Vinyl Resting Place
The Record Shop Mysteries
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
First in a new series by Olivia Blacke, Vinyl Resting Place follows three sisters who discover that opening a family business can be murder.
"A charming cozy for a new generation of mystery readers . . . Vinyl Resting Place is a delight!" –Elle Cosimano, USA Today bestselling author of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It
"Vinyl Resting Place is bolstered by the sisters' genuine bond, colorful personalities, and not-so-gentle conflicts. It's a winning combination." -New York Times Book Review
When Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie put all their beans in one basket to open Sip & Spin Records, a record-slash-coffee shop in Cedar River, Texas, they knew there could be some scratches on the track, but no one was expecting to find a body deader than disco in the supply closet.
Family is everything to the Jessups, so when their uncle is arrested by Juni’s heartbreaking ex on suspicion of murder, the sisters don’t skip a beat putting Sip & Spin up for bail collateral. But their tune changes abruptly when Uncle Calvin disappears, leaving them in a grind. With their uncle’s freedom and the future of their small business on the line, it’s up to Juni and her sisters to get in the groove and figure out whodunit before the killer’s trail—and the coffee—goes cold.
Music and mocha seem like a blend that should be “Knockin' On Heaven's Door,” but caught up in a murder investigation with her family and their life savings on the line, Juni wonders if she might be on the "Highway to Hell" instead.
Customer Reviews
Quick and entertaining
I really enjoyed this book. It had everything I look for in a cozy: creative concept, LOTS OF PUNS, an interesting setting, lots of puns, and cool characters. (Okay, I may have grabbed it solely for the title.) I liked that it was set in a record store rather than a bakery/cupcake shop, although they still sell coffee. The hints of two potential love interests were good, although there is one very clear winner in my mind. I'm curious to see what happens--and hope it doesn't turn into a 15 book story arc of indecision.
There were things I just didn't understand, though. Juni talks about the expense of sending a record via media mail, but then notes that they were using a courier service (which would be significantly more expensive and, also, couriers don't deliver postal mail). I guessed the killer from the moment they made their first appearance, so I would have appreciated at least one other viable suspect. Most of the book is about Juni trying to track down her uncle, but since she never actually believes her uncle might be a killer, I didn't get the usual red herrings that I like. The final "gotcha" piece of evidence really came out of nowhere. There could have been a clue or two earlier than the police were looking at social media or looking for images that hadn't been developed yet/couldn't be found, something. When I got to the last page, it seemed like the murder should have been solved the day after it happened.
Overall, the book kept my attention. The writing was good. I'll probably read one more. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Review based on ARC obtained from Netgalley. I am leaving it voluntarily.