Book reviews

Vineyard Enigma
Philip R. Craig Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Philip R. Craig Books
New book search
Philip R. Craig Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Vineyard Enigma
"

Scribner, Jun 2002, 24.00, 256 pp.
ISBN: 074320523

Former cop J.W. Jackson enjoys his current life on Martha's Vineyard not so much because of the laid back lifestyle, but because he loves his wife Zee and their two kids. Still while much of the residents fret over the unsolved headless horseman murder, J.W. worries that something is bothering his beloved as Zee is very distant from him and even their kids.

While he ponders how to reach his spouse, J.W. meets Zimbabwean Abraham Mashima. The African searches for two stolen soapstone eagles carved eight hundred years ago in the Monomatopa Empire, but removed from his homeland during the tumultuous sixties. Abraham needs a professional to continue his search so J.W. agrees to help, but might have declined if he knew how Zee would react to his visitor. Still J.W. begins his inquiries only to find himself in peril from the dangerous denizen defending the arts.

VINEYARD ENIGMA is an exciting Martha's Vineyard mystery that enables the audience to visit the town seen through the eyes of J.W. The three sub-plots tie together nicely with each allowing readers to better understand the hero. The investigation is fun to follow as J.W, spins plenty of his hometown philosophy on various subjects like marriage, children, headless corpses, and even the Red Sox overcoming the curse this season. This leaves the only question for private investigative fans outside of New York Yankee rooters is whether they relish New England style soliloquies.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Vineyard Enigma
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story: - present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60%
Kind of investigator - skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - feelings towards family/friends
Crime Thriller Yes
Crime plotlets: - search for valuable art/artifacts
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - mastermind
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 1
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to Vineyard Enigma
The Lonely Dead by Michael Marshall Smith
Trophy Widow by Michael A. Kahn
Black River by G.M. Ford
Dead Ringer by Lisa Scottoline
Diamond Eye by Arthur Rosenfeld


Click here for more information about this book




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Thriller/Action books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Big vehicle disaster?

Crime Thriller

Disaster, natural or nuclear

Exploring into the wild

Horror Story?

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Religious overtones?

Spying/Terrorism Thriller

War Thriller

Water adventure

Western



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Suzanne Weyn 4:47:34 PM
Wilma Counts 1:23:32 PM
Norah Lofts 6:49:46 PM
George W. Bush 5:33:46 PM
Kin Platt 12:58:29 AM
Anonymous 12:47:34 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
Jane Rubino 10:04:38 PM
LaVyrle Spencer 10:04:00 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield 10:02:30 PM
Jeanette Walls 10:00:19 PM
Darryl Ponicsan 9:59:27 PM
Ann Rinaldi 9:58:30 PM
R.L. Stine 9:57:34 PM
Geoffrey Huntington 9:57:14 PM
Betty Mahmoody 9:56:38 PM
Deric Longden 9:56:11 PM
Mary Downing Hahn 9:55:48 PM

More message boards