Vineyard Enigma : A Martha's Vineyard Mystery [Mass Market Paperback]

Philip R. Craig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2003

Violent crime is a rarity on the tranquil shores of Martha's Vineyard, which is why ex-cop J.W. Jackson turned in his Boston badge to retire to the idyllic isle. And that's what makes a six-month-old murder so troubling to the perplexed locals. But Jackson's got troubles of his own -- including a loving wife, Zee, who's becoming curiously distant ... and the arrival of a mysterious visitor who's searching for a valuable set of stolen statues, and who's certain J.W.'s the man to hunt them down. It's an assignment that plunges the fisherman/chef-cum-private investigator into an unfamiliar milieu: the Vineyard's cutthroat world of art aficionados. And suddenly J.W. finds himself pitted against some of the island's most powerful and unscrupulous figures, uncovering lethal threads that may connect an unsolved mutilation/slaying with those who would stop at nothing -- including murder -- to add rare forbidden objects to their collections.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Former Boston cop J.W. Jackson searches for two ancient soapstone eagles allegedly stolen from African ruins, as well as for clues to his wife Zee's sudden detachment, in Craig's latest Vineyard mystery, a livelier, more original tale than his previous, 2001's Vineyard Shadows. Abraham Mahsimba, a cultivated and attractive African, may have given J.W. a fresh mission (and a new interest in priceless artifacts), but he's also struck Zee's fancy. A naked, headless and unidentified body and the murder of an art dealer complicate life on the island, and J.W. soon finds himself amid a thriving trade of stolen artifacts, a personal rivalry between collectors and a potential revenge plot. Eccentric locals a Native American couple, a distinguished art collector, a reluctant accountant and assorted nouveau riche islanders add zest. Craig offers enough liaisons, infidelities and questionable loyalties to keep everyone guessing. Does Mahsimba really work for Interpol, or is he after the eagles for selfish reasons? Will Zee fall victim to the seven-year itch? Another murder and an attempt on J.W.'s life leave our hero wary but still committed to getting to the bottom of things, which he does as the tale picks up speed and races toward a satisfying if uninspired conclusion. The Vineyard with its fishing, clamming, cooking and camaraderie retains its allure, the Red Sox are on a roll and J.W.'s homely philosophizing continues to annoy or enchant, depending on taste.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The arrival on Martha's Vineyard of a strange man in search of two African soapstone eagles creates turmoil for series star J.W. Jackson. Murder, art-world intrigue, and jealousy of his wife's attraction to the man all complicate J.W.'s life. For series fans.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Avon (April 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060511885
• ISBN-13: 978-0060511883
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #523,822 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nitpicking, May 21, 2006

By 

Raccoon W. "Raccoon" (Hollidaysburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews

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

Another day on Martha's Vineyard. I continue to play "catch up" with this series, because it IS something akin to a vacation on the Vineyard---old familiar characters and their exploits. It's relaxing and comforting. I do have to make some nitpicking observations on the Jackson children. If these children are "5" and "almost 4," how on earth are they spending the entire day in school? Maybe Martha's Vineyard is far and away ahead of most public schools, but an "almost 4 year old" in all-day school, riding a bus no less, is pretty weird. Preschool, maybe--but I thought money was pretty tight! And time after time, JW and Zee sit on the balcony with their martinis while they hear the kids pounding down the sandy driveway when the bus lets them off. Wouldn't you go MEET the bus for such young children? Sheesh. OK....I said it was nitpicking. Just really BUGGED me the whole way through the book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars He's Losing It!, May 9, 2003

By A Customer

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

This the is third book in a row that shows this series' decline. The far-fetched plot is based on two stolen carved African eagles, and Zee makes goo-goo eyes at a studly African from the moment she meets him. The reason, we find out at the end, is that she needed at that moment to love someone other than her husband...and he's cool with that. Puleeeeeeze! Mr. Craig needs to start writing for the reader again, and not for the bank...and we'll all be a lot happier!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Martha's Vineyard Series, July 12, 2002

By 

Dawn Dowdle "Mystery Lovers Corner reviewer" (Lynchburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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

J.W. and Zee Jackson live on Martha's Vineyard
with their 2 children. J.W. is an ex-cop from Boston. Now
he fishes and goes quahogging. To go quahogging you rake
quahogs, which are basically various sizes of hard shelled
clams, from the sand and mud bottoms. He gets a call from
a friend asking
him to assist an African, Mahsimba, search for 2 ancient
soapstone eagles allegedly stolen from African ruins. Zee
is acting distant since she recently shot a man and is
having trouble dealing with it. So J.W. agrees to help
Mahsimba. He starts interviewing all the people on the
island who have an interest in African art. Through the
course of his investigation he realizes he has apparently
stirred up someone.

He and Mahsimba continue their investigation of
the island art world in an attempt to find the soapstone
eagles.

This series is a fast read. I highly recommend
this book and the complete series.

One of the things I like is the authors description of his
preparation of the various seafood that he has caught and
then cooks. I am not a big seafood eater and so this gives
me insight into a type of food I would otherwise not hear
about. I also like his description of Martha's Vineyard.
Matter of fact, I like it so much that when we were
recently on a 9 day vacation in New England we went to
Martha's Vineyard. We weren't able to stay long, but at
least I got to see some of what he describes.

Having read most of the series, I also like how he builds
on the relationships of the characters. I feel like I'm
hearing from relatives when I read this book as I feel like
I know everyone.