Helpful Score: 4
Although I liked the characters in the book, the book itself was too long winded and slow going. I felt like it dragged on far longer than it needed to and could of used some more excitement. This is the first in the series so maybe the author hadn't hit her stride yet & future books will be better.
Helpful Score: 4
This is a terrific first novel by Cynthia Riggs. Set on Martha's Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts, 92 yr old poet Victoria Trumbull sets out to help find out who killed a man near the harbor. The characters are great, and the descriptions of the Island, especially the Oak Bluffs area where the action is, are spot on. But even Riggs' colorful and vibrant descriptions cannot fully encompass the magic that is Oak Bluffs. If you get the chance, Google it and check out the Camp Meeting Ground. This area of the town is full of small vacation cottages,each one different colors, with gingerbread literally dripping off, the pastels and bright colors looking like tropical birds in a tiny section of Paradise. I've yet to see anything that compares.
Growing up in SE Mass, I spent a lot of time on Martha's Vineyard and this book brought me back. The descriptions of the sea, the landscape, and the people had this currently landlocked water lover feeling a bit homesick.
Growing up in SE Mass, I spent a lot of time on Martha's Vineyard and this book brought me back. The descriptions of the sea, the landscape, and the people had this currently landlocked water lover feeling a bit homesick.
Penny T. (iluvmysteries) reviewed Deadly Nightshade (Martha's Vineyard, Bk 1) on + 431 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I enjoy mysteries set on Martha's Vineyard and mysteries featuring elderly female sleuths. This book has both.
Pretty good. It took a little while to get into the story. I like the octogenarian main character. The mystery is not too obvious.
Pamela C. (pj-s-bookcorner) reviewed Deadly Nightshade (Martha's Vineyard, Bk 1) on + 885 more book reviews
Victoria Trumball, in her 90's, lives in Martha's Vineyard. One night while waiting for her granddaughter to finish her shift as assistant harbormaster, Victoria hears an argument, a scream and tires squealing across the harbor. Thus begins the string of several murders, drug smuggling and intrigue on the small island. Interesting characters and loved the setting. A little grittier than some cozies (language), but a very good read.
Martha's Vinyard has been home to Victoria Trumball for most of her 92 years. But one evening. Victoria hears something that doesn't quite belong; a scream followed by a splash and the sound of
a car speeding away. She investigates and finds a body on the outgoing tide.
Despite interuptions from her granddaughter, a swarm of island locals, Domingo the harbor master and a few mysterious visitors, Victoria manages to get in a good bit of detective work and still finds time to cook tradional Saturday night supper of Boston Baked Beans. She even concocts a scheme to trap the killer, but she'll need to act quickly--victim number 2 has just been found dead.
a car speeding away. She investigates and finds a body on the outgoing tide.
Despite interuptions from her granddaughter, a swarm of island locals, Domingo the harbor master and a few mysterious visitors, Victoria manages to get in a good bit of detective work and still finds time to cook tradional Saturday night supper of Boston Baked Beans. She even concocts a scheme to trap the killer, but she'll need to act quickly--victim number 2 has just been found dead.
Martha's Vineyard has been home to Victoria Trumbull for most of her 92 years. Its magic, history and picture perfect calm are part of her very being. But one evening, Victoria hears something that doesn't quite belong: a scream followed by a splish and the sound of a car speeding away. She investigates and discovers a body on the outgoing tide.
Despite interruptions from her granddaughter Elizabeth, Domingo the harbormaster, a swarm of Island locals, and a few mysterious visitors, she manages to find time to concot a scheme to trap the killer, but she'll need to act quickly--victim number two has just been found.
Despite interruptions from her granddaughter Elizabeth, Domingo the harbormaster, a swarm of Island locals, and a few mysterious visitors, she manages to find time to concot a scheme to trap the killer, but she'll need to act quickly--victim number two has just been found.
