The latest book in Port Moody author A.J. Devlin’s Hammerhead series — and possibly his last — is out next week.
Bronco Buster can be bought starting Tuesday, Oct. 1. The mystery novel will also available for purchase at an Oct. 12 launch party at Parkside Brewery in Port Moody; the event takes place from noon to 4 p.m. with $1 from each book going to Devlin's son's Port Moody U14 D3 “Hammerheads” soccer team.
Speaking to the Tri-City News today, Sept. 25, Devlin said Bronco Buster is a pivot from his Hammerhead trilogy:
- Cobra Clutch (2018)
- Rolling Thunder (2020)
- Five Moves of Doom (2022)
And like his previous trio, which were also printed by NeWest Press, the plot of Bronco Buster centres on the former pro wrestler-turned-private investigator “Hammerhead” Jed Ounstead, who is now checking out a case at the Colossal Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair.
But, in his new book, Devlin keeps the narrative to one day only.
“He’s working through his trauma from the last case,” Devlin said of Hammerhead Jed. “His character arc was to unpack everything he went through in the third book.”
Devlin, a Port Moody Secondary graduate who has his master’s degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute Conservatory, said he is excited about his fourth installation as he has left Hammerhead Jed in a “very, very great place” — and with a cliffhanger ending.
“I’ve been living with Hammerhead in my head for the past 15 to 20 years, so I think now is a good time to put Hammerhead on hiatus,” he said, adding, “I have more stories and ideas for him, if and when I return to the series.”
Besides finishing Bronco Buster, Devlin has also spent this year teaching screenwriting with the Writers Guild of Alberta and recently did a crime writing workshop with the Federation of BC Writers.
As for his next book, Devlin promises another mystery work, but with more comedy — a caper in the style of Oceans 11.
Meanwhile, Devlin will be at these events to talk about and sign his books:
- Sept. 28: Word Vancouver (UBC Robson Square)
- Oct. 1: Western Sky Books (Port Coquitlam)
- Oct. 12: Parkside Brewery (Port Moody)
- Oct. 24: Irish Heather (Vancouver) for Noir at the Bar
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