Desperation reef

A family of Laguna Beach surfers prepare for the high-stakes competition that killed their patriarch in Edgar winner Parker's outstanding latest (after The Rescue). Twenty-five years ago, John Stonebreaker died during the Monsters of the Mavericks surfing contest off the coast of Northern California. Now, his widow, Jen, and their twin sons, Brock and Casey--all world-class surfers in their own right--are getting ready to enter the same event. In the weeks leading up to the competition, all three face down individual conflicts: restaurateur Jen struggles to let go of John's death, seafood supplier Casey seeks to untangle himself from an illegal fish-smuggling operation, and progressive church minister Brock deals with increasingly violent threats from a local white supremacist group. Each subplot comes to a crescendo at the surf competition, which Parker brings to vivid life. Though there's plenty of suspense, danger, and illicit activity on offer, the novel's focus is squarely on the Stonebreaker clan, whose bonds and fractures prove utterly riveting in Parker's hands. This ranks among the author's best. (July)

Twenty-five years ago, Jen Stonebreaker watched her husband, John, drown at a major surfing contest called Monsters of Mavericks. Today, Jen runs a bar in Laguna, CA, and has twin sons. Casey, the kinder, laidback son, has a beloved dog named Mae. Brock is the more violent son, who also happens to be a preacher of his own religion. When Casey films some people illegally cutting fins off of sharks in the ocean, these people threaten him, but Casey still shares the video online. Later, these same people offer to buy his mother's bar because of its prime location in Laguna. Dognapping, arson, and violence follow the Stonebreaker family as they prepare for the next big surfing event. Parker (The Famous and the Dead) uses his personal knowledge of surf culture to build a fast-paced, if somewhat predictable story. The brothers' differences are vast, but both are protective of their mother as she trains for her first surfing contest since her husband's death. VERDICT Recommended for fans of Parker's previous works and those interested in California's surf culture and in characters trying to move on after a painful personal loss.--Jason L. Steagall