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.