Dragons and Garden Peas

An architect fights for life liberty and prime oceanfront real estate in this zesty courtroom drama. After separating from his wife Jessica tony New York architect Max Green buys a Porsche and dates a stewardess but finds his midlife crisis giving way to a potential end-of-life crisis when hes diagnosed with lung cancer. A more reflective man might seize the moment to simplify and take stock but Max just sees another opportunity to keep on course. So while hes weighing the benefits of surgery versus chemo he throws himself into building his dream house on a Shelter Island beach becoming embroiled in a regulatory battle with his neighbor the mayor who doesnt want his view spoiled by Maxs development. To complicate things hes having an affair with the mayors sculptress/theoretical physicist/kickboxing aficionado daughter. In another twist Max reconciles with Jessica and takes her on a sailing trip; when shes knocked overboard and drowned Max faces a murder rap. Jacoby (Georgia Peach 2000) uses these proliferating crises to create an engrossing procedural in every discipline from oncology to landscaping. (The courtroom scenes easily stolen by Maxs feisty whip-smart lawyer are especially riveting.) The author also illuminates the social world of well-heeled professionals like Max-as the protagonist gathers his entourage of doctors attorneys forensics specialists environmental consultants and contractors the book seemingly centers on the way expensive professionals require a team of other expensive professionals to enable them to lead their elaborate lives. Fortunately Max is a compelling figure. Hes exasperating-duplicitous conniving self-absorbed and oblivious to the trainwrecks hes steering himself into-but very much alive and driven by lust even with a likely death sentence hanging over him. A page-turner with a hero readers cant help but root for.-Kirkus Discoveries