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Martha's Vineyard Mystery #10
A Fatal Vineyard Season
It's September on Martha's Vineyard, that perfect time of year when the summer people have gone back to "America" and the locals can enjoy the many pleasures their beautiful island has to offer. For J.W. Jackson and his wife, Zee, September brings time for sailing and fishing and savoring the joys of parenthood of toddler Joshua and new baby Diana. September also brings some extra work for J.W. as he secures boats and houses against a coming hurricane and closes up some of the Vineyard's big homes for wealthy summer residents. Among J.W.'s longtime clients are Stanley and Betsy Crandel from the town of Oak Bluffs, whose roots in the Vineyard go deep. The senior Crandels, owners of a large Victorian house, have gone to Switzerland, but they ask J.W. to change a faucet and make the house ready for their vacationing niece, Julia Crandel, and her friend, Ivy Holiday. Julia's a struggling Hollywood actress, whose only success so far has been a television commercial, but Ivy has already achieved a measure of fame.
It's only when the two beautiful African-American actresses arrive in Oak Bluffs that J.W. begins to sense that something is terribly wrong. Why is Julia so afraid that she wants J.W. to look into every closet to make sure nobody is lurking in the house? What happened between Ivy Holiday and a stalker who is now in a California prison? He's more than a stalker, actually. He's a murderer, convicted of killing Ivy's roommate. Will he soon be free to kill again? Will he threaten the young women even on the Vineyard?
There's also trouble much closer than California. Two bigoted locals, known for their violent acts and cruelty, seem none too happy with Julia and Ivy'spresence. When somebody breaks into the Crandel home, J.W. fears that the women were right to be afraid. Even an apparently idyllic place such as Martha's Vineyard, where people like J.W. and Zee rarely lock their doors, offers no safe haven.
Author Philip R. Craig once again gives us a winning combination of Martha's Vineyard ambiance, appealing characters, good food, and riveting suspense in this dramatic and loving portrait of the place he calls home.
"Includes three delicious Vineyard recipes!"
It's only when the two beautiful African-American actresses arrive in Oak Bluffs that J.W. begins to sense that something is terribly wrong. Why is Julia so afraid that she wants J.W. to look into every closet to make sure nobody is lurking in the house? What happened between Ivy Holiday and a stalker who is now in a California prison? He's more than a stalker, actually. He's a murderer, convicted of killing Ivy's roommate. Will he soon be free to kill again? Will he threaten the young women even on the Vineyard?
There's also trouble much closer than California. Two bigoted locals, known for their violent acts and cruelty, seem none too happy with Julia and Ivy'spresence. When somebody breaks into the Crandel home, J.W. fears that the women were right to be afraid. Even an apparently idyllic place such as Martha's Vineyard, where people like J.W. and Zee rarely lock their doors, offers no safe haven.
Author Philip R. Craig once again gives us a winning combination of Martha's Vineyard ambiance, appealing characters, good food, and riveting suspense in this dramatic and loving portrait of the place he calls home.
"Includes three delicious Vineyard recipes!"
219 pages, Hardcover
First published June 15, 1999
109 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Philip R. Craig
28 books103 followersAuthor Philip R. Craig passed away on May 8, 2007 after a brief battle with cancer.
Phil left three completed novels, which have now all been published posthumously. Vineyard Stalker came out in June of 2007 just after Phil's death. Third Strike, co-written with Bill Tapply, came out in November of 2007. The final J.W. Jackson mystery, Vineyard Chill, is on the shelves now. Another J.W. book is partially written, and may someday be completed by his family per his instructions, so stay tuned. Delish, the cookbook co-written with Phil’s wife Shirley Prada Craig, is also still available.
The Philip R. Craig website will be maintained as a tribute to my father and his many fans. ~ Jamie Craig
Phil left three completed novels, which have now all been published posthumously. Vineyard Stalker came out in June of 2007 just after Phil's death. Third Strike, co-written with Bill Tapply, came out in November of 2007. The final J.W. Jackson mystery, Vineyard Chill, is on the shelves now. Another J.W. book is partially written, and may someday be completed by his family per his instructions, so stay tuned. Delish, the cookbook co-written with Phil’s wife Shirley Prada Craig, is also still available.
