking forward to further installments.

There is so much to love about Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke. The story takes place in an Austin, Texas adjacent town. The contemporary setting has all the traditional cozy elements— a tight-knit trio of sisters as the shop owners, a prankster uncle getting into trouble, a small-town-everybody-know-you vibe, punny humor and of course, amateur sleuthing. There is a lot to love about this series debut including the musical artists referenced from Bille Holiday to Britney Spears and everything in between.