The Jig Is Up immerses the reader in the world of Irish dance complete with costumes, competition and yes, murder. Throw in a doozy of a family secret and a clever resolution to the crime and you have a promising start to this new cozy series.

“The Jig is Up” by Lisa Q. Mathews introduces readers to a thrilling Celtic cosy series, weaving Irish step dance into a murder mystery. Kate Buckley, a single mom and the police chief’s daughter rushes to her Irish-themed hometown of Shamrock, Massachusetts, after an urgent message from her sister Colleen. The narrative takes a dark turn when Colleen’s best friend, Deirdre, a dance show star, is found dead in the parish hall. Mathews skillfully blends elements of family, mystery, and Irish charm in this cosy debut. The quirky town of Shamrock, dedicated to all things Irish, provides a delightful backdrop for the murder investigation. The author’s crisp and witty writing style keeps the reader engaged, with a surprising twist adding to the excitement.

The characters, particularly Kate and her daughters, are relatable and draw the reader into their world. The family dynamics and the bond between the sisters add depth to the narrative. However, Colleen’s character may evoke mixed feelings, with some finding her annoying and unlikeable. The murder investigation unfolds amid St. Patrick’s Week festivities, creating a sense of urgency. The setting, with its Irish-themed charm, is vividly portrayed, making readers wish Shamrock truly existed. Mathews successfully plants roots for future directions in the series, offering multiple possibilities.

While the protagonist, Kate, occasionally exhibits overthinking tendencies, the overall storytelling and the engaging plot compensate for this. The book provides a clean, no-swearing, and no-sex cosy mystery option, making it suitable for those seeking a gentler mystery narrative. In conclusion, “The Jig is Up” is an enjoyable debut in the Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery series. It combines a murder mystery with an Irish flair, capturing the reader’s attention with its well-crafted plot, compelling characters, and unexpected twists. The promise of future adventures in Shamrock makes it an enticing start to a cosy series, leaving readers eager for more.

While Kate was a fantastic main character and a fun character to read about, I had a really hard time enjoying the other aspects of this story. There almost seemed to be too much going on that none of it really got the attention it deserved and everything ended up feeling a bit convoluted. The solution to the murder didn’t make sense and there wasn’t really any lead up to it. The side romance really fell flat for me, and Kate’s whole family (minus the kids who I enjoyed) seemed either so flaky or so self-centered that it was quite annoying to read about them. I also expected more from the B&B perspective considering the series title, but Kate’s parents’ failing B&B just kept getting pushed to the side as well.
I might give the next book a try to see if it gets any better, but this first book fell a little flat for me.

Absolutely enchanting! The Jig Is Up will have you seeing shamrocks. Settle in with a mug of Irish coffee and your favorite green blanket, because it's gonna take more than the luck o' the Irish to solve Lisa Q. Mathews's delightful mystery. This whodunit hits all the right steps - I give it five pots of gold stars!

"THE JIG IS UP" is the debut book in this promising new Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery series.

Single mom Kate Buckley packs up her daughters and rushes home to Shamrock, Massachusetts after receiving an urgent text from her sister Colleen. When she arrives, Collen claims it was all just a misunderstanding. Everything changes when Colleen's best friend Deirdre is found murdered in the parish hall, and Colleen is implicated. Kate feels she has no choice but to investigate to clear her sisters name.

The book has a nice pace, a good plot, and multiple red herrings. I was surprised by who the murderer turned out to be. I found most of the characters interesting and well fleshed out, and I liked the family dynamics with Kate's parents and her daughters. Colleen came across as annoying and just thoroughly unlikeable to me. This was a great start to a new series and a nice cozy to sit back and relax with. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Many thanks to netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC to read and review.

Rating: 3.5 rolled up to 4
The death of a beloved teacher, missing money and family drama all while getting ready for St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

You know things are going to get worse when before you even make it to the front door, things are creepy. Dark and stormy with the neighborhood odd aunts startling as you get your bearings on the side of the road.

Kate and her girls Maeve and Blitz head home to Shamrock thinking something is wrong after receiving a text from Colleen, Kate’s younger sister. Perhaps it is a testament to the the author’s skill that I disliked Colleen from the beginning and continued to dislike her through the end. After the first few chapters, the Colleen-Kate relationship puts me in mind of the sister characters Kat (Debra Messing) and Amy (Amy Adams) in the movie The Wedding Date (released in 2005). Continuing on this theme, Garrett reminds me of Nick (Dermot Mulroney) by attitude not profession. If you’re wondering, no, didn’t just watch the movie or anything.

Initially some of the background detail seemed inconsistent but later make sense. The dance scenes were well written and left me with visions of the Irish dancers I’ve seen perform on tv. 

I struggled a bit with Kate’s motivation to investigate. Yes, her sister Colleen is a person of interest and has not been totally forthcoming but also didn’t seem to be a ‘real’ suspect. 

Lots of root planting (not referring to plants) to begin the series with multiple possibilities for directions which I like.  I think I need a Zoe 

I came away feeling sorta bad for Kate. She felt the least developed, the most put-upon and getting the raw end of the deal. The bad guy’s backstory was more ‘vivid’. That being said, gives room to ‘grow’ Kate in future stories. The same for the Chief, Mom, and Garrett.

