Review: A Vineyard Killing

J. W. Jackson is an ex Boston policeman. He likes to live the simple life and especially to fish. He, his wife Zee, who is a nurse in the local hospital, and their two children, Joshua and Diana live on Martha's Vineyard.

Paul Fox is shot outside the E and E Deli in Vineyard Haven on the island. J. W. and Zee were inside eating. J. W. runs outside to help him. Luckily Paul was wearing a bulletproof vest.

It is possible that Paul's brother, Donald, who is an Olympic gold medalist who is now a ruthless real estate developer, was the intended target. Donald's company is trying to buy up fuzzy old deeds and evicting homeowners on the island. One of his agents, Albert Kirkland, recently tried to buy the Jackson's home. J. W. is a part-time PI and takes the case to find out who is trying to kill Donald.

J. W. begins looking into Donald's life and finds many suspects, especially angry homeowners on the island. He begins looking into John Reilly for a friend and finds that no one knows where he lives. In attempting to follow him home, two men begin following J. W. From here things just keep getting complicated until J. W. can finally make sense of everything.

I love this series. We vacationed in New England last summer and we went to Marth'as Vineyard specifically because of my reading this series. It is as lovely in the books as it is in person. Mr. Craig has really captured the life and beauty of the island.

The main characters in this series are well written. Every time I read a book in this series, I feel like I'm catching up with an old friend. In each book, the new characters are constructed just as well. He has a real gift for making his characters real.

The plot in each book, this one included, is so well written you cannot figure out the mystery completely.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Dawn Dowdle

Book Review: A Vineyard Killing