What do you think?
Rate this book
Martha's Vineyard Mystery #18
Vineyard Stalker
J. W. Jackson, the ex-Boston cop turned fisherman, cook, and jack-of-all-trades, delves deep into the mysterious depths of his beloved Vineyard in author Philip Craig's most compelling caper yet.With his wife, Zee, and two kids visiting relatives in "America," J.W. is alone and quickly tiring of his temporary bachelor status. A request from Carole Cohen comes as a blessed diversion. Carole wants J.W. to find the person who's stalking her brother, Roland. Known locally as "The Monk" for his reclusive ways, Roland lives on a beautiful piece of Vineyard real estate that he co-owns with his cousin Sally Oliver. A number of people, including Sally, would do almost anything to convince Roland to sell his valuable property. But does that include violence?
J.W. is happy to take on what looks like a short and easy assignment, though he soon realizes that Roland may lead a more complicated life than his austere living arrangements suggest. And when a body turns up near Roland's land, what seemed like a property dispute takes a detour into murder -- with J.W. in the midst of the action once again.
Featuring a rich mix of money, lust, pride, and jealousy, spiced with a little poignant regret, "Vineyard Stalker" is a page-turning and deftly plotted addition to this popular and engaging series in which Martha's Vineyard itself is always the star.
J.W. is happy to take on what looks like a short and easy assignment, though he soon realizes that Roland may lead a more complicated life than his austere living arrangements suggest. And when a body turns up near Roland's land, what seemed like a property dispute takes a detour into murder -- with J.W. in the midst of the action once again.
Featuring a rich mix of money, lust, pride, and jealousy, spiced with a little poignant regret, "Vineyard Stalker" is a page-turning and deftly plotted addition to this popular and engaging series in which Martha's Vineyard itself is always the star.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 5, 2007
56 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Philip R. Craig
27 books102 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 5, 2015
VINEYARD STALKER (Unlic. Invest.-J.W. Jackson-Martha’s Vineyard, MA-Cont) – Ex
Craig, Philip R. – 18th in series
Scribner, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780743270458
First Sentence: Zee and the kids had gone to America to visit Zee’s parents in Fall River, so I was having breakfast in the Dock Street Coffee Shop listening to Chad Martin trying to decide just which of Martha’s Vineyard’s public institutions was the most maddening.
With his family away, ex-cop J.W. Jackson is open to helping one of the town’s realtors. Her sister controls a valuable parcel of land she’d like to sell to developers. The only thing stopping her is their brother Roland, a Vietnam Vet, who lives a simple life there on the terms of a trust. Someone has been vandalizing the property in an effort to encourage Roland to leave. A wealthy neighbor and Roland’s lover, turns up dead but J.W. doesn’t believe Roland is the killer and set’s to prove it.
It is sad knowing this is the last book Mr. Craig authored alone before his passing, but it is also a wonderful tribute to him. I do feel this was his best book and not because it is the last book.
Perhaps because the family wasn’t there, it was very much J.W. detecting on his own and seemed to have a bit darker tone to it. None of Craig’s classic elements were missing; not the humor, or the recipes or the wonderful sense of place he creates or the solid development of the characters.
I, too, knew people who fought in Vietnam and appreciated the way Craig handled the character of Roland. The end surprised me but didn’t; it was moving and absolutely the right note.
One can easily read this book as a standalone, and I highly recommend you do.
Craig, Philip R. – 18th in series
Scribner, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780743270458
First Sentence: Zee and the kids had gone to America to visit Zee’s parents in Fall River, so I was having breakfast in the Dock Street Coffee Shop listening to Chad Martin trying to decide just which of Martha’s Vineyard’s public institutions was the most maddening.
With his family away, ex-cop J.W. Jackson is open to helping one of the town’s realtors. Her sister controls a valuable parcel of land she’d like to sell to developers. The only thing stopping her is their brother Roland, a Vietnam Vet, who lives a simple life there on the terms of a trust. Someone has been vandalizing the property in an effort to encourage Roland to leave. A wealthy neighbor and Roland’s lover, turns up dead but J.W. doesn’t believe Roland is the killer and set’s to prove it.
It is sad knowing this is the last book Mr. Craig authored alone before his passing, but it is also a wonderful tribute to him. I do feel this was his best book and not because it is the last book.
Perhaps because the family wasn’t there, it was very much J.W. detecting on his own and seemed to have a bit darker tone to it. None of Craig’s classic elements were missing; not the humor, or the recipes or the wonderful sense of place he creates or the solid development of the characters.
I, too, knew people who fought in Vietnam and appreciated the way Craig handled the character of Roland. The end surprised me but didn’t; it was moving and absolutely the right note.
One can easily read this book as a standalone, and I highly recommend you do.
