Vineyard Enigma

May 13, 2002
Former Boston cop J.W. Jackson searches for two ancient soapstone eagles allegedly stolen from African ruins, as well as for clues to his wife Zee's sudden detachment, in Craig's latest Vineyard mystery, a livelier, more original tale than his previous, 2001's Vineyard Shadows. Abraham Mahsimba, a cultivated and attractive African, may have given J.W. a fresh mission (and a new interest in priceless artifacts), but he's also struck Zee's fancy. A naked, headless and unidentified body and the murder of an art dealer complicate life on the island, and J.W. soon finds himself amid a thriving trade of stolen artifacts, a personal rivalry between collectors and a potential revenge plot. Eccentric locals—a Native American couple, a distinguished art collector, a reluctant accountant and assorted nouveau riche islanders—add zest. Craig offers enough liaisons, infidelities and questionable loyalties to keep everyone guessing. Does Mahsimba really work for Interpol, or is he after the eagles for selfish reasons? Will Zee fall victim to the seven-year itch? Another murder and an attempt on J.W.'s life leave our hero wary but still committed to getting to the bottom of things, which he does as the tale picks up speed and races toward a satisfying if uninspired conclusion. The Vineyard—with its fishing, clamming, cooking and camaraderie—retains its allure, the Red Sox are on a roll and J.W.'s homely philosophizing continues to annoy or enchant, depending on taste. (June 11)FYI:Craig's previous novel,
First Light (Forecasts, Dec. 10, 2001), was coauthored with William G. Tapply, author of
Past Tense (Forecasts, Sept. 10, 2001) and other titles in his Brady Coyne series.

June 1, 2002
The arrival on Martha's Vineyard of a strange man in search of two African soapstone eagles creates turmoil for series star J.W. Jackson. Murder, art-world intrigue, and jealousy of his wife's attraction to the man all complicate J.W.'s life. For series fans.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2002
J. W. Jackson, former cop and now jack-of-all-trades, returns to solve another mystery at Martha's Vineyard, where he lives with his two children and his wife, Zee. There's a murder, of course: this time the victim is an art dealer who may have a link to two soapstone eagles stolen from the Great Zimbabwe archaeological site. A dashing African, Mahsimba, has hired Jackson to help him recover the birds (and, yes, there are amusing references to " The "Maltese Falcon). Just as interesting as the mystery is the effect Mahsimba has on Zee, who is trying to recover from recently killing a man in self-defense. The mix of homicide and romance continues to work well in this series, largely because Craig's characters--and not just J. W and Zee--are convincingly true to life. Equally well drawn is Martha's Vineyard itself. Craig paints the island so vividly that readers can almost smell the sea breezes--and taste the money of the Vineyard's summer residents.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)