Roland Nunes, a Vietnam veteran who is AWOL, has been living a fairly solitary, quiet life on the Vineyard.  His land is prime real estate in between two larger estates.  His cousin, Sally Oliver, is co-owner of the land and is more than ready to sell.  Roland isn’t and is being visited at night by vandals who set fire to his shed, put a skunk in his water supply and try to poison his cat.  The brother and sister don’t think Sally is behind it, but J.W. doesn’t want to rule anything out.

During his first stakeout J.W. gets some photos, but gets stun-gunned and roughed up by the vandals.  Now this becomes personal for J.W. and he ratchets up his investigation.  A closer look at Roland shows him not to be The Monk, as he is known, everyone thought he was.  He was involved with the flirty, capricious Melissa Carlson, whose mother lives on one side of Roland, and on one side of Alfred Cabot, Melissa’s current fiancé.  Melissa is found dead in the back of Roland’s property and the police are very interested.  Is someone after Roland or have the after-effects of Vietnam started to take their toll?

As always, the Vineyard shines in J.W. Jackson’s world.  This time, a less pleasant side, the escalating property values and greedy landowners is showcased, but it is still portrayed as a beautiful place to be.  J.W. has become a comfortable character and is an old friend to many.  He is strangely at loose ends without Zee and the children.  The mystery is well constructed and there are enough surprises to keep die-hard mystery buffs engaged.  There is, of course, only one way Roland’s story can end, and while readers won’t be surprised, they are likely to be sad when events take a tragic turn.

On another sad note, author Philip R. Craig died in early May on Martha’s Vineyard.  In December, the third book he had written with author William Tapply featuring J.W. and Tapply’s detective Brady Coyne is scheduled to be released.

                        --Jennifer Monahan Winberry