Vineyard Shadows

Martha's Vineyard Mystery #12

by Philip R. Craig

J.W. Jackson abandoned Boston for the tranquil pleasures of Martha's Vineyard, hoping to leave the violence of the big city behind. But when the past comes looking for him in the guise of two brutal thugs, the former cop knows it is time to put down his fishing pole and start opening doors he'd hoped were closed forever. And when the man the hoodlums were searching for -- a face from Jackson's yesterday -- turns up seeking help, J.W. realizes that personal revenge should be the least of his concerns. Because the shadows darkening the island are longer and deadlier than he ever imagined. And if he can't stem the dark tide lapping at the shores of his beloved Vineyard, the new life he loves and everyone in it will be changed forever.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Cozy Mystery

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 12, 2001

About the author

Author 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

Reviews

[Carol Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having cleansed my pallet of the flavor of bluefish pate (recipe included in one of this series!) I was ready to return to the Vineyard. Craig has a very pleasant, chatty style and an ability to plot convincingly.

I only wish my kids had been as well-behaved as those of our hero!

[Hoenese Ruebesch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still a good mystery although it didnt ended up with a bang.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vineyard Shadows by Philip R. Craig is the 12th book of the Martha's Vineyard mystery series set in 20th-century Martha's Vineyard. The books usually start out with J.W. and his family in their daily life, gradually setting up the background for a crime that J.W. will investigate. This book starts explosively: J.W. and son go fishing, return home to find emergency vehicles in the driveway.

Why did thugs attack his wife and daughter? Who sent them? J.W. uses all his contacts in law enforcement agencies to help him investigate. He feels great responsibility for his ex-wife, although it's been more than a decade since their marriage, and puts himself in great danger trying to help her husband. He unravels all the skeins of deception, just in time to stop an island ambush/massacre.

Meanwhile he tries to help Zee recover from the traumatic violence. She is changed forever by it, and cannot yet reconcile her philosophy vs. actions. He understands the inner conflict, from his days on the force. The author's love for the island clearly shines, throughout the book. Recommend read this series in order for max enjoyment.

[Bonnie Dieffenbacher · Rating 2 out of 5]

An OK mystery, but no real Excitement. I picked it up because it took place on Martha's Vinyard. Just gave it a 2.....maybe 2.5.

[Alton Motobu · Rating 2 out of 5]

The start of this book is like the scene in Liam Neeson's movie, TAKEN, where the Arab slaver holds a knife to Maggie's throat and says "We can negotia***BANG***" - Liam shoots him dead. In this book a mob hitman holds a knife to Zee's daughter's throat and Zee shoots his arm off. After the smoke clears JW investigates by going to see the mob leader himself and asking him to back off. The hit turns out to be a mistake; the intended target was a crooked bookie who just happened to be the husband of JW's ex-wife, Carla. So begins a tangled web of lies, deceit, and distortions.

The JW character seems to change in every book; sometimes he is straightforward and decisive. Other times, like in this book, he is illogical, foolish, and nonsensical. For example, when Zee (his current wife) asks him if he still loves his ex-wife, JW does not deny it and tries to offer ridiculous excuses for his behavior. When he announces that he is going out to confront the gang, and Zee begs him to let the police handle it, he brushes her off. In some other books in this series he acts completely differently.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book fell into the same trap for me that several other in the series have.....a pretty good plot and build up only to end in a too-quick-to-solve plot that doesn't lend itself to much satisfaction for the reader. I liked seeing Zee go all momma-bear and protecting her and her family, but it was also hard to read about her experience, her fear, and her regret in the aftermath. It was also interesting, though frustrating at times, to read about J.W.'s commitment to his ex-wife. That being said, Tom Rimini's character drove me crazy and I honestly felt that Carla would have been better without him. Alas, as J.W. notes, it's not for us to judge what or who people need in their lives, even when it's pretty obvious that they might be the best person for them. In the end, I was left wanting more in the name of justice.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, fun murder mystery that takes place on Martha's Vineyard.

This is #12 in the "Martha's Vineyard Mystery" Series by Philip R. Craig. I was unfamiliar with the series, but it wasn't difficult to get into the story. It is narrated by the main character of the series, J.W. "Jeff" Jackson, a retired Boston cop now living on the Island with his second wife and their two small children (I gathered from the back cover and inside comments that previous books included the developing relationship, marriage, and birth of the above).

As it happens in these series, murder and mayhem abound. This particular book opens with Zee, J.W.'s wife, shooting two thugs from Boston who show up at the Jackson home looking for someone she doesn't know. When they begin to beat her and threaten her daughter, she kills one and maims the other.

Soon enough, J.W. finds himself hiding his ex-wife's new husband at a friend's house, dealing with both friends and enemies in Boston, all because of the two guys who were at his house.

It's a good read, full of interesting side stories about family life in the1990s (it's a big deal to buy cell phones!), as well as living on this New England Island.

I'd be interested in reading this whole series from the beginning.

RECOMMEND

[Eileen Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this book up at the July library book sale in Falmouth. I collect fiction and nonfiction books about Cape Cod and the islands. This was a mystery story set on Martha's Vineyard and starts when two intruders try to get some information from the wrong people. The beginning tragedy sets the scene for the rest of the story about dealing with the past.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entry in the series had more depth of characterization and plotting. No skimming the surface of placid waters. Dee & Diana are attacked and Dee kills. Her mortal wounds are not significant, but are psychologically. The rest of the plot complicates their lives too as it involves J.W.'s former wife and her current husband.

[Tasha Franklin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

This book was ok. There were many times I wanted to put it down but I was curious how it ended. It was definitely a slow book with a few "huh?" and "aha!" moments.

My current style of book is fantasy but I wanted to try something different. This wasn't like the mystery books I've read in the past and didn't write have a lot of turns, twists, or surprises.

[Lynda Roades · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer on Martha’s Vineyard

I’m a sucker for stories about the regular, but interesting, people who live in tourist destinations. This mystery delivered. The characters are engaging; the plot centers around questions of the lengths people will take when they and their loved ones are threatened. I thin I’ll check out the others in the series.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful setting on Martha's Vineyard is marred by the arrival of some criminals from Boston. One is linked to Jeff's former wife and he promises to help - not smart. There's plenty of intrigue in this one and the story moves along quickly.

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Good; Continuing character: J. W. Jackson; after Zee kills a man while defending herself and her daughter, JW gets involved in helping to hide out his ex-wife's troublesome husband on the vineyard, but Boston mob guys have other thoughts

[Andrea Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, but I didn’t like how the children in the book called their parents Ma and Pa. I don’t think people in Massachusetts would do that. Maybe Ma, but not Pa. It’s just a little thing that brought me out of the story.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I only read one book this month, so it's a good thing I liked it! J.W. was in good form, although not enough fishing and cooking went on for me. And, sadly, those kids just get more and more annoying. Can't beat that island locale, though.

[Gerald D. Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read!

Great mystery. Like there are no vicious violence. Would recommend for anyone's pleasure reading. Try other stories they are good.

[Brian O'Leary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple read, good start, good plot, bad ending.

[Riki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, simple read.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

August 2022 Somewhere I lost my original Goodreads review. I have read this book at least once in the past. I still like the book. I recommend it.

[Julie]

JW is very frustrating in this one and Zee is a saint for putting up with him, but it's still breezy and readable—except the annoying overuse of "pa."

[Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another tour of life on the vineyard. When I have visited I wonder what I have missed.

[Zia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good plot. A real page turner.The last 10 pages are kind of hurried.
The end is less than perfect.

[Bridgette M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the easy read. Wish the ending wasn’t so flat

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

So if I tell you that this book is about mobsters, you're not going to read
it, are you. Well, let me rephrase that: If you told me this book was
about mobsters, I probably wouldn't read it. So how do I slip in the fact
that this book includes some mobster type characters and still inspire you
to read it. Let me skip a line here, and by the time I've tapped Enter
twice, maybe the inspiration will have come!

It's another June on Martha's Vineyard, and for former cop turned private
investigator J. W. Jackson, the day starts normally enough. He has taken
his young son on an errand, leaving the little girl with his wife, Zee.
While he is gone, two men essentially rush the house and demand that Zee
tell them where someone named Tom is. She has never heard of the man, and
when they refuse to believe her, holding a knife to her little daughter's
face to emphasize their disbelief, Zee reaches for a pistol. She's not your
typical nurse. Granted she abhors killing, but she likes even less the
thought that her little girl might be killed. She's a competitive shooter
who nonetheless believes in strict gun control, and her competitiveness
gives her the upper hand. Soon one man is dead and another is severely
wounded. The press loves it, of course. The whole idea that a Vineyard mom
could gun down two mobsters appeals to the press big-time.

But J. W. knows who Tom is; Tom is his ex-wife's new husband, and she has
sent Tom to J. W. after the mob came to her to talk about Tom's gambling
debts in Boston. She calls J. W. while Zee is hospitalized after the
shooting, and he learns the story from her and agrees to help Tom and
thereby help her. The two still have feelings for one another, as the long
and lively kiss between them clearly illustrates.

So when Tom shows up asking for help, J. W. lends a hand, giving him a place
to stay and trying to help him clear his name or at least get a new one in a
witness protection program. But things aren't as they seem, and it very
rapidly becomes evident to J. W. that Tom is both unfaithful and untruthful.
Things unravel from there.

This is another of Craig's excellent Vineyard mysteries, and it's well worth
your time. It's a short book, and you'll blow through it in a night or so.

[Wayne Zurl · Rating 3 out of 5]

VINEYARD SHADOWS by Philip R. Craig…..

This book started out like a house on fire. Two thugs pull into the Jackson’s driveway and confront Zee and her little daughter, Diana. The hoods are looking for one Tom Rimini. But Zee doesn’t know any such person. The goons won’t take no for an answer and things go downhill from there. With only one way to escape a beating and probable rape, Zee dips into her bag and pulls out her legally owned handgun. She kills one gangster and permanently disables the other.

With a yard full of local and state cops, our protagonist, JW Jackson comes home to find his wife and daughter traumatized. But JW can shed light on who Rimini is—his ex-wife’s new husband.

This promised to be a good story, but like Zee’s situation with the pair of thugs, it went downhill from there.

My problem with the story was Jackson’s unshakable desire to protect his ex’s new hubby in spite of how many times he lied and how transparent his real purpose happened to be. Only an imbecile would not have seen what Rimini was really up to. Yet Jackson continued to march in the face of logical and sound advice from the police, his wife, and even another gangster who knew all about Rimini.

I well understand that a protagonist must not be perfect, but this carried the publisher’s template way too far. The entire novel was nothing but pandering to a contrived formula to create contrived tension and conflict. This could easily been written with a twist to make Jackson the hero rather than the stooge.

This may have fit nicely into what the late Mr. Craig’s publisher saw as having all the marketable ingredients, but in my mind it lowered the credibility, likability, and reputation of a hero in a continuing series.

I gave this 3 stars only because I was happy to see JW use a babysitter rather than drag his two young children along on his unofficial investigations and he continued to schmooze me by fishing, clamming and sailing into the beautiful waters of New England. I hope the next book is up to his usual standards.

[Shrimpo · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book a guy named J.W Jackson who lives on Martha's Vineyard tries to help out his ex-wifes husband. It all starts when J.W comes back from fishing and finds cops and ambulences all over his yard. What happened was two guys came looking for a guy named Tom Rimini who was told by J.W ex-wife that he was there. So the two guys went to question J.W wife Zee if she knew where he was. She said no and they thought she was lying so they attacked her and she killed one of them and badly injured the other. Rimini came to the house looking for help because he had a bad habit of gamgling and needed to get away from the gang leaders who he owed money to. J.W said he would help so he hid Rimini in a friends house. The whole problem started when Rimini started hanging around with a girl named Grace Shepard who was also with Sonney Whelen the gang leader. Alot of people get involved in this case. Including Peter McBride who wants to take over Sonny's job. Towards the end of the book J.W tells Rimini that he has to get off the island because he keeps lying to him. So in the end when everybody is off the island and back in Boston McBride and his friend Bruno are killed by Whelen. The Riminis move to Oklahoma and are safe. What I liked about this book was that it was mysterious and exiting. What I didnt like about it is that it was to confusing to follow at times because alot happened.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#12 in the Martha's Vineyard Mystery series.

Martha's Vineyard Mystery series - Sleuthing ex-cop J.W. Jackson finds that wife Zee has been forced to kill an intruder at their home. The dead perpetrator and cohort were actually looking for the husband of Jackson's first wife, so Jackson suffers from divided loyalties: should he help Zee through her trauma or save his first wife from impending pain?

[Nancy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of Philip Craig's Martha's Vineyard mysteries, this one hits J.W. close to home when his wife and daughter are attacked by mob hitmen who think the Jacksons are hiding someone at their place. The action takes off and doesn't stop until J.W. has investigated the threats and stopped the violence that has come to his homestead.

[Mary Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

While spending a week on Martha's Vineyard this summer, I became a Craig fan. Normally I'm not the avid murder mystery type, but he adds so much in the way of descriptive Vineyard lore I can't put him down. I relive our week every time I pick up one of his books! Of which there are many!

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another in the Martha Vineyard mystery series featuring J.W. Jackson, exBoston cop. In this mystery JW, finds himself involved with trying to help the husband of his exwife who is hiding out on the island as JW slowly discovers that things aren't necessarily the way they seem.