Philip R. Craig

Philip R. Craig was an American author, best known for his Martha's Vineyard series of mystery books. Born on December 10, 1933, Craig grew up on a small cattle ranch near Durango, Colorado. He spent his childhood alongside his three brothers and one sister, and the ranch did not have running water or electricity until he was about nine or ten. However, there were plenty of books, which made for happy times. The first time a horse threw him, he was only four years old, and later he would ride drag on the yearly cattle drives that took two days.

Craig's writing career was marked by the publication of over twenty books during his lifetime, and three of his novels have been published posthumously. His most famous works are the Martha's Vineyard series, which features the character J.W. Jackson, a former Boston police officer turned Martha's Vineyard resident and detective. Craig's ability to weave intricate mystery stories while also capturing the essence of life on Martha's Vineyard made his books popular with readers and critics alike.

Philip R. Craig passed away on May 8, 2007, after a brief battle with cancer. He left behind three completed novels, which have since been published posthumously. Vineyard Stalker came out in June of 2007, just after Craig's death, and Third Strike, co-written with Bill Tapply, was published in November of the same year. The final J.W. Jackson mystery, Vineyard Chill, is also available. Another J.W. book is partially written, and Craig's family may complete it someday, per his instructions. Delish, the cookbook co-written with Craig’s wife Shirley Prada Craig, is still available as well. The Philip R. Craig website is being maintained as a tribute to the author and his many fans.