The Widow Wave: A True Courtroom Drama of Tragedy at Sea - Softcover

Will anyone ever know what happened to the Aloha, a sport fishing boat that vanished with all onboard in the Pacific off San Francisco’s coast? ‘Knowing’ is a complex, inexact business. There’s real truth and then there’s courtroom truth; a jury’s verdict may or may not approach what actually happened. Nor can someone reading about such an event—one that had no witnesses or hard evidence to explain it—be sure where the truth lies. But trials, judges, and juries are what we use in our legal system to find truth.

The Widow Wave explores this alternate reality. It is a fascinating true-life mystery and lawyer procedural rolled into one. Jay Jacobs offers no facile answers—and he’s not the flawless protagonist typically starring in such dramas. He lets us see how such a big wrongful death case really unfolds, in a true story that reads like a novel. Will the jury find the truth? Will the reader?

“A compelling story of a modern day maritime tragedy that beautifully discusses the vital importance of advances in observational technologies, forecasts and communications in avoiding future loss of life at sea. Jay Jacobs skillfully weaves together the legal, scientific and maritime narratives to enthrall and educate the reader.”
— Julie Thomas, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Manager of the Institute of Geo and Planetary Physics

“Using his authenticating experience as a highly trained sailor and trial lawyer, Jay Jacobs analyzes San Francisco’s worst recreational fishing boat accident and its resulting litigation. The Widow Wave provides insight into this tragedy and depicts the infighting between the highly skilled lawyers and their expert witnesses. How this accident happened will keep you guessing right up to the end. The Widow Wave is crisply written, fast paced, and a most enjoyable read.”
— Daniel J. Kelly, Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, Past President of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, American Board of Trial Advocates (SF Chapter), and the International Society of Barristers

“Trial lawyer Jay Jacobs, in a unique, personally revealing memoir, defends a widow and her deceased husband’s honor in an intimate first person account of how the civil trial process unfolds. ... The reader will learn about the strategies, shoals, and embroilments of a real life, vigorously contested trial with its many emotional upheavals. You will come to appreciate the intricacies of the adversarial legal system as your fingers turn the pages detailing each day’s developments in a high stakes trial with intriguing twists and turns.”
— Justice James Marchiano (ret.), formerly Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeals, First Appellate District

“An intelligently told true story of honor, integrity and justice. The Widow Wave reminded me of The Perfect Storm, played out in a taut courtroom thriller. Jay Jacobs masterfully weaves the harrowing tale of the last voyage of The Aloha, and courtroom battle that followed. A great read.”
— Robert Dugoni, New York Times Bestselling Author of My Sister’s Grave

A compelling new, true trial drama from Quid Pro Books, also available in hardcover and eBook editions.