When Juni Jessup moved back to Texas to open a record store with her sisters, she had no idea that selling vinyl and fancy coffees would end up with her investigating a murder. And she really didn’t think she would end up investigating three murders, but that’s where she finds herself.

While Sip & Spin Records is doing okay so far, it’s still a young business, and that makes things a little dicey. When a guy she knew from college contacted her with an opportunity for an investor, she is reluctant to talk to him, but she lets him talk her into going to a hockey game. Zack sprang for a luxury box for the hockey game, so he and his partner Savannah could use the breaks to try to show Juni why their investing in the record store would be a win for everyone. But Zack kept getting a little too close to her, and her date, Beau, doesn’t like that any more than Juni does.

Juni can’t bring in new investors without her sisters’ approval, and after watching Zack drink a lot and flirt with her through the game didn’t endear him to her, so after the game, they go their separate ways. Juni and Beau head back to Cedar River for the night, and they get home before the rainstorm hits. While Juni isn’t too worried about her sister Tansy’s house, where she’s been living too, Juni and Tansy are worried about the store, which could be more likely to flood. Then they lose power, and a quick check of her phone tells Juni that they’ve lost the cell tower as well.

At the store, they hunt down the store cat Daffy and get her locked into the cat carrier, so they can take her to the house. And while they mop up the water that’s gotten into the shop, Juni sees headlights outside of the store. There is a car moving way too quickly, especially for the storm. It falls to its side and crashes into Tansy’s car, and the sisters run outside to check on the occupants. By the time they get to the car, there is no one in the driver’s seat, but Juni recognizes the passenger. It’s Zack, and he’s not moving. Later, after the police and ambulance have left, they find Savannah hiding in their store. She admits she’d been driving and had gotten scared and ran away.

Because so many of the locals were told to evacuate their homes, the police station is too chaotic to take Savannah in and question her about the accident, so the Jessup sisters take her to their place for the night. When Juni asks her what had happened, she explains that there had been someone in the road, and they had thrown something at the windshield. It had been too dark for Savannah to tell who that was, but her story lines up with the what the police found at the scene, as there was a brick at Zack’s feet and the windshield had been shattered.

In the aftermath of the storm, Juni decides to look around and try to find out who had wanted Zack dead. She talks to a couple of small business owners who had Zack and Savannah invest. Some loved them, some hated them. But did they hate Zack enough to kill him? And if Juni is trying to find the answer that, does that mean that the killer might target her next?

Rhythm and Clues is the third in Olivia Blacke’s Record Shop Mystery, and it’s another fun mystery set in small town Texas. This one has the signature punny names for the coffee drinks and the strong family ties that keep the Jessup clan so close. There is the typical Texas storm that comes up out of nowhere and the tension that comes from Juni dating two guys at once. There is a good balance between the mystery and the records and coffee, and as a fun twist, the local first responders have a pool going on whether Juni is going to show up at the site of a crime.

Rhythm and Clues is a frothy murder mystery with lots of family love and good-hearted teasing. I like the character of Juni a lot, and I think her sisters are a good balance for her. There is a lot to like about these mysteries, and while I wouldn’t quite call them perfect, I will definitely be looking for the next one in the series to see where Juni ends up next. This is turning into a solid cozy mystery series, and those coffee names definitely make these worth the time to read.

Egalleys for Rhythm and Clues were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Rhythm and Clues is the third book in the Record Shop Mystery series. It was fun to come back to Sip and Spin for a new murder to be solved. This time, the victim is someone Juni knew from college, but she is not a murder suspect. Juni and her sisters are great characters, which is essential for a cozy mystery to be pleasant. The mystery itself is well written and interesting. It was great that Beau asked for Juni's help in this book.

The rhythm is gonna get you.

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

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

When the river spits out an unexpected surprise, Detective Beau Russell asks for Juni’s help, never predicting her investigation will spin her into danger. Up until now, the Jessup sisters have been playing it by ear, but with the whole town watching, can they catch a killer before he strikes again? (GoodReads synopsis)

I read the novel’s stormy setting while a storm was going on outside my own windows. I felt Juni’s anxiety acutely. Which is new because I don’t really relate with Juni. She’s the baby, and I’m a middle. I’m more of a Maggie, and I think I might agree with Maggie should my mom ever marry. I also am good with numbers. When the novel opened with Juni introducing Zach who wants to “invest” in Sip and Spin, I immediately shook my head no. As the story progressed, I did not catch onto the clues as fast as Juni. The killer completely eluded me in this one, which made it really good.

