A Port Moody author is out with his third book in a trilogy that began four years ago.
And A.J. Devlin has a series of events coming up to promote his latest publication: Five Moves of Doom, a continuation of his "Hammerhead" Jed mystery–comedy series.
Set to be released Thursday (Sept. 15) by NeWest Press, Five Moves of Doom follows the pro-wrestler and private investigator after he’s hired by a mixed-martial arts trainer named Elijah Lennox, who wants to find a missing UFC Championship belt.
Along the way, Jed meets at cast of unusual characters such as jewel thieves, bodybuilders, eccentric yoga enthusiasts and baby goats.
Devlin, who grew up in Port Coquitlam and did freestyle wrestling in his youth, as well as judo and aikido later, said his research during the COVID-19 pandemic led him to Terminal City Roller Derby events; he also consumed YouTube videos about MMA.
Five Moves of Doom is his third book after Cobra Clutch (2018) and Rolling Thunder (2020).
"I was really focused on getting the trilogy out as fast as possible," Devlin told the Tri-City News last week.
"People seem to enjoy the characters and it’s fun for me to write them."
Five Moves of Doom can be picked up via the NeWest Press book shop, in Tri-City bookstores (Coastal Bookstore and Western Sky Books) and through Amazon.ca.
It can also be purchased at the official book launch at The Parkside Brewery in Port Moody on Sept. 18 from 1 to 4 p.m.
There, Rocky Point Ice Cream will offer a special banana ice cream flavour in honour of "Hammerhead," who loves banana milkshakes.
In addition, on Sept. 28, Devlin and Debra Purdy Kong — another Port Moody writer — will have a book launch at the Port Moody Public Library, starting at 7 p.m.
And on Oct. 1, Devlin and Purdy Kong will join Erik D’Souza, owner of Timbercrest Publishing, and fellow NeWest Press authors D.B. Carew of Coquitlam and J.T. Siemens of Vancouver for the Indie Bookstore Crawl.
The crawl starts at Coastal Bookstore in NewPort Village from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and continues to Western Sky Books in Port Coquitlam from 2 to 4 p.m.
Donation boxes for the Port Moody Public Library will be available, and customers will also have the option to pay an extra dollar or two on top of the purchase price per book with the proceeds going toward the Port Moody Public Library’s crime fiction collection and children’s programs.
Finally, Devlin will appear at the Writers In Our Midst presentation at the Port Moody Public Library on Oct. 26; the readings at the in-person event start at 7 p.m..
For more information about A.J. Devlin’s writings, you're encouraged to visit his website.
