Deadly Nightshade

Martha's Vineyard Mystery #1

by Cynthia Riggs

Martha's Vineyard has been home to Victoria Trumbull for most of her 92 years. Its magic, history, and picture-perfect calm are part of her very being. But one evening, Victoria hears something that doesn't quite belong: a scream followed by a splash and a sound of a car speeding away. She investigates and discovers a body on the outgoing tide.

Despite interruptions from her granddaughter Elizabeth, the harbormaster Domingo, a swarm of Island locals, and a few mysterious visitors, Victoria manages to get in a good bit of detective work and still finds time to cook her traditional Saturday night supper of Boston baked beans. She even concocts a scheme to trap the killer. But she'll need to act quickly, victim number two has already been found.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Crime, Mystery Thriller

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Cynthia Riggs, a tall gray-haired and imposing figure, is a 13th generation Islander, the mother of five and daughter of author and poet Dionis Coffin Riggs and school principal and printmaker Sidney N. Riggs.

With a degree in geology, her own remarkable resumé -- writing for the National Geographic Society and Smithsonian (she spent two months in Antarctica), working in public relations for the American Petroleum Institute, operating boat charters (she lived on a 44-foot houseboat for 12 years), running the Chesapeake Bay Ferry Boat Company, and being a rigger at Martha's Vineyard Shipyard. After enrolling six years ago in the Master of Fine Arts creative writing program at Vermont College, Riggs found yet another calling. She has become a successful mystery writer.

All her mysteries take place on the Vineyard, and all draw from local scenes and fictionalized composites of Island characters. She knows them all well, having been a two-time candidate for West Tisbury selectman ("No, I don't think I'll do that again"), a commissioner on the Martha's Vineyard Commission, a member of what is now the Martha's Vineyard Arts Council, and an active Island voice in both politics and human rights causes.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't help it, I love these books. Are they fantastic mysteries? Not really. Is it easy to believe the protagonist is 92? Ummm... Would I recommend them to all my friends or my mystery book group? Probably not. But, none the less, every time I finish one, I'm eager to start a new one. I love visiting Martha's Vineyard in each of the books (although I agree that a map would be useful) and I like the light botanical theme. I like her attention to detail in describing the scenery. I like the nautical accurateness about the tide and boats. Unfortunately, this particular book is not her best (it's a pity that it's the first in the series and may turn people off). I'm off to get the next one at the Library...

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Domingo: "Sweetheart, that man is trying to kill you"
Victoria: "Oh, what a nice man!"
Domingo: "Sweetheart, that man is a drug dealer and a murderer"
Victoria: "I really like him. I've invited him to dinner."
Domingo: "Sweetheart, I don't want you to be alone while this bad man is trying to kill you"
Victoria: "I'm going to go out on a ramshackle fishing boat for a day, and accidentally spy on bad guys, but don't worry about me!"

I hate characters that are too stupid to survive childhood, and hate them even more when they're supposed to be 92 years old and in full possession of their faculties. Her 30-something granddaughter was no better.

Elizabeth: "Look gram, someone's following our car! Maybe it's the people who want to kill you! I'm going to detour down this dead end road, then off onto an unpaved track through the woods, full of potholes, and see if they stay behind us!"

I actually kind of liked the author's attention to detail, the sights and sounds and smells of the Island.

[Kelly RAley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had never heard the term "geezer lit" prior to reading other people's reviews of this book. The heroine is 90, so I guess she qualifies. She's much more active than Ms. Marple and doesn't draw on her experiences as a youth for her crime-solving, so I'm not exactly sure why the author made her so elderly. The clues for this mystery were a bit ham-fisted. I found the weapon. Here is a note, etc... I would stick with Agatha Christie. She's much more of an artist. As a side note, I listened to this on audiobook and although it was set in Martha's Vineyard, MA, the reader was British and gave all of the old men Scotch and Irish accents. Weird. Couldn't they find a northeastern reader?

[Arlen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming characters, but we're asked to accept frustrating plot inefficiencies and frustrating character blindness to what's right in front of them. I was entertained and glad that I read this book. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for light diversion.

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was leaning towards 3 stars, because I like Victoria and I loved the setting. It reminded me of Murder, She Wrote. I also like Domingo's wife. Towards the end, though, something got lost. There was the big reveal (with a lot of telling. I thought we were pretty much wrapped up. Except there was still over an hour left to the audiobook. And that last hour was bad-- it jumped from scene to scene, it threw in so many minor characters, and it contained a lot more telling. Honestly, I would read more of spunky Victoria and the people she lives near on the Vineyard-- I think this book would have been better if it had leaned into this type of cozy English village mystery, because despite the MC being 92, this wasn't cozy (the murders were pretty graphic, and there were a few other things that made me feel like this wasn't a truly cozy mystery).

[Day · Rating 1 out of 5]

Easily one of the worst books I've ever read. Reading it struck me as akin to listening to a drunk, concussed person trying to tell a story – there is little to no connection from point A to point B, and items are suddenly plunked into the narrative, whether it makes sense for them to or not. I kept thinking I’d accidentally skipped a few pages because of how abruptly things happened, but, no, the book just jumps around jarringly like that. This is the sort of book where one gets the sense that characters behave in certain ways not because it is in their nature, but instead because the story demands that they do. The same applies to many of the events that occur. It makes for an extremely unpleasant reading experience.

Of course, none of this touches on the eye-rolling I was doing by the time the third murder victim popped up. Then there’s the car bomb – in Martha’s Vineyard? Really? This is a place where the last shooting death happened over three years ago. It’s as if the author wanted to up the stakes but really didn’t know how to do so, so they opted for the lurid and sensational instead.

Given the sheer volume of “cozy” mysteries that have flooded the market in the past years, there’s surely better out there than this. Skip this one.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my second foray into the genre of Geezer Lit. It was only slightly better than the first.

This is just a strange mystery. The star is in her nineties, but you wouldn't know it from her capabilities. She could just as easily be in her 60's, except she has a 30-year old granddaughter. The plot is not well told. There is very little for the reader to puzzle out because the characters' seem to know the plot and tell it before there are any clues (or red herrings) for the reader.

There is no particular sense of time. The author also assumes that the reader is familiar with Martha's Vineyard. A map would have helped. I kept waiting for the woman police chief to play a larger role. We are also supposed to believe that another police chief and a selectman are involved in drug running and skimming harbor profits. What also drove me crazy was so much extraneous descriptive material in the midst of the narrative. Do we care that two boys rode their bikes by the house or that someone crossed his legs a certain way?

Unless you like boating and are familiar with Martha's Vineyard, I'd recommend that you read a different book.

[JG (Introverted Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really, it's more like 3.5 stars, but I couldn't bring myself to bump it up to 4.

Deadly Nightshade is a mystery set on Martha's Vineyard. The "detective"? A 92-year-old poet named Victoria Trumbull. One evening while waiting on her granddaughter, an assistant harbormaster, Victoria hears a scream followed by a splash. When her granddaughter and the harbormaster show up, Victoria has them go out on the boat to investigate and they find the body of a shady local character floating in the water. Victoria is the only witness, so she is in some danger. But she's determined to sort out this mystery.

This book was entertaining; it had some interesting, quirky characters, and I really didn't figure out the mystery on my own. What more can you really ask for? I enjoy these kinds of books, but they aren't my very-favorites, so my rating is a little biased that way. If you like Miss Marple, Aunt Dimity, or even Agatha Raisin, you'll probably like Victoria Trumbull also.

[SuzyQ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book itself was just OK. I listened to the audio version, and it drove me crazy! The narrator was Davina Porter, usually an excellent narrator, BUT the story is set on Martha's Vineyard, USA. Since Ms. Porter has an English accent, all the characters sounded like they belonged in the UK. Even the Hispanic ex-cop from NYC had an English accent! Throw in some Irish and Scottish accents (the New England fisherman)for diversity, and it was a mess. Luckily, there was a character from New Zealand, who sounded great.
If I get another audio book from this author, I'll check to see who is the narrator.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria Trumball, in her 90's, lives in Martha's Vineyard. One night while waiting for her granddaughter to finish her shift as assistant harbormaster, Victoria hears an argument, a scream and tires squealing across the harbor. Thus begins the string of several murders, drug smuggling and intrigue on the small island. Interesting characters and loved the setting. A little grittier than some cozies (language), but a very good read.

[Miss Di]

DNF. Audio book. I could not reconcile the English narrator with the American East Coast setting. The accents tended to slip or were missing the mark. There just didn't seem to be any NY (or was it NJ?) in the harbour Master's voice. Just too hard to suspend disbelief. :(

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't think this book was all that great, but it wasn't bad either. It was an easy read and that was about it. It was easy to figure out from the beginning who the bad guy was.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun quick easy read...a cozy mystery. Good for a snowy week-end

