From Publishers Weekly
This absorbing yarn, the 14th in Craig's series set on Martha's Vineyard, portrays an island unknown to most visitors, cold and raw with a March wind biting instead of fish. Retired Boston policeman and part-time PI J.W. Jackson and his wife, Zee (whose head was turned by another man in last year's Vineyard Enigma), are enjoying an off-season lunch with friends at a Vineyard Haven deli when shots ring out in the street. Someone has tried to kill Paul Fox, brother of unscrupulous real-estate tycoon Donald Fox. The odd thing is, Paul was wearing a bulletproof vest, as if he were expecting serious trouble. Donald Fox, who's been buying up land with questionable titles and threatening island residents, may have been the intended target. In his search for answers, J.W. encounters some nasty thugs among the familiar cast of diverting locals, from the "keep out of this" police chief to the chief's sassy assistant. Island incidentals include fencing, fishing and firearms, along with the usual complaints about tourists. J.W.'s homely philosophy and a subtle theme of loyalty add depth. Well-constructed and well-paced, with humor and suspense, this outing shows Craig in fine form. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
J. W., Zee, and their children live year-round on Martha's Vineyard, and J. W. always seems to be finding trouble. The retired cop prefers fishing and his kids to his old life, but when Paul Fox, brother of a much-despised real-estate broker for the firm Saberfox, is shot directly in front of J. W., his curiosity is more than roused. Paul is courting a local lass, Maria, and her mother, Dodie, a victim of Saberfox's hard-sell approach, wants J. W. to find out more. Maria, meanwhile, wants to know about the handyman on the island who is courting Dodie. These investigations turn into connections, and a Saberfox employee is murdered. The art of fencing, unsavory business practices, and what constitutes loyalty combine with the Vineyard lore, geography, and custom that saturate this series. J.W. is a bit more ruminative in this one, letting readers see some of how he works things out. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
Rocky Mountain Telegram Amid bluefish, clambakes, some gourmet meals, a touch of romance, and witty bantering among friends, the Martha's Vineyard mysteries are a breath of fresh air, with a touch of murder most foul; no true whodunit fan could ask for more.


Book Description

Sell Low, Die Hard

Former champion Olympic fencer-turned-sleazy real estate developer Donald Fox isn't making any friends on Martha's Vineyard this gray and chilly March. He's using unscrupulous methods and legal ambiguities to force homeowners to sell their valuable land at rock bottom prices. He's even approached fisherman/sometime-sleuth J. W. Jackson and his wife Zee, not realizing that the retired Boston cop is anything but an easy mark. So when Donald's brother Paul is shot by an unseen assailant on a Vineyard street, J. W. can't help wondering if the wrong Fox sibling inadvertently took the bullet. Since Jackson's curiosity and deep-rooted sense of justice have always gotten the better of him -- and since the bluefish aren't running yet anyway -- he's going to track down the shooter, before preseason on his beloved isle turns irrevocably deadly.


Download Description
"It's March on Martha's Vineyard. Too early for bluefish, but not too early for trouble. The winds are brisk and there's still a chill coming in off the ocean. The mood is gloomy, and for good reason. Former Olympic fencing champion turned millionaire real estate developer Donald Fox has targeted the island for his newest moneymaking scheme. With land values huge and many longtime residents in possession of fuzzy deeds of sometimes dubious legal value, Fox and his team plan to force people to sell cheap. Give up now or we'll fight you in court, is the threat. Even full-time fisherman and part-time investigator J. W. Jackson and wife, Zee, have been approached to sell their house to Fox. Big mistake. Given the escalating tensions, J.W.'s not particularly surprised when Donald Fox's brother, Paul, is shot down on a Vineyard street. But was Donald really the intended victim? Both Foxes have many enemies. And could a man named John Reilley be one of them? For reasons unrelated to land disputes, J.W. finds himself probing this mysterious man's past. Bad things are happening, and John Reilley may be involved. With fascinating information about fencing, and in the certainty of a new bluefish season soon to come, A Vineyard Killing is another suspenseful, colorful entry in a critically acclaimed mystery series sure to delight both new readers and longtime fans. "

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"It's March on Martha's Vineyard. Too early for bluefish, but not too early for trouble. Former Olympic fencing champion turned millionaire real estate developer Donald Fox has targeted the island for his newest moneymaking scheme. With land values huge and many longtime residents in possession of fuzzy deeds of sometimes dubious legal value, Fox and his team plan to force people to sell cheap. Give up now or we'll fight you in court, is the threat. Even full-time fisherman and part-time investigator J.W. Jackson and wife, Zee, have been approached to sell their house to Fox. Big mistake." Given the escalating tensions, J.W.'s not particularly surprised when Donald Fox's brother, Paul, is shot down on a Vineyard street. But was Donald really the intended victim? Both Foxes have many enemies. And could a man named John Reilley be one of them? For reasons unrelated to land disputes, J.W. finds himself probing this mysterious man's past. Bad things are happening, and John Reilley may be involved.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

This absorbing yarn, the 14th in Craig's series set on Martha's Vineyard, portrays an island unknown to most visitors, cold and raw with a March wind biting instead of fish. Retired Boston policeman and part-time PI J.W. Jackson and his wife, Zee (whose head was turned by another man in last year's Vineyard Enigma), are enjoying an off-season lunch with friends at a Vineyard Haven deli when shots ring out in the street. Someone has tried to kill Paul Fox, brother of unscrupulous real-estate tycoon Donald Fox. The odd thing is, Paul was wearing a bulletproof vest, as if he were expecting serious trouble. Donald Fox, who's been buying up land with questionable titles and threatening island residents, may have been the intended target. In his search for answers, J.W. encounters some nasty thugs among the familiar cast of diverting locals, from the "keep out of this" police chief to the chief's sassy assistant. Island incidentals include fencing, fishing and firearms, along with the usual complaints about tourists. J.W.'s homely philosophy and a subtle theme of loyalty add depth. Well-constructed and well-paced, with humor and suspense, this outing shows Craig in fine form. (June 1) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

This latest visit to Martha's Vineyard begins with a bang: an unknown assailant shoots someone outside the delicatessen where series private investigator J.W. Jackson (Vineyard Enigma) is eating with his wife. Jackson is soon embroiled in a murder case involving grabby real estate developers and recalcitrant islanders. Off-season atmosphere and the usual high-caliber sleuthing. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews