Michael Balkind

RELEASE DATE: JULY 31, 2009

Michael Balkind, author of the critically acclaimed thriller Sudden Death, scores a home run in his newest book titled Dead Ball. The action starts at the professional and Olympic sports training camp AllSport. AllSport is a part of the Inner City Sports Foundation (ICSF,) run by Reid Clark (protagonist in Sudden Death) and Buck Green. As Reid is giving a tour of the camp to the president and first lady of the United States, the lead secret service golf cart screeches to a halt as the agents spot a dead body in the shrubs surrounding the basketball dome. The body belongs to AllSport's CFO and Reid's best friend Bob Thomas. As the president and first lady are whisked away, the investigation begins. The investigation takes the reader through various areas of New York, the woods of Pennsylvania, nightclubs in Caracas and Mt. Everest.

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"Michael Balkind has 'whodunit' again. Dead Ball offers an intriguing look at a different side of sports." - Ralph Wimbish, Sports Editor, New York Post

From the opening page of Michael Balkind's crackling thriller, Dead Ball (SterlingHouse Publisher, Inc.), one thing, and perhaps only one thing, is certain; golf legend Reid Clark is being stalked by trouble. With the discovery of his best friend's dead body, Clark is propelled into a frenzied search for the killer who with the aid of a team of capable and loyal friends including investigative genius, Jay Scott, who digs into the shadowy corners of the business side of sports only to discover even the most admired among them can have secrets, secrets which prove deadly.

Balkind lays out the search for answers like the great golf course designer, Albert Tillinghast, laid out his fairways and greens; with a mix of challenge and reward, deception and epiphany, gracing his readers with an enjoyable walk through the pages culminating in a satisfying finish. Along the way, Balkind reveals his own appreciation for and knowledge of a wide array of martial arts and sports, making it clear why he chooses to base his mysteries in that world; he knows it, he loves it, he writes it so well.

There are mystery writers. There are sports writers. And then there's Michael Balkind." - Don Dahler, author of A Tight Lie and Water Hazard (due out in 2010), WCBS-TV News Anchor

Reid Clark is a pro golfer at the top of the leader board during the PGA tour; he's also a hot-head with a reputation for trouble. Reid receives a death threat right before teeing off on the final day of the Master's Tournament, and hires a P.I. to track down the perpetrator. Suspense builds throughout as Reid tries to compete in one of golf's most prestigious contests...and woo the woman he loves...while dodging death at every turn. For golfers, mystery lovers and male readers in general, Sudden Death will score big.

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"You like golf, you like murder mysteries - then Sudden Death is your book!" - James Patterson Bestselling Author, Over 130 million copies sold wordwide

"Pure fun, pure intrigue. The action never stops till a fascinating climax." - Clive Cussler Author, Adventurer, Car Collector Extraordinaire, Published in more than 40 languages, 100 countries with over 125 million avid fans.

"Michael Balkind has really hit a hole in one! Sudden Death is an enjoyable and fun murder mystery that will appeal to every sports fan. I give it fore stars." - Howard J. Rubenstein President, Rubenstein Associates, Inc. Public Relations

"Sudden Death is a terrific read, with compelling characters and a fast-paced, unpredictable plot. A great ride." - Joshua Malina, Film and Stage Actor, Starring roles on Big Shots, The West Wing, Sports Night, A Few Good Men, to name a few

"An upscale mystery that golf fans are sure to enjoy." - Tim Green Bestselling Author, Former NFL Defensive End (Atlanta Falcons), NPR Radio commentator and Fox TV's A Current Affair Host

"Sudden Death is sure to be a winner!" - Wendy Corsi Staub, Bestselling Author with over 60 novels published

"The nail biting drama of a great sports story... brought together with a heart pounding murder mystery... Sudden Death brings them together to make the perfect book" - Ryan Burr, ESPN Anchor

"Michael Balkind intrigues golf enthusiasts far & wide with his first suspense novel. Wrought with danger, mystery and a bit of golf, this page-turner will keep you on the edge of your seat" - Country Club Quarterly Magazine

"Sudden Death spins a tangled web of murder and golf that's as mysterious and fun as the game itself." - Tom Coyne, Author of A Gentleman's Game, Paper Tiger: An Obsessed Golfer's Quest to Play with the Pros, A Course Called Ireland

"I couldn't put it down. Anyone who loves golf will love Sudden Death." - David Yoho, Management Consultant, Professional Speaker, CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame

"Tee-rrific first outing by a promising author." - Brian Moss, Former Editor, NY Daily News Express

"Sudden Death is one of those books you pick up, and don't put down until the last page. Sudden Death is a hole in one." - Conrad L. Ricketts, Executive Producer Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

"Sudden Death, gives a whole new insight into the game of golf. This thriller has hit a hole in one!" - Randy Jurgensen, Retired N.Y.P.D. Detective and Author of Circle of Six

"Superb Read! Could not put it down. Golf references are spot on. Great story line...Balkind should be congratulated." - Kenneth S. Francella, President, Global Investment Research, Inc.

"I don't golf, but I found myself totally involved with the characters. Michael's writing style had me in the middle of the action and kept me there to the end." - Frank DeAlto, Retired NYPD Sargeant

"Michael knows his golf and his murder. This is the perfect mix of golf and suspense. The game is a mystery, as we all know, but Sudden Death makes it a bigger, better mystery. A great read!" - Dave Berner, Host of Travelgolf.com This Week radio show

"Sudden Death is a direct hit! A Hole in One with crisp, tight action boldly mixed with flesh and blood characters that jump out at you from the page. An excellent read from the opening shot to the very end!" - Kurt Bryan, Author of The Game Breaker & The Double Move

"Sudden Death is a gripping story of terror on the tour that keeps the reader engaged throughout. You feel like you are walking the fairways while looking over your shoulder like Reid Clark, as you play through chapters 1-36. A great read!" - Jeffrey H. Edwards, President, DeForest Enterprises, Inc.

"In his first novel, Michael Balkind has crafted a suspenseful thriller that uses many familiar Westchester County references." - The Met Golfer Magazine