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Martha's Vineyard Mystery #8
Death and Honesty
April arrives in Martha's Vineyard, bringing two of life's inescapable certainties—death and taxes.
When the body of a local resident is found inside the home of one of the town's three tax assessors—along with some incriminating evidence of an embezzlement scheme—ninety-two-year-old sleuth Victoria Trumbull is on the case. Also falling under Victoria's eagle eye is the arrival of the glamorous, estranged wife of a popular televangelist. She's eager to buy some island property. But someone knows something about the woman's sordid past and isn't above blackmail to keep silent.
It's just the beginning of a trail of bodies, illicit doings and secrets that collide in the brisk ocean air on Victoria's doorstep. And when her search for a missing tax assessor leads to a dangerous truth, it takes the insight and experience of a thirteenth-generation islander to fit the puzzle pieces together—and outwit a ruthless foe.
When the body of a local resident is found inside the home of one of the town's three tax assessors—along with some incriminating evidence of an embezzlement scheme—ninety-two-year-old sleuth Victoria Trumbull is on the case. Also falling under Victoria's eagle eye is the arrival of the glamorous, estranged wife of a popular televangelist. She's eager to buy some island property. But someone knows something about the woman's sordid past and isn't above blackmail to keep silent.
It's just the beginning of a trail of bodies, illicit doings and secrets that collide in the brisk ocean air on Victoria's doorstep. And when her search for a missing tax assessor leads to a dangerous truth, it takes the insight and experience of a thirteenth-generation islander to fit the puzzle pieces together—and outwit a ruthless foe.
250 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2009
4 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Riggs
27 books122 followersCynthia 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 29, 2012
West Tisbury's civil servants are dropping like flies -- whether to murder or attempted murder -- and it will take Victoria Trumbull -- poet, sage, police deputy (with a great baseball cap to prove it!) and perennially 92 years of age -- to discover why.
The eighth of Cynthia Riggs's excellent series opens with the discovery of a corpse in the home of one of West Tisbury's three tax assessors, all of whom are in their 70s. Victoria soon discovers that the assessors and the town's tax assessor have established what they quaintly term a "setting-aside account" -- that is, a bank account where they stow the money they've been skimming from inflating property assessments for decades. Add to that the intersecting tale of the unseemly television evangelist/minister and his pretty and much younger wife, and Death and Honesty delivers a suspenseful and often humorous story. I devoured the book in less than 24 hours!
Death and Honesty is better than its immediate predecessor, Shooting Star, which was a bit too much over the top. Sure, the authorities in Death and Honesty seem much more trusting of these little old ladies in Town Hall than I suspect their real-life, cynical counterparts would be. And the Reverend Henry True's wife, who goes by the name of Delilah Sampson, with her suggestive Biblical name, gold high-heel sandals, wandering eye, and ditzy nature is painted with a bit of a broad brush. But she's still a fun addition to the characters. Riggs, herself a 14th generation resident of Martha's Vineyard, provides a lovely look at the stark beauty of the island. All in all, a satisfying read.
While Death and Honesty doesn't rise to the level of high literature -- or even to the level of Riggs' best novels, The Cemetery Yew or Jack in the Pulpit, you won't regret the hours you spend with Victoria Trumbull and the other denizens of Martha's Vineyard.
The eighth of Cynthia Riggs's excellent series opens with the discovery of a corpse in the home of one of West Tisbury's three tax assessors, all of whom are in their 70s. Victoria soon discovers that the assessors and the town's tax assessor have established what they quaintly term a "setting-aside account" -- that is, a bank account where they stow the money they've been skimming from inflating property assessments for decades. Add to that the intersecting tale of the unseemly television evangelist/minister and his pretty and much younger wife, and Death and Honesty delivers a suspenseful and often humorous story. I devoured the book in less than 24 hours!
Death and Honesty is better than its immediate predecessor, Shooting Star, which was a bit too much over the top. Sure, the authorities in Death and Honesty seem much more trusting of these little old ladies in Town Hall than I suspect their real-life, cynical counterparts would be. And the Reverend Henry True's wife, who goes by the name of Delilah Sampson, with her suggestive Biblical name, gold high-heel sandals, wandering eye, and ditzy nature is painted with a bit of a broad brush. But she's still a fun addition to the characters. Riggs, herself a 14th generation resident of Martha's Vineyard, provides a lovely look at the stark beauty of the island. All in all, a satisfying read.
