What a delight to spend time with Kate Buckley and her quirky family and neighbors in the charming town of Shamrock, Mass., in this captivating Irish-themed cozy mystery series launch.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the chance to read this book!

I can’t resist the premise of a classic cozy, and this, the first in a new series has all the hallmark elements I’ve come to know and love about the genre. We have a female sleuth moving back to her her home town, an old flame waiting in the wings, an eccentric family and a few big secrets under wraps. We have a theme, that of Irish dancing and combined with small town rivalry in the air B&B business. Add in the mystery and murder, and the stage is set.

I will say there were a few times where I had to stretch the believability and convenience of the situation. I can’t help but feel the lead gives far too much leniency to her eldest daughter, although an end spoiler may account for that. I’d also like to see a bit more depth to some of the more stereotypical characters, like ex Chief of police dad and scattered never there mum.

All in all though it was a fun little jaunt into a new cozy series from an established author. Four stars.

A nice start to the series. I had a few hang ups with the main characters sister (I’m assuming that it’s supposed to be that way. 😅), but enjoyed the rest of the characters. The pacing was great with plenty of red herrings and ending with several twists and turns.

Thanks NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Lisa Q. Mathew’s for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I gave five stars to The Jig is Up by Lisa Q. Mathews

Single-mom and police chief’s daughter Kate Buckley is all about family. After she receives an urgent text from her younger sister Colleen, she puts her life on hold and rushes to her Irish-themed hometown of Shamrock, Massachusetts. With her two daughters in tow, she’s ready to fight if it means she can help her charming but hapless sibling. When they arrive, Colleen claims it was all a misunderstanding. But everything changes in an Irish minute when Colleen’s best friend Deirdre, a dance show star, is found dead in the parish hall. With the discovery of a possible witness, a chilling motive, and a wee bit of incriminating evidence Colleen quickly becomes a person of interest in Deirdre’s murder. Convinced her sister isn't a killer, Kate is determined to clear Colleen’s name. As Kate investigates, Colleen takes charge of Shamrock’s popular Irish dance show in honor of her late friend–with disastrous results. With the St. Patrick’s Week festivities in full swing, Kate must catch the killer before the celebrations are ruined and her sister’s Irish luck runs out.

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A new Irish cozy mystery series perfect for St. Patrick's Day. I really enjoyed this read and liked that it focused so much on the family. Kate, along with her daughter, try to solve the murder and they really have such an amazing bond. I hope to find more cozy mysteries with a mother and daughter sleuthing team.

The mystery was also good and I had no idea whodunit. But what had me turning the pages were the well written characters and the Irish theme that is very apparent, even just by looking at the cover.

I will be picking up the next one, and recommend this to all cozy lovers.

This book comes out August 6.

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6163046918
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Super fun series and can’t wait to read more! I love the characters and their quirky personalities and town!

Kate arrives in her hometown with her two children when she gets an urgent message from her younger sister. Questioning her sister leaves offers no idea until they find her sister’s BFF dead, murdered and it is Colleen who becomes the prime suspect. Determined to clear her sister and save the family business, Kate searches for suspects and clues among the residents and in the process uncovers an abundance of secrets that would lead to the apprehension of the person responsible.

I love the comfortable tone and the pacing of this whodunit where the mystery was nicely staged with suspects, clues, and a few plot twists, one I did not see coming. WOW. Boasting a great cast of characters, engaging dialogue, and a small-town atmosphere, I look forward to more exciting adventures with Kate and her family and friends. The Jig Is Up is a welcome addition to the cozy mystery genre.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery whose main character stands out from the crowd as a single mother of two who is an accountant by profession. Kate Buckley and her two daughters are visiting her hometown of Shamrock, Massachusetts, when one of the local dance instructors is found murdered in the community center. Kate's involvement begins when her sister, Colleen, a close friend of the victim, becomes a primary suspect. The Buckleys' family dynamics are realistic, with Colleen providing much of the drama with her duplicity and imprudent choices. You never know when she's telling the truth. There's always one in every family, isn't there? Kate's father is a former police chief who was disabled after being shot by a criminal he'd convicted. The Buckleys also own a struggling bed and breakfast, which is suffering through its own struggles. The mystery contains a few surprises, including the killer's identity.

This was a good book and a promising start to a new series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and author Lisa Q. Matthews for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A good cosy mystery. Kate brings her two daughters with her to visit her parents and sister. When her sister´s best friend is found dead, and her sister is one of the main suspects she steps in to help solve the mystery. Liked the book and characters, except did find the sister irritating at times. She had more patience with her sister than I would have. Still though, would highly recommend and look forward to more in the series.

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.