The Philip R. Craig website will be maintained as a tribute to my father and his many fans. ~ Jamie Craig
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 20, 2020
Casual murder and mystery but the crime is bit brutal. Simply delish!
September 16, 2019
Starts off strong - like a Jack Reacher novel - visiting Hollywood starlets are being stalked, and JW is hired to protect them. Main suspect is a local thug, the 'muscle' in a local 'security' business. Also a retired mobster seems to be involved somehow. But unlike Jack Reacher, JW is severely beaten by persons unknown and ends up in the hospital.
In the end JW manages to jump aboard a moving boat, despite not being able to use his arm, saves a starlet, disposes of the thug, and swims, starlet in tow, from the open ocean in the middle of a hurricane to the beach in rough surf. The ending was disappointing because certain things did not make sense. Will the innocent man who is in prison for murder be absolved? Who beat up JW? Was the murder of Alfredo justified?
I started reading this series because I wanted to know about Martha's Vineyard, and JW is a laid back local who solves mysteries but prefers to fish and drink beer. Most of the books in the series feature local residents and locales, but a couple of them are different, namely this book and another one entitled Vineyard Deceit. Perhaps the author wanted to try a different style or plot line.
In the end JW manages to jump aboard a moving boat, despite not being able to use his arm, saves a starlet, disposes of the thug, and swims, starlet in tow, from the open ocean in the middle of a hurricane to the beach in rough surf. The ending was disappointing because certain things did not make sense. Will the innocent man who is in prison for murder be absolved? Who beat up JW? Was the murder of Alfredo justified?
I started reading this series because I wanted to know about Martha's Vineyard, and JW is a laid back local who solves mysteries but prefers to fish and drink beer. Most of the books in the series feature local residents and locales, but a couple of them are different, namely this book and another one entitled Vineyard Deceit. Perhaps the author wanted to try a different style or plot line.
August 5, 2017
A Fatal Vineyard Season by Philip R. Craig is the 10th book in the Martha's Vineyard mystery series set on Martha's Vineyard in the late 20th century. After being shot on duty, Boston Police detective J.W. Jackson retired and fled the crime-filled streets for a quieter, safer life on Martha's Vineyard. He has plenty of time to fish for favorite bluefish, and makes ends meet year-round by taking care of vacation properties for the owners who live in "America" (as he calls the mainland US) and only visit occasionally. His wife Zee is a nurse in the emergency room at the hospital. Their greatest pleasure is spending time together with their two small children, Joshua and Diana.
As J.W. prepares a client's house for expected guests, he meets two young women: the client's daughter and her actress friend. The women are clearly frightened; they fear a stalker has tracked them to the island. A bigoted island troublemaker shows up at the house, a young man well known to the island police for his violence and cruelty. J.W. helps a young policeman drive the bully away from the house. By their actions to defend the women, they make a dangerous enemy of the bully.
The women beg J.W. to investigate the stalker, who should be safely incarcerated, but somehow still sends letters. J.W. comes to believe there is something fishy about the stalker story.
The bully attacks the young policeman, nearly killing him, and threatens J.W.'s family. When J.W. himself is attacked, he narrowly escapes, but fears for his wife and children's safety.
J.W. eventually uncovers all the truth about the stalker case, and turns brother against brother to stop the bully....but unfortunately not in time to prevent another death. A hurricane adds to the suspense.
Includes recipes for homemade dishes J.W. prepares: Bean Dip, Jam and Muffins.
As J.W. prepares a client's house for expected guests, he meets two young women: the client's daughter and her actress friend. The women are clearly frightened; they fear a stalker has tracked them to the island. A bigoted island troublemaker shows up at the house, a young man well known to the island police for his violence and cruelty. J.W. helps a young policeman drive the bully away from the house. By their actions to defend the women, they make a dangerous enemy of the bully.
The women beg J.W. to investigate the stalker, who should be safely incarcerated, but somehow still sends letters. J.W. comes to believe there is something fishy about the stalker story.
The bully attacks the young policeman, nearly killing him, and threatens J.W.'s family. When J.W. himself is attacked, he narrowly escapes, but fears for his wife and children's safety.
J.W. eventually uncovers all the truth about the stalker case, and turns brother against brother to stop the bully....but unfortunately not in time to prevent another death. A hurricane adds to the suspense.
Includes recipes for homemade dishes J.W. prepares: Bean Dip, Jam and Muffins.
June 4, 2017
I bought this book because the setting is Martha’s Vineyard, where I spent two weeks in the NOEPE writer’s residency, finishing my thesis. I just loved the references to Oak Bluffs, Chilmark, West Tisbury, and Edgartown. The plot was predictable for a murder mystery, but the murder didn’t show up until way late in the book. There is a lot of graphic violence, not as it happened but in the description of the aftermath. JW, injured in the line of duty in a police force on the mainland, now fishes, does some handyman chores for people, and enjoys his beautiful wife and two children. Putting in a new faucet for the Crandels, now out of the country, he meets Julia and her friend Ivy, black actresses from Hollywood. Ivy has been stalked in California and now it seems that the stalker has followed her to Martha’s Vineyard this September. When Zee takes the kids to the mainland to see her parents, JW gets involved beyond his wildest dreams with a protection racket. And murder. Good summer reading for adults with a strong stomach.
June 21, 2018
Just the novel to read after several more thought provoking tomes. JW Jackson watches homes on Martha's Vineyard through the winter. He is a former Boston cop (and not the brightest crayon in the box in my opinion). One of the homes is at Oak Bluff and owned by the Crandles. A couple of African American Hollywood stars (who are related to the Crandle's) come to get away from a stalker and relax in of the off season. A racist and overgrown bully finds them and finally murders one of them during an oncoming hurricane. Turns out the murderer is also the stalker. Really annoying: JW loves to describe his own food as "delish."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2017
2.5 stars. It's been about a year since I read book 9 in Craig's Martha's Vineyard series, but it felt like no time had passed once I started this 10th book. There's a certain comfort in jumping into a book where the characters and setting have been so well laid out that the author need not waste time adding too much back story. In this regard, I enjoyed A Fatal Vineyard Season. It was great seeing J.W. back to looking after others' houses and boats in the off-season and poking his nose in places where it shouldn't be. I couldn't get behind this story though. The L.A. stalker plotline was too much of a distraction from what was happening on the island, and the two thugs wreaking havoc on the lives of those in Oak Bluffs had me too perturbed throughout. The book is fast-paced as usual, which I enjoy, but this also resulted in an ending that was too rushed, without enough justice for the crimes committed.
July 27, 2023
I would give this more of a 2.5 than a 2. The overall plot of the story was pretty interesting and with a more satisfactory ending, I think this book could have been a 3. Some of the wording used by the author came across as awkward and redundant which distracted me from the plot and had me skimming pages. However, this book was a quick read and I enjoyed seeing JW navigate the mystery.
February 23, 2023
Outstanding; Continuing character: J. W. Jackson; with a hurricane bearing down and his family away on the mainland, JW works to protect two black women vacationing on the island from brothers out to harm them and a stalker from their past
June 18, 2018
Stalker. A little too intense for me
November 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this. It was especially fun since I had just visited the Vineyard.
November 29, 2021
Not one of my favorites in the series.
March 4, 2023
This one has more brutal violence than the earlier books, which changes the feel of it quite a bit. The ending confrontation is ghastly, and I don't think it makes a lick of sense either.
March 22, 2023
Excess violence and filthy language. I did not finish reading.
October 23, 2023
I pledge to read the rest of the series. A very enjoyable way to spend a rainy day!
August 5, 2025
Entertaining story but it reads like a Reacher TV show. Very unrealistic.
June 25, 2015
A FATAL VINEYARD SEASON by Philip R. Craig
After a quick trip back to my old neighborhood on the North Fork of Long Island, a day wandering around the Peconic Bay-side town of Greenport, and a couple of nights in a motel on LI Sound, I was in the mood for one of Phil Craig’s Martha’s Vineyard mysteries and the almost parallel lifestyle led by JW Jackson on The Vineyard.