While Death and Honesty doesn't rise to the level of high literature -- or even to the level of Riggs' best novels, The Cemetery Yew or Jack in the Pulpit, you won't regret the hours you spend with Victoria Trumbull and the other denizens of Martha's Vineyard.
August 30, 2009
In midsummer, I discovered this author in the new fiction section of our public library. Writing about aspects of Martha's Vineyard seldom seen by tourists, Rigg introduces cultural, social and economic issues and a range of characters, some surprising. While I have enjoyed the three books I have read, a consistent problem is the hurried ending of each book with complicated threads tidied up within a few last pages. This. of course, will not deter me from pursuing her remaining novels since I have abandoned my Muriel Sparks pilgrimage.
December 26, 2025
Riggs manages what seems damn near impossible. She takes a 92 year old woman living on a small island off the coast of Massachusetts, writes mystery after mystery in which there are multiple acts of murder and mayhem each book, with mainland baddies visiting the island for nefarious purposes, and has said nonagenarian Victoria Trumbull joining the fray and emerging victorious each time. I mean, it’s silly on the face of it, but the stories are so well told that we happily suspend our disbelief, turn the pages madly, and are thrilled at the outcomes.
This book starts with a missing person and a murder, then another murder and the missing person’s body discovered as a third murder, with 3 people poisoned as well but surviving after trips to hospital, and many acts of mis-, mal-, and non-feasance in the local city hall, and we happily agree with the idea of Victoria outperforming the local, county, and state police forces, and solving all. It’s a feat of legerdemain that deserves our utmost respect.
If you like mysteries and you haven’t read these, you simply must rectify that omission.
This book starts with a missing person and a murder, then another murder and the missing person’s body discovered as a third murder, with 3 people poisoned as well but surviving after trips to hospital, and many acts of mis-, mal-, and non-feasance in the local city hall, and we happily agree with the idea of Victoria outperforming the local, county, and state police forces, and solving all. It’s a feat of legerdemain that deserves our utmost respect.
If you like mysteries and you haven’t read these, you simply must rectify that omission.
April 19, 2019
I adore this series. Victoria Trumball, a 90+ YO, is a deputy for the local police department. I think the thing I like the most is this cozy mystery series is a bit more believable that so many out there. When three locals wind up in the hospital having been poisoned and three others are murdered, Victoria helps in tracking down the guilty party.
October 2, 2022
The seventh in this original series featuring ninety-two- year-old sleuth Victoria Trumbull. Victoria discovers a neighbor's body in the home of one at Martha's Vineyard's three town assessors. The assessors have been skimming off tax money from wealthy landowners and stashing it in their own retirement funds.
June 4, 2019
This book was funny and had a cliff-hanger at the end of a lot of chapters. Then the next chapter went on to something else and didn't get back to the cliff-hanger for another chapter. That made it a page-turner.
July 20, 2021
Nice change having a 92 year old sleuth (Victoria) who is also a Police Deputy. Since Victoria has lived on Martha's Vineyard a long she knows most everyone and who is related to who which helps when you are trying to solve a murder or two. Very good reading.
July 27, 2022
A bit over the top but totally charming for those who like to read about community and unlikely heroes.
January 25, 2025
I was afraid that the honesty was going to turn out to be the poison ... i do like the idea that honesty is invasive [not like kudzu, though]
March 19, 2017
Fun read, I Like the different plays on honesty. I guessed some of the "mystery" happenings.
July 11, 2015
Warning: contains spoilers for both this book and book 3 "Cemetery Yew"
So after reading books 3 and 8 I was seriously disappointed. Now these weren't my favorites to start with, because I'm not a fan of the multiple person point of view. But the fact that the motives for the killers in both books was damn near identical, was pretty much unforgivable.
In Cemetery Yew the killer needs money because she lost everything in dot.com investing and somehow ends up owing money to the mob.
In Death and Honesty the killer needs money because she lost everything investing in a scam film company that was paying more in protection money to the mob than it was making in profits.
Not 100% the same but damn near with both the losing everything due to bad investments and having a mob connection.
Oh, and lets not forget that the same rogue for hire appears in both these books. Just in case you managed to forget the plot of book three, he's there as a constant reminder of the story) (and the author makes sure to mention his role enough times that if you have forgotten, you'll want to go refresh your memory.)
There are only 4 books in the series separating these two, so its pretty sad that the author has already started recycling motives.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
So after reading books 3 and 8 I was seriously disappointed. Now these weren't my favorites to start with, because I'm not a fan of the multiple person point of view. But the fact that the motives for the killers in both books was damn near identical, was pretty much unforgivable.
In Cemetery Yew the killer needs money because she lost everything in dot.com investing and somehow ends up owing money to the mob.
In Death and Honesty the killer needs money because she lost everything investing in a scam film company that was paying more in protection money to the mob than it was making in profits.
Not 100% the same but damn near with both the losing everything due to bad investments and having a mob connection.
Oh, and lets not forget that the same rogue for hire appears in both these books. Just in case you managed to forget the plot of book three, he's there as a constant reminder of the story) (and the author makes sure to mention his role enough times that if you have forgotten, you'll want to go refresh your memory.)
There are only 4 books in the series separating these two, so its pretty sad that the author has already started recycling motives.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...
1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.
2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.
3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.
4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.
5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
July 8, 2012
Would I be this smart and cognizant at 97? Doubt it. I'm scores younger and still have trouble remembering what I did or what I ate the previous day. Can't even remember clearly which books I read before.
I read this book some time ago. Realized it almost immediately upon starting to read it, but not before requesting it after reading the Goodreads description. Victoria Trumbull really is a heroine to aspire to be. She basically lives her life as a native of Martha's Vineyard. However, she is also now a deputy of West Tisbury, because of her being a native of Vineyard inhabitant and her knowledge of the history of the island and who is related to who (including herself at times). The local sheriff relies on her knowledge of the history and interrelationships of the island to help her in her investigations. In this book, the investigation is cross jurisdictional, and a few police agencies are involved, but Vitoria still seems to lead the investigation.
Not the best in the series, yet still a very good book. While I remember I read he book before, there were enough twist, turns and plot misdirections that I couldn't remember the actual ending. It was satisfying in the end.
I read this book some time ago. Realized it almost immediately upon starting to read it, but not before requesting it after reading the Goodreads description. Victoria Trumbull really is a heroine to aspire to be. She basically lives her life as a native of Martha's Vineyard. However, she is also now a deputy of West Tisbury, because of her being a native of Vineyard inhabitant and her knowledge of the history of the island and who is related to who (including herself at times). The local sheriff relies on her knowledge of the history and interrelationships of the island to help her in her investigations. In this book, the investigation is cross jurisdictional, and a few police agencies are involved, but Vitoria still seems to lead the investigation.
Not the best in the series, yet still a very good book. While I remember I read he book before, there were enough twist, turns and plot misdirections that I couldn't remember the actual ending. It was satisfying in the end.
April 27, 2013
This one was not as good as some of Riggs' others. It lacked a lot of scene-setting/scenery details which I normally like in her books. I miss the descriptions of the island, its breezes, sounds of the ocean, sandy roads, etc. She also leaves out her granddaughter, Elizabeth, (an important character in Victoria's life in her other works) who seems to have worked the entire time in the story. Moreover, Victoria's relationship with Casey doesn't seem as tight as it has in the past. However, the plot is very clever and it kept me interested from the beginning to the end. I look forward to reading her next one in the series. I love Victoria Trumbull!
June 24, 2009
When Martha's Vineyard newcomer Delilah Sampson has trouble with the local tax assessors, she turns to Victoria Trumbull, the 92-year-old poet and deputy sheriff who knows everything about the Vineyard. Victoria becomes involved with Delilah's problems, including her evangelist husband, and also discovers a body in the head assessor's pantry. Victoria knows there's something strange going on in the assessors' office: why else would there be three different evaluations for Delilah's property? But without legal evidence, she has trouble persuading the police chief.
