Philip R Craig Books in Order
Explore William G Tapply's books with Philip R. Craig, with reading order, short summaries, and background on their Martha's Vineyard mysteries.
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Philip R Craig books in publication order
21 books
Gate of Ivory, Gate of Horn
by Philip R Craig
1969
Expelled student Luther Martingale must return to college to preserve his inheritance. Winning a boat at poker gives him a plan: help Professor Ashman search for Beowulf's tomb and regain the academic standing he has lost.
A Beautiful Place to Die
by Philip R Craig
1989
Retired Boston policeman J.W. Jackson hopes to enjoy fishing and romance on Martha's Vineyard. When a boat explosion kills a young drifter, he reluctantly investigates, finding that drugs and violence have followed him into his island refuge.
The Woman Who Walked Into the Sea / Death in Vineyard Waters
by Philip R Craig
1991
Professor Marjorie Summerharp's death in the ocean seems accidental, but J.W. Jackson suspects otherwise. Investigating her island connections draws him into academic rivalries, infidelity, and religious deception, where uncovering secrets may make him the next victim.
The Double Minded Men / Vineyard Deceit
by Philip R Craig
1992
A visiting Middle Eastern ruler asks Martha's Vineyard to return a stolen emerald necklace, overwhelming its police. J.W. Jackson helps manage the visit, but the disappearance of both the jewels and Zee turns his assignment desperately personal.
Cliff Hanger / Vineyard Fear
by Philip R Craig
1993
J.W. Jackson's settled island life is disrupted by a student's death, threats from an abusive man, and uncertainty about Zee's future. Attempts on his own life send him toward Colorado in pursuit of a dangerous stalker.
Off Season
by Philip R Craig
1994
Autumn on Martha's Vineyard brings renewed hostility between hunters and animal-rights activists. J.W. Jackson's quiet off-season ends when a body is found pierced by an arrow, forcing him to investigate a killing amid escalating local resentment.
A Case of Vineyard Poison
by Philip R Craig
1995
Before his wedding to Zee, J.W. Jackson learns that her bank account briefly received an unexplained fortune. A poisoned student's body in his driveway and a similar withdrawal pull him into a dangerous financial mystery.
Death on a Vineyard Beach
by Philip R Craig
1996
While enjoying married life with Zee, J.W. Jackson prevents an attack on an elderly former gangster at a Boston opera. The victim hires him to investigate possible Vineyard connections, leading toward island grievances and hidden motives.
A Deadly Vineyard Holiday
by Philip R Craig
1997
J.W. Jackson discovers that a teenage beach acquaintance is the president's daughter and agrees to host her with Zee. When a corpse appears, the couple must protect their unexpected guest from a killer threatening her island holiday.
A Shoot on Martha's Vineyard
by Philip R Craig
1998
J.W. Jackson's summer with his young family is unsettled by Hollywood visitors and a dispute with an environmentalist. When that adversary is murdered after their confrontation, Jackson must find the killer to escape becoming the obvious suspect.
A Fatal Vineyard Season
by Philip R Craig
1999
Preparing island houses before a hurricane, J.W. Jackson welcomes two visiting actresses to a client's home. Their fears about a convicted stalker, hostility from local bigots, and a break-in make him question whether the island offers safety.
Vineyard Blues
by Philip R Craig
2000
An unexpected visit from blues musician Corrie Appleyard delights J.W. Jackson until suspicious fires strike island summer houses. A corpse discovered in the ashes raises fears for his friend and draws him into an investigation of arson and extortion.
Vineyard Shadows
by Philip R Craig
2001
Intruders attack Zee while demanding information about a man she does not know. J.W. Jackson recognizes him as his former wife's husband, whose flight from danger forces Jackson to confront old relationships and threats to his family.
Vineyard Enigma
by Philip R Craig
2002
J.W. Jackson helps a mysterious visitor search for stolen statues amid unease about an unsolved island murder and his wife's distance. Investigating the art trade exposes powerful collectors whose desire for rare objects may conceal lethal secrets.
A Vineyard Killing
by Philip R Craig
2003
Developer Donald Fox pressures Vineyard homeowners to sell valuable property cheaply, provoking resentment across the island. When his brother Paul is shot, J.W. Jackson wonders whether the wrong sibling was targeted and begins searching for the gunman.
Murder at a Vineyard Mansion
by Philip R Craig
2004
A vandal targeting loud sound systems divides Vineyard residents, but a watchman's murder near a lavish mansion creates a more serious case. J.W. Jackson investigates at a mother's request, uncovering tensions among longstanding island families.
Vineyard Prey
by Philip R Craig
2005
J.W. Jackson secretly brings his former Vietnam comrade Joe Begay back to the Vineyard after trouble strikes a covert government team. With an assassin possibly approaching and another agent arriving, Jackson must protect his friend and family.
Dead in Vineyard Sand
by Philip R Craig
2006
An outspoken environmentalist is murdered on a Vineyard golf course, and J.W. Jackson becomes the leading suspect. His effort to clear his name requires finding the actual killer while the island's summer turns into a dangerous investigation.
Delish!
by Philip R Craig
2006
Philip and Shirley Craig collect recipes associated with J.W. Jackson's island cooking in this companion cookbook. More than two hundred dishes include seafood, meat, soups, and salads, bringing the Vineyard mysteries' food traditions into readers' kitchens.
Vineyard Stalker
by Philip R Craig
2007
Carole Cohen hires J.W. Jackson to identify the person stalking her reclusive brother, whose valuable land attracts pressure to sell. A body found nearby turns an apparently simple assignment into a murder investigation with competing personal interests.
Vineyard Chill
by Philip R Craig
2008
An old friend arrives needing a place to hide, while Bonzo makes a discovery linked to a missing woman. J.W. Jackson investigates both problems as threats against his family disturb the Vineyard's otherwise peaceful winter.
Philip R Craig sub-series and character series
Martha's Vineyard Mysteries books in order
Explore this series

The Woman Who Walked Into the Sea / Death in Vineyard Waters
by Philip R Craig
1991Martha's Vineyard Mysteries, Book 2
















Standalone Philip R Craig books
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