Undercard

About the book

Set over the course of twenty-four exhilarating hours, Undercard is the story of four childhood friends, now in their early thirties, unexpectedly reunited by a high-profile prizefight in a Las Vegas casino... and an even higher-profile murder.

When Tyron Shaw returns to his hometown of Las Vegas after eleven years in the Marines, he’s surprised to discover that two of his best friends from childhood are all anyone is talking about: Antoine Deco, three years out of prison, hasn’t lost a boxing match since his release, and tonight is fighting in the undercard to the fight of the decade; and Keenan Quinn, a police officer who killed an unarmed teenager and escaped punishment from the courts, is the subject of a protest tomorrow morning.

Tyron has trouble reconciling either story with his memory of these men, and the situation escalates when he runs into the love of his life, Naomi Wilks, a retired WNBA player, basketball coach, and estranged wife of Keenan. As Tyron reconnects with his old community, he will learn over the next twenty-four hours that much has changed since he left Las Vegas... and there is much more that he never understood.

The Reef, an aquarium-themed casino and the hottest resort on the Strip, is the backdrop for this bullet-paced narrative, where loyalty to one’s friends, one’s family, and one’s community are ever at odds, and every choice has deadly repercussions.

Praise for this book:

"Fast-paced, fearless, and psychologically astute, Undercard is at once a terrific thriller and a sharp commentary on our turbulent times." - David Bezmozgis

"Undercard is a dizzying rollercoaster of suspense and action that examines the complexities of brotherhood and the consequences of tragic masculinity. Albertyn’s pitch-perfect understanding of the bonds of friendship gives this novel a powerful emotional center. If The Hangover was a serious suspense novel, it would be Undercard." - S A Cosby

"An absolute knockout! Albertyn’s unforgettable voice transports readers to the underbelly of the Las Vegas boxing world, the dramatic ending a sucker punch that will leave you breathless. In Undercard, the emotional resonance, well-drawn characters, and seamless prose will keep you reading until well after the final bell. Best debut of the year." - K J Howe

"Undercard contains all the sizzling energy and dramatic turns of a world-class prizefight - a fantastic debut from an author to watch." - S A Lelchuk

"Glossy tourist Las Vegas and the seedy underside of the city collide in a gritty story built on the backbone of a ticking clock. Dave Albertyn is a great new voice in fiction." - John McMahon

"A gutsy, intricate thriller as intense as it is clever, Undercard had me reading with the momentum of a house on fire." - Donna Morrissey

"With echoes of Sleepers and L.A. Confidential, Undercard delivers a hard-hitting thrill ride that delivers the sights and sounds of a heavyweight bout in the city that keeps the world’s secrets. Skillfully layering the stories of four memorable characters, Albertyn pushes each to the breaking point before delivering a powerful conclusion to the best and worst night of their lives." - August Norman

"David Albertyn’s fast-paced thriller combines a dynamic plot and compelling characters to deliver a one-two knockout punch. Undercard is not to be missed." - Elena Taylor