MONROE — If you enjoy mystery stories or you own a boat, you might want to attend a book event at 6 p.m. June 4 at the Monroe Library, 1070 Village Way.
Jay W. Jacobs, a Whidbey Island author, will read from and sign copies of his nonfiction book “The Widow Wave,” published by Quid Pro Books.
The book is an intelligent, well-written and riveting courtroom drama involving a tragic event at sea and a widow’s determination to clear her husband’s name.
The Aloha, a 34-foot sport fishing boat, vanished in the Pacific Ocean off San Francisco with five men — friends, relatives and business associates — onboard. The question becomes: With no survivors or witnesses, how can anyone know for sure what happened to the Aloha?
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the widow of a man on board against the estate of the boat’s owner and captain Francis Dowd.
Dowd’s widow hired Jacobs, who specialized in maritime law, to defend her.
Will the jury find the truth?
Prior to law school, Jacobs was a sailor and then an officer in the merchant marine. He sailed on cargo ships, ore-carriers and tankers on voyages to Europe, Africa, India, Asia, South America and the Persian Gulf. His experiences at sea obviously qualified him to try the case.
In narrative style, Jacobs writes about the emotional trial, the science of ocean waves and about the type of wave that may have taken down the Aloha.
Coinciding waves, which likely sank the boat, occur near to shore on the lee side of islets and submerged bars that dot the rocky shoreline of the Pacific coast and the Salish Sea.
“They are a little known danger that probably cost the five men aboard the Aloha their lives,” Jacobs said.
More about “The Widow Wave” is available at www.jaywjacobs.com.
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