The Paperwhite Narcissus

Martha's Vineyard Mystery #5

by Cynthia Riggs

When Colley Jameson, the unpopular, egocentric editor of the Island Enquirer abruptly cancels Victoria Trumbull's weekly column, the ninety-two-year-old Martha's Vineyard native takes her reporting skills to the competition, and immediately outscoops the Enquirer-with a murder story.
Body parts of a local man wash up at two separate locations, and an investigation reveals that he was having an affair with a woman who is fatally poisoned-and just happens to be one of Jameson's ex-wives. A third victim connected to the newpaperman coincides with a series of fake obituaries detailing the ruthless editor's own demise. Certain she's the only person on the island with enough insight to save his skin-and his newspaper-Colley tells Victoria to name her price, before a killer terminates his career. . . permanently. (From back cover)

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Cozy

Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

Cynthia Riggs, a tall gray-haired and imposing figure, is a 13th generation Islander, the mother of five and daughter of author and poet Dionis Coffin Riggs and school principal and printmaker Sidney N. Riggs.

With a degree in geology, her own remarkable resumé -- writing for the National Geographic Society and Smithsonian (she spent two months in Antarctica), working in public relations for the American Petroleum Institute, operating boat charters (she lived on a 44-foot houseboat for 12 years), running the Chesapeake Bay Ferry Boat Company, and being a rigger at Martha's Vineyard Shipyard. After enrolling six years ago in the Master of Fine Arts creative writing program at Vermont College, Riggs found yet another calling. She has become a successful mystery writer.

All her mysteries take place on the Vineyard, and all draw from local scenes and fictionalized composites of Island characters. She knows them all well, having been a two-time candidate for West Tisbury selectman ("No, I don't think I'll do that again"), a commissioner on the Martha's Vineyard Commission, a member of what is now the Martha's Vineyard Arts Council, and an active Island voice in both politics and human rights causes.

Reviews

[Perrilyn Pringle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this author and series ive found.

[Karen Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book in this very enjoyable series. The plot includes several sub-plots, a hard-to-untangle mystery, and the pleasant local color that adds so much authenticity. I think my favorite part is that the heroine and some of the "supporting cast" are well into the later years. I actually listen to each of these stories as audio books, and I think Davina Porter truly captures the spirit of the characters in her wonderful readings.

[Kathy jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally! A book where the main character isn’t 30 and gorgeously rich. This book’s main character is a 90-something newspaper columnist who keeps a sharp eye on the town and solves whodunits, either in her role as deputy or as the town’s most knowledgeable resource. I didn’t start at the beginning of the series but I’ll read more. Great for escapist reading.

[Diane Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series that I’ve read. The first was Deadly Nightshade, which I thought was the first in the series. Amazon says this book is first. Goodreads says this is book 5. Beats me. This one is actually better than Deadly Nightshade. More compact, not so many moving parts and boat talk which just goes over my head. Better pacing. More humor. I was afraid it was going to be Climate Change nonsense when it starts off with the locals opposing a new golf course. I thought Martha’s Vineyard was one big golf course from top to stern with a bunch of McMansions scattered about. That made no sense to me. Thankfully, that’s not where the story went. I found it fun to realize the time period. Computers only at work. No cell phones, very little internet. Phones on desks and walls. Those were the days, when people actually communicated instead of standing next to each other scrolling. I had trouble keeping all the characters straight, and Davina Porter, whom I normally adore as Reader, can’t do American accents, but I still recommend the audiobook so you can listen at double speed. Otherwise it’s a little slow. I might try one more. I just love these book covers. They are sucking me into the series!

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good solid mystery. As always, we find ourselves surprised at the amount of evil-doing, chicanery, and murder on little old Martha’s Vineyard. Never fear, 92 year old intrepid reporter and honorary deputy of the West Tisbury Police Department Victoria Trumbull is equal to any challenge. That might seem to stretch credulity, but there you have it!
In the present instance Victoria’s boss Jameson Colley, editor of the Island Enquirer, has been receiving unsettling and nasty obituary submissions - with himself in the starring role!
Swallowing his pride, he “hires” Victoria to find out who’s writing the obits and put an end to them. While Victoria investigates, other folks are becoming eligible for their own obituaries by getting themselves killed, and Victoria believes all of these things are connected, even if other authorities don’t. She won’t be deterred, and in the end our heroine carries the day once again. A bit over the top perhaps, but definitely an enjoyable read!

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. When a string of murders hits the Vineyard, Victoria Trumball is determined to figure out who is killing off the Island's residents and why. Also a series of obituaries delivered to the newspaper's editor (for him) while he's alive and well add to the mystery. Good series.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up from the library because the books that I have on hold aren't in yet. I read another book in this series some time ago and did not have an entirely favorable review. I find that the same issues that I had with that book still apply with this one. It's kind of unbelievable that a 96 year old woman could be as spry and heroic as Victoria. Also, the reader of the audio version has a British accent which is kind of weird for a book that takes place in New England. Maybe the editor thought England and New England were the same things.

That being said, the story was pretty good, although somewhat convoluted. There are about 3 basic story lines that cross paths to confuse the reader. I have to take off a point for foul language, though. Most cozies don't have that. There isn't a lot, but I still found it off-putting.

[Bette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery for Victoria Trumbull to solve.

Colley Jameson editor of the Island Enquirer has just fired, Victoria from her 50-year position as columnist, the paper needs younger reporters. But he then hires her to investigate the obits he his receiving in the mail confirming/predicting his demise.

Meantime, angered by his firing her and in an effort to prove that age is not a barrier to news reporting, she takes up with a local newsletter publisher to compete with the Island Enquirer and begins building readership and adding staff to the newsletter.

Colley Jameson is not a good man, a considerate man, or even a likeable man. But the twist at the end was totally unexpected! Good read.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

#5 in the series and can be read as a standalone.

Our 92 year old MC has her weekly newspaper column cancelled. So what does Victoria do...she goes to the competition and has her first scoop - a death of a boater that might be an accident but might be murder. Add to that, her old boss Jameson is getting not so funny obituaries about his death. Might these be a threat? And hmmmm, there's more deaths mounting up. Are all these events connected? Victoria is going to find out.

I love our aged heroine and her thought processes. The mysteries (and there were more than one) were well constructed and pulled together nicely. I had no idea about who one of the murderers was (and was the other really murder??). All in all a delightful book. This series has not disappointed yet.

[Priscilla Herrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I was also given The Paper White Narcissus, another mystery set on Martha's Vineyard! The two detectives could hardly be more different - rather than a retired cop, Victoria Trumbull is a 92-year-old Island native who knows everyone and uses her information and common sense to solve untimely deaths, anonymous obituaries and other puzzles. Fortunately this, the fifth book in a series means I don't have to abandon a truly interesting central character! Once again, blue fishing happens, and Martha's Vineyard and its many small villages, hidden coves and inlets and other details play a major role.

[Eliza · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bunch of philandering wealthy people getting knocked off.
A man is cut in half by a speed boat, a woman is shot and then poisoned when she didn't die from the gunshot wound and a lawyer is stabbed.
The splitting was an "accident" done by his wife and his lover, the woman was shot because her ex was tired of paying alimony and the lawyer was stabbed because the ex husband had a fit when he saw a knife the lawyer had picked up on one of his trips to visit the ex wife on Majorca to hand deliver her alimony.
Who cares....

[Diane Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Paperwhite Narcissus by Cynthia Riggs I’m always happy to revisit Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a comfort to read a book that you can easily visualize where the characters are in the story. Victoria Trumbull has lived on the Vineyard for a very long time and knows everyone and has sources for all the news one could use. She has a reputation as a busybody according to the newspaper editor she writes a column for. He starts receiving obituaries in the mail of his own demise. Victoria thinks he should take them seriously, he doesn’t until there are several deaths of people he is associated with.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although there are a string of more Martha's Vineyard mysteries in this series, I think this 5th one is the last I will read. The mystery/murder thing is just not terribly logical and I have not felt drawn to the main character, 92-year-old Victoria Trumbull, nor any of the other characters, really. I think this series could have been better if the story were better honed. It just feels rather hurriedly written.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really am enjoying this series. Nice to go somewhere different than the Midwest, like Martha’s Vineyard! The author gives us a little taste of island life and the locals which keeps it interesting for me. The mystery itself was intriguing. Less of Elizabeth the granddaughter who lives with Victoria compared to previous books. I do like the police chief! Learned a little bit about local newspapers and how they are run!

