Vineyard Blues: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery (Martha's Vineyard Mysteries)
You can almost taste the freshly caught bluefish and smell the tangy  salt air in Philip Craig's newest Martha's Vineyard mystery, a seasonal delight featuring former Boston policeman J.W. Jackson. J.W. hasn't seen legendary bluesman Corrie Appleyard since he was a child, and when Corrie arrives on the Vineyard for a rare concert appearance, J.W. couldn't be happier.  It's almost enough to take his mind off the series of arson fires that have destroyed the dilapidated summer cottages that a local slumlord rents out at outrageously high prices to college kids who've come to work and play in the famous summer colony. But when Corrie's precious guitar is found at the site of  the  latest fire, and an unidentified body is pulled from the ruins, J.W. fears the worst.Although he's already busy trying to track down a blackmailer who's been threatening Susanna Quick, his wife Zee's close friend, J.W. agrees to investigate the arson fires for the owner of the cottages, which leads him into still another unsolved  mystery: why is Zee so opposed to his newest client?  By the time the connection between the arsonist, the slumlord, Susanna, and Zee is unraveled in a surprising denouement, you'll  have worked up an appetite. Luckily, the author has included  the recipes of Vineyard favorites at the end of this tasty mystery. J.W. is an extremely appealing hero, a man of simple pleasures   who's not averse to putting himself on the line  to defend his wife, his family,  and his close-knit community of friends and neighbors .  The pacing won't keep you from a nap after a day of sun and salt water, but the book moves along nicely, the Vineyard landscape is lovingly and authentically evoked, and the characters are well drawn.Vineyard Bluesis another satisfying outing for this  accomplished writer (who also brought usA Fatal Vineyard Season,A Shoot on Martha's Vineyard,Death on a Vineyard Beach) and his likable protagonist.--Jane Adams--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.