A FATAL VINEYARD SEASON was next on my chronological list. Generally, these tales of an ex-Boston cop enjoying his disability retirement are just a short step from a cozy. Not so here. Craig kept us busy with a double dose of tension throughout the entire book. And it was plausible, real-time tension created by an encroaching hurricane and a pair of giant-sized, out-of-control ex-convicts turned protection racket extortionists who are not only terrorizing the merchants of sleepy little Oak Bluffs, but are racists and have taken a real dislike to Jackson. Attempted rapes, burglaries, arsons, severe beatings, and other general insurrection are confounding the small department cops and JW as he’s hired to protect two young black actresses vacationing in their family’s summer home on The Vineyard.
Throughout, Craig didn’t attempt to ramp up the already sufficient tension by having Jackson do stupid things to put himself in more jeopardy. The interpersonal conflicts were also plausible, but not over contrived or over-the-top. I liked everything about this book, but would have liked to see one dangling detail better resolved at the end—a definitive disposition for the horrific Alexandro Vegas. Otherwise, very nicely done. 4.5 stars
After a quick trip back to my old neighborhood on the North Fork of Long Island, a day wandering around the Peconic Bay-side town of Greenport, and a couple of nights in a motel on LI Sound, I was in the mood for one of Phil Craig’s Martha’s Vineyard mysteries and the almost parallel lifestyle led by JW Jackson on The Vineyard.
A FATAL VINEYARD SEASON was next on my chronological list. Generally, these tales of an ex-Boston cop enjoying his disability retirement are just a short step from a cozy. Not so here. Craig kept us busy with a double dose of tension throughout the entire book. And it was plausible, real-time tension created by an encroaching hurricane and a pair of giant-sized, out-of-control ex-convicts turned protection racket extortionists who are not only terrorizing the merchants of sleepy little Oak Bluffs, but are racists and have taken a real dislike to Jackson. Attempted rapes, burglaries, arsons, severe beatings, and other general insurrection are confounding the small department cops and JW as he’s hired to protect two young black actresses vacationing in their family’s summer home on The Vineyard.
Throughout, Craig didn’t attempt to ramp up the already sufficient tension by having Jackson do stupid things to put himself in more jeopardy. The interpersonal conflicts were also plausible, but not over contrived or over-the-top. I liked everything about this book, but would have liked to see one dangling detail better resolved at the end—a definitive disposition for the horrific Alexandro Vegas. Otherwise, very nicely done. 4.5 stars
September 3, 2007
A FATAL VINEYARD SEASON (Amateur Sleuth-Martha's Vineyard-Cont) – G
Philip H. Craig – 10th in series
Scribner, 1999- Hardcover
Retired policeman, J.W. Jackson, is hired to look after starlet Ivy Holiday, who is African-American, and has continued to receive letters from a stacker currently in prison. However, a greater threat comes from a local sexist racist and whose ex-con brother runs a protection business around the island.
*** J.W. is an interesting character; devoted husband and father who loves to cook—although he uses "Delish" one too many times, and with different spellings; note to editor—and who acts as a handyman and crime solver. There are other well-done recurring characters; the setting is well conveyed, and dialogue well done. There is suspense, but somehow these almost read to me as cozies, maybe because of the recipes at the end. It's an enjoyable book in an enjoyable series.
Philip H. Craig – 10th in series
Scribner, 1999- Hardcover
Retired policeman, J.W. Jackson, is hired to look after starlet Ivy Holiday, who is African-American, and has continued to receive letters from a stacker currently in prison. However, a greater threat comes from a local sexist racist and whose ex-con brother runs a protection business around the island.
*** J.W. is an interesting character; devoted husband and father who loves to cook—although he uses "Delish" one too many times, and with different spellings; note to editor—and who acts as a handyman and crime solver. There are other well-done recurring characters; the setting is well conveyed, and dialogue well done. There is suspense, but somehow these almost read to me as cozies, maybe because of the recipes at the end. It's an enjoyable book in an enjoyable series.
February 7, 2016
#10 in the Martha's Vineyard Mystery series.
