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Off Season
A J. W. Jackson Martha's Vineyard mystery, No. 5

by Philip Craig



      Ex-cop J W Jackson is engaged to nurse Zee, the girl of his dreams. Now that tourist season is over he is looking to the time when life will be quiet. He will be occupied hunting down scallops, cooking up a pot of soup, and courting Zee.

The tranquility of Martha's Vineyard is disrupted by a conflict over 50 acres of land which is coveted by hunters and animal rights activists. The feud between Mimi Bettencourt, animal rights activist, and Ignacio Cortez, editor of the town newspaper and a hunter is over the proper use of the 50 acre tract that wealthy Carl Norton has sold to the public commission.

An eccentric recluse who had few friends is killed. His death is linked to the land squabble. Chug Lovett, Norton's neighbor and a tobacco heir is killed. Then there are a couple of run ins with the Providence hoodlum, Joe Perrott, who warns Cortez to lay off the animal people. Jackson is hired by Heather Mann who was swinging with Chug, to find Chug's killer. Chug made a career of enticing women into sexual submission and then blackmailing them with his photo albums. Jackson's training as an investigator has been acquired through a Boston correspondence course, but he is determined to find the truth.

The action is even paced with a cozy charm of the beauty of the setting. There is a helping of recipes for Jackson's many dishes. The characters are likeable and real. An interesting presentation on the arguments for and against progress and animal rights.

The Book

Avon/Harper Collins
May 1996
Paperback
080725886
Mystery
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Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Barbara Buhrer
Reviewed 2005
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© 2005 MyShelf.com