Jack 'Scooter' McAlister gives the world the impression that he has it all, this Bostonian businessman exudes wealth and success. But is it real? His magazine business is not doing as well as it could, and the problems of jiggling a wife and a mistress, are wearing thin on him. His favorite exit would be to sell the once popular magazine and run off with his mistress. Unfortunately one look at the financials are enough to scare off all but the most resilient of buyers.
Jack's problems are only just beginning. Following a tryst with his mistress he inadvertently hits a young lady with his classic Porsche while racing to catch the ferry back to Boston. The young lady dies. Hit and Run is a serious business, and one that the police take very seriously, and Judges mete out long vacations for it. But it was early morning, who could possibly have seen? Someone did. In fact more than one person saw the unfortunate event.
If Jack thought he had problems with a failing business and a grumpy wife, he was about to learn that these were the least of his worries.
Jack finds himself caught in a web of lies, each one compounding his problems and making it increasingly difficult to break the vicious circle.
Worse still, one of the witnesses to the Hit and Run decides that one way or another Jack is going to be made to pay. He may have escaped the clutches of the law, but not the clutches of a blackmailer. 'I want $500,000' the unknown voice at the other end of the phone explains. But when is enough, enough for a blackmailer? Should Jack pay and prey? Or should Jack try to discover the identity of the blackmailer? Even if he discovers who is behind the scheme what can he do? He can hardly call the police. We get to watch Jack slowly sink into the mire of despondency, and in some ways irrationality. What can he do?
This is a book that operates on different levels, is Jack victim or villain? Victim to some, villain to others. Author Susan Walerstein has created quite the punch with this book. Dancing Above The Waves is a pretty quick and easy read, but I will guarantee that afterwards you will want to spend some time and think long and hard about what you have just read.
In my opinion the sign of a great book is one that has a sting in the tail. and I loved the sting in this book. Often a book leaves it to the last page to 'explain' the plot line. This book leaves it to the very last sentence just to add fuel to the fire. Kudos to Susan Walerstein for penning this wonderful tale.
You can pick up your copy from Amazon.
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