It's September on Martha's Vineyard, that perfect time of year when the locals can enjoy the many pleasures their beautiful island has to offer. It's only when the two beautiful African-American actresses arrive in Oak Bluffs that J.W. begins to sense that something is terribly wrong. Why is Julia so afraid that she wants J.W. to look into every closet to make sure nobody is lurking in her house? Even an apparently idyllic place such as Martha's Vineyard, where people like J.W. and Zee rarely lock their doors, offers no safe haven
It's September on Martha's Vineyard, that perfect time of year when the locals can enjoy the many pleasures their beautiful island has to offer. It's only when the two beautiful African-American actresses arrive in Oak Bluffs that J.W. begins to sense that something is terribly wrong. Why is Julia so afraid that she wants J.W. to look into every closet to make sure nobody is lurking in her house? Even an apparently idyllic place such as Martha's Vineyard, where people like J.W. and Zee rarely lock their doors, offers no safe haven
June 5, 2016
Welllll....I really wanted to like this one.
I went into it hoping for a good beach mystery. I was excited about spotting familiar places, the narrator mentioning towns and sights that I've been to.
And that enjoyment turned into lukewarm reading....forcing myself to finish it since it such a small novel anyway.
The narrator is flat, the plot so-so, the writing all right......and the ending was highly unsatisfying. It was very.....anticlimactic. I expected a lot more.
Think I'll try other authors next time I want to read about Martha's Vineyard.
I went into it hoping for a good beach mystery. I was excited about spotting familiar places, the narrator mentioning towns and sights that I've been to.
And that enjoyment turned into lukewarm reading....forcing myself to finish it since it such a small novel anyway.
The narrator is flat, the plot so-so, the writing all right......and the ending was highly unsatisfying. It was very.....anticlimactic. I expected a lot more.
Think I'll try other authors next time I want to read about Martha's Vineyard.
November 25, 2016
I debated on the rating for this book. 4 stars may be a bit high. The book was readable - fast-paced, not a lot of extraneous description, good dialogue. This is what I call a good beach book. Nothing you have to think about too much. Not sure the plot line is entirely plausible. You've got the two psychopathic thugs running roughshod all over the island and no one can do anything about them - except Jackson. I don't know. Doesn't necessarily ring true, but every book you read doesn't have to be factual. That's why it is called Fiction.
September 14, 2014
This book was not what I expected. The language was very bad.It was reality I am sure but way too violent for me. I did not finish it. I had expected a mystery with recipes on Martha's Vineyard. It is set on the Vineyard but I don't think I would be interested in any food or can't imagine how that would fit into the sex, gore and street language of this book.I did not read the entire book - in fact I quit on the 5th chapter.
April 17, 2014
In this story J.W. is threatened and injured when he tries to help two Hollywood actresses avoid a stalker. Fortunately for J.W., his wife and children are off-island when all this occurs, so he can focus on finding the bad guy who is the stalker, and fending off the other bad guys who are after him. Another solid entry in this series.
July 26, 2013
This one was a lot more violent than the other ones I've read. There were some pretty horrible attacks and really harsh language at times - enough that I worried about the kids picking up the book.
I've got a book from the library to read and I think I needed a break from these anyway. I've still got 2 more, if I remember correctly.
I've got a book from the library to read and I think I needed a break from these anyway. I've still got 2 more, if I remember correctly.
January 22, 2016
Again JW Jackson, wie Zee, and children want to live a comfortable life in their little house on Martha's Vineyard, fishing, lazy around, working occasionally, and hanging with friends. That is need to be the case as murder tends to come a-knockin'. It is a cozy, read for someone looking for a good series for summer entertainment (winter as well).
June 1, 2013
Very good story this time and biy there was lots of action in this one. Really too bad these bad guys had to mess up the idyllic island but then againt here wouldn't have been a good story if they didn't.
February 2, 2016
This is a detective story taking place in the Vineyard
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.
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.
December 18, 2023
Another good book
This series continues to be enjoyable. I guessed about a couple of things that were mentioned at the end of the story and I was glad to see the bad guys karma turn back around on them. This was not my favorite book in the series, but I still liked it plenty.
This series continues to be enjoyable. I guessed about a couple of things that were mentioned at the end of the story and I was glad to see the bad guys karma turn back around on them. This was not my favorite book in the series, but I still liked it plenty.
March 4, 2008
Another good mystery. Easy and a fast read. Very enjoyable with yummy recipes included. My mom recommended
August 19, 2010
Another good one.
September 2, 2011
Craig and Jefferson are always entertaining... though such a glum and scary season on the Vineyard had me feeling antsy and ill at ease... Idol disturbed... alas, even Paradise is full of scums.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews