THIRD WHEEL

<p><strong>Las Vegas 1982.</strong> Brady Wilks a teenage transplant from the Midwest navigates a paradoxical existence in the dusty suburban outskirts of an aberrant 24-hour town built by the Mob. Isolated within his blended family and outcast as a newcomer Brady eventually forges a brotherly bond with an older teenage neighbor Mick and his friend Brett. But when Brett unexpectedly moves away Mick invites a new kid into their pack prematurely squeezing out the last remnants of their childhood in favor of a new world laced with cartel-supplied drugs and the deal of a lifetime.</p><p><br></p><p><em>Third Wheel</em> is a powerful novel about belonging betrayal and breaking away from paths laid out by others even when it means grasping at an uncertain future. It is the story of a boy trying to find his identity without the benefit of a role model by taking chances on random and fragile relationships forged in the predawn hours of a future boomtown. </p><p><br></p><p>Desolate and gritty <em>Third Wheel</em> is a triumphant debut novel and Brady Wilks is remarkable as a transformative protagonist. Four-time award-winning author Richard R. Becker once again shares his unique insight into the human condition.</p>