The Jig Is Up

Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries #1

by Rachael Phillips

Former roommates reunite after thirty years to open a Scottish-themed bakehouse—but will they find they bit off more than they can chew when they uncover evidence of a murder?

Reunited college roommates Molly Ferris, Laura Donovan, and Carol MacCallan are dying to start up a Scottish bakehouse in Loch Mallaig, Michigan—even if the only available real estate in the quaint Upper Peninsula town is an old funeral parlor. The Bakehouse Three quickly find themselves buried in preparations for their grand opening … until they’re stopped dead in their tracks by a mysterious letter that insinuates the heart attack suffered by Loch Mallaig’s late mayor, Douglas Kinnaird, was anything but natural.

Soon Molly, Laura, and Carol find themselves struggling not only to keep their dream of opening the bakehouse alive but also to expose the truth about the late mayor, however ugly, before someone else suffers fatal consequences. Will they find a dead giveaway to the supposed killer’s identity? Or will the women’s sleuthing be the final nail in their collective coffin?

This clever whodunit from Annie’s Scottish Bakehouse Mysteries series is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries, delectable pastries, and Scottish culture.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2025

Reviews

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed meeting Molly, Carol and Laura, three friends who bought an old funeral home and had a curmudgeonly handyman help renovate it for a bakery. Molly who’d been widowed a while and her old crush Fergus (he’d been divorced a while) were too cute together. When Molly started sleuthing out the strange death of the previous mayor, she sure never counted on what’d happen to her eventually.

But because of good friends and a small town network, everything worked out and Molly lived to open the bakery with her partners and celebrate afterward. I noticed the second book’s written by a familiar cozy mystery author I already know and read, so I’m definitely planning to borrow that book. There’re 24 books in this series with different authors so it’ll be a miracle if I even make it past 3 or 4 with all the other stuff I want/need to read, lol.

[Michigan Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful Cozy

What a delight to read this wholesome mystery set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Great characters, beautiful descriptions of the setting and a wonderfully twisty mystery. The only drawback is all the yummy foods mentioned made me hungry to try them all!

I look forward to the next book in the series!

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I wanted, The Jig Is Up is a cozy mystery that takes place somewhere between Marquette and Copper Harbor. Three college friends, now retired, start a bakery business in a small UP town. A perfect companion for waiting out the hazardous air this week.

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like this was a young adult novel murder mystery written for old ladies who don’t want to read anything too scary. Weak plot. No real drama. I will be donating it.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery. Liked the characters, the storyline, the bakery information, the town. Will definitely read book 2

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM