"Jonah's Lift", John St. James' inaugural John Mack novel, is set at the Jersey shore in the early 80's, a time before cellphones, smoking bans, lap-tops, AIDS, DVD's and DNA testing. A much simpler time.
John Mack , ex-Marine, ex-NYPD, now a private license, is approached by Adele Yankee to investigate the drowning of her sister, Georgina, who also happened to be John's highschool sweetheart. With mixed emotions, he accepts the case, which takes him to the sleepy sea-side town of Lavallette, New Jersey. It is September, the streets are empty, peaceful, but things are not as they appear to be. As John conducts his investigation he peels back the layers of deceit and corruption, finding himself immersed in a world of drugs, blackmail, murder - and worse. He must find answers, some of which can only come from the barrel of a gun. **