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Record Shop Mystery #2
A Fatal Groove
Second in the Record Shop series by Olivia Blacke, A Fatal Groove is a mystery for the record…
It’s springtime in Cedar River, Texas. The annual Bluebonnet Festival is brewing and the whole town is in harmony. Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie thought opening Sip & Spin Records was going to be their biggest hurdle, but the Frappuccino hits the fan when the mayor drops dead—poisoned by their delicious coffee.
Since Tansy was the one to brew the coffee, and Juni was the unfortunate citizen who stumbled upon the mayor’s body, the sisters find themselves in hot water. Family is everything to the Jessups, so with Tansy under suspicion, the sisters spring into action.
Between the town festivities, a good old-fashioned treasure hunt, and an accidental cow in the mix, Juni will have to pull out all the stops to find the mayor’s killer.
It’s springtime in Cedar River, Texas. The annual Bluebonnet Festival is brewing and the whole town is in harmony. Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie thought opening Sip & Spin Records was going to be their biggest hurdle, but the Frappuccino hits the fan when the mayor drops dead—poisoned by their delicious coffee.
Since Tansy was the one to brew the coffee, and Juni was the unfortunate citizen who stumbled upon the mayor’s body, the sisters find themselves in hot water. Family is everything to the Jessups, so with Tansy under suspicion, the sisters spring into action.
Between the town festivities, a good old-fashioned treasure hunt, and an accidental cow in the mix, Juni will have to pull out all the stops to find the mayor’s killer.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2023
About the author
Olivia Blacke
10 books448 followersOlivia Blacke (she/her) had her first ghost encounter when she was only five years old, but her first involvement with an active crime scene wasn’t until much later, when she accidentally stepped into a chalk outline on a Manhattan sidewalk. Armed with a Criminology and Criminal Justice degree, she finally found a way to channel her love of the supernatural and passion for writing into darkly humorous supernatural mysteries. She is also the author of the Record Shop Mysteries and the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries. She still wants to be a unicorn when she grows up.
A NEW LEASE ON DEATH is coming Oct 2024: https://static.macmillan.com/static/m...
Social media links, blog, and up-to-date news is found at: OliviaBlacke.com
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A NEW LEASE ON DEATH is coming Oct 2024: https://static.macmillan.com/static/m...
Social media links, blog, and up-to-date news is found at: OliviaBlacke.com
Newsletter signup: http://www.oliviablacke.com/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
May 6, 2024
A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke is the second book in the cozy Record Shop Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries each book in the series does contain it’s own mystery that is fully solved so it can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing if choosing to do so. Of course there will be some character development that carries over from book to book for those that follow the series from the beginning.
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 a coffee shop in the store to hopefully maintain business.
Now that Juni, Tansy, and Maggie have Sip & Spin Records up and running somewhat successfully they are excited it’s spring and time for the annual Bluebonnet Festival. However celebrating at the festival is put on hold for the sisters when Juni stumbles upon the body of the mayor and it seems he’d been poisoned. With Tansy having just given the mayor a coffee of course she becomes suspect number one and the sisters need to track another murderer before one of them ends up behind bars.
The Record Shop Mystery series is another I picked up from the beginning and am growing fonder of as it goes along. This one is slightly different with the other two sisters being involved and taking part with Juni as the main character and I’m always open to a different twist to the norm. The series does have all those cozy elements I enjoy too with a lot of laughs along the way along with a fun mystery to follow. When finished with this second book I’ll definitely be looking forward to more.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
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 a coffee shop in the store to hopefully maintain business.
Now that Juni, Tansy, and Maggie have Sip & Spin Records up and running somewhat successfully they are excited it’s spring and time for the annual Bluebonnet Festival. However celebrating at the festival is put on hold for the sisters when Juni stumbles upon the body of the mayor and it seems he’d been poisoned. With Tansy having just given the mayor a coffee of course she becomes suspect number one and the sisters need to track another murderer before one of them ends up behind bars.
The Record Shop Mystery series is another I picked up from the beginning and am growing fonder of as it goes along. This one is slightly different with the other two sisters being involved and taking part with Juni as the main character and I’m always open to a different twist to the norm. The series does have all those cozy elements I enjoy too with a lot of laughs along the way along with a fun mystery to follow. When finished with this second book I’ll definitely be looking forward to more.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 20, 2024
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.
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.
April 26, 2023
Juni and her sisters own a coffee and vinyl record shop in a small town near Austin, TX. When she finds a dead body on the day of the bluebonnet festival, some people want to blame the coffee the victim got from them, and there is gossip that one of the sisters, Tansy, is a murderer. Of course, the sisters don't trust the local cops (including one who is dating Juni) to solve the murder, and start investigating. Juni's also interested in Teddy, a local man who she has known since grammar school. Likable characters and the small town setting makes this a fun cozy mystery. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
July 3, 2023
A Fatal Groove is the second installment of The Record Shop Mysteries. But I didn’t have any issues reading it as a standalone novel.
The Jessup sisters — Maggie, Tansy, and June thought setting up a coffee and DJ booth at the annual Bluebonnet Festival would make for awesome publicity. It was their second year in operating the local Sip & Spin store, and a boost in foot traffic would help immensely.
But as fate would have it, all the stars seemed to align against Sip & Spin when the mayor of Cedar River is found dead in his office holding a Sip & Spin coffee cup. And all fingers pointed to Tansy who dispensed the suspected brew.
Like most copy mysteries, it’s all about the journey and not the destination. That being said, the pacing is a bit slow and it does take awhile to discover clues and leads.
The characters are fun and sometimes snarky which made for some interesting dialogue. There are quite a number of characters, but the author managed to develop each of them with unique traits. So it was fairly easy to navigate the various identities.
Plot-wise, the narrative follows a whodunit in a small town. But there is the added intrigue of a treasure hunt, and there is also a hint of romance.
I enjoyed reading A Fatal Groove and I’ll be sure to be on the lookout for more works from Olivia Blacke. Four solid stars
I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The Jessup sisters — Maggie, Tansy, and June thought setting up a coffee and DJ booth at the annual Bluebonnet Festival would make for awesome publicity. It was their second year in operating the local Sip & Spin store, and a boost in foot traffic would help immensely.
But as fate would have it, all the stars seemed to align against Sip & Spin when the mayor of Cedar River is found dead in his office holding a Sip & Spin coffee cup. And all fingers pointed to Tansy who dispensed the suspected brew.
Like most copy mysteries, it’s all about the journey and not the destination. That being said, the pacing is a bit slow and it does take awhile to discover clues and leads.
The characters are fun and sometimes snarky which made for some interesting dialogue. There are quite a number of characters, but the author managed to develop each of them with unique traits. So it was fairly easy to navigate the various identities.
Plot-wise, the narrative follows a whodunit in a small town. But there is the added intrigue of a treasure hunt, and there is also a hint of romance.
I enjoyed reading A Fatal Groove and I’ll be sure to be on the lookout for more works from Olivia Blacke. Four solid stars
I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
July 18, 2023
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S A FATAL GROOVE ABOUT?
For the second time in the two months since she returned home, Juni Jessup finds a dead body. This time, she discovers the town's mayor dead at his desk during the town's biggest event—the Bluebonnet Festival.
It might just be all the True Crime podcasts Juni listens to and all the Police Procedural shows she watches, but Juni's pretty sure he was poisoned from the evidence she sees. Sadly, the other thing she notices is that the mayor's holding a coffee cup from her store in his hand—so it's pretty likely that the source of the poison was the coffee her sister had poured him not that long ago.
Faster than you can say, "Jessica Fletcher," Juni and her sisters are on the hunt for another killer to clear their store's name.
THE BANK ROBBERY
Decades ago, during this same festival, a bank in town was robbed while everyone was distracted by the festivities. The money has never been recovered, but it's widely believed that the robbers buried it before they encountered the police. It's now become a game during the festival for people to dig up a new plot of land each year to try to find the money. It's like an Easter Egg Hunt for grownups, with less candy and more manual labor involved.
It turns out that the mayor and a few other people in town had turned this robbery into a hobby bordering on obsession, and the sisters can't help but think that there's a connection between the lengths the mayor and others were going to in order to figure out where the money is and his killing.
TEXAS
I'm pretty sure it was present in Vinyl Resting Place, but I was too busy getting to know everyone to really notice—but one thing I really appreciated this time was the way that Juni mused about Texas—the geography, the beauty, the flora, and the culture. She really missed her home state while living in Oregon—more than she realized—and now that she's more settled back home, she can see all that she missed. Blacke does a great job of conveying that to the reader.
On the one hand, it's hard to think that J. Todd Scott, Samantha Jayne Allen, and Attica Locke are describing the same state as Blacke is—and part of that has to do with the varied parts of the large state they're describing, sure. But most of it has to do with the tone of their books—and once you adjust for that, they're remarkably consistent and help readers who've never been there to get an idea of the place.
Still, all things considered, I'd rather live in Olivia Blacke's Texas. At least Cedar River—it's like Stars Hollow mixed with Bluebell, Alabama, but with better food (and better coffee).
A SMALL CONFESSION
I imagine I'm going to be in the minority on this point, and most readers will shake their heads at me, but...I really didn't care about the murder mystery. It was interesting enough, the red herrings were well-executed—as was the reveal and confrontation with the killer. But I thought the killer's identity was pretty obvious, and nothing about that storyline really grabbed me. It happens sometimes.
But—and this is the important part—I didn't care. I liked everything revolving around the murder mystery—particularly the long-unsolved mystery about the bank robbery. I enjoyed watching Juni and her sisters go about trying to solve things and everything else enough that it didn't matter to me that the central story didn't really click with me. I do think it says something about the world that Blacke is building here that I remained as invested as I did with that issue.
THEY STILL WORK
As I mentioned when I talked about the first book, the music-inspired punny drink names for their coffee counter are just perfect. They're the kind of little touch that adds so much to a scene—you get an idea of the characters behind them if nothing else. Like the names of the stores and restaurants in The Good Place, they add a layer of enjoyment on top of everything else.
Blacke gives you just enough of them to keep you wanting more, but not so many that you roll your eyes at them. It's a tricky balancing act, I'd imagine, but she pulls it off.
I'd say they're the bit of whip cream on top of your specialty coffee drink to add just that nice finishing touch, but I can't stand whip cream on my coffee. But you get the idea.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A FATAL GROOVE?
I'm going on too long here...and there's so much I haven't talked about, for example:
* The love triangle—it's pretty tame and everything's out in the open (both guys know she's casually dating them both). While I think the right choice is obvious and it's annoying that Juni doesn't just make the right choice, it's not at the "ARGH" stage most triangles get to.
* Her sisters! I really need to spend more time talking about Juni's sisters.
* The way the bank robbery story was resolved was so good, it made up for any of my complaints about the murder story.
* The ability of the owner of a used car dealership to turn anything into a sales pitch is truly impressive. It would be annoying in real life (even if it's what made him a success), but it's fun in a fictional character.
* I have no idea how to talk about what Juni won at the fair and how it tied into resolving so much, but...that was brilliant.
* The funeral scene...so good.
* The way the bank robbery story was resolved was so good, it made up for any of my complaints about the murder story.
This is one of those sequels that improved on everything that the original did right, expanding the world, and just having more fun with everything. Do you need to read Vinyl Resting Place first? Nope—it's very easy to pick things up at this point—you'll likely want to buy it after reading this, but the order isn't essential at this point.
I do worry that at some point the residents of Cedar River are going to decide that Juni's the Angel of Death having brought so many murders to town with her, but until then I'm looking forward to several more adventures with her and her family.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S A FATAL GROOVE ABOUT?
For the second time in the two months since she returned home, Juni Jessup finds a dead body. This time, she discovers the town's mayor dead at his desk during the town's biggest event—the Bluebonnet Festival.
It might just be all the True Crime podcasts Juni listens to and all the Police Procedural shows she watches, but Juni's pretty sure he was poisoned from the evidence she sees. Sadly, the other thing she notices is that the mayor's holding a coffee cup from her store in his hand—so it's pretty likely that the source of the poison was the coffee her sister had poured him not that long ago.
Faster than you can say, "Jessica Fletcher," Juni and her sisters are on the hunt for another killer to clear their store's name.
THE BANK ROBBERY
Decades ago, during this same festival, a bank in town was robbed while everyone was distracted by the festivities. The money has never been recovered, but it's widely believed that the robbers buried it before they encountered the police. It's now become a game during the festival for people to dig up a new plot of land each year to try to find the money. It's like an Easter Egg Hunt for grownups, with less candy and more manual labor involved.
It turns out that the mayor and a few other people in town had turned this robbery into a hobby bordering on obsession, and the sisters can't help but think that there's a connection between the lengths the mayor and others were going to in order to figure out where the money is and his killing.
TEXAS
I'm pretty sure it was present in Vinyl Resting Place, but I was too busy getting to know everyone to really notice—but one thing I really appreciated this time was the way that Juni mused about Texas—the geography, the beauty, the flora, and the culture. She really missed her home state while living in Oregon—more than she realized—and now that she's more settled back home, she can see all that she missed. Blacke does a great job of conveying that to the reader.
On the one hand, it's hard to think that J. Todd Scott, Samantha Jayne Allen, and Attica Locke are describing the same state as Blacke is—and part of that has to do with the varied parts of the large state they're describing, sure. But most of it has to do with the tone of their books—and once you adjust for that, they're remarkably consistent and help readers who've never been there to get an idea of the place.
Still, all things considered, I'd rather live in Olivia Blacke's Texas. At least Cedar River—it's like Stars Hollow mixed with Bluebell, Alabama, but with better food (and better coffee).
A SMALL CONFESSION
I imagine I'm going to be in the minority on this point, and most readers will shake their heads at me, but...I really didn't care about the murder mystery. It was interesting enough, the red herrings were well-executed—as was the reveal and confrontation with the killer. But I thought the killer's identity was pretty obvious, and nothing about that storyline really grabbed me. It happens sometimes.
But—and this is the important part—I didn't care. I liked everything revolving around the murder mystery—particularly the long-unsolved mystery about the bank robbery. I enjoyed watching Juni and her sisters go about trying to solve things and everything else enough that it didn't matter to me that the central story didn't really click with me. I do think it says something about the world that Blacke is building here that I remained as invested as I did with that issue.
THEY STILL WORK
As I mentioned when I talked about the first book, the music-inspired punny drink names for their coffee counter are just perfect. They're the kind of little touch that adds so much to a scene—you get an idea of the characters behind them if nothing else. Like the names of the stores and restaurants in The Good Place, they add a layer of enjoyment on top of everything else.
Blacke gives you just enough of them to keep you wanting more, but not so many that you roll your eyes at them. It's a tricky balancing act, I'd imagine, but she pulls it off.
I'd say they're the bit of whip cream on top of your specialty coffee drink to add just that nice finishing touch, but I can't stand whip cream on my coffee. But you get the idea.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT A FATAL GROOVE?
I'm going on too long here...and there's so much I haven't talked about, for example:
* The love triangle—it's pretty tame and everything's out in the open (both guys know she's casually dating them both). While I think the right choice is obvious and it's annoying that Juni doesn't just make the right choice, it's not at the "ARGH" stage most triangles get to.
* Her sisters! I really need to spend more time talking about Juni's sisters.
* The way the bank robbery story was resolved was so good, it made up for any of my complaints about the murder story.
* The ability of the owner of a used car dealership to turn anything into a sales pitch is truly impressive. It would be annoying in real life (even if it's what made him a success), but it's fun in a fictional character.
* I have no idea how to talk about what Juni won at the fair and how it tied into resolving so much, but...that was brilliant.
* The funeral scene...so good.
* The way the bank robbery story was resolved was so good, it made up for any of my complaints about the murder story.
This is one of those sequels that improved on everything that the original did right, expanding the world, and just having more fun with everything. Do you need to read Vinyl Resting Place first? Nope—it's very easy to pick things up at this point—you'll likely want to buy it after reading this, but the order isn't essential at this point.
I do worry that at some point the residents of Cedar River are going to decide that Juni's the Angel of Death having brought so many murders to town with her, but until then I'm looking forward to several more adventures with her and her family.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.
July 4, 2023
Juni, Maggie and Tansy own a record store that also serves coffee. The local Bluebonnet festival in Cedar Rapids, Texas is happening this weekend. They are in charge of the DJ booth and serving coffee. When the mayor drops dead in his office drinking the coffee. Tansy becomes the prime suspect in his killing. The girls decide to do their own investigation. An old robbery case is brought up as the investigation continues.
I really enjoyed this book and loved it when a cold case became part of the new case. The mystery was really good. I enjoyed following the clues with the girls. I really enjoyed the characters and hope to read more of this series. I was able to read it as a standalone.
I really enjoyed this book and loved it when a cold case became part of the new case. The mystery was really good. I enjoyed following the clues with the girls. I really enjoyed the characters and hope to read more of this series. I was able to read it as a standalone.
July 26, 2023
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!
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
May 6, 2023
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.
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.
August 14, 2023
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!
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review on Netgalley.
4.5*
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!
I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review on Netgalley.
4.5*
January 16, 2024
I love this series in audiobook. The narrator makes me feel like I am right there in Cedar River, Texas along with Juni and her sisters. I loved how the storyline tying into the robbery from the past. I did not guess the killer at all. I enjoyed reading about the Bluebonnet festival but part of me missed Sip & Records. I was hoping for a little bit more with the somewhat love triangle between Juni, Beau and Teddy. My favorite part had to be the dinner Juni had with Teddy and his family
July 12, 2023
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
This second volume in the Record Shop Mystery series is a fantastic, breezy, cozy mystery read. The first book (which I also received gratis from the publisher via NetGalley) won me over with its charming setting of Cedar River, Texas, where Juni and her sisters have opened a record album/coffee shop with the most delightful punny names for drinks. This new book kicks off with the suspicious death of the town mayor, and at first glance, it looks like he might've been poisoned by coffee from Juni's shop. Whoops!
The mystery builds at just the right pace. There were a few points where Juni was frustratingly slow on the uptake, but those moments were short lived. The continued love triangle with police detective Beau and mailman Teddy continues in a nice way, and I usually hate love triangles; I like that in this one, they are both decent, caring guys, and they aren't sniping at each other or pressuring Juni. I loved that I guessed the murderer early on, but I was still surprised by some of the twists at the end. In all, a fun book, and I'd happily read on in the series.
This second volume in the Record Shop Mystery series is a fantastic, breezy, cozy mystery read. The first book (which I also received gratis from the publisher via NetGalley) won me over with its charming setting of Cedar River, Texas, where Juni and her sisters have opened a record album/coffee shop with the most delightful punny names for drinks. This new book kicks off with the suspicious death of the town mayor, and at first glance, it looks like he might've been poisoned by coffee from Juni's shop. Whoops!
The mystery builds at just the right pace. There were a few points where Juni was frustratingly slow on the uptake, but those moments were short lived. The continued love triangle with police detective Beau and mailman Teddy continues in a nice way, and I usually hate love triangles; I like that in this one, they are both decent, caring guys, and they aren't sniping at each other or pressuring Juni. I loved that I guessed the murderer early on, but I was still surprised by some of the twists at the end. In all, a fun book, and I'd happily read on in the series.
July 25, 2023
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.
*Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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.
*Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 25, 2023
Cozy. Music. Coffee puns. That might honestly be all you need for me to love a cozy mystery.
We're back in Cedar River just in time for the Bluebonnet Festival! Only downside is that the mayor drops dead shortly after it begins and Tansy is the #1 suspect. Now as readers, we know that the Jessup girls are innocent, but this town is so starved for drama that they'll run with just about any theory. Aliens? Sure!
What I really liked about this installment was the sheer amount of suspects. We weren't entirely sure who did it until about 95% through. Pair that with a treasure hunt for a bank robber's 70 year old bounty, and I was hooked. I'm still Team Teddy, but Beau had a little bit of redemption in my eyes.
*Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
We're back in Cedar River just in time for the Bluebonnet Festival! Only downside is that the mayor drops dead shortly after it begins and Tansy is the #1 suspect. Now as readers, we know that the Jessup girls are innocent, but this town is so starved for drama that they'll run with just about any theory. Aliens? Sure!
What I really liked about this installment was the sheer amount of suspects. We weren't entirely sure who did it until about 95% through. Pair that with a treasure hunt for a bank robber's 70 year old bounty, and I was hooked. I'm still Team Teddy, but Beau had a little bit of redemption in my eyes.
*Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*
August 26, 2023
I just finished A Fatal Groove by Olivia Blacke and here is my review
The mayor has been murdered and the Jessup sister’s are in the thick of it. Tansy is the one who brewed the coffee that killed him and Juni is the one who discovered the body.
This isn’t what they were expecting when they opened sip and spin records…. The Jessup’s don’t take this lying down and get their sleuthing on to see who really killed the mayor but can they do it before Juni ends up in jail?
This is book 2 of the record shop mysteries and it doesn’t get much cozier than this! I will say it works just fine as a standalone if you haven’t read the first book.
I love the sisters! They are quick witted and I loved how much they bantered. I love books set in a more small town and it was a super cute whodunnit. The pace is a bit slower than I normally like but it was a nice change of pace for me. Love love love the idea of a record shop and cafe! So cool!
The treasure hunt was a nice touch and I did enjoy the book immensely! It definitely put me in the mood for more cozy mysteries. I did like the ending and it was a good easy read for a weekend day.
4 stars! Will definitely be checking out the next installment!
Thank you to @stmartinspress for my gifted copy
The mayor has been murdered and the Jessup sister’s are in the thick of it. Tansy is the one who brewed the coffee that killed him and Juni is the one who discovered the body.
This isn’t what they were expecting when they opened sip and spin records…. The Jessup’s don’t take this lying down and get their sleuthing on to see who really killed the mayor but can they do it before Juni ends up in jail?
This is book 2 of the record shop mysteries and it doesn’t get much cozier than this! I will say it works just fine as a standalone if you haven’t read the first book.
I love the sisters! They are quick witted and I loved how much they bantered. I love books set in a more small town and it was a super cute whodunnit. The pace is a bit slower than I normally like but it was a nice change of pace for me. Love love love the idea of a record shop and cafe! So cool!
The treasure hunt was a nice touch and I did enjoy the book immensely! It definitely put me in the mood for more cozy mysteries. I did like the ending and it was a good easy read for a weekend day.
4 stars! Will definitely be checking out the next installment!
Thank you to @stmartinspress for my gifted copy
August 1, 2023
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.
May 10, 2024
Heerlijk tussendoortje. Deel 2 van de zussen uit Texas die per ongeluk (weer) een moord ontdekken.
May 12, 2024
I probably should have DNF'd this one, I just wanted to know the ending. I don't like when authors subtly incorporate their political views throughout a story... especially one such as a sweet fun cozy mystery.🤷🏻♀️
May 11, 2023
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!
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!
May 29, 2023
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
July 23, 2023
Cedar River, Texas is excited over their Bluebonnet Festival. Everyone in town is involved with the festival in some way. Juni Jessup and her sisters are also taking part in the festivities with their Sip & Spin Record shop. When the town’s mayor dies, after drinking a cup of their coffee, the town’s eyes all turn towards Juni and her sisters. Her sister, Tansy, is especially under the microscope since she is the one who brewed the deadly coffee.
Juni, along with her sisters, set out to find a killer before Tansy is charged with the murder. In the meantime, their business is suffering and the town’s gossips are in full swing. The sisters are stunned when they discover how many people wanted to get rid of the mayor. Now to figure out which one actually did the deed before Tansy is arrested for the crime.
This is the second book in the series. I absolutely loved the first one and it made my “Best of 2022” list. “A Fatal Groove” did not disappoint and there’s a good chance it will make my 2023 list as well.
The author does a wonderful job of writing the Jessup family dyanmics. From Juni to her sisters to their mother and their uncle - you can feel their closeness for each other. They don’t necessarily always agree with each other, but they always support each other. It’s a very realistic family unit.
The other characters in the book are all well-developed and well-written. There is a possible romantic triangle, but it takes a backseat to the mystery. It doesn’t overshadow the suspense at all. It’s the perfect mix of romance and mystery. I always like the mystery/suspense part of the storyline to take center stage and it does in this book.
It’s a fast-pace storyline set in a small town in Texas. The author immediately drew me into the story and I felt like I was right there. These are characters I truly cared about and cheered for.
Another thing I appreciate is that the author gave us a record and coffee shop setting, which is a refreshing change from the usual bookstores, knitting shops, coffee shops, bakeries. Don’t get me wrong, I love all those settings, but this is unique. I enjoyed every minute of my time in Cedar River.
To say I’m looking forward to book #3 would be an understatement. I’m already missing these characters.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Juni, along with her sisters, set out to find a killer before Tansy is charged with the murder. In the meantime, their business is suffering and the town’s gossips are in full swing. The sisters are stunned when they discover how many people wanted to get rid of the mayor. Now to figure out which one actually did the deed before Tansy is arrested for the crime.
This is the second book in the series. I absolutely loved the first one and it made my “Best of 2022” list. “A Fatal Groove” did not disappoint and there’s a good chance it will make my 2023 list as well.
The author does a wonderful job of writing the Jessup family dyanmics. From Juni to her sisters to their mother and their uncle - you can feel their closeness for each other. They don’t necessarily always agree with each other, but they always support each other. It’s a very realistic family unit.
The other characters in the book are all well-developed and well-written. There is a possible romantic triangle, but it takes a backseat to the mystery. It doesn’t overshadow the suspense at all. It’s the perfect mix of romance and mystery. I always like the mystery/suspense part of the storyline to take center stage and it does in this book.
It’s a fast-pace storyline set in a small town in Texas. The author immediately drew me into the story and I felt like I was right there. These are characters I truly cared about and cheered for.
Another thing I appreciate is that the author gave us a record and coffee shop setting, which is a refreshing change from the usual bookstores, knitting shops, coffee shops, bakeries. Don’t get me wrong, I love all those settings, but this is unique. I enjoyed every minute of my time in Cedar River.
To say I’m looking forward to book #3 would be an understatement. I’m already missing these characters.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 3, 2023
"A Fatal Groove (Record Shop Mystery #2)" by Olivia Blacke kicks off fairly shortly after the first book ends. We see the extension of Juniper's love triangle. She just needs to pick Teddy. He loves her for her. Bau wants her to be what they were in high school and as she's frequently talking about in this book, that's not her anymore.