I felt like a recap of ‘the why and why-for’ should have been done since it was revealed where it was just Kate and the bad guy. 

While I didn’t really care for the Colleen character, I did like many of the others. I wanna see if my guess pan out on the direction for the characters, so I am looking forward to Book 2!

Thank you to #NetGalley  for the opportunity to do an early read and share my thoughts on the story. 

Happy Reading!

3.5 stars

I loved the setting of this book. An Irish themed town? Yes, please. I was so annoyed with Colleen that it really affected my enjoyment of the book. That being said, I look forward to more books in the series and hope that she'll grow on me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Crooked Lane Books.

A fun and perfect cozy mystery with an Irish-American theme and setting. Kate returns to her Irish-themed hometown of Shamrock, Massachusetts at the urgent request of her sister Colleen. It turns out that nothing was too terribly wrong, but in the meantime, Colleen's best friend, an Irish dancing star, is murdered. Kate, her sister, and her retired police chief father are on the case -- and to make things even more fun, Kate takes over the Irish dancing show, with somewhat mixed results. Cozy readers looking for something new will really enjoy this.

Lisa Q. Mathew's first in her new An Irish Bed and Breakfast Mystery series is equally engaging and annoying for me. The reveal of the character's natures was slow and confusing, the result being that they were all mostly unlikeable. On the flip side the mystery was intriguing although it was solved in a quick and dramatic fashion. There were just so many layers to this book that provided more questions than answers that it was frustrating. I feel like the book should have been twice as long to resolve some things. I do look forward to another in the series in the hopes that the frustrations will be eased.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Following Kate Buckley’s journey to solve the murder of an Irish dancer in her quirky hometown of Shamrock, Massachusetts was so engaging it made me want to lace up a pair of ghillies and join the search. Mathews’ writing is crisp and witty and there’s a gasp-worthy twist at book’s end. The setting, a town devoted to all things Irish, is so delightful you’ll find yourself hoping Shamrock really exists. I can’t wait for another visit to the Buckley family's unique Irish-themed Bed and Breakfast. Slainte!

There's a lot I like about this book--single mom Kate; family relationships and how hard they are to change, even once you grow up; the world of Irish dance; the sadness of a best friend and talented dancer lost; the craziness of a themed tourist town...But I honestly find Colleen so freaking annoying that the book wasn't that fun to read at times. I was just really impatient with that. And the solution to the mystery feels a bit convoluted. Maybe I just missed something, but I wasn't 100% sure how Kate figured everything out. Still, if it weren't for the annoying dynamic between Kate and Colleen, this book would be four stars for me.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

fun, funny cozy Irish mystery with cool ideas, and i loved all the little subplots like the sister trying to handle irish dance in honor of her dead friend. tysm for the arc.

I would like to thank NetGalley for granting access to an advanced copy of Lisa Q. Mathews' debut cozy mystery, "The Jig is Up", the first book in the Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery series. With a background in editing Nancy Drew books and contributing to popular kids' series such as Mary-Kate and Ashley, Sweet Dreams, and the Lizzie McGuire Mysteries, Mathews brings a wealth of storytelling experience to the realm of adult mysteries. Notably, she has already made her mark with mysteries for grown-ups in the Ladies Smythe & Westin series, showcasing her prowess in crafting intriguing tales with strong female sleuths and intricate family dynamics. Now, with "The Jig is Up," Mathews introduces readers to a new mystery series, promising an Irish-themed narrative brimming with charm and familial bonds.

The narrative revolves around Kate Buckley, a single mother and the police chief's daughter, who rushes to her Irish-themed hometown of Shamrock, Massachusetts, after an urgent message from her sister, Colleen. The plot takes a twist when her sister's best friend, a dance show star named Deirdre, is found dead. As Colleen becomes a suspect, Kate embarks on a quest to clear her sister's name amid the St. Patrick's Week festivities.

While the book boasts all the essential elements of a good cozy mystery, there seems to be a missing link in the overall execution. The lead character, Kate Buckley, is a single mother with two endearing daughters. However, there were instances where the elder daughter seemed to possess more determination than the parent. The delicate balance between curiosity and deduction was not entirely achieved, as Kate occasionally came across as an overthinker, missing the crux of the matter. Toning down this tendency would have enhanced the overall reading experience. The constant urge to tell Kate to refrain from overanalyzing became a distracting aspect, diminishing the enjoyment of the narrative.

Despite this, "The Jig is Up" holds appeal for readers seeking a clean, no-swearing, and no-sex cozy mystery. Lisa Q. Mathews successfully delivers a tale woven with Irish charm and familial bonds, providing a suitable option for those who prefer a gentler mystery narrative. As the St. Patrick's Week festivities unfold, the race to catch the killer keeps the reader engaged, even if the protagonist's tendencies may require a moment of patience.

#TheJigIsUp #NetGalley is a new book featuring sisters Kate and Colleen Buckley.
Kate and her daughters arrive in Shamrock after receiving an odd message from her sister Colleen.
When the sisters head out to meet up with Irish step dancer Deirdre, they make a gruesome discovery, which soon involves them in a murder investigation.
The quaint New England town of Shamrock holds plenty of secrets, including one between the two sisters.
I found myself immediately connected to all the characters and the story kept me engaged from beginning to end.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.