Author: Libby Cudmore
Publisher: William Morrow
Date of purification: February 2016
Listening to someone else’s mix tapes is a huge breach of trust. But KitKat was dead . . . and curiosity got the better of me.
When a mix tape destined for her friend KitKat accidentally arrives in Jett Bennett’s mailbox, Jett doesn’t think twice about it—even in the age of iTunes and Spotify, the hipster residents of the Barter Street district of Brooklyn are in a constant competition to see who can be the most retro.
But when Jett finds KitKat dead on her own kitchen floor, she suspects the tape might be more than just a quirky collection of lovelorn ballads. And when KitKat’s boyfriend, Bronco, is arrested for her murder, Jett and her best friend, Sid, set out on an epic urban quest through strip joints and record stores, vegan bakeries and basement nightclubs, to discover who the real killer is. However, the further Jett digs into KitKat’s past, the more she discovers about her own left-behind love life—and the mysterious man whose song she still clings to. . . .
In The Big Rewind, Jett finds her neighbor murdered and is determined to find out who killed her. It all started with a mixed tape that ended up in her mailbox by mistake. The Big Rewind is a debut novel that ended up being a pleasant surprise for me. I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought I was going to get a mystery, but I ended up getting that and a walk down memory lane.
Now, I'm definitely not too young to remember what a mixed tape is because I grew up in a time when that was all we had to make a "playlist". The mixed tape and later CD was often given to someone important as a way to share friendship or feelings of love through the music we chose. I still have the mixed tapes that my husband made me when we first started dating. (yes, we have been together a long time!) The story brought me back to a different world when everything wasn't always instant and seemed a bit simpler.
The other thing I loved about this book was all of the musical references. Now, you know I'm not usually a big fan of pop culture references. Often in books, they are used over and over to make sure you know what year the story takes place and it drives me nuts. However, this book wouldn't make sense without them. The music is a big part of Jett's life. It plays a part in not only her solving the mystery, but in learning how to let go of the past and move forward. She may even find a little love along the way.
I highly recommend this debut. Any fan of music will get a kick out of it. Even fans of Billy Joel! (You'll just have to read the book to understand that reference.) I think that this author knocked it out of the park with her first book. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next.
About Libby Cudmore
Libby Cudmore worked at video stores, bookstores, and temp agencies before settling down in upstate New York to write. Her short stories have appeared in PANK, The Stoneslide Corrective, The Big Click,and Big Lucks. The Big Rewind is her first novel.
Follow Libby on her blog and connect with her onTwitter.
Purchase Links
Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble
Libby’s Tour Stops
Tuesday, February 2nd: Bibliotica
Tuesday, February 2nd: Jenn’s Bookshelves
Thursday, February 4th: The Reader’s Hollow
Tuesday, February 9th: Raven Haired Girl
Monday, February 15th: Novel Escapes
Tuesday, February 16th: From the TBR Pile
Wednesday, February 17th: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Thursday, February 18th: 5 Minutes For Books
Friday, February 19th: A Chick Who Reads
TBD: fangirl confessions