First Light by Craig and Tapply

When it comes to mystery books for real summer reading, you can’t beat Philip R. Craig and his mystery pi series about J.W. Jackson – a professional beach bum on Martha’s Vineyard (once a cop who was shot in the line of duty and had to retire young).  As J. W. goes around digging quahogs and surf casting for bluefish, he is called upon to investigate disappearances and crimes.

Second Sight by Craig and Tapply

Reading these books are like sitting on the beach.  You can taste the salt water and hear the surf and the gulls.  Even so, there is a slightly hard-boiled edge to these mystery books.

A few years ago Craig teamed up with fellow writer William Tapply, and they wrote a mystery novel that involved both of their characters – J. W. Jackson, and Tapply’s lawyer detective, Brady Coyne.  First Light was a perfect blend.  Brady comes to the Vineyard to get in some fishing and help a dying client sort out her will.  J. W. is his host and guide in the fishing tournament, and has his own case trying to locate a missing woman.  When the nurse of Brady’s client disappears under very similar circumstances, their cases tie up together as tightly as a fishing line.

Third Strike by Craig and Tapply

I’ve never read another Tapply mystery novel, but I think I’ll have to try soon. First Light and the next book, Second Sight, are written by both authors, trading off an on with each of their characters narrating a chapter.  The stories they tell overlap and go back in time and play artfully with your expectations.

I’m only a short way in to Second Sight, but already enjoying it as much as the first.  The setting this time is a big festival and concert being held on the island.  J.W. has been hired to drive a famous pop star around the island, and help her look for the leader of a famous ashram, while Brady has been asked to fine a runaway teen who may be on the island for an event too.

And they’ve just discovered the first body.  Gotta get back to it….

(Oh! And I just discovered the third mystery book in this series is out. It’s called  Third Strike, and I’m licking my chops.)