rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News

Popular novelist Jon Coon returns with exciting new public safety / police diver thriller

Well-known dive industry professional author Jon Coon has released his latest novel Ghost River. This highly anticipated book promises to give fiction readers a crime-thrilling, suspenseful and authentic summer read.

Ghost River is the thrilling supernatural story of badly constructed bridges based on actual events of collapsed bridges. It follows the impact of an underwater criminal investigator whose partner is murdered and whose life is threatened when he discovers a multistate conspiracy responsible for bridge failures and several deaths.

“One of America’s top writers of modern sea adventures,” wrote Clive Cussler, New York Times best-selling fiction author.

An article in the 2014 Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering reported, “In the last thirty years over six hundred bridges have collapsed or failed due to scour (erosion) problems.” A brief survey of those failures reveals faulty engineering and poor construction played major roles in several of those failures, resulting in many deaths. Because of those deaths, states were forced to create bridge inspection teams, who discovered numerous bridges desperately in need of repair. The discoveries made by those dive teams in turn saved many lives.

Public safety and police diving, for many years, had the highest number of fatalities of any technical or commercial aspect of diving. Diving frequently under extremely adverse conditions and all too often without proper comprehensive training, many divers were lost not because of the complexity of the missions or the adversity of the environment but because of the lack of basic dive skills.

Ghost River was written as a tribute to the very few, highly competent instructors who made it their life’s calling to provide the training necessary to keep those divers alive. The book does so by accurately describing the demands of the job and the risks divers may face all while providing an exciting story full of twists and turns from beginning to end.

Senior members of the dive community will fondly remember the adventures of Doc Holiday, the former SEAL who went to Bermuda to rescue his kidnapped daughter and in the process became entangled in a web of archaeological subterfuge and deadly drug smuggling. Jon’s first two books, Thief of the Deep and its sequel Blackwolf, set in the Cayman Islands, became industry favorites, selling thousands of copies. Ghost River will not disappoint.

Sample Chapters.

About the Author
Jon recently retired after twenty-nine years as a PADI regional manager, former commercial and scientific DSO, who specialized in explosives work in salvage diving and worked on scientific and archaeological projects internationally. Jon and his wife Rachel live in South Carolina and are active in church, Rotary, pickle ball, and golf. Your comments about the book will be greatly appreciated.

Media Contacts:
Bradley Isbell, Bradley.Isbell@IronStreamMedia.com

Tina Atchenson, Tina.Atchenson@IronStreamMedia.com


Advance Praise for Ghost River

“Jon has a way of taking underwater criminal investigations with all the dangers, challenges, as well as the glory to a level that takes the reader on a suspenseful, heart-pounding adventure. . . . You’re about to get a glimpse of the life of a true diving professional, an underwater criminal investigator. Enjoy the ride!” —Michael Berry, first sergeant/dive team coordinator, Virginia State Police

“A gritty, emotionally immersive and addictive journey forcing the reader to confront the best and the worst of the human experience. Ghost River plunges us across the membrane separating the natural and supernatural psychic consciousness. This is Jon Coon’s best work—a provocative and disruptive journey shrouded in mystery, heroism, and suspense from the start and on the level of the best works from the likes of Clancy, Christie, Fleming, and Daniel Woodrell.” —Dr. Drew Richardson, CEO and president, Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the world’s largest dive training agency with more than 25 million divers certified

“Jon has captured the essence of a public safety diver while weaving a gripping story. The way he builds a tapestry of characters and gives Gabe an ability all public safety divers wished they had keeps you wanting more, page after page. If you are a diver or someone who would like a book you can’t put down, Ghost River is the book for you.”—Sean Harrison, senior vice president, Scuba Diving International (SDI), Technical Diving International (TDI), Emergency Response Diving International (ERDI)

“Ghost River is an intense, fast-paced thriller, taking the reader into the dark and dangerous world of the underwater criminal investigator. But this investigator has an extraordinary, if terrifying, gift—the drowned corpses he finds tell him their grisly stories, and they lead him to a trail of corruption and murder. Jon Coon’s intimate knowledge of this specialist world makes every page ring true and lends a compelling authenticity to an extraordinary and gripping tale.” —Mark Caney, industry relations and training executive, PADI Worldwide, and author of Dolphin Way: Rise of the Guardians

“Ghost River is a thought-provoking thriller, balancing heart-pounding action with the personal and spiritual journey of police diver Gabe Jones, a flawed yet devout man whose gift of speaking to the dead gives him a professional edge at the expense of his relationships with the living. A former commercial oil field diver and dive safety officer for NASA, author Jon Coon uses his diving expertise to immerse the reader in a complex tale as dark and dangerous as the river that gives the book its name.” —Jaden Terrell, internationally published author of the Jared McKean private detective series and past president of the Southeast chapter of Mystery Writers of America


Praise for Jon’s previous work Thief of the Deep:

“With Thief of the Deep, Jon Coon has established himself as one of America’s top writers of modern sea adventure. A great tale with suspense and romance at every turn.” —Clive Cussler, New York Times best-selling author

“The best diving fiction I’ve read in years . . . Hopefully there’s more to come . . . I’m waiting.” —AquaCORPS journal

“A complex plot involving underwater raiders . . . and a state-of-the art submarine . . . the drama is tense.” —Publishers Weekly

“Jon Coon knows his diving. He tells a rattling good yarn . . . a thoroughly good read.” —Sport Diver magazine


General Questions / Talking Points:

  1. What gave you the idea for this book?

The six hundred bridge failures in the past thirty years.

  1. Just how dangerous is public safety diving?

There are more fatalities in public safety diving than in any other technical diving activity, including cave diving.

  1. What can we do to be certain our bridges are safe?

Demand inspections on a frequent basis, and make certain dive teams are well funded and professionally trained.

  1. Why did you include mention of Marie Laveau?

I’m a former resident of New Orleans and was fascinated with her history, especially her deep Catholic faith and work as a healer during the frequent health threats that hit the city. It felt natural that a relative would be continuing her legacy.

  1. After your descriptions of the dives in Ghost River why would any sane person become an underwater criminal investigator?

It’s the opportunity to serve in a way that very few can. It’s often grim, but bringing justice or simply closure provides peace in many troubled lives and lets families move on.

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
2 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
3 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 BREATH AS PRAYER
JENNIFER TUCKER
8 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 LIVING FEARLESS
JAMIE WINSHIP
View All
1 THE ISRAEL DECREE
AMIR TSARFATI
2 60 DAYS OF PROPHECIES
DAVID JEREMIAH
3 JOY BOMB
TAUREN WELLS
4 YOU ARE CALLED
JOHN BEVERE
5 THE KINGDOM OF CAIN
ANDREW KLAVAN
6 HOW TO READ THE BIBLE
DAVID PLATT
7 A JESUS-SHAPED LIFE
LISA HARPER
8 HOMESCHOOLING
GINNY YURICH
9 FIVE MERE CHRISTIANS
JORDAN RAYNOR AND KALEIGH COX
10 HOW TO SPEAK LIFE TO YOUR HUSBAND
ANN WILSON WITH DAVE WILSON
View All
1 VANISHED
DAVID JEREMIAH WITH SAM O'NEAL
2 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
3 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
4 THE SUMMER OF YES
COURTNEY WALSH
5 WHAT NOT TO DO ON VACATION
RACHEL MAGEE
6 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
7 PERILOUS TIDES
ELIZABETH GODDARD
8 THE PRETENDER
WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER
9 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
10 THE WATER KEEPER
CHARLES MARTIN
View All
1 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
2 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
3 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
4 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
5 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
6 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
7 BREATH AS PRAYER
JENNIFER TUCKER
8 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
10 LIVING FEARLESS
JAMIE WINSHIP
View All
1 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
4 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
5 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
6 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
7 GOD GAVE US YOU
LISA TAWN BERGREN
8 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
9 THE WORLD NEEDS THE WONDER YOU SEE
JOANNA GAINES
10 JUST IN CASE YOU EVER FEEL ALONE
MAX LUCADO
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
3 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
4 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
5 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
6 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
7 MANGA BIBLE
SIKU
8 THE PRAYER MAP FOR TEENS
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
9 THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION
LEE STROBEL WITH JAME VOGEL
10 OUTDATED
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
View All
1 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
2 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
3 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
4 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
5 THE BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - KJV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
6 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
7 LOTS OF KNOCK-KNOCK JOKES FOR KIDS
WHEE WINN
8 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
9 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST. JOHN
10 IS GOD SPEAKING TO ME?
LYSA TERKEURST
View All
1 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
2 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
3 KJV BIBLE GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
4 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
5 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 NIRV ADVENTURE BIBLE FOR EARLY READERS, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
7 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
RAECHEL MYERS AND AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS AND CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
8 ESV STUDY BIBLE
J. I. PACKER AND MARK DEVER AND JOHN PIPER
9 NIV THE JESUS BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
10 KJV LARGE PRINT PERSONAL SIZE REFERENCE BIBLE
HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 ESV ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
3 ESV LARGE PRINT ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
THOMAS NELSON
5 NLT LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
TYNDALE
6 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
7 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
HENDRICKSON PUBLISHERS
8 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
9 KJV ECONOMY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
10 NLT ECONOMY BIBLE
TYNDALE
View All
1 New International Version
2 English Standard Version
3 King James Version
4 New Living Translation
5 New King James Version
6 Christian Standard Bible
7 Reina Valera
8 New International Reader's Version
9 Nueva Version International
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
3 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
4 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
5 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO, Bolsillo
RICK WARREN
6 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
7 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
8 DICCIONARIO BIBLICO ILUSTRADO HOLMAN
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
9 LA MUJER EMOCIONALMENTE SANA
GERI SCAZZERO AND PETER SCAZZERO
10 JESUS TE LLAMA, Tapa dura
SARAH YOUNG
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Tapa dura, Negro
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA, CAFE SIMIL PIEL MASS MARKET
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
LUIS ANGEL DIAZ-PABON
4 RVR 1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, ROSA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, IMITACION PIEL, Negro
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, TURQUESA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 BIBLIA CATOLICA EDICION ECONOMICA
EDITORIAL CATOLICA
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO ARCO IRIS, NEGRO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RV1960 SANTA BIBLIA DE PROMESAS EDICION PARA NINOS
EDITORIAL UNILIT
View All
1 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
2 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 JESUS SALVA AL MUNDO
VIDA
6 ¿PARA QUE ESTOY AQUI EN LA TIERRA?
RICK WARREN
7 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
8 ESTRESATE MENOS, ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
9 EL VALLE DE LOS HUESOS SECOS
YIYE AVILA
10 199 PROMESAS DE DIOS
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA Asia Rights & Export Fair
September 1-2, 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand
ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona
The Christy Award® Finalist Reveal webcast
September 19 | 10 am central
The Christy Award® Winners Gala webcast
November 7 | 7 pm central
ECPA PubU Online
Oct 31 through Nov 14, 2025

Career Center

VP of Finance & Administration
The Church Initiative (GriefShare / DivorceCare), Wake Forest, NC (Hybrid)
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2025 · ECPA