I also have to say that I am grateful that Juni made a relationship choice. I hate love triangles, and this would have driven me absolutely bonkers.

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

This was my favorite book of the series so far. The writing and plot were better and not as preachy about environmental issues. I loved the incident with the armadillo. It added an element of suspense and humor. I was pleasantly surprised by the reveal. I did not see that coming! I also liked that Juni finally decided who she wanted to date most! This is a quick read perfect for a weekend getaway!

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

I have really enjoyed this series. This is the third book in this series. You will get a good cozy mystery in this book along with a small town setting, friendly characters, a little romance, and a murder mystery to solve. I think this series get better with each book. Olivia had me hooked from the beginning until the end. This is a fun read and I would definitely recommend this book.


Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Paperback for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

This was another solid read for me. I love the Jessup sisters. To be honest if the series ended here I would be ok. Juni made the right decision love interest wise in my opinion. But I hope there are many more books in the series.

*I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.*

I love LOVE visiting Cedar River, TX and hanging out at Sip & Spin Records Shop with the Jessup sisters. It literally feels like visiting old friends. I just wanna sip a coffee drink with a punny name (like a Bohemian Frappsody), play some vinyl, and chat with the sisters about family, life, boyfriends, Juni's tendency to find a dead body....and that she's turning into quite the amateur sleuth.

Great characters, an interesting mystery, a fast pace with plenty of red herrings to keep a reader guessing, this book (and series) definitely has it all.
Highly recommend.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Cherry on My Wayward Chai!

Between the punny beverage mashups, and contemporary through prehistoric vinyl playlist, come creative clues to the latest murder-most-foul (no cats, cows, nor fowl were harmed in the production of the delightful drama). I was fortunate to discover the series when it first came out and have eagerly awaited the subsequent volumes (don't stop now!). My little gray cells are on alert for the next trouble in Texas. No, of course I'm not going to tell you the story! Read it yourself! (Your funny bone will be glad you did!)

If you like hard-to-crack mysteries, puns, and quick-paced books, look no further than this series and this book from Olivia Blacke! Rhythm and Clues is third in the "Record Shop Mystery" series, featuring Juni Jessup, who moved back home to Cedar River, Texas, 6 months ago, to open a record/coffee shop with her two sisters. But Juni also seems to have a streak going that involves finding dead bodies and helping to identify the murderers, which (of course) continues in Rhythm and Clues. When the skeezy financier proposing to "help" their shop dies in a car accident in front of Sip & Spin Records, June and her sister Tansy find the body and take in the victim's girlfriend. But the incident may not have been an accident after all, and the girlfriend implores Juni to help find out what really happened and who was responsible. For me the characters are the best part of this series, although Blacke also does an excellent job of throwing in red herrings and other distractions that kept me from guessing whodunnit before the reveal.

Grab a frosty, creamy, Bohemian Frapsody (an adorably named drink served at Sip & Spin Records) from your favorite coffee shop and settle in to enjoy Olivia Blacke’s new mystery, Rhythm and Clues. This third installment in the Record Shop Mystery series is a fun one!

This is a fun concept for a cozy mystery series. It centers around Sip & Spin Records, a relatively new shop that sells vinyl records and prepares mouthwatering café treats with adorable music-themed names. The shop is owned by sisters Juni, Tansy, and Maggie Jessup in their hometown of Cedar River, Texas. About six months into their business, they aren’t quite making profit, but they aren’t in the red either. Plus, they have a steady stream of loyal customers!

The book opens with Juni at a hockey game sitting awkwardly next to her ex-boyfriend Beau, who she may or may not be on a date with. Juni was invited to box seats at the hockey game by Zack and his business partner Savannah, who own another coffee and record shop in Austen called Rhythm & Brews, and is looking to buy Sip & Spin Records from Juni and her sisters. They aren’t interested in selling, but it doesn’t hurt to let Zack think he has a chance!

