AUTHOR
Jonathan Lash's Newest Release
In a tale that spans two disparate worlds within one city, this gripping novel dives deep into the divide between the glistening capital of the Free World and its neglected districts, home to 700,000 citizens mostly of color. Eight years after the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. sparked riots that shattered the city's core, the scars of racial fury and systemic injustice remain as evident as ever.
Amid this backdrop of crime and burnt-out neighborhoods, Jimmy McFarland, an earnest young District Attorney, stumbles upon evidence of corruption tied to a six-billion-dollar Metro subway project aimed at reconnecting the city's fractured communities. Though clearly a matter for the FBI, McFarland embarks on a rogue investigation. In doing so, he crosses paths with Larry Williams, a black police sergeant whose rough exterior belies his own complicated relationship with justice and morality.
Walking a precarious line between courage and recklessness, McFarland and Williams form an uneasy alliance. Fueled by McFarland's idealistic pursuit of justice and Williams' pragmatic understanding of its rarity, the duo confronts a daunting array of racism, corruption, and murder. As they untangle a web of powerful players who thought they were untouchable, the question remains: Can they navigate the system's deep-rooted flaws to achieve some measure of justice?
A Story of Virtue, Vice and Violence
Austin Macauley Publishers , 2024
Here's what reader's are saying:
"What Death Revealed irresistibly pulls you into D.C. as it was during an unusually turbulent time... Lash explores the unique, indistinct, somewhat testy boundary between D.C. as a vibrant and diverse, but challenged, metropolitan area and D.C. as what the F.B.I. calls the Seat of Government. His deep engagement with what was happening on the city’s streets brings George Pelecanos to mind, but despite his years in the trenches Lash somehow gives us a bit more help in seeing glimmers of hope."
-John Sims, Retired Law Professor & Former US Court of Appeals Clerk
"Only someone with deep insider knowledge could have crafted this fast-paced thriller that hits all the right notes: Systemic corruption in Washington D.C. with its heroes, thugs, scapegoats, and victims.
Set at the start of the 1970's Carter administration, Washington is seething with crime,drugs, and widespread injustice that will seem all too familiar even today. Jonathan Lash weaves a compelling story, with a style that is a nod to Raymond Chandler, and introducing several appealing crusaders who make it their business to set things right.
A great read!"
-Susan Sargent, Textile Artist & Fervent Reader
“Jonathan Lash has crafted a compelling tale about the streets and back rooms of Washington, D.C. Anchored by an unlikely friendship between a cop and a junior district attorney, this highly readable story is rich in descriptive detail. In my mind, I was trying to decide who I would cast in the leading roles for the movie version! “
-David Lang, Rancher & Adventurer
“Jonathan Lash has written a gripping murder mystery set in the nation’s capital in the late 1970s. Carter is in the White House, Washington D.C. is building its Metro subway system, and corruption is hidden beneath the surface of daily news stories and District police cases. The book is deftly written by someone who experienced the legal system and the challenging cultural dynamics that provide such a fascinating setting for this story. You’ll find the book hard to put down once you begin reading!“
-Will White, former Senate Staffer & D.C. Resident
"...I couldn't put it down... I read many mysteries and thrillers and [Lash's] was a page turner. In addition, having lived in Washington during that time period I could vividly remember all of the locations from The Omega to the subway from your descriptions. As the review stated, maybe your talents were wasted as an environmental activist and college president but I don't think so. In the true Hampshire style you reinvented yourself as a writer. I hope there will be more to come."
-Carol Salzman, Washington Based Physician