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In the upscale enclave of La Jolla, California, things are not as bright and sunny as the Chamber of Commerce would have you believe. At least they’re not for Jake, a down and out alcoholic who is barely surviving at a halfway house after having squandered a marriage, a family, and a thriving law practice. Events begin to unfold that could give him a shot at redemption, but he’ll need to choose between The Bible and beer. Turns out it’s not an easy decision.
Can a man put the pieces of his life back together leaning on the Lord for moral support when every physical instinct he has is pulling him back to the bottle. That’s the dilemma at the heart of this involving mystery. And involving it definitely is. There’s a hit-and-run accident that just might be a murder. There’s a psalm-slinging preacher who may or may not be a fraud. There’s a charitable organization that may or may not be a front. There’s mayhem galore that may or may not be related. And to top it all off there’s Jake—who just may be falling in love with the daughter of the dead woman with whom he was having an affair.
Rogers has put together an interlocking plot that reveals its secrets slowly and meticulously. His characters and their behavior seem real, not forced. Story takes precedence over style as he builds a case of cascading events that adds credibly, while the inclusion of spirituality and Christianity help set this novel apart. If you’re a mystery or crime novel fan looking for something a little different, you just may find it here.