Hi, I’m Kate. Aka Kathleen, Katie—or Katie Margaret to my dad. Yep, I’m one of the infamous Buckleys from Shamrock, MA. Nice to meet you!

This isn’t an ideal time to introduce myself, because I may have a teensy family crisis to deal with. But that’s nothing new, so welcome to my crazy life. If you don’t mind squeezing into the back seat with my daughters Maeve and Bliz and listening to our cat Banshee complain from his carrier, hop in and join us on this fun road trip to my hometown. Ignore the lightning and lashing rain. Everything will be fine. Until we get to Shamrock and my parents’ B&B, the Buckley House. Then all bets are off.

Two hours ago, I was on an office Zoom call when I made the mistake of glancing at my phone. Rapid-fire texts came in from my sister Colleen:

Need to talk. in person. Impt!!!
When can u get here?
Don’t say anything to Mom.

Colleen loves to exaggerate. But sometimes her little “emergencies” need to be nipped in the bud before they bloom into full-blown disasters. Trust me on that. As her big sister (she’s 24, I’m 36), I’ve been her defender and protector since childhood. She’s fun and kind, with a quick dimple and the gift of gab—everyone loves Colleen Buckley. I call her Colleen Queen, because she’s always the center of attention. But occasionally that gets her in trouble.

I turned off my Zoom video and texted my sister back. No response. Tried to call her. Straight to voicemail. I started to panic. Was everyone okay? Had there been an accident? Why shouldn’t I talk to Mom?

Finally I typed into the meeting chat that I had a family emergency and shut down my laptop. I picked up my 7-year-old, Bliz (short for Mary Elizabeth) from the Holy Innocents after-school program and Maeve, 14, from detention. The girls were surprised we’d be headed to Shamrock early—St. Patrick’s festivities start next week—but we Buckleys roll with the punches. We packed our bags, dragged Banshee out from under Maeve’s bed, and hit the road.

Hold on, I can’t see through the windshield. The wipers are shot, and I completely missed the turn onto Galway Court. Did I mention my hometown is Irish-themed? Like Salem, MA, but with leprechauns instead of witches.

A former mill town, Shamrock was redesigned about 10 years ago to resemble a charming village in Ireland. Now tourists arrive by the busload. The sign outside the Chamber of Commerce reads, Welcome to Shamrock: A Wee Bit o’ Irish Heaven in New England. My dad, who everyone still calls the Chief (he’s reluctantly retired from the Shamrock PD), grumbles to himself every time he sees it.

Sorry, but I’m pulling over. This storm is ridiculous. Where are we?

Bliz pops up from the back. “Mommy, the shamrock isn’t smiling,” she says. Beside her, Maeve is awake now, too.

In a flash of neon green, I realize where we are. Just outside the Smiling Shamrock, the height of B&B perfection run by the elderly McShane sisters. Clear across town from the cozy-but-way-less-fancy Buckley House. “That’s the no-vacancy sign, sweetie,” I tell Bliz. “The shamrock only smiles when there are hotel rooms left.”

All three of us jump at a rap on the driver’s side window. Banshee yowls. Jayzus, Mary, and Joseph. Who’d be out on a night like this?

Just wait till I get my hands on Colleen.

The Jig Is Up, An Irish Bed & Breakfast Mystery Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: August 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

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.

About the author
Lisa Q. Mathews began her publishing career as an editor of Nancy Drew books. She also wrote for popular kids’ series such as Mary-Kate and Ashley and the Lizzie McGuire Mysteries. She now writes lighthearted mysteries for adults with strong female characters and plenty of family, including the Irish Bed & Breakfast Mysteries and the Ladies Smythe & Westin. Her short story “Fly Me to the Morgue” was an Agatha Award finalist. Lisa lives in New England. The “Q” in her name stands for “Quinn.” Visit Lisa’s website at LisaQMathews.com.