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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.
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Check out this page of discussion questions, perfect for book clubs or readers looking for further insights: The Undercard Reader’s Guide.
Praise for Undercard
“A rich, exhilarating story…Albertyn creates a pressure-cooker scenario for his characters, but manages amidst the adrenaline to bring out moments of insight and humanity.”
“Undercard unfurls through the course of one day and night…We watch the players converge, hurling their separate histories at each other. Childhood loyalties are tested by adult dilemmas. Adult failures and dreams play out amid a growing public protest movement and police subterfuge. Old grudges surface. New grudges form…Undercard is less about boxing and more about how the America we think we know is really upside down… Undercard certainly speaks to present-day American dilemmas.”
“[Albertyn] successfully generates a gritty, dark atmosphere in the novel that draws on the best elements of noir to keep readers edgy and absorbed. His interiors are dark and gloomy, and his exteriors make us feel agoraphobic and threatened in a vague, undefined way…Also good are Albertyn’s characters…A good crime novel and a solid debut for David Albertyn.”
“If I were to rank my favourite sports from one to 100, boxing would come in at about 512. Two people beating each other to a pulp is so far from my idea of entertainment that I managed to skip seeing Rocky for decades. So when I say that a mystery about boxing and boxers kept me reading intently, you know it has to be better than good. Undercard, a debut novel by Toronto author David Albertyn, is that book… Albertyn is a writer to watch.”
“A fast-paced crime thriller with more twists and turns than the Grand Prix of Monaco…Boxing fans in particular are bound to find it an enjoyable read.”
Undercard has been nominated for the 2020 Evergreen Award, which is the adult category in the Ontario Library Association’s (OLA) Forest of Reading campaign to encourage a love of reading in people of all ages – there are 10 categories. The Forest of Reading is Canada’s largest recreational reading program, and “all Canadians are invited to participate via their local public library, school library, or individually.”
“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 were a serious suspense novel, it would be Undercard.”
“Fast-paced, fearless, and psychologically astute, Undercard is at once a terrific thriller and a sharp commentary on our turbulent times.”
“Undercard is a riveting, roller coaster that starts at full throttle on page one and doesn’t let up until the last page. Albertyn invokes a 24-esque style by spanning the storyline over a single day, and does it effortlessly…a gritty, fast-paced thriller with Sin City as the perfect backdrop. Undercard is well written, compelling, and is an outstanding debut from an author that is destined to become a shiny star in the crime fiction genre.”
“A taut, gripping novel, relentlessly paced over twenty-four hours. David Albertyn’s characters are complex, sympathetic, and realistically flawed. Undercard seizes you by the throat and refuses to let go. A stunning debut.”
“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.”
“With echoes of Sleepers and L.A. Confidential, Undercard delivers a hard-hitting thrill ride that delivers the sights and sounds of a title 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.”
“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.”
“Undercard contains all the sizzling energy and dramatic turns of a world-class prizefight—a fantastic debut from an author to watch.”
“Undercard’s characters will make you question the nature of brotherhood and loyalty—the action will make you want to finish it in one sitting. A superbly paced thriller with a knockout ending.”
“Finally got around to reading this explosive book by David Albertyn, and I can say, Undercard is the book for you… Taking place over 24-hours this story of complex and complicated people who grew up together will have you reeling. Highly recommended!”
“We’ve never seen a boxing story quite like this one… When a book like Albertyn’s comes along, it reminds you why you fell in love with sport stories in the first place. For those looking for a fun, interesting and well-written book, I recommend Undercard. Though I had initially got the book to read on a train ride from Montreal to Toronto, I found myself coming back to it to revisit how this gripping and surprising story was so expertly told.”
“An absolute knockout! Albertyn’s unforgettable voice transports readers to the underbelly of the 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.”
“A gutsy, intricate thriller as intense as it is clever, Undercard had me reading with the momentum of a house on fire.”
“Gritty, dark, and cinematic, Undercard is as tough as the Nevada desert of its setting. As a diverse cast of characters struggle to find meaning in fractured lives and a fractured world, Albertyn’s taut writing makes the pages fly by. The climax descends like a prizefighter’s knockout punch.”
“A visceral no-holds-barred novel that’s as tight and strong as the bodies that populate it. The book grabs you from the get-go, it’s a compelling, character-driven tough-guy revenge story about life’s disappointments and the self-acceptance of being a bench starter. There are lots of sporting analogies for the failed relationships and scars of the wars of adult life, both figuratively and literally. It’s a gritty and powerful read and the characters will leave you hoping there’s a sequel in the works. This is a true Vegas tale of winner takes all – but do they really?”
“Best Vacation Book Ever! Whenever I have a long flight coming up, I always tend to grab something easy to read, Terry Prachett, something chick-lit-y, or a NYT best seller. This might have been the best one yet! It’s a fast-moving story that tracks just 24 hours of time in Vegas. There’s death, life, love, hard decisions and almost a cinematic drama. I was actually disappointed when my flight was over because I had to put the book down to get off the plane! This was a GREAT read and I highly recommend it!”
“Marvellous, twisty book that moves really quick — I read it in two evenings. It will get you going on one track then surprise you and charge in another direction — Las Vegas, boxing, very much a Scorsese story.”
“Read this book!! A combination of suspense and romance with each character having a troubled past and all complement each other. I could not put it down! I loved that each chapter had a time-stamp so you can imagine how the events are taking place at a time of the day. Excellent read, excellent book and a job well done at the end!!!”
“This book was captivating from beginning to end. Action packed and fast paced. Can’t help wondering what this would look like brought to life on the big screen or TV?? Hope it’s not long! Great contemporary read!”
“Fast-paced, literary thriller, that will have you hooked from the first page. Never thought I’d find a book about boxing to be so thoroughly absorbing. Literally, could not put it down! Can’t wait to see what David Albertyn has in store for us next.”
“Highly Recommended!! This book takes an unusual cast of characters, and turns them into three dimensional people we care about – with their troubled pasts, unsettled present, and uncertain futures. It is a clever melding of story lines that keeps the reader engaged and always just one step behind, never quite anticipating the next surprising plot turn!”
“Great Book. Exciting, fast-paced action combined with unexpected twists, examined through a lens of contemporary social issues.”
“Fantastic! Action packed. Intriguing storyline. Highly recommend.”