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Rating: 
Summary: Fresh J.W. Jackson Martha's Vineyard mystery
Review: After a bullet disabled him former Boston police officer J. W. Jackson moved to Martha's Vineyard. He supplements his small pension with odd jobs such as caring for the summer homes of part time residents. This allows him to spend time with his wife Zee and their two children. At times, J.W. also solves local crimes. When J.W. goes to the Crandall home to fix a faucet, he meets the two occupants, Julia Crandall and Ivy Holiday, two individuals hiding from a stalker. The two beautiful ladies attract the resident psychopath Alexandro Vegas, an ex-con that hates women, especially black females. Alexandro begins a campaign of terror against the two women. They hire J.W. to protect them from Alexandro and the California stalker who may be jailed but has plans for his victims. After ten successful novels, this enjoyable series retains its freshness by providing new insight into the personal life of the hero such as his wife giving birth since the previous tale (see A SHOOT ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD). A FATAL VINEYARD SEASON addresses major social issues such as racism amidst an isolated population and defending oneself against stalkers. Phillip R. Craig gifts his audience with the best novel in one of the better series available today. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Go away, Zee
Review: Craig's novels are easy reads, enjoyable characters, with realistic solutions to most problems. JW is no superman and avoids violence as a real person would, but can handle himself in a tight spot. Good local color. Craig lives there and lets others sample the pleasures of the island.
Rating: 
Summary: Beach Reading
Review: Craig's novels are easy reads, enjoyable characters, with realistic solutions to most problems. JW is no superman and avoids violence as a real person would, but can handle himself in a tight spot. Good local color. Craig lives there and lets others sample the pleasures of the island.
Rating:
Summary: Go away, Zee
Review: I fell in love with J.W. and his Vineyard several books ago. Recently, though, I've found Craig's stories weak to the point of boring. With the wife came responsibility and predictability. J.W. has changed, and he just doesn't offer the excitement he used to. Now that he has two children, the sleuth is just another dad, lugging car seats and buying ice cream. It's interesting, almost funny, how precocious Craig makes these little darlings, shaking hands and exhibiting perfect manners, even to the bad guys. I couldn't help but think, every time these kids refer to their parents as "Ma" and "Pa", that I was back to "Little House on the Prairie". Maybe that's a better title..."Little House on the Vineyard." Please, Mr. Craig, get rid of this sugar-sweet family. They could all fall off the boat and drown. They could be kidnaped by terrorists and never returned. Anything. Just bring back the old J.W. and his adventures - minus the missus and the diaper bag.
Rating:
Summary: A well developed plot
Review: This novel is a good mystery with some unexpected twists at the end. An actress shows up on Martha's Vineyard with a friend from the island, saying she wants refuge from a stalker in California. It is out of the frying pan and into the fire when she attracts the attention of a local psychopathic hoodlum. J. W. Jackson becomes more involved than he intended when he takes on the task of carrying out an investigation. His own life is endangered when he, in turn, draws the hoodlum's attention. Saying more would give away the plot. This book, like some of the author's other books, has recipes in an appendix. It also has the usual map of Martha's Vineyard for readers unfamiliar with the island, and some side accounts of fishing.
Rating:
Summary: A well developed plot
Review: This novel is a good mystery with some unexpected twists at the end. An actress shows up on Martha's Vineyard with a friend from the island, saying she wants refuge from a stalker in California. It is out of the frying pan and into the fire when she attracts the attention of a local psychopathic hoodlum. J. W. Jackson becomes more involved than he intended when he takes on the task of carrying out an investigation. His own life is endangered when he, in turn, draws the hoodlum's attention. Saying more would give away the plot. This book, like some of the author's other books, has recipes in an appendix. It also has the usual map of Martha's Vineyard for readers unfamiliar with the island, and some side accounts of fishing.
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