Dead in Vineyard Sand

May 29, 2006
In Craig's delightful 17th Martha's Vineyard mystery (after 2005's Vineyard Prey), ex-Boston cop J.W. Jackson once again displays his knack for stumbling on dead bodies. This time he finds a human hand sticking out of a sand trap on a Vineyard golf course. Since the hand turns out to belong to Henry Highsmith, a cranky environmentalist with whom our hero had an earlier altercation, Jackson himself falls under suspicion. After a truck with a description matching Jackson's is spotted running Highsmith's wife off the bike path, his troubles really begin. Jackson charms as ever, with his devotion to fishing, clamming and cookery and with his tart commentary on such subjects as gas guzzling SUVs, golfers and cyclists.

July 24, 2006
In Craig's delightful 17th Martha's Vineyard mystery (after 2005's Vineyard Prey), ex-Boston cop J.W. Jackson once again displays his knack for stumbling on dead bodies. This time he finds a human hand sticking out of a sand trap on a Vineyard golf course. Since the hand turns out to belong to Henry Highsmith, a cranky environmentalist with whom our hero had an earlier altercation, Jackson himself falls under suspicion. After a truck with a description matching Jackson's is spotted running Highsmith's wife off the bike path, his troubles really begin. Jackson charms as ever, with his devotion to fishing, clamming and cookery and with his tart commentary on such subjects as gas guzzling SUVs, golfers and cyclists.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2006
J. W. Jackson must clear himself of a murder accusation in this seventeenth Martha's Vineyard mystery. J. W. has an altercation at the fish market with rabid environmentalist Henry Highsmith, who seems spoiling for a fight; then, when J. W.'s golf foursome finds Highsmith's body buried in a sand trap, J. W. finds himself a suspect. The fact that Henry's wife, Abigail, is run off the road on her bicycle by an SUV that looks like J. W.'s only adds fuel to the fire. The former cop turned housesitter, fisherman, and performer of odd jobs investigates while taking care of his young children in this family-centered mystery. (J. W. is likely to take his kids along to question suspects when he isn't building them a rope bridge in the backyard.) A wonderfully evoked sense of place and a sensitive exploration of environmental issues combine with likable characters and plenty of humor in this long-running and always entertaining series. The resolution of the mystery is not much of a surprise this time, but series fans will find their pleasure elsewhere.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)