A Fatal Vineyard Season: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery (Martha's Vineyard Mysteries (Paperback))

From Publishers Weekly Instead of taking it easy now that the tourist season is over, year-round Martha's Vineyard resident and handyman J.W. Jackson, who's a retired cop, comes to the aid of a starlet in distress in this tenth in a series (A Shoot on Martha's Vineyard, etc.). After his wife and two toddlers go to the mainland, J.W. gets a call from Betsy Crandel, whose house he watches during the off-season months. Her niece and a friend, both African-American actresses, will be vacationing on the island for a few weeks. The friend, Ivy HolidayAnotorious for baring her breasts at the Academy Awards in protest of ''the exploitation of women as sex objects in films''Ahas been receiving threatening notes from an inmate jailed for killing Ivy's roommate. Neither Ivy's attorney nor J.W. can figure out how the notes are getting past prison officials. Meanwhile, J.W. sees a more serious threat in racist, sexist Alexandro Vegas, who breaks into the Crandel house and tries to attack Ivy with a kitchen knife. Alexandro and his cunning brother Alberto, an ex-con, are running a protection racket on the island. As Hurricane Elmer takes its time deciding whether it'll turn toward the island, J.W. works on ending the Vegas brothers' hold on the area and on discovering the import of the dire notes Ivy keeps getting. Carefully plotted, the novel has a companionable, relaxed atmosphere that's laced with J.W.'s insights on everything from coastal living and fishing to fatherhood and human relationships. This is a good bet for any beach, on the Vineyard or off. (June) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews Summer on Marthas Vineyard is waning and J.W. Jackson, his wife Zee, and their two small children are settling in for the winter. J.W. (A Shoot on Marthas Vineyard, 1998, etc.), once a Boston cop, will do his care-taking jobs for absentee house and boat ownerslike caring for the Crandel house in Oak Bluffs, presently occupied by actresses Julia Crandel and her friend Ivy Holiday. Ivy is seeking relief from McKenzie Reed, the stalker now jailed in California for the killing of Ivys roommate Dawn Dawson. No one can explain the letters that follow Ivy from him, despite strict prison surveillance. More immediate danger threatens in the looming shadow of the Vegas brothersAlberto, who runs an ever expanding so-called protective agency, and brother Alexandro, who acts as his huge, violent, foul-mouthed enforcer. J.W. is glad Zee and the children are visiting grandparents on the mainland while he keeps an eye on Julia and Ivy, even though theyre officially guarded by Bostons Thornberry agency. Events escalate as Hurricane Homer heads for the Vineyard; young policeman Larry, who annoyed Alexandro, is found beaten nearly to death; Julia and Ivy disappear, and the Vegas boat Invictus leaves its mooring with J.W. secretly aboard and a drama-laden ordeal to come. Eventful doings suffused with a rueful air and lots of J.W.s homespun philosophy. The tension-filled finale makes it one of Craigs better outings. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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. But There Is No Escap For Julia Crandel And Ivy Holiday, Two Hollywood Actresses Staying In The Vineyard Town Of Oak Bluffs. Their Arrival Has Incurred The Wrath Of A Pair Of Local Gangsters, And A Deadly Stalker From Out Of The Young Ladies' Past Has Found Out Where They Are Hiding. Twin Hurricanes Are About To Slam The Idyllic Island — One A Natural Climatic Disaster, The Other An All-too-human Catastrophe — And It Looks As If J.w. Is Going To Get Caught In The Middle. And Since His Conscience Won't Allow Him To Abandon Two Frightened, Helpless Visitors To The Fury Of The Coming Storm, He Stows Away His Fishing Gear, Sends His Loved Ones Off-island ... And Dives Headfirst Into The Tempest.

cleveland Plain Dealer

a Compact, Exciting Adventure...jackson Is An Appealing, Fallible Hero.

We had spent the night anchored up at the far end of Lagoon Pond and were heading back down toward the drawbridge at midmorning when I saw the big, black-hulled powerboat coming fast toward us, throwing a wide wake toward both sides of the pond. Tells the story of investigator J.W. Jackson, who is trying to protect two African American actresses menaced by both a stalker and local desperadoes, just as Hurricane Elmer approaches the island