Member Reviews
A cozy mystery set in a vinyl record/coffee shop? Perfect setting! I have enjoyed this series, especially on audio. The small town vibes, sister dynamics, and low key love triangle make each book an easy win. This book focuses on the struggles of financing a small business, as an investor I trying to be part of Sip and Spin records. The sisters are not interested, and inevitably, when the investor dramatically dies shortly after, Juni become involved in the murder case.
With all the elements of a cozy mystery that you could want, this book is sure to be a hit for fans of the genre.
The Jessup sisters have different strengths in their business. Tansy is the responsible one, Maggie is organized and good with numbers, and Juni considers herself the baby and a mess, although she's an ex-IT tech and finding her place in the business. The characters are developing well, with interactions feeling genuine. Ms. Blacke's mystery is entertaining, with Juni's determination and twist-filled investigation being impressive. The final twist is surprising and well done. The record store theme, history, and themed coffee drinks at Sip & Spin are appealing, along with the cool karaoke nights. Rhythm and Clues offers a clever mystery, engaging characters, and a bit of romance in a charming small Texas town.
This book is a cozy mystery with a strong sense of sisterhood and a unique setting as it follows the Jessup sisters' journey to save their record shop and solve a murder in their small town.
Thank you St.Martin’s Press & Netgalley for sending me a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I liked the punny drink names in one of the chapters and I like that it’s set in Texas but I’m not feeling compelled to continue reading this book all night like I would be if I was really enjoying a book so I’ve decided to DNF this book after reading 104 pages.
This series is one of the best series I have ever read. I look forward to everybook. The record store the Jessup sisters own is always a great place to visit. Looking forward to the next book.
YAY! I love an addicting cozy and this was just what I needed.
Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke is a fun and engaging cozy mystery set in the world of ballroom dancing. The story follows amateur sleuth Alex who is drawn into a murder investigation when her dance partner is found dead during a competition.
Blacke's writing is witty and fast-paced, keeping readers hooked from the very beginning. The characters are well-developed and likable, and the setting of the ballroom dance world is unique and interesting. The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing.
One of the strengths of Rhythm and Clues is its portrayal of the ballroom dancing community. Blacke does a great job of capturing the passion and dedication of the dancers, as well as the camaraderie and competition that exists within the sport. The book also offers a glimpse into the inner workings of a dance studio, providing readers with a fascinating look at this often overlooked world.
Overall, Rhythm and Clues is a delightful cozy mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre. Blacke's writing is engaging and entertaining, and the characters and setting are well-developed and unique. If you're looking for a fun and lighthearted read, this book is definitely worth checking out.
Little did Juni know that by accepting free hockey tickets in a private booth that she would be getting herself involved in another murder mystery. The tickets didn’t come with strings, just a sales pitch from over aged frat boy Zach Fjord of Fjord Capital. Zack Fjord and Savannah Goodwin of Fjord Capital contact make an offer of financial backing that would take control away from the sisters, and supposedly give them peace of mind and capital for growth. Peace of mind is a great thing to have, and the sisters have worked hard to get Sip & Spin Records up and going so when the rain storm gets worse, Tansy and Juni grab Daffy the cat and sandbag the doorways to protect their product. That’s when they see car lights followed by sounds of a car crash. It starts to get really mysterious when the sisters find a crashed car with no driver and a dead Zach Fjord in the passenger seat.
Juni can’t help herself, she just feels that Savannah needs her help to find out what happened the night of the storm. There are several suspects some business and some personal. Turns out that Zach had a way with the ladies but not so much way with the finances. Not everyone was happy with their partnership arrangements with Fjord Capital. Juni does the usual poking into things when she isn’t making coffee and selling records. She ruffles feathers and asks questions that made people uneasy. Juni is a fun character to read, quick witted and with a good heart. So good that she has the attention of two men and she doesn’t want to hurt either of them. I am not a fan of the multiple suitors for the sleuth and am happy to say that Juniper makes a decision. The story kept my attention and the light-heartedness kept me chuckling. I look forward to the next trip to Cedar River, Texas and the Sip & Spin Records shop.
On the whole I think this is a good series. Each book does stand on its own, but to get the full underlying story arc experience, start with book one - Vinyl Resting Place. This mystery has all the elements you’ve come to expect in a cozy mystery; quirky characters, family, friends, small, tight knit community, amateur sleuths, pets, potential romance and of course a mystery or murder to be solved. Why a three star rating if I thought the series was good? The author uses a love triangle as a background story arc which is a tool that I have come to really dislike. In my opinion they are a huge distraction from the mystery and Juni’s dating both men because she liked them both and couldn’t decide who to choose, I found distasteful, smacked of stringing them both along and just felt “icky”. The love triangle does get resolved, but by the time it got there, I had surpassed my tolerance for it and just didn’t care anymore.
This is the third book in the series. But like most cozy mysteries you dont have to start them at bk 1. This was no different. I didnt feel lost I fell right into the rhythm of the book. I love this town in TX. The characters were fun and I feel in step with the sluething. I had a great time reading this but I do want to read the other ones before this one. I liked it I want more and dont want to wait.
Quick to read, easy to follow, fun and you want more.
A very solid cozy mystery. Juni is a very likable and relatable character. Good writing, but not spectacular. This is exactly what I expect from a mystery series like this. What I did not like it the love triangle. It feels very Stephanie Plum to me.
This novel is the latest addition to the Sip and Spin record shop cozy mysteries. When a massive thunderstorm dumps tons of rain on the small town of Cedar River, Texas, disasters follow, including power outages and flooding. Juni and her sisters Tansy and Maggie, owners of the Sip and Spin Record and Coffee Shop, have their hands full in trying to keep water out of the shop, help their neighbors, and serve hot coffee to their community. In addition, during the storm a car spins out of control and crashes into Tansy's car. However, the car also includes a dead man, who happens to be an investment guy whose company "helps" struggling small businesses! Juni gets involved with law enforcement in trying to solve the mystery.
One of the most fun parts of this book is the quirky names of all the stores in the small town, as well as the cool musically inspired names for the coffee beverages served in the shop. Some of the situations in the story are also hilarious. The characters seem like family by the end of the book. Although this story is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
I really do enjoy this small town Texas cozy mystery about three sisters!
This time around, Juni and her sisters are dealing with a predatory loan company trying to buy into their retro record shop. Things become even more complicated when the primary investor dies in a car accident that may be more nefarious then it seemed.
My favorite parts of this series continue to be the relationship between the three sisters. Their care and concern for each other, evident even through all the teasing and banter was great. I do wish we got more of it, and more with their mother who was busy off page with her own romance.
As far as the romance is concerned, we finally get a resolution on the love triangle! Which is good for me, because that was definitely my least favorite part of this series. When I don’t care about one point of the triangle, it’s difficult for the story to keep my attention when Juni was waffling between who she truly wanted.
This mystery also did a much better job keeping me guessing! There were plenty of convincing red herrings, and while I was able to eventually predict the motives behind the murder, I was surprised by the actual perpetrator.
I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment in this series, as each book seems to improve!
My thanks to both NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this arc!
I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. genealogy, bookstores, libraries, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke.
*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*
Olivia Blacke's Record series have quickly become some of my favorite cozy mysteries. They're funny and perfectly paced. Full of goofy puns. I absolutely recommend them to anyone who will listen. They're so fun.
Thank you to St Martin's for the arc. It didn't affect my opinion of the series
"Rhythm And Clues" was a very amazing and enjoyable read. This is the first book i read by this author and it's the 3rd book in the series. I really enjoyed reading it even though I didn't read the other books before this one. I was able to follow what was going on. I enjoyed Juni and her sisters are a lot of fun. The book was a cozy fun read. It was fast paced, and the mystery kept growing I thought I knew who the killer was but I didn't till the end. Amazing!
A great addition to an incredible series! Wonderful characters in an incredible setting. This book will keep you guessing until the end.
I love this whole series, and it's exactly what I wanted in a fun mystery!
I love the characters and how they develop over the series, the small town vibes, and let's be real, who doesn't want to own a coffee/record shop? I would put these books in the same realm as the Finlay Donovan series, so solid friendships, small town hijinks, comedic relief, but also a mystery to solve with lots of suspects.
The physical/ebooks are great, but I really loved the audio versions too!
Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for the eARC of Rhythm and Blues! All opinions in this review are my own.
I feel like each book in the Record Shop Mystery series is stronger than the last and Rhythm and Blues is no exception! I liked how the mystery unfolded and that there were quite a few suspects. My only complaint was that it seemed to repeat background information that was previously explained. For example, when Juni mentions a number of times that she sunk her life savings into the record shop and can't lose it. However, these were small moments and shouldn't deter you from reading it!
Rhythm and Blues feels like an ending. I am not sure if it is the last book in the series, but there isn't information for another book and it wraps up nicely.
Another entertaining and well plotted mystery in this fun series. This book had a storm that washed out the roads leading in to town which trapped the killer there. Great twist to a locked room mystery. The Jessup sisters are great and work so well together
"Rhythm and Clues" by Olivia Blacke delivers cozy charm in abundance, set against the backdrop of the lively Texas neighborhood. While the plot may lack some depth, the book's quaint setting and engaging characters more than make up for it. Perfect for readers seeking a light-hearted mystery with plenty of small-town appeal
I enjoy cozy mystery books as a well-earned break from “heavier” reading and the Record Shop Mystery series is a good example of the genre. Three sisters have invested in a record shop/coffee bar in a small town near Austin, Texas. The focus on family makes this series especially enjoyable. The main character is Juni (short for Juniper), the youngest of the sisters, who all have flower names; Maggie (Magnolia) and Tansy are the other two. Their relationship is wonderful and realistic.
Running a shop like theirs is a precarious financial undertaking and there are other small businesses in town that are also struggling. A capital investment firm, Fjord Capital, has poured money into several of them and the two principals, Zack and Savannah, are trying to talk Juni into doing business with them. As Juni checks with the other local businesses, she finds varying opinions about Fjord; some are positive but more are negative, saying that their business has picked up but now they owe more money than they did before Fjord Capital got involved.
When Zack is killed in a car crash right in front of Sip & Spin (their store), Juni once again gets involved in trying to figure out “whodunit.”
I was happy to see that (no spoilers!) Juni finally decides which of her two romantic interests to pursue and who to end things with. (This is one of my major issues with the long-running Stephanie Plum books - make up your mind already!)
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.