[Diane Shearer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know. I’m always looking for new cozy mystery series. I got sucked into these because of the gorgeous book covers (not the one shown here). I haven’t been into a series set in New England since Murder She Wrote. It’s a very different world from my own (a horse girl from SoCal) which is one reason I love mystery novels: the setting. The author wisely avoids the well known part of Martha’s Vineyard where the rich and famous live and set her story among the born and raised here since forever working class. What I didn’t like is these women are too stupid to live. I mean, how many times do you need to be told someone is trying to kill you before you believe it? Every character had a hidden agenda which neither Victoria (whose only claim to crime solving is she’s old enough to know everyone on the island) nor Elizabeth (who is just annoying) has a clue that everyone around them is a criminal. We really don’t get enough back story on these two to get attached, and the ending is just too convenient. I guess the author wanted to avoid the time honored tradition of getting all the suspects into a room and glaring at them until
the murderer confesses. Personally, I like time honored traditions. This ending was disturbing. However, I think I liked it well enough to listen to another, though the Reader is British and doesn’t get the accents right. And they are all available in the library app. After that we will see.

[P.D. Workman]

Deadly Nightshade is part of Cynthia Riggs’s Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries series. I haven’t read any of her books before. With an eye for detail, Cynthia Riggs paints a vivid picture of the harbor and its boats while unfolding the investigation. I love protagonist Victoria Trumbull, who is 92 years old, but still very spry and active, a poet, and a fixture on the island with a long memory of its history. She overhears a murder and is one of the parties who finds the body. As Victoria dives deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a web of secrets and lies that could be more dangerous than she imagined.

[Ian McCallum · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars - overall not bad, but really nothing special here.

Just a mosh posh of who-done-it murders within a drug ring that’s solved by a two-page long story mustered up by one of the characters. The entirety of the book isn’t boring, but by no means memorable.

[Pat]

Good story, but it needs a good editor.

[Andy]

DNF. Not my cup of tea. Davina Porter is an amazing narrator in general but this is not Outlander, and she should have pulled an Angela Lansbury and faked some New England accents for this.

[Sunnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
Seemed to be all small talk with nothing much happening

[Pam White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun mystery book!

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a little bit grittier than a cozy mystery. The setting of Martha’s Vineyard harbor was interesting along with the colorful characters and the mystery was smart and layered. This apparently is the first book of the series involving Victoria Trumbull. I did listen to the audiobook read by Davina Porter.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had many positives: I thought the characters were original and well-drawn. I liked the author's voice, and especially the voice she gave the 91-year-old central character. The mystery was well-plotted and not too easy to figure out.

There were also a couple of areas that concerned me about this book. The biggest was that I thought it read more like a screenplay than a book -- it had very good scenes, but was really weak on the transitions that would have led the reader smoothly from one to the next. Instead, it was like: Scene/scene/scene. It also kind of bothered me that two hours before the end of the audiobook, most of the mystery got resolved in what felt like most books' big reveal. But then the book went on, and other, lesser things were revealed. And again it felt like it should be done, but there was nearly an hour left. I would have preferred a smoother, more natural story arc.

However, this was the first book in a series, and I am always willing to give an author at least one more book in which to find his or her footing. There was certainly enough positive about this to make me come back.

[Lis Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria Trumbull and her niece Elizabeth live on peaceful Martha's Vineyard--peaceful, that is, until Victoria hears a scream, investigates, and finds a body on the outgoing tide.

Victoria starts, not investigating, of course, just wandering around her island home noticing things and asking questions. Which, unfortunately, the wrong people notice. Elizabeth, who drives her aunt around, and works for the harbor master (a retired NYC cop whom some people find to be very out of place on the island), starts to have some scary experiences--being followed, nearly driven off the road, unexpected and unfamiliar visitors when she's on the late shift at the harbormaster's shack.

We get a lively picture of island life, the mix of the old residents and the new, the social changes disrupting old ways, the tourists, and a presidential vacation. The characters are interesting, individual, and compelling. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

Recommended.

I borrowed this book from the library.

[Marty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at our library’s used book store thinking it might be a good gift for a friend who had just returned from a visit to Martha’s Vineyard. …. I don’t think I’ll give it to her. The story is OK.. but it is uneven and drags quite a bit in the first half. The spunky 92 year old Virginia Turmbull is a treat. I wouldn’t have believed her, but I had an aunt who lived to be 105 who was almost as spunky. Virginia was the best drawn of the characters, the others were a bit shallow so I didn’t care as much for them. The story happens in and around the boat harbor where Virginia’ granddaughter works as assistant harbor master. Virginia is witness to a gruesome murder while waiting for her granddaughter. The murder turns out to be just a part of a nasty criminal ring that is operating in Martha’s Vineyard. Virginia, (and her common sense) is a major player in bring the criminals to justice.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy New England town where everyone knows your name and the doors are unlocked despite the fact that an endless amount of murders are about to take place over the series. Not to worry, an adorable retired lady named Victoria will solve them all. Victoria is a 92 year old cat lover and the title features a botanical species. When you put this all together, you'll find that I am the target audience and I ate this right up.

