A Shoot on Martha's Vineyard [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Philip R. Craig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999

Life on the Vineyard is good-maybe just too good--for ex-Boston cop J.W. Jackson this August. The bluefish are running early, and there's plenty of quality fishing time to be spent with his new baby son Joshua. But an idyllic summer hits a snag when a movie scout from a glamorous land called "Hollywood" invades the beaches--and takes a liking not only to the island locale, but to Jackson's lovely lady Zee as well. Worse still, a longtime nemesis turns up murdered just one day after he and J.W. come to blows, and Jackson is considered by nearly everyone, up-island and down, to be the most likely suspect. And if he hopes to spend the remainder of this season--as well as many others to come--enjoying simple family pleasures and fine, fresh seafood outside of a prison cell, J.W. will have to cast his line out and hook the real killer.

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

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Movie-making and murder interrupt the laid-back island life of J.W. Jackson, former cop, occasional detective and new father. In his ninth outing (following A Deadly Vineyard Holiday, 1997), J.W. signs on as driver-guide for a Hollywood location scout, the tanned and toothy Drew Mondry, who likes the look of the Vineyard. He also likes the look of J.W.'s wife, Zee, enough to ask her to be an extra in the film. They're all distracted when J.W. finds state environmental officer Lawrence Ingalls murdered just one day after he and J.W. came to blows over Ingalls's closing of a local beach. Although J.W. is the prime suspect, other Vineyard residents also had grudges against the dead man: Zack Delwood once said someone would soon shoot Ingalls; Moonbeam Berube, the caretaker at Ingalls's new house, has a history of violence. To find the killer, J.W. must dig up some dirt on the victim's seemingly spotless past. In J.W.'s guide work, Craig shows off his affectionate knowledge of Martha's Vineyard, from the touristy towns to the locals' favorite fishing spots. J.W. and Zee sometimes lapse into precious dialogue, and there's way too much reporting on baby Joshua's diaper usage, but in all, the Jacksons and their neighbors are an agreeable group of summertime sleuths.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

When series star J.W. Jackson's long-time nemesis arrives in town and is murdered, J.W. can avoid suspicion only by finding the murderer. A handsome Hollywood movie scout, meanwhile, takes a shine to Jackson's new wife. A lively and entertaining addition to the series (e.g., A Deadly Vineyard Holiday, LJ 5/1/97).
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 388 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078621614X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786216147
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,357,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Beat the Ambience, June 7, 1998

By 

cregis (Star, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A SHOOT ON MARTHAS VINEYARD (Martha's Vineyard Mysteries) (Hardcover)

These J.W. Jackson books can be read for the atmosphere alone. You get wonderful descriptions of Martha's Vineyard, not to mention great food along with some recipes. I'm dying to try Blue Fish Pate. The only problem I have with these books is that it is tiresome to read about how beautful Zee, the wife, is. This goddess is just too perfect and it's boring to be constantly reminded about all her glory, but this is something not unique as Robert Parker's description of Susan Silverman and all her beauty has irked me for years, but I still love Spencer so I still can enjoy these Vineyard books.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another delightful story from the Vineyard, August 15, 1999

By A Customer

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

I have devoured each of Philip Craig's Vineyard mysteries with great enthusiasm, and this one was no exception. His folksy description of Vineyard life is as enjoyable as the story itself, as is his ongoing update of his character's family life. His writing is as refreshing as an offshore breeze, and I look forward to each new book with pleasure.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars One too many, June 13, 2000

By 

Shazbat "rsktmc" (Trumbull, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A SHOOT ON MARTHAS VINEYARD (Martha's Vineyard Mysteries) (Hardcover)

Aside from milking Vineyard popularity in his rather dull series of mysteries, Craig does not fail to disappoint in this weakest of his offerings. Nothing much happens in this book, the murderer is fairly obvious, and Craig spoon-feeds us dribs and drabs of drama about as riveting as a bowl of mush. Cold mush. As one reviewer noted, there's just too much Zee adoration and Joshua junk. There is very little excitement. Like Martha's Vineyard after the tourists (finally!) go home. I gave this book two stars for the recipes that Craig thoughtfully includes with his stories. Now, if he would only publish his cookbook...