Books by John Vercher

From the CWA-shortlisted author comes a propulsive and gritty sports noir for fans of Fat City, Million Dollar Baby and SA Cosby's Razorblade Tears'It's a riveting story where the drama propels you from page to page... Vercher is a master of interior tension. This book grabs you and doesn't let go.' Crystal Wilkinson, author of Perfect BlackHow do you save yourself when you're the person you trust least of all?Xavier "e;Scarecrow"e; Wallace is a biracial Black MMA fighter on the wrong side of thirty, who is facing the comeback fight of his life. He is also losing his battle with pugilistic dementia - a struggle he can no longer deny.In the nursing home of his father, a white man suffering from end-stage Alzheimer's, Xavier witnesses shocking episodes that expose ugly truths about his past and his family.And as the big fight draws near, a sparring session with a younger competitor goes horribly wrong, leaving Xavier faced with a dangerous dilemma: throw his match or suffer the deadly consequences.After the Lights Go Out is a propulsive exploration of mixed-race identity, the price that athletes pay to entertain, and one man's battle to reconcile his past - even when he can't hold onto his present.