August 5, 2009
When Martha's Vineyard newcomer Delilah Sampson has trouble with the local tax assessors, she turns to Victoria Trumbull, the 92-year-old poet and deputy sheriff who knows everything about the Vineyard. Victoria becomes involved with Delilah's problems, including her evangelist husband, and also discovers a body in the head assessor's pantry. Victoria knows there's something strange going on in the assessors' office: why else would there be three different evaluations for Delilah's property A light summer read.
Part of a series
Part of a series
July 4, 2014
I love this series. Victoria Turnbill is ninety two years old and a sheriff's deputy on Martha's Vineyard. She finds the body of a woman inside a neighbor's house and shortly after another body turns up in a pond close by being eaten by snapping turtles. Victoria begins the search for the murderer and runs into crooked town officials, dishonest ministers, secretive "agents" and porn. This kept me reading until I finished and Victoria solves everything in her own style. This series is wonderful.
April 5, 2015
Victoria Trumbull may be 92, but she never thinks of herself as being elderly. She is a top notch sleuth, and is much admired by her fellow citizens. She is a published poet and an unofficial Deputy Police Officer! She doesn't suffer fools gladly. Still has a phone with a circular dial, no TV or computer for Victoria! They took away her driver's license, but if it's too far a distance to walk it, she hitchhikes!!!! A very independent woman!! I really have enjoyed every book in this series.
September 13, 2014
This book was a pleasant read, although Victoria--whom I adore--was the only character for whom I got a feel. Many of the others weren't around long enough to really get to know, and many of them were downright dislikable.
And although there was a good bit of nature description, I didn't get as much Martha's Vineyard as I would have liked.
Overall...fine, pleasant, but not the best in the series.
And although there was a good bit of nature description, I didn't get as much Martha's Vineyard as I would have liked.
Overall...fine, pleasant, but not the best in the series.
July 18, 2016
Part of the Victoria Trumbell series set on Martha's Vineyard. Tax cheats in City Hall, porn producers, murder. I think I'm done with this series. The notion of a 92-year-old deputy isn't credible, especially when the police chief is aiming for professionalism. The author veers off into long descriptions that don't further the plot. I found it a little hard to believe that City Hall employees could cheat taxpayers for 39 years and not one taxpayer noticed.
December 6, 2011
I love Victoria Trumbull. I want to be her when I grow up (or grow old) The characters and the settings make you want to go there. Although you might consider the person as the murderer, there isn't enough evidence to do more than put them on a suspect list with several others. Until the very end. May Victoria stay ninety-two forever
May 2, 2015
This is another Martha's Vineyard Mystery, The main character is ninety-two-year-old poet/sleuth Victoria Trumbull. She discovers a neighbor's body in the home of one of the three town assessors, who have been skimming off tax money from wealthy landowners and stashing it in their own retirement funds. It is an intriguing story and keeps you glued to the book.
June 30, 2014
This was a busy book - lots of embezzlers and murders. Fainting goats was a bizarre addition; had not heard of them before, but saw footage on Youtube - wild! Victoria is awesome, as usual. Very cool to have a contest winner included in the book.
June 22, 2009
Her books are a treat - partly because they are a light "summer" read but also because she keeps you guessing until the end. There is nothing really predictable about her.
August 20, 2009
An old fashion kind of mystery - read while on vacation in Marthas Vineyard - made me go out and buy more!
May 11, 2010
Murder, taxes, and secrets all combine for another great mystery with our favorite 92-year-old sleuth. I enjoyed it.
June 23, 2010
Nice summer read. Victoria is 92, spry and likable. the mystery is solidly plotted and it all adds up to a lazy day beach or pool read.
August 27, 2010
Martha's Vineyard mystery
December 5, 2010
Nice, cozy read.
June 9, 2015
Nice complicated plot is this generally good series featuring 90-year-old Victoria Trumbull.
June 27, 2016
92 year old sleuth Victoria Trumbull is once again investigating murders. Local tax assessors seem to have their own get rich scheme. Then one of them is murdered.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews