A Fatal Vineyard Season: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Philip R. Craig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999

Martha's Vineyard is home to ex-Boston cop J.W. Jackson, his adored wife Zee, their toddler Joshua, and newborn daughter Diana. For others, the picturesque vacation spot is a relaxing escape from a world filled with trouble. But there is no escap for Julia Crandel and Ivy Holiday, two Hollywood actresses staying in the Vineyard town of Oak Bluffs. Their arrival has incurred the wrath of a pair of local gangsters, and a deadly stalker from out of the young ladies' past has found out where they are hiding. Twin hurricanes are about to slam the idyllic island -- one a natural climatic disaster, the other an all-too-human catastrophe -- and it looks as if J.W. is going to get caught in the middle. And since his conscience won't allow him to abandon two frightened, helpless visitors to the fury of the coming storm, he stows away his fishing gear, sends his loved ones off-island ... and dives headfirst into the tempest.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Instead of taking it easy now that the tourist season is over, year-round Martha's Vineyard resident and handyman J.W. Jackson, who's a retired cop, comes to the aid of a starlet in distress in this tenth in a series (A Shoot on Martha's Vineyard, etc.). After his wife and two toddlers go to the mainland, J.W. gets a call from Betsy Crandel, whose house he watches during the off-season months. Her niece and a friend, both African-American actresses, will be vacationing on the island for a few weeks. The friend, Ivy HolidayAnotorious for baring her breasts at the Academy Awards in protest of "the exploitation of women as sex objects in films"Ahas been receiving threatening notes from an inmate jailed for killing Ivy's roommate. Neither Ivy's attorney nor J.W. can figure out how the notes are getting past prison officials. Meanwhile, J.W. sees a more serious threat in racist, sexist Alexandro Vegas, who breaks into the Crandel house and tries to attack Ivy with a kitchen knife. Alexandro and his cunning brother Alberto, an ex-con, are running a protection racket on the island. As Hurricane Elmer takes its time deciding whether it'll turn toward the island, J.W. works on ending the Vegas brothers' hold on the area and on discovering the import of the dire notes Ivy keeps getting. Carefully plotted, the novel has a companionable, relaxed atmosphere that's laced with J.W.'s insights on everything from coastal living and fishing to fatherhood and human relationships. This is a good bet for any beach, on the Vineyard or off. (June)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Summer on Marthas Vineyard is waning and J.W. Jackson, his wife Zee, and their two small children are settling in for the winter. J.W. (A Shoot on Marthas Vineyard, 1998, etc.), once a Boston cop, will do his care-taking jobs for absentee house and boat ownerslike caring for the Crandel house in Oak Bluffs, presently occupied by actresses Julia Crandel and her friend Ivy Holiday. Ivy is seeking relief from McKenzie Reed, the stalker now jailed in California for the killing of Ivys roommate Dawn Dawson. No one can explain the letters that follow Ivy from him, despite strict prison surveillance. More immediate danger threatens in the looming shadow of the Vegas brothersAlberto, who runs an ever expanding so-called protective agency, and brother Alexandro, who acts as his huge, violent, foul-mouthed enforcer. J.W. is glad Zee and the children are visiting grandparents on the mainland while he keeps an eye on Julia and Ivy, even though theyre officially guarded by Bostons Thornberry agency. Events escalate as Hurricane Homer heads for the Vineyard; young policeman Larry, who annoyed Alexandro, is found beaten nearly to death; Julia and Ivy disappear, and the Vegas boat Invictus leaves its mooring with J.W. secretly aboard and a drama-laden ordeal to come. Eventful doings suffused with a rueful air and lots of J.W.s homespun philosophy. The tension-filled finale makes it one of Craigs better outings. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 342 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786222077
• ISBN-13: 978-0786222070
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,752,676 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh J.W. Jackson Martha's Vineyard mystery, April 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Fatal Vineyard Season : A Martha's Vineyard Mystery (Hardcover)

After a bullet disabled him former Boston police officer J. W. Jackson moved to Martha's Vineyard. He supplements his small pension with odd jobs such as caring for the summer homes of part time residents. This allows him to spend time with his wife Zee and their two children. At times, J.W. also solves local crimes.

When J.W. goes to the Crandall home to fix a faucet, he meets the two occupants, Julia Crandall and Ivy Holiday, two individuals hiding from a stalker. The two beautiful ladies attract the resident psychopath Alexandro Vegas, an ex-con that hates women, especially black females. Alexandro begins a campaign of terror against the two women. They hire J.W. to protect them from Alexandro and the California stalker who may be jailed but has plans for his victims.

After ten successful novels, this enjoyable series retains its freshness by providing new insight into the personal life of the hero such as his wife giving birth since the previous tale (see A SHOOT ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD). A FATAL VINEYARD SEASON addresses major social issues such as racism amidst an isolated population and defending oneself against stalkers. Phillip R. Craig gifts his audience with the best novel in one of the better series available today.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Go away, Zee, September 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Fatal Vineyard Season: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery (Martha's Vineyard Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I fell in love with J.W. and his Vineyard several books ago. Recently, though, I've found Craig's stories weak to the point of boring.

With the wife came responsibility and predictability. J.W. has changed, and he just doesn't offer the excitement he used to. Now that he has two children, the sleuth is just another dad, lugging car seats and buying ice cream. It's interesting, almost funny, how precocious Craig makes these little darlings, shaking hands and exhibiting perfect manners, even to the bad guys. I couldn't help but think, every time these kids refer to their parents as "Ma" and "Pa", that I was back to "Little House on the Prairie". Maybe that's a better title..."Little House on the Vineyard."

Please, Mr. Craig, get rid of this sugar-sweet family. They could all fall off the boat and drown. They could be kidnaped by terrorists and never returned. Anything. Just bring back the old J.W. and his adventures - minus the missus and the diaper bag.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Price of Fame, April 3, 2009

By 

Nash Black "Troubadour" (Jamestown, KY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: A Fatal Vineyard Season: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery (Martha's Vineyard Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

J.W. Jackson is married with two children, when Julia Crandel and Ivy Holiday flee a Hollywood stalker who has access to a computer from his prison cell.

Julia is from an old Vineyard family and their sanctuary is precious to the girls, but their race taunts a pair of local gangsters who use intimidation to collect "protection money" from their neighbors' businesses.

Philip Craig creates one of his most vicious villains who is worse than any stalker.

J.W. aids the girls, but he protects his own by sending them off-island, then he fights back against vicious killer and a hurricane. A FATAL VINEYARD SEASON is top notch Craig.

Nash Black, whose books are available in Kindle editions.

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