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3.0 

Desperation Reef

By T. Jefferson Parker
Desperation Reef by T. Jefferson Parker digital book - Fable

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Publisher Description

In this high-stakes thriller by three-time Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker, ("A marvel...hits the high-water mark for crime fiction every time out." —Gregg Hurwitz), a big wave surfer and her sons compete in the same contest that killed her husband many years before.

Jen Stonebreaker hasn't entered into a big-wave surfing competition since witnessing her husband's tragic death twenty-five years ago at the Monsters of the Mavericks. Now, Jen is ready to tackle those same Monsters with her twin sons Casey and Brock, who have become competitive surfers in a perilous sport.

When he’s not riding waves, modeling for surfing magazines, or posting viral content for his many fans, Casey Stonebreaker spends his days helping with the family restaurant — catching fish in the morning and bartending at night. Casey’s love for the ocean and his willingness to expose illegal poachers on his platforms puts him on a collision course with a crime syndicate eager to destroy anyone threatening their business.

Outspoken Brock Stonebreaker couldn’t be more different from his twin. The founder of Breath of Life, a church and rescue mission that assists with natural disasters that no one else will touch, Brock has lived an adventurous and sometimes violent life. Not everyone appreciates the work that Brock's Breath of Life mission accomplishes, and threats to destroy his mission—and his family—swirl around him.

As the big-wave contest draws closer, a huge, late fall swell is headed toward the Pacific coastline. Jen's fears gnaw at her — fear for herself, for her sons, for what this competition will mean for the rest of her life.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

8 Reviews

3.0
“This one was just okay. Audio was good. I was really intrigued at the beginning of the book. The whole surfer aspect of it was something new & getting into the storyline a little more and seeing the mystery part of it. But I felt like it kind of went off the rails for me. The religious community type aspect was not my jam. There was a lot going on in places that I feel like it didn't need to be. Just didn't love this one.”
“Both empowering and cautionary, T. Jefferson Parker’s high-stakes thriller examines how far we’ll go (1) to protect those we love, (2) to overcome fear, and (3) to deal with loss and recovery. Parker’s subplot shows readers the ripple effects of standing up for one’s beliefs. I chose this book because I wanted to know why someone who had witnessed her husband’s death would want to compete in the same contest years later. To me, a non-risk taker, this seemed absurd. Parker’s book spotlights big wave surfer, Jen Stonebreaker, and her twin sons, Brock and Casey, as they compete in Monsters of the Mavericks, the same contest that killed her husband many years ago. I appreciated how the author opened up the world of surfing and showed readers what keeps these extreme sports enthusiasts racing to the water, surfboard in hand. I also appreciated how he invited readers into the Stonebreakers’ relationship from the beginning as it connects us to them and the trauma has a bigger impact. As I age, I notice that I have an increased self-preservation drive and I wondered if this was the same for Jen. As the late Fall swell headed for the Pacific coast and the date of the Mavericks neared, would she feel an increase in her anxiety and/or stress? Would her age play a factor? What about the mental impact? I had to find out what this competition would mean for Jen as well as her sons. Could she get closure? I felt that the subplots and ‘antics’ of her sons at times overpowered Jen’s struggle. As I neared the end, I could see how her renewed sense of emotional resilience despite being stripped of everything and experiencing profound loss. The sons’ actions played a part in savoring the sweet success. I closed the book wondering if the occasion arose, would I feel as strongly as Casey about speaking up for what’s right? This was a deliciously intense and compelling read! I was gifted this copy by Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.”
“I had never read a crime thriller before, and because I love surfing, I jumped into this one. It was interesting. Felt like I was watching a movie. The writing was easy to follow and visualize, and the characters also looked very blockbuster, so it was entertaining. I loved the family and the twins were so different, one being all righteousness and naive, full of kindness the other always siding with violence, seeking revenge but being an activist for nature and people in need. Being from Portugal, I always appreciate the mention of my country in positive ways, in this case, because of the surfing waves of Nazare. It's a very summer read, a thrilling read that will keep us turning the pages for more. Thank you publisher for the copy.”

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