A big Texas thunderstorm breaks out just as Beau drops Juni off at her sister Tansy’s house. When the power goes out and cell service is gone, Juni and Tansy have no idea how widespread the blackout is. They get in the car to go check on their store and rescue their cat, but not long after arriving something more troubling happens. A BMW crashes into Tansy’s car. When the two sisters go to investigate, they find the driver’s side empty and Zack’s dead body buckled into the passenger seat. Not long after, they find Savannah inside their shop with a troubling story about Zack’s death and the crash—someone lobbed something through the windshield at him just before the accident.

The storm traps Savannah and any other visitors in Cedar River for the next few days, which means there are plenty of suspects around for Juni to investigate. It turns out that there are a lot of people in Cedar River who had a motive to murder Zack, making the case much more complicated. And to be honest, the reader doesn’t get the most favorable view of Zack before his death based on his drunk antics at the hockey game!

Savannah is staying with Tansy and Juni, so they get to know a lot more about her business practices with Zack. They aren’t necessarily illegal, but there is a distinct feeling of something being off and unsavory about Zack and Savannah’s business tactics. And they aren’t the only ones engaging in behavior that isn’t exactly on the up-and-up. There seem to be plenty of unsavory characters to go around.

I enjoyed Juni a lot as a character. She had lived away from home for years before she got hit with an economic downturn and returned home. Going into business with her sisters is amazing and difficult at the same time, it seems. While they can trust one another as family, Juni’s sisters still treat her like she’s not a grown up. They are overly invested in her personal life. Juni is caught in a low key love triangle but I loved that it wasn’t overdramatized the way they can be in many cozy mysteries. There are several very heartfelt scenes in the book related to this but I won’t spoil what those are.

The mystery itself was interesting and kept me curious about who was behind everything. A few different crimes seem to intersect and there were enough leads and suspects to keep it interesting. The way the mystery came together was surprising—I didn’t have the culprit pegged nor the motive!

This book works great as a standalone mystery so readers should feel free to jump in here or read all three books. I think this is one of the stronger cozy mystery series and I’ve noticed each mystery gets better than the last.

Thank you to St Martins Press for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Loved it! This series just keeps getting better and better. The mystery is the main focus, as it should be, and the character development is just enough to let you get to know them all without inundating you with all their baggage at one time. And, yes, the dreaded love triangle is finally resolved – or has it? There was a TSTL moment and one “Parent Trap” switch that seemed unbelievable but other than that, this was the perfect cozy to get me through the day. This could be read as a standalone but I always recommend starting with the first in the series.

This is my favorite book in the series, to date. I always enjoy spending time with the Jessup sisters in Cedar River, Texas, and who wouldn't love a karaoke night at Sip & Spin Records or a place at family dinner; but Juni is a busy woman in this outing juggling the shop during a power outage, a murder investigation, and her complicated personal life. Ms. Blacke managed to incorporate a panorama of emotions in this one, along with a solid mystery or two. I cannot wait for my next visit with the Jessup girls.

Not good for business when losing electricity during a severe storm and have flooding on top of it.
As if that is not enough of a problem, a car accident in front of the store with a dead body inside.
The three sisters are having a tough time keeping it all together, but they have been known for their endurance in the time of crisis.
Slowly they start to accept that their mother has started a committed relationship.
June is also trying to find out where she stands in her relationship and feels that she needs to
decide and not leave both men hanging. Will she decide? Not an easy commitment.
The body in the car is nobody else than a rich, big flirt who had the intention of gaining control of the small businesses in the area.
This is a fast read, hard to put down, with red herrings giving you miss direct. You might guess, but you will not be a hundred percent sure till the end of the story.

As the record shop begins to break even, investors are beginning to look into partnering with them. After a sales pitch at a hockey game, the investors come back into the town. While Juni and her sister are at the record shop, the investors crash into their car. Savannah, the driver claims someone threw a brick leading to her losing control of the vehicle. Her partner Derek is killed at the scene. Was this an accident or is there something more suspicious at play?

The Vinyl Shop Mysteries series has quickly become one of my new favorites. Rhythm and Clues is the third book.
I adore the record shop and the cute names the coffee drinks are given. I would visit the shop in a heartbeat if it existed in real life. I like all of the characters, and like Juni, think that I would have a hard time choosing between ex-boyfriend police officer Beau and lifelong friend Teddy. Each character feels relatable. The tension and build up before the reveal kept me glued to the page. I also enjoyed the dose of humor in the writing style.

I would recommend this book to cozy mystery fans and music fans.

Thank y9u to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Olivia Blacke for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Rhythm and Clues is book 3 in the Record Shop Mystery series by Olivia Blacke.
I’ve had the pleasure and honor of reading and reviewing the first two titles in this series. And each one has been such fun diving into.

I loved being back in Cedar River, Texas with my favorite gals the Jessup sisters!
Tansey, Juni and Maggie are such fun to be with! They take you on such an exciting mystery. Being back in their coffee and vinyl record shop Sip and Spin was wet exciting.
Each one of them is well rounded, quirky in their own way, and well developed. They feel so real that readers like me wish they were our friends.
The writing is engaging and the author has a solid feel for plotting and dialogue.
Another great story written by Blacke!
This has been hands down one my most favorite cozy mystery series ever!

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

We are back in Cedar River, Texas at Sip n Spin. Juni has been approached to have her newly opened store bought out. This guy is sketchy, and Juni has her defenses up. During a torrential thunderstorm, a car hits Juni's sister's parked car. Upon inspection of the passengers, the person in the passenger seat is the investor that wanted to buy her out and is deceased. The driver is gone and on the run. It looks like we have another murder Juni has herself wrapped up in. She seems "to find dead bodies the way most people find pennies." haha The Jessup sisters are a united front when Sip n Spin is the focus of yet another murder in this small town.

This is the third book in the series and can be read as a standalone. There are all the elements of a great cozy complete with a little romance and a good mystery. I recommend taking a trip to Cedar River at Sip n Spin and lose yourself for the afternoon.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy.

This is an interesting series. You don't think of a combination coffee shop and vinyl record shop in this day and age (or perhaps any) as a setting for a cozy series but it over all works. Three very different sisters run the shop and of course murder makes it extra difficult for a small business to survive. That's why an investment firm is throwing them a pitch and also the source of the latest murdered body.

I really liked Juni (whose pov the story is told from) and her sisters. There was a real sense of family between them with all the ups and downs that go with that. But in the end they had each others back. I wasn't so fond of the love triangle Juni found herself in but it was resolved in this book.

There was a lot about the difficulties of small business making a go of it, particularly some what niche businesses, and different models of investment firms. It was interesting and also somewhat depressing to see how predatory these methods can be and how difficult it is for small business to survive. The focus on this was reflected in the imbalance on how much time was spent with one suspect,, one of the partners in the investment firm. There were some other suspects and they were investigated but it just seemed to me 3/4 of the time was spent with Savannah. That didn't mean she was a shoe in as the culprit. Read the book to find out if she, or someone else did the dirty deed.

Overall, a solid cozy with a with few hang ups. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always love visiting with Juni and her sisters—Juni cracks me up with her crazy sense of humor. I definitely hadn’t guessed right on the perp, that was a total surprise twist. The lengthy but interesting author note at the end made me sorta believe this could be the last book in the series. While I’d always wish for more books, it seemed to end in a good place for all the key players.

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

I always have a good time with Juni and her sisters at Sip & Spin Records. My favorite things about the books are the names of the drinks and seeing what T-shirts Juni wears.  I was all smiles when I read the drink, Cherry on My Wayward Son. I could hear the song in my head and was picturing the Supernatural opening credits. I was also a little excited one of the T-shirts Juni chose to wear was Backstreet Boys. This fan appreciated it very much. Karaoke night was fun. It was easy to picture the shop with all the great song choices.
 
I am glad Juni decided between the two men in her life. The love triangle gave the book a little drama, but it was the right amount. It’s good that it was not long and drawn out. I did not guess the killer at all. They were not even on my radar. I enjoyed this book a lot and cannot wait for the next.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my review.

I read book 2 to prepare for this ARC and I am so glad that I did! I love this series and these sisters, I want to be in their circle of friends! This is such a fun series, I can't wait for the next one to come out! I love that Juni is growing up and into her own woman - speaking her mind, doing her own thing, and listening to her heart! I can't wait to see how her relationship with her fave mailman blossoms!