Third Strike: A Brady Coyne/J. W. Jackson Mystery

I have read all of Philip Craig's books in the last few months and finished the marathon with the three bookshelves do wrote with William Tapply ... The hours and hours of enjoyment has been priceless ... I would love to sit down with my high school English teacher, Philip Craig and William Tapply and enjoy a case of cold Sam Adams and various fish appetizers and discuss the wonders of all the books I totally enjoyed !!!! If you have not read these books start with number one and enjoy the journey!!! Thank you gentlemen it was outstanding !!!

This is a combination J.W. Jackson and Brady Coyne mystery. It has alternating chapters by the two authors as the two characters alternate in leading roles. J.W. Jackson takes on the case of investigating the death of the father of his daughter's friend. Brady Coyne is called to Martha's Vineyard by an old client who is frightened by something he has witnessed. The events become intermeshed as J.W. and Brady investigate the two cases and become involved in some amount of violence. Evil people have something planned, and don't want anyone getting in their way.The novel was published after the death of Philip Craig, so this is the last mingling of the characters.

This book is the final collaboration between Philip R. Craig and William H. Tappley. Brady Coyne and J.W. Jackson jump right into their seemingly individual investigations only to soon find, as usual, they are closely linked. Following each of their actions is as easy as ever. Chapters alternate between Brady and J.W. but you don't ever get confused which character you are reading. The action is fast paced and "edge of your seat" exciting. Set in my favorite location, Martha's Vineyard, the action begins for J.W. with a plea from his wife, Zee to help a friend clear her husband's name. For Brady, back in America, it begins with a phone call from a long-ago client who begs him to come to Marha's Vineyard to help him. The first problem for Brady is how does he get there? All the ferrymen are on strike. You won't regret buying this book but beware...it isn't a book you want to read right before you go to sleep. It is too exciting to put down and kept me up much past my bedtime. Sadly, both these talented writers are gone now but this is a lovely tribute to their writing talents.

Most of the books by these two authors could put a Sequoia to sleep. However, I just keep reading them and just keep enjoying them, time and again. By putting these two late-middle-aged bozo characters together on beautiful Martha's Vineyard, the authors let us simply sit back and take in the scenery as JW and Brady motor around the Vineyard, dropping names, and making us Pavlovian slobs salivate at their cooking and drinking. Mmmmm...yum! If you are a fan of either the authors or the characters, you're gonna read them anyway. So, enjoy the ride!

I am sad that Philip Craig passed away last year. Not only do I LOVE all his JW Jackson books, but he and Bill Tapply had a really great set of books started. This is book 3 and, sadly, the final one in this short series. But, I love and own them all, and can't wait for Phil's upcoming JW book to be published this June. Thank you Phil and Bill, for all the wonderful hours I have spent with your two heroes.