My only complaint about this book is the super minor character descriptions. Half of the one off characters get a full race, gender and appearance descriptions and the other half are barely physically described and referred to in They/Them pronouns only. Pick, really descriptive or really kinda vague with a tiny bit about their appearance. I don't mind the They/Them's but they deserve just as involved as a description.
The mystery was interesting and a bit different. It was part treasure hunt part murder mystery. I was completely looking at the wrong character as the murderer the whole time too. It did make sense in the end though. Though, I could still see way working out too and the murderer that was arrested having actually been framed for it.
My only complaint about this book is the super minor character descriptions. Half of the one off characters get a full race, gender and appearance descriptions and the other half are barely physically described and referred to in They/Them pronouns only. Pick, really descriptive or really kinda vague with a tiny bit about their appearance. I don't mind the They/Them's but they deserve just as involved as a description.
The mystery was interesting and a bit different. It was part treasure hunt part murder mystery. I was completely looking at the wrong character as the murderer the whole time too. It did make sense in the end though. Though, I could still see way working out too and the murderer that was arrested having actually been framed for it.
August 20, 2023
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.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 24, 2023
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
***
It was nice to return to these characters again. Even though it's been a long while since I read the first book in this series, once I began reading I was right back there with the sisters.
The book is quick paced and I made my way through it in two or three days. I loved the new mystery even though we didn't get quite as much time with secondary characters this time around.
I'm definitely expecting a third and will be happy to read it.
***
It was nice to return to these characters again. Even though it's been a long while since I read the first book in this series, once I began reading I was right back there with the sisters.
The book is quick paced and I made my way through it in two or three days. I loved the new mystery even though we didn't get quite as much time with secondary characters this time around.
I'm definitely expecting a third and will be happy to read it.
July 22, 2023
I loved this book! A bluebonnet festival, punny coffee drinks, a treasure hunt and solving a murder.
This was a fast paced, compelling read. I really enjoy the characters, especially the relationship between Juni and her sisters. There is a love triangle going on. I like both choices but hope that the love triangle is resolved soon.
The murder mystery was well plotted with several suspects. I was surprised at the killer but looking back all the clues and motives pointed their direction.
This was a fast paced, compelling read. I really enjoy the characters, especially the relationship between Juni and her sisters. There is a love triangle going on. I like both choices but hope that the love triangle is resolved soon.
The murder mystery was well plotted with several suspects. I was surprised at the killer but looking back all the clues and motives pointed their direction.
July 28, 2023
Another interesting trip to Cedar River, Texas. We get to spend more time with the Jessup sisters and their unique business Sip & Spin Records. Unfortunately the ladies find themselves involved in another mysterious death when Tansy serves the Mayor a cup of coffee at the Bluebonnet Festival, and Juni finds the body later in his office. Was it a heart attack, was it murder, who wanted the mayor dead and how does it tie into a bank heist from 1956. Come along for the fun as Juni and her sisters piece it all together in order to save their business!
October 11, 2023
This was a cute sequel in the series! I really like the dynamic between the sisters, the music, and the cast of characters.
May 26, 2024
Entertaining
Having worked in a record store in the 90s, I love the music references and that music plays into the story in so many ways. Enjoyed the book and it is easy to visualize the characters and setting. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
Having worked in a record store in the 90s, I love the music references and that music plays into the story in so many ways. Enjoyed the book and it is easy to visualize the characters and setting. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.
June 15, 2024
This is a second book in the serie and I enjoyed reading it. It has nice cozy atmosphere and good plot. Looking forward to read next book in this serie.
May 9, 2024
3.6 stars
May 2, 2023
This was another fun but somewhat unfulfilling cozy. I don’t know if it’s just because I’m not a music person, but I just don’t connect with the characters in the way I’m used to in a cozy series. The characters are, however, likable and distinct. I did solve the mystery before Juni but only by a couple of minutes, so I’ll count that as a win for fooling me.
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