Growing up with the Murder She Wrote series, I fell right into the rhythm of this authors narration. I had just been watching Hallmark Christmas movies (target audience) and one was set in Martha's Vineyard. So I was trying to use the scenes from that movie to help flesh out the setting. After a book and a movie, I think I need to visit. Anyone in Martha's Vineyard want to give me some pointers? So far, I already know to not go meeting dodgy characters by the waters edge at high tide. Your input would be appreciated.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow I didn't realize that I had read this once before, some time ago. I immediately remember the beginning, but nothing else about the book. It opens with 92-year-old Victoria Trumbull waiting from her granddaughter Elizabeth to get off work. Suddenly she hears voices, and a scream, followed by a splash. When she investigates, along with Elizabeth, and the harbormaster, Domingo, they find a body. He was obviously murdered, the question is why? And, of course, who did it? Domingo, a former New York City policeman, cautions Victoria and Elizabeth to be careful, since they have no idea who might be involved. And, indeed, the case is very involved. This is not a cozy mystery; there is danger around every turn. Interesting characters, a fascinating setting, along with a clever plot all add up to a very enjoyable read. Recommended.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to be generous and give this book 3 stars, mainly because I stuck with it to the end. On the one hand, this is a nice little murder mystery taking place in New England. I kind of like the main characters: Victoria, Elizabeth, and Domingo. The story is kind of convoluted and repetitive. Towards the end, the author has Howland, the FBI agent, basically sum up the whole thing to bring the reader up to speed and fill in the blanks, which goes against the “show don’t tell” rule. I have a hard time believing that the protagonist is in her 90s and that she is so headstrong and foolish as to put herself in danger. Also I’ve noticed that this book is listed as a “cozy,” but there were way too many curse words for my liking. Riggs, who apparently hails from New England, writes with a British flair, with lots of British euphemisms and expressions, and in the audio version everyone has a British accent except some of the sailors who all have Scottish accents. There are far too many pieces like this that just don’t fit that make me not want to read any more of this series.

[Eugene · Rating 3 out of 5]

First in the series, quite enjoyable once it got truly underway - and my, my, we learn that even idyllic Martha’s Vineyard has as seamy an underside as most any mainland social enclave.
Here, 92 year old Victoria Trumbull is seemingly witness to a vicious murder, “seemingly” because it happens across the town harbor amid the darkness setting in. But the screams of pain and terror are real, as are the sounds of a body splashing into the water and both a boat and a car hurriedly leaving the scene. Victoria is made of stern stuff, and isn’t deterred by the mangled body quickly fished out of the water.
Retired New York City cop Domingo is the Oak Bluffs harbormaster who comes to Victoria’s aid, and perforce the chief investigator, as the local police chief seems uninterested in solving the crime. Domingo and Victoria, ever observant, inquisitive, and thoughtful, are a formidable and intrepid pair, and in the end they solve the case, and bring justice to bear
Very enjoyable read and I look forward to #2, The Cranefly Orchid Murders.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first in the series published, although the third that Ms. Riggs wrote. We are introduced to her 92 year old heroine, Victoria, who takes no guff from anyone.

In this story, there's a murder. Victoria partially witnesses this murder, and puts herself at risk in helping to figure out who committed the murder. But then, there's a second murder, and things start to get a bit more complicated.

We are introduced to a whole set of characters, who I assume will make a showing in future installments. While there is character development going on, there is still a solid mystery with some complexities. Victoria is fiesty and a very intelligent heroine. And she certainly doesn't act her 92 years!

I'll probably continue the series. Ms. Riggs indicates that all of her stories are written as stand-alones, so no need to worry about reading in a particular order.

[Nichola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know how to explain this read other than it was like crack cocaine. Every time I put it down I needed to pick it ip again. 

And yet I absolutely LOATHED the characters. And not because they were intentionally dislikable but because they felt like bad cardboard cut outs of people.

I feel like a racial undertones of the book needed work. And if you are going to have an insightful older woman, she needs to actually be insightful. Man Miss Marple makes me feel like other older female characters are rubbish. 

If I hear another man call a woman's sweetheart again, I might commit homicide.

But for all that, the plot was good and I am going to give this series one more shot to see if the characters because more human and less infuriatingly bland.

Let's see what happens.