January 21, 2024
Another good JW Jackson mystery
I missed Zee and the kiddos in this book, but it was still very enjoyable. I didn't see the ending coming. It was a bit of a surprise and a bit sad.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series
I missed Zee and the kiddos in this book, but it was still very enjoyable. I didn't see the ending coming. It was a bit of a surprise and a bit sad.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series
July 2, 2022
Vineyard Stalker by Philip R. Craig is the 18th book of the Martha's Vineyard mystery series set on contemporary Martha's Vineyard. J.W. Jackson is a retired Boston PD detective, now a fisherman / handyman living year-round on Martha's Vineyard with his beloved family: wife Zee, kids Diana and Joshua. This week he's home alone; Zee and the kids are "in America" (on the mainland) shopping and sightseeing. Why not take on an "easy" job: stake out a property for one night, catch a prowler?
When the prowlers shoot J.W. with a stun gun, it gets personal. He keeps investigating all week. He has the infrared photos of the prowlers enlarged and analyzed. He questions wait staff in bars around the island. Someone hired prowlers to scare Roland Cohen off his property, clearly in order to snap it up. Is it one of the neighbors, seeking to enlarge their already vast estate? Is it Roland's cousin Sally, seeking to make a bundle selling to high-end developers who want to build a resort? J.W. reasons that once the person who hired the prowlers knows they are captured on film, they'll stop the attacks.
When the prowlers come after J.W., but canny J.W. is lying in wait for them, armed. Scaring the prowlers off the island (injured) doesn't stop the violence. Roland's girlfriend is killed. J.W. persistently re-interviews anyone & everyone who might know something, even though he's told (as usual) by island police to stay out of it. J.W. knows the PD won't solve the case, so he tricks his main suspects.
When J.W. realizes and confirms the sad truth of what really happened, the case is closed, tragically. Just in time for Zee's, Diana's and Joshua's return - a joyous family reunion.
When the prowlers shoot J.W. with a stun gun, it gets personal. He keeps investigating all week. He has the infrared photos of the prowlers enlarged and analyzed. He questions wait staff in bars around the island. Someone hired prowlers to scare Roland Cohen off his property, clearly in order to snap it up. Is it one of the neighbors, seeking to enlarge their already vast estate? Is it Roland's cousin Sally, seeking to make a bundle selling to high-end developers who want to build a resort? J.W. reasons that once the person who hired the prowlers knows they are captured on film, they'll stop the attacks.
When the prowlers come after J.W., but canny J.W. is lying in wait for them, armed. Scaring the prowlers off the island (injured) doesn't stop the violence. Roland's girlfriend is killed. J.W. persistently re-interviews anyone & everyone who might know something, even though he's told (as usual) by island police to stay out of it. J.W. knows the PD won't solve the case, so he tricks his main suspects.
When J.W. realizes and confirms the sad truth of what really happened, the case is closed, tragically. Just in time for Zee's, Diana's and Joshua's return - a joyous family reunion.
November 4, 2022
JW Jackson is an ex-Boston cop now living the rural life as a fisherman in Martha's Vineyard. I liked his character very much and the book is well written with an engaging plot. He even has two cats and likes to cook and is happily married with two children, almost too normal to be interesting yet he is. When his wife is away with the kids, boredom gets him to accept a job for a woman who needs to find out who is vandalizing her brother's property. The brother is a Vietnam vet who lives very simply in a small cabin in the woods and is referred to as The Monk. Jackson soon regrets taking on this project but finds he can't let it go, even after a murder occurs and his own life is threatened. Can't wait to read more in this series.
September 8, 2019
I started reading this series many years ago, after our family had vacationed several times at MV. Back then, all my books came from the library. When I changed to ebooks, the series was really there and I discovered many new authors when I had access to a bookstore 24 hours a day. When this book was a special of the day for kindle, I snatched it up and was pleased to become reacquainted with JW. The mystery was a bit confounding and I must admit that the ending was disappointing. And I missed JW’s family. All in all, though, it was a quick, pleasant trip around wonderful Martha’s Vineyard.
March 25, 2023
"Vineyard Stalker" by Philip R. Craig. JW is a retired police officer who is living with his wife and children in Martha's Vineyard. His wife and children went to the mainland so he is asked by someone to investigate some vandalism at her brother's place. Because her brother lives on a choice piece of land which is sought after by many others, JW has to figure out if this is the reason the vandalism is taking place. Meanwhile this brother's lover is murdered and JW has to untangle that as well. Interesting twist to the story.
April 16, 2020
The root of all evil is money....Roland occupies a prime piece of Vineyard real estate which is his left to him as his life estate. His cousin, Sally, a real estate agent, has her eyes on it. His sister, Carole, tries to protect him by hiring J.W. Finding how serious someone is to scare Roland away, J.W. starts interviewing Roland's neighbors, even Roland himself. The resolution of this installment is the most unique in style and mood.
September 10, 2020
I've been to Martha's Vineyard a few times and I thought a book set there and featuring local people rather than the enormous number of enormously wealthy summer visitors would bring back memories. This book doesn't. The crime is contrived - not that most crimes in mysteries are realistic - and the people involved don't seem alive. I read a few chapters and gave up.
July 2, 2017
Good read, good who dunnit, liked the plot and the characters.
August 12, 2017
Good
A bit boring kind of goes on and on. Love Martha's Vineyard and Viet Nam vet. Not clearly written. Ok
A bit boring kind of goes on and on. Love Martha's Vineyard and Viet Nam vet. Not clearly written. Ok
September 13, 2017
A back to basics guy, who lives simply, is the victim of vandalism. Is the murderer him? Plenty of intrigue set on Martha's Vineyard.
December 12, 2017
JW Jackson and crew are good characters, so any book in the series is worthwhile, but this particular book fell off huge at the end.
March 18, 2020
A fine, easy read. The best thing it has going for it is definitely the setting of Martha's Vineyard :)
June 11, 2023
Excellent; Continuing character: J. W. Jackson; with his family away, JW gets hired to find out who is harassing a hermit; when a murder occurs he tries to find out if its related or a coincidence
January 11, 2024
This book was boring. The ending was a let down and there was no sense of real suspense. Don't recommend, don't waste your time with this book
March 25, 2015
Vineyard Stalker by Phillip R. Craig
This book is about JW and his investigations to a real estate agent friend, her brother. JW's wife, Z and the kids are off to Fall River to visit the other half of the relatives so he has time on his hands to investigate.
He finds there is so much more than what he had gotten from the agent. Caroline just thinks somebody is going to get hur, she just wants to find out who is causing the problems at her brothers place on the island.
Loved hearing of what a spirit house is and how to build it and why you have one.
Comes with recipes that are delish! Lots of clues and lots of people to talk to, figuring this one out.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
This book is about JW and his investigations to a real estate agent friend, her brother. JW's wife, Z and the kids are off to Fall River to visit the other half of the relatives so he has time on his hands to investigate.
He finds there is so much more than what he had gotten from the agent. Caroline just thinks somebody is going to get hur, she just wants to find out who is causing the problems at her brothers place on the island.
Loved hearing of what a spirit house is and how to build it and why you have one.
Comes with recipes that are delish! Lots of clues and lots of people to talk to, figuring this one out.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
May 10, 2015
#18 in the Martha's Vineyard Mystery series. J.W. Jackson was a Boston cop but now he's taken a disability pension to a subsistence living on the Vineyard. He fishes, clams, does off-season maintenance for seasonal residents and takes the occasional private detective assignment.
Martha's Vineyard Mystery series - J. W. Jackson accepts a job of identifying the vandals disrupting the life of a man known as "The Monk". If Roland ("Monk") leaves the property, his cousin will be able to sell it for a fortune. J.W. confronts the vandals but is shot with a stun gun and Roland's lover is later murdered. The simple assignment becomes complicated and dangerous.
Martha's Vineyard Mystery series - J. W. Jackson accepts a job of identifying the vandals disrupting the life of a man known as "The Monk". If Roland ("Monk") leaves the property, his cousin will be able to sell it for a fortune. J.W. confronts the vandals but is shot with a stun gun and Roland's lover is later murdered. The simple assignment becomes complicated and dangerous.
March 2, 2009
Vineyard Stalker follows the trail of a ex-cop as he hunts down a stalker of a resident of Martha's Vineyard. As he progresses through the case a murder takes place on his client's property. The plot then takes a surprising twist through a myriad of interesting characters. The plot moves slowly and really doesn't develop until the end of the story when the main character is closes in on the murderer.
April 1, 2009
a quick read. this is first in a series of 18. it was fun because i remember many of the places mentioned from a recent first visit to Martha's Vinyard. definitely a memorable & special place. don't think you have to have been there to enjoy this book, however. plan to several read more, unless they become predictable. (this one sure wasn't!)
June 22, 2013
This series gets 5 stars and so does this book. I am sorry to say I only have one more left to read of the 19. Just a fun read with lots of comedy and laughs and mystery. Great characters. Learned a lot about fishing and boats and all kinds of interesting things from medieval literature to how to make a jungle house like Tarzan. Great great great
July 7, 2008
It's so sad that there will be no more mysteries by Philip Craig. His characters were fun and memorable. It was nice to visit Martha's Vineyard again and again in these books. They were great quick-read mysteries.
July 14, 2010
Martha's Vineyard. J.D.'s wife and kids go to "America" for vacation, and he stays home to solve another mystery. Pretty predictable, as all the plots in this series are nearly identical, but enjoyable anyway.
August 4, 2012
It was a bit sad to finish this (the 18th in the series) as I always read a few while we're on vacation on the Vineyard and sadly Craig passed away after writing this last installment. I've heard that there is a cookbook to go with it so I may have to put it on my Christmas list.
September 15, 2007
If you have read a lot of Philip Craig it is more of the same. Very light and a perfect read for the beach.
September 27, 2007
a fun read..like all his books...i would not have guessed correctly who-dun-it...
January 11, 2008
I have really enjoyed reading the late Phil Craig's Martha's Vineyard series and getting to know the main character, J. W. Jackson and his family, Zee, Joshua and Diana.
January 17, 2008
Great series. If you like these, try William Tapply's Brady Coyne series.
September 4, 2008
This author just died, and I read his last book. He will be missed. Because of him, I'm dying to go see Martha's Vineyard myself.....my daughter says we'll go when I turn 60!
Want to read
November 3, 2008Another New England Mystery series.
December 11, 2010
Mystery - enjoyed - good pace
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews