Search - Deadly Nightshade (Martha's Vineyard Mysteries)

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.

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.

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.