Reef Dance

by John Decure

There is a certain poise that comes with understanding the ocean's moods, tapping a pulse borne of a distinct, untamed, unfathomable energy source. An equilibrium, located on a singular track between the sucking trough and the pitching crest. A sense of perfect balance on a rolling, temporary stage, not a single movement wasted. A spray-blinded late takeoff in roaring Santa Ana winds. A confidence, knowing your instincts won't let you down.

Thirteen years ago J. Shepard's mother rose before dawn, packed a bag and walked out of his life forever. Since then, the rolling surf has been his only escape, a refuge from the daily stress of his job defending parents in the overburdened L.A. juvenile dependency court, and from the dark, unanswered questions of his past. When J. is assigned a high profile case, one in which a mother is accused of selling her child to the highest bidder, even a day in the surf won't let him escape. J. can't hide from the media attention that the case draws, and nor can he hide from the painful memories of his own desertion that the case congers. He realizes that if he does not confront the mystery of his own past he will always be stuck in equilibrium, unable to move against his emotional and physical tide. He will be stuck in the darkest spot in the ocean, the reef dance.

J. simultaneously throws himself into the case and search for the reasons behind his own mother's disappearance. In order to succeed in both areas, however, he must rely on an old friend, Jackie Pace, a wayward surfing legend with a sordid past, that no one believes is reliable. But J. needs his friends help, and Jackie must rise to the challenge not just because he is J.'s friend but because he is much more intimately linked to the mystery than J. could ever know.

Reef Dance will suck you into the surfer's pacific, pulling you deep within it's mystery, and the turmoil of one man's soul.

464 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2001

Reviews

[Kathy Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because I am acquainted with the author’s sister and I’m glad I did. I purchased a copy on Amazon as our local library did not carry it.

Reading it took me back to memories of Southern California areas I grew up in. There were 2 storylines; one about a young couple trying to get back their infant son they gave up for adoption, the other about a 17 year old high school young man (the protagonist who is now a defense lawyer for family court cases) who was abandoned by his mother a few years after his father died.

It was very intriguing and I learned a lot about the legal side of Children Protective Services. The mystery was resolved about the young man’s mother, and as in real life, not a perfectly happy ending but an ending, nonetheless.

[Michael Norwitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Legal procedural novel whose protagonist is a lawyer for the LA juvenile dependency court. He's also a surfer dude (as is his best friend, whom he inexplicably ropes into assisting him on a case), which is foreign enough for me I had trouble connecting with the characters. Still, it was a decent book, and it was a relief to read something in the genre not based around a horrible murder.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's not to like about an attorney who pisses on the grill & hood of the car of the investigator who is tailing him? ;) This was an extremely interesting California Noir about an attorney who works in child welfare court working through his own issues about the mothjer who left him while at the same time dealing with the case of a woman accused of selling her baby. Realistic and well written.

[Al · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mislabeled as mystery. Based on experience as lawyer in juvenile dependency court.

I learned about juvenile dependency court and related subject matter.

[Caren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely rate books but I was pleasantly surprised at home much I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked so much that I am now reading Decure's other book Bluebird Rising!