The Jig Is Up by Lisa Q. Mathews

Item: The Jig Is Up
Rating: 5
Author: karenbaron

Posted May 16, 2024 by karenbaron in #StPatricksDay, Mystery, Review, Series / 0 Comments

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Jig Is Up

by Lisa Q. Mathews

Series: Irish Bed and Breakfast Mystery #1
Series Rating:

Published by Crooked Lane Books on August 6, 2024
Setting: Shamrock, Massachusetts
Genres: Cozy Animal Mystery
Pages: 304
Format: Hardcover, Kindle
Source: NetGalley
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Nook

Irish step dance takes a deadly turn in this Celtic cozy series debut, perfect for fans of Carlene O’Connor and Paige Shelton.

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.

The Jig Is Up by Lisa Q. Mathews showcases what family means to one another in this Irish cozy mystery, the beginning of a new series set in Massachusetts.

Can Kate clear Colleen’s name before St Paddy’s Day and the jig is up?

The Buckley Family

The Buckleys sure know how to get into trouble once they are all in town. This whole family is nuts, and I love it, though. It reminds me of my own family and how when we all get together, everyone has something going on. Either in our personal lives or at work. It’s interesting to see what is happening in the Buckleys’ lives. Family gatherings are the best, even if they don’t always start off on the right foot. Like how Colleen got Kate and her daughters back to Shamrock real fast.

Kathleen and her girls

Kathleen Buckley, better known as Kate, is the eldest child of Shamrock’s ex-police chief. He is retired now and runs their bed and breakfast with his wife and the help of Colleen. Being the oldest daughter comes with some hardships, as Kate tries to set a better example for her younger siblings. She is a wonderful mom to her two beautiful girls. Kate tries her best honestly and even more so to make sure that they keep safe. Since Kate’s youngest is only seven and she mostly sticks at home, she is the easiest. It’s her oldest that makes Kate worry since she is entering high school. Kate was going to be a professional dancer but gave it all up because she wanted to have a family instead.

Frank

Frank is the middle child and only boy. He thinks he has to be the one making sure that his two sisters don’t get into too much trouble. That is honestly really hard when it comes to the Buckley girls, but everyone in town loves this family. Well, most people in the town do. He is a great character. Frank is on the police force as well and is one of many police officers that Kathleen knows. Meaning, she can probably use him later if this sleuthing thing keeps going. Out of all the siblings, Frank still eats like he is a teenager. He enjoys popping by the bed and breakfast for a meal or to do a bit of laundry.

Colleen

The youngest child is Colleen. Colleen means well, but at the age of twenty-four, she thinks that she knows everything. She still lives at home, helping her parents with the bed and breakfast. You see, sometimes Colleen has a hard time keeping money and staying out of trouble. Colleen is meant to take over the family business, but I don’t honestly see that happening. She really enjoys helping out at the dance school, as she was a dancer when she was a teenager. The youngest daughter was the most shocking character of them all. I loved Colleen, honestly.

Their Parents

Their mom is their rock. She had to be the disciplinary parent and the one that was always there. Everyone still calls their dad Chief, even though he is retired and hasn’t been on the force in many years. He still has his fingers dipped into the police force and offers them his services if they need him to. Mom doesn’t seem to like that very much since she wants him safe at home and resting. Except this is what he does best and is what he wants to do. The police force still listens to him. No one wants to hurt the Chief’s feelings.

The Mystery

Kate, Colleen, and Kate’s oldest daughter went off to grab Deirdre from the hall where Deirdre was having practice that night for her dance school. They were going to meet at the local pub, but Colleen got sidetracked by Kathleen showing up, and then Deirdre was running late, too. Deirdre was a famous Irish step dancer, and she came from a long line of champion Irish step dancers. She was one of them.

The three Buckley girls found Deirdre’s dead body, and they thought that they could save her. I felt so bad for everything that was happening in this story for Colleen and Kate and their little family. Honestly, Ms. Mathews had me guessing who the murderer was throughout the entire story. I thought I had someone, but I got the red herring instead. Also, my supposed motive wasn’t the right one. I mean, it kind of was, but it really wasn’t. Ms. Mathews did a fantastic job of making the reader go around in circles trying to figure out whodunit.

Five Stars for The Jig Is Up by Lisa Q. Mathews

My rating for The Jig Is Up by Lisa Q. Mathews is five stars, and I’m recommending it to anyone who needs a new cozy mystery series to sink your teeth into. Ms. Mathews did a fabulous job of bringing me to Shamrock, Massachusetts, and making me feel like I’m part of the Buckley family. Kate is our point-of-view character, and it was nice to see things through her eyes and how she fits into her family. I honestly love the Buckley family, and I can’t wait to see what other shenanigans they get into in the next book. Ms. Mathews has a brilliant series on her hands.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Jig Is Up by Lisa Q. Mathews.

Until the next time,

Happy Reading!

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About Lisa Q. Mathews

LISA Q. MATHEWS, a member of the mighty Quinn clan (also Nolan, Stinson, and Keady), began her publishing career as an editor of Nancy Drew books. She also wrote for other popular kids’ series, including Mary-Kate and Ashley, Sweet Dreams, and the Lizzie McGuire Mysteries.

After years in New York, she returned home to New England to write lighthearted mysteries with strong female sleuths, including the Irish Bed & Breakfast Mysteries (Crooked Lane Books) and the Ladies Smythe & Westin series (Carina Press). Her short story “Fly Me to the Morgue” in the Malice Domestic anthology Mystery Most Diabolical was an Agatha Award finalist.

A fan of stone walls, the Red Sox, and Dunks iced tea, Lisa lives in New Hampshire with her family, including a crazy golden retriever named Farley and a lucky black rescue cat from her old Brooklyn neighborhood. Lisa is represented by Stephany Evans of Ayesha Pande Literary.

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