Murder at a Vineyard Mansion

Rating:
Summary: Sort of Light, Breezy - Never Really Came Together for Me
Review: I picked up "Murder at a Vineyard Mansion" hoping to expand the grouping of mystery series I've come to enjoy. While I generally prefer the somewhat less "hardcore" mysteries, I found this book a bit too peaceful and uninteresting.

There are two plots to this book - a murder mystery and a tale of a criminal called the Silencer who is somehow destroying sound systems across Martha's Vineyard. The Silencer plot seems at times to be more interesting than the murder mystery. The main action of the book throughout mostly focuses on the main character gallavanting throughout Martha's Vineyard and having numerous conversations with people hoping to piece together clues that will help him solve these two mysteries. Also closely connected are events involving a new computer that the main character's kids have been on his back to purchase.

I think the major problem with this mystery was that I never really developed any sort of attachment to the characters. The major protagonist, a retired cop named J.W., is a prime example. He's apparently retired, yet seems to get involved in these private investigations for no particular reason and sort of unofficially reports to the police department. He's an okay character, but I never really feel any sort of suspense or danger with him, or much interest in his doings. The mystery he's trying to solve seems wholely uninteresting, mainly involving a bunch of people who almost seem like they'd be better off dead. The mystery just sort of wraps up at the end, without a very interesting conclusion, leaving everything back to the status quo.

This was a mildly okay read, but I'm not really motivated to seek out any other books in this series.

Rating:
Summary: Family feuds on Martha's Vineyard
Review: It's always a pleasure to read Philip Craig's books and to take another trip to Martha's Vineyard with Craig's laid-back hero, J.W. Jackson. This time the part-time fisherman/part-time investigator is hired by one of the island's prominent citizens, Maud Mayhew, to prove that her son Harold did not kill Ollie Mattes, the security guard for a new mansion which is being built despite the protests of neighbors. Before J. W. can begin his investigation, Harold is also killed. Thus begins a trail of evidence that points to the members of some of the island's most prominent families. Old grudges are brought to light, and the in-fighting of these families is the focal point for J. W.'s investigation. On a lighter note, there is another crime occurring which is the destruction of sound equipment by a mysterious perpetrator who obviously doesn't like the musical taste of some of the Vineyard's occupants. A further story line involves J. W.'s family who lobby for a new computer which Jackson finds useful in solving the crimes. As usual, Philip Craig provides another good summer read.

Rating:
Summary: Family feuds on Martha's Vineyard
Review: It's always a pleasure to read Philip Craig's books and to take another trip to Martha's Vineyard with Craig's laid-back hero, J.W. Jackson. This time the part-time fisherman/part-time investigator is hired by one of the island's prominent citizens, Maud Mayhew, to prove that her son Harold did not kill Ollie Mattes, the security guard for a new mansion which is being built despite the protests of neighbors. Before J. W. can begin his investigation, Harold is also killed. Thus begins a trail of evidence that points to the members of some of the island's most prominent families. Old grudges are brought to light, and the in-fighting of these families is the focal point for J. W.'s investigation. On a lighter note, there is another crime occurring which is the destruction of sound equipment by a mysterious perpetrator who obviously doesn't like the musical taste of some of the Vineyard's occupants. A further story line involves J. W.'s family who lobby for a new computer which Jackson finds useful in solving the crimes. As usual, Philip Craig provides another good summer read.

Rating:
Summary: exciting Martha?s Vineyard cozy
Review: Retired police officer J.W. Jackson lives in the Ocean Heights section of Martha Vineyard with his wife and two children. He takes on odd jobs to earn extra money including some detective work when he becomes interested in an unusual crime. The Silencer is a modern day Robin Hood, who "fixes" music systems that are playing too loud in moving vehicles or homes with the windows open. He somehow fries them.

Robin Pierson is building a castle on Chappaquiddick much to the consternation of the neighbors who feel he is destroying the picturesque area. A delinquent vandalizes the structure forcing Robin to hire security guard Ollie Mates to make sure it doesn't happen again. Someone murders Ollie and Robin's neighbor Maud Mayhew wants to hire J.W. to prove that her son Harold is not the killer. J.W. turns down the case and shortly thereafter, Harold is also murdered probably by the same person who killed Ollie. A guilty J.W. decides to investigate both deaths and crosses paths with the Silencer who he doesn't turn into the police because he sympathizes with his actions.

Good Morning America book club author writes another crime thriller that has very little blood and gore but plenty of action to keep the reader entertained. The protagonist has caught a lot of killers in his day but even he is surprised who the perpetrator is and very little shocks him. MURDER AT A VINEYARD MANSION gives the reader a glimpse of the very rich who believe their wealth could because a multitudes of crimes, both moral and criminal. Mr. Craig makes Martha's Vineyard so appealing readers will want to take a summer vacation there.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: exciting Martha¿s Vineyard cozy
Review: Retired police officer J.W. Jackson lives in the Ocean Heights section of Martha Vineyard with his wife and two children. He takes on odd jobs to earn extra money including some detective work when he becomes interested in an unusual crime. The Silencer is a modern day Robin Hood, who "fixes" music systems that are playing too loud in moving vehicles or homes with the windows open. He somehow fries them.

Robin Pierson is building a castle on Chappaquiddick much to the consternation of the neighbors who feel he is destroying the picturesque area. A delinquent vandalizes the structure forcing Robin to hire security guard Ollie Mates to make sure it doesn't happen again. Someone murders Ollie and Robin's neighbor Maud Mayhew wants to hire J.W. to prove that her son Harold is not the killer. J.W. turns down the case and shortly thereafter, Harold is also murdered probably by the same person who killed Ollie. A guilty J.W. decides to investigate both deaths and crosses paths with the Silencer who he doesn't turn into the police because he sympathizes with his actions.

Good Morning America book club author writes another crime thriller that has very little blood and gore but plenty of action to keep the reader entertained. The protagonist has caught a lot of killers in his day but even he is surprised who the perpetrator is and very little shocks him. MURDER AT A VINEYARD MANSION gives the reader a glimpse of the very rich who believe their wealth could because a multitudes of crimes, both moral and criminal. Mr. Craig makes Martha's Vineyard so appealing readers will want to take a summer vacation there.

Harriet Klausner