[Jan Petro · Rating 2 out of 5]

People are getting murdered right and left in Martha’s Vineyard. Victoria Trumbull, a 92-year-old native and reporter is fired from her job and gets notoriety and subscriptions for the competing paper by getting the scoop on the first murder. She also takes it upon herself to solve the crimes happening around her. Lo and behold with the town full of characters, Victoria solves the mystery in the end.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely the most disappointing book I've read in this series. Too many people to keep track of (could never remember who was married to whom) and the whole idea of the second newspaper was just a little too silly for me.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really struggled with this one. There was too much jumping around. Perhaps it was just me.

[NancyS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably the most absurd book I have picked up in a long time.

[Nathalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title should have been "The paperwhite narcissist" but "narcissus" has a much better ring!

[Readersguide · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best one yet!

[Vicki]

Listened to a Moth story about this author which piqued my interest. The series is OK, but there’s so many books to read, I won’t give this one a priority.

[Elaine Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another title missing from the Audible Plus catalog; borrowed from the library. I listened to #6 already so I've exhausted the titles available free from Plus.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these stories, most of the time I am totally stumped! And I love Victoria Trumbull...I wish she was my neighbor!!!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. Interesting characters. Engaging plot.

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came after the one called "Jack in the Pulpit" which was helpful to have read first (which I had). I felt that the character development was good as well as the setting. It had an interesting twist as more than one person was creating the mystery. However, I did feel that "Jack in the Pulpit" was a better story. Victoria Trumbull seemed to make some considerable connections in tying the mystery together which I found unlikely. Nevertheless, I enjoyed listening to it (Davina Porter is great!) and I enjoy Riggs' humor here and there within the story. I will look forward to reading the next Victoria Trumbull (an older, loveable, and as one reviewer said - feisty, more modern version of Miss Marple?) mystery.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the few MP3 audio books my library has and so it was the inaugural read on my iPod.

The series has an interesting premise (92-year old reporter) however, with the exception of the occasional reference to antiquated equipment like typewriters, age has almost nothing to do with the storyline and seems irrelevant. Perhaps the character's age is an homage to Miss Marple.

This was a light, pleasant read and ideal for testing new technology. I would like to try another in the series so I can think more about the mystery than the way the technology works - if my library would get its act together and obtain them.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's just say I wanted to read a book about Martha's Vineyard and found Cynthia Rigg's mystery online. Victoria Trumbull, in her early 90s is a wily, smart, no nonsense columnist acting as detective. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, the Vineyard views, the characterizations, the conflicts between newsmen--the egotistical, lecherous, unnattractive editor of the "main" island newspaper and the unassuming, unwilling editor of a one-sheet West Tisbury publication turned even more unwilling publisher of a much larger publication because of the nuances and intricacies of the publishing world. Fun!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't think I'd like this at first, because the characters were so unpleasant and their situation equally so--the sympathetic characters didn't show up for a couple of chapters, after I'd nearly given up on the book. The sympathetic characters were fun, though, if a bit stock (sort of what you'd expect and want from a cozy mystery). The oddest thing was listening to Davina Porter as the narrator for the audiobook--she's a wonderful reader, but hearing a story of New England told in a British accent was a bit disconcerting!

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria is a columnist for the local newspaper (The Island Enquirer) on Martha's Vineyard. She is also a deputy of West Tinsbury. When she gets fired from the newspaper, she goes to a friend (Botts) who has a one-page newsletter and, through her wiles, gets him to hire her as a reporter. Then there are three murders, obits sent to the very alive editor of The Island Enquirer, and deception among island residents that all add up to a mystery that Victoria sets out to solve.

Very nicely written cozy mystery with a wonderful protagonist. Oh, did I say that she is 92 years old?

[Dyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read any of the other titles in the series but I fell in love with Victoria. She is so feisty and I enjoyed how everyone just did whatever she told them to. Fast read, great characters even though the mystery wasn't too impressive I still wanted to read what happened next.