Murderer's Wake

What line would you cross to seek justice for the death of a loved one? At sea on a cargo ship, and then through the barrios and whorehouses of Caribbean ports, Cesar Santino must wrestle with his convictions to answer this question. His father, a cargo ship captain, takes Cesar's younger brother, Roby, to sea for the summer. When Roby falls overboard and his body is never recovered, Cesar is unable to accept this as a simple accident. He drops out of school and signs on the same ship as an ordinary seaman, determined to uncover the truth and render justice. MURDERER'S WAKE is a hard-edged sea thriller taking place across the Caribbean and South America, but also a psychological study of vengeance and regret.

Julio Cesar Alonso Jr. was born in La Habana, Cuba. The family fled from Castro when JC was three, and he grew up in Miami. He spent summers at sea as a deckhand and later a helmsman. JC has worked on bulk carriers, container ships, tankers, and RO/RO vessels, and was dock supervisor for Antillean Marine. He received BAs from FSU in psychology and in creative writing, where Janet Burroway was his teacher. Working with David Poyer and Lenore Hart, he received his MA from Wilkes University, and completed his MFA thesis with Dr. J. M. Lennon. His poetry has been published in Poetry Quarterly and a short story received mention in The Atlantic Monthly. This is his first novel.