Burt Jacoby

Dragons and Garden Peas Burt Jacoby

Set on Shelter Island, New York, Dragons and Garden Peas tells the story of a middle-aged New York City architect who is suddenly confronted with serious threats to his health, his livelihood, and his freedom. At the peak of his career as a designer and builder of waterfront homes on difficult and environmentally sensitive sites, Maxwell Green discovers he has lung cancer. Such a blow only increases the pain of his estranged marriage, and Max wonders if he'll make it through the upcoming treatment intact. But to his amazement, his wife, Jessica, helps him during the recovery process. The couple reconciles, and in celebration of Max's successful surgery, they sail to Cape Cod. Max's newfound happiness vanishes when Jessica is accidentally knocked overboard in the fog and drowns. But the coroner's report states that a head wound is the cause of her death. Reeling from this sudden development, Max is further thrown out of balance when the district attorney indicts Max for murder. Max's life abruptly enters a twisted maze of shock and grief as he encounters a hostile community, its intractable mayor, and a detective and prosecutor intent on convicting him. Now, unraveling the complex web of deceit in this small community may be the only way Max can save his freedom-and his life.