VINYL RESTING PLACE is feeling the love

“the more relaxed vibe of “Vinyl Resting Place” is bolstered by the sister’s genuine bond, colorful personalities, and not-so-gentle conflicts. It’s a winning combination.” – The New York Times Book Review, December 18, 2022.

“What a perfectly punny title and entertaining start to a new series!…Filled with cool musical references and clever coffee drinks like “Oops..I Did it Americano” “All the Single Lattes” and “Friends in Mocha Places,” I wish I could visit Sip & Spin in real life – sans murder! ” – A baker’s dozen (13) of cozy mysteries, in Modern Mrs Darcy (a lifestyle blog for book lovers), November 2023

VINYL RESTING PLACE is featured in The Cozy Mystery Book Club as part of the 12 Days of Cozies! “The first book in the Record Shop Mystery Series can be summed up in one word: fun.” – “Modern Cozies for a New Year!” for The Cozy Mystery Book Club by Sydney Leigh on December 6, 2023

Want some behind-the-scenes insight into VINYL RESTING PLACE? Check out my interview in ITWs The Big Thrill.

“Full of heart and unexpected twists, this read had me on my toes from start to finish and made me cherish the bond I have with my own sister even more.” – Lauren Blum, “7 Books We’re Loving Now,” First for Women 10/16/2023

Grounds for murder! To celebrate PSL season, Murder & Mayhem put together a list of six mystery cozies that feature coffee shops and VINYL RESTING PLACE is highlighted ☕️💀 By Elisa Shoenberger, Sep 18, 2023

VINYL RESTING PLACE is a Library Reads bonus pick for December, 2022!

Shelf Awareness for names VINYL RESTING PLACE one of the Best Books of the Week! “Vinyl Resting Place is a fun addition to Blacke’s growing library of stories featuring plucky amateur sleuths.” –Katie Noah Gibson

Boston Public Library tweets “You can’t go wrong with classics like Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple series, starting with MURDER AT THE VICARAGE! Or, for more modern cozies, try @vivien_chien’s DEATH BY DUMPLING, @oliviablacke‘s VINYL RESTING PLACE, and @evagatesauthor’s BY BOOK OR BY CROOK. #ShelfServiceLive”

VINYL RESTING PLACE articles and listicle mentions

“This is a perfect match for fans of cozy mysteries and family-run businesses. Sisters Juni, Tansy, and Maggie Jessup have opened up a music and coffee shop in Cedar River, Texas. Putting a damper on ownership, however, is finding a dead body in the supply closet and their uncle being arrested. When they bail him out and he disappears, it’s up to the Jessup sisters to figure out what is happening — and quick.” – BookRiot, 8 December Mystery & Thrillers to End the Year Reading by Jamie Canaves Dec 8, 2022

“It’s genius!” – BookRiot’s Liberty Hardy reviews Vinyl Resting Place in her podcast New Releases and More for December of 2022 (VRP review starts around 33:52)

“Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke … packs quite the cozy mystery punch.” “As the main character in this first-person narrative, Juni is flawed yet endearing and an absolute glitter bomb of a protagonist.” “”As cozy mysteries go, Vinyl Resting Place meets all the criteria and includes a unique flair.” “”Olivia Blacke delivers an alluring and quite detailed mystery.” “”Small town hijinks never disappoint” – “Lone Star Review: VINYL RESTING PLACE” by Ruthie Jones for Lone Star Literary Life, December 24, 2022

“Their blissful life screeches to a stop when their uncle is arrested for murder and the women selflessly put their business up as bail collateral — yet his subsequent disappearance leaves them in a pickle.” “Curl Up by the Fireplace with These Cozy Mysteries” By Angela Erickson in BookBub February 17, 2023

Let’s get musical. “Vinyl is back—in more ways than one. In September, Variety reported that vinyl sales were up 22% in the first half of the year, which have been rising since 2006. On top of that, we are getting a love letter to the world of vinyl and music in Olivia Blacke’s Vinyl Resting Place (12/27/22) in the new Record Store Mystery series.” – “Waxing Lyrical About Murder: Talking Vinyl Records with Olivia Blacke” by Elisa Shoenberger for Murder & Mayhem, December 20, 2022.

“Vinyl Resting Place, Olivia Blacke. This series opener is based in a newly opened vinyl record shop just outside musical Austin, Texas. It’s owned by three sisters, Juni, Maggie and Tansy, but Juni is the heroine. There are two romantic possibilities lurking, though the two must get past her protective older sisters; and when their opening night is ruined by a dead body in the storeroom, it’s investigated by one of them, her ex, now a cop. This is a really well plotted mystery with actual very mysterious elements (for example, Juni’s uncle has disappeared after cutting off the tether the cops put on him). The details of running a shop feel just right and also make the story full of interestingly specific detail, and Juni herself is a great, funky character who gets around town on a lime green trike. Fun AND smart, a great combo, and I can’t wait for more.” – Best of: Cozies 2022, December 2, 2022 by auntagatha

“Add in a deep love of records and punny coffee drinks, this is one hit you don’t want to miss.” – “Rhapsody in Red: 6 Mysteries and Thrillers About Music – These books will strike a chord.” by Elisa Shoenberger, Feb 24, 2023

“This is far from a romance, however, it’s a well plotted mystery. Juni’s uncle is brought in for questioning and arrested because of a huge stack of unpaid parking tickets, but when he’s on the way home, wearing a tether no less, he cuts it off and disappears. Blacke makes this a story of both solving the murder and of finding the uncle who is stubbornly, mysteriously gone. Because it turns out Juni actually knew the dead woman, readers will care very much about her as well.
Juni is a great, funky character, who rides around town on a lime green trike and changes out her glasses to go with her outfits. The details of running a shop seemed absolutely authentic to me, and because the sisters have a niche and the knowledge (and inventory) to back it up, it seems their store is destined for success. This is a terrific, lively series opener.” – Cozy Column (issue #174 Winter 2022) in the final print issue of Mystery Scene Magazine

Vinyl Resting Place is included in the firstCLUE (Issue 81) December 2022 Releases roundup

“Pun-Filled, Well-Plotted and Un-Putdownable” “Vinyl Resting Place is an engaging mystery filled to the brim with witty characters, but our leading lady, Juniper Jessup (Juni to friends and family), takes the cake. She is a witty woman with a colorful personality, acting like a dog with a bone trying to figure out the mysterious murder.”- “Texas-Sized Cozy Mystery Mixes Coffee, Music and Murder” by Kelsey Hall for BookTrib, December 21, 2022

“This was a fast-paced and well-written drama that I could not put down, quickly becoming a page turner as I had to know why this young woman was murdered and placed in the record shop. The author did a great job setting this up with a bevy of suspects and clues there and there, with just enough tease to keep me in the game. There were a few red herrings that would point to a few with some surprises that enhanced my reading pleasure. I liked how the sister came together to sift through the clues, making it believable in what they wanted to accomplish. The secondary characters had pivotal roles and it was their action that would lead to the revelation of the killer’s identity and the motive. Good job in keeping me in suspense throughout most of the book, especially when I had that “aha” moment and knew who the killer was and enjoyed watching it all play out to the end.” – Dru’s Book Musings by Dru Ann Love

Vinyl Resting Place is named one of the “Cool reads for cozy December” by Aqilah Rahman for Borneo Bulletin Online, December 13, 2022

“Cozy Case Files as Classic Cocktails” – in Criminal Element, January 24, 2023

VINYL RESTING PLACE trade reviews

“Cozy enthusiasts will find a lot to love in this title, including Daffy, the record store cat, a close-knit community, and plenty of amateur detective work…VERDICT: Will appeal to cozy mystery readers, fans of family-centered small-town mysteries, and music lovers.” – Reviewed by Tristan Draper , Dec 01, 2022 for Library Journal.

“This was a charming contemporary cozy mystery series that really draws you in with its depiction of the strong bond between the Jessups. They’re not the only terrific characters though, in this fun, large-hearted mystery that showcases a wonderfully diverse cast of believably flawed, modern people. The showdown with the murderer was also neatly done, and I absolutely know which side of the nascent love triangle I’m on (Team Teddy!) The music setting was also really great, making this a must-read for anyone who loves vinyl as much as they love cozies.” – “Book Review: Vinyl Resting Place by Olivia Blacke” by Doreen Sheridan for Criminal Element, January 17, 2023

VINYL RESTING PLACE endorsements

A lot of times, traditionally published books will include a short endorsement, or blurb, by other authors in the same genre. One of the greatest feelings as an author is when they get a blurb from an author that they totally fangirl over. As some of the endorsements for VINYL RESTING PLACE are starting to come in, I thought I’d share a few with you:

	“What fun! I loved tagging along with Juni Jessup as she navigated a love triangle, quirky family hijinks, and a mystery at the family record shop. A great start to a new cozy mystery series. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.” – Gigi Pandian, author of Under Lock & Skeleton Key
“Your head will spin at 78 rpms as you try to solve this charmingly challenging mystery. Juni Jessup is in her groove, needling people for information, but is she being played like a record album? Song references provide an entertaining mental soundtrack as she attempts to track down a killer before another record – or victim – drops. A fun mystery for music lovers and anyone nostalgic for the golden age of record stores. Olivia Blacke’s music-themed mystery, Vinyl Resting Place, has me singing her praises. With its perfect rhythm and tone, this story can’t be beat.” – Diane Kelly, author of The Mountain Lodge Mysteries
	“Rockin’ music, taco trucks, pun-tastic coffee drinks, family bonds, and a twisty mystery to boot! What’s not to love about Vinyl Resting Place? A fantastic start to the Record Shop Mystery series, which is definitely an auto-buy for me from now on. Can’t wait for the next one!” Mia P. Manansala, author of the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series including Agatha Award-winning Arsenic and Adobo
“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
	“A fun, engaging mystery is the basis of Olivia Blacke’s new cozy mystery series, and it’s only made better by a host of great characters, lively banter, and a Texas-sized helping of charm! I loved this book and I’m looking forward to more adventures with Juni and her sisters in the future!” – S.C. Perkins/Celeste Connally, Agatha award-winning author of the Ancestry Detective Series