MICHAEL BALKIND
| Reviews and Endorsements for Sudden Death "You like golf, you like murder mysteries - - then Sudden Death is your book!" James Patterson Bestselling Author "The bestselling author of the past year, bar none, with more than 12 million books sold in North America alone. In total James's books have sold an estimated 130 million copies worldwide." "Pure fun, pure intrigue. The action never stops till a fascinating climax." Clive Cussler Bestselling Author, Adventurer, Car Collector Extraordinaire "Cussler's books are published in more than 40 languages in more than 100 countries with a readership of more than 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. "Sudden Death is a terrific read, with compelling characters and a fast- paced, unpredictable plot. A great ride." Joshua Malina, American Film and Stage Actor Starring roles in Big Shots, The West Wing, Sports Night, A Few Good Men and more "An upscale mystery that golf fans are sure to enjoy." Tim Green Bestselling Author, Attorney, Former NFL Defensive End with the Atlanta Falcons, Radio commentator for NPR and Host of Fox TV's A Current Affair "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... with a heart pounding murder mystery... Sudden Death brings them together to make the perfect book." Ryan Burr, ESPN Anchor "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 "Sudden Death gives a whole new insight into the game of golf, This thriller has hit a hole in one!" Randy Jurgenson, Retired N.Y.P.D. Detective and author of Circle of Six “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 "I couldn't put it down. Anyone who loves golf will love Sudden Death." David Yoho, Management Consultant, Professional Speaker "Tee-rrific first outing by a promising author." Brian Moss, Former Editor, NY Daily News Express "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 N.Y.P.D. Sargeant "Sudden Death appealed to my inner golfer. A real page-turner and an easy, entertaining read." Stuart Malina, Director of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Music Supervisor of Broadway's Movin' Out, Guest Conductor of the NY Pops at Carnegie Hall "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. "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 "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 "In his first novel, Michael Balkind has crafted a suspenseful thriller that uses many familiar Westchester County references." The Met Golfer Magazine |
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Tee Time for Suspense
“Saturday was an exquisite day. A deep blue sky was dotted with just enough cottony clouds to give
periodic relief from the intense sun. The air was balmy and as expected, the crowds overflowed the
fairways.” Descriptions like this put the reader right into the context of Balkind’s story about a
pro golfer playing through a personal threat on his life. Told in a play-by-play style, “Sudden
Death” is rich with detail. Each day is rooted in a solid foundation of narrative and top-dressed
with believable dialogue.
Reid Clark, the main character, lives the somewhat stereotypical life of the sports star and he treats
the supporting cast of characters thoroughly and delightfully throughout the novel. One
entertaining example describes Reid lavishing all-you-can-spend shopping trips on his sisters and
another illustrates the family’s enjoyment of one another as they spend time together between the
Master’s tournament and the contest laced with the threat on Reid’s life.
The security detail embedded with Reid as he goes about practicing and playing serves as a
counterweight to the family-and-friends scenes. They, along with the wide range of emotions
experienced by Reid as the tension builds, remind the reader that having superior skills and worldly
success are no guarantee of sustaining a peaceful state of mind. Balkind does a good job of
gradually building the mystery and suspense throughout the story: “As much as he had tried, Reid
couldn’t concentrate on the movie. He was upset and annoyed. Why had it taken a death threat to
get him to spend time with the people he loved? Was someone really going to take all this away
from him?”
Adding another layer of interest to the story is a scene where Reid films an endorsement commercial
for a golf ball company. I thought this scene provided an interesting insight into how professional
sports stars have to be good at more than just the sport they love and it provided a sense of balance
to the mystery and description of daily activities of life on the tour.
I gave Sudden Death four stars because while the suspense built throughout the novel and I felt
that Reid’s character grew steadily with each chapter, I didn’t really get a good look inside the
head of the character who wished to kill Reid. Part of the enjoyment of reading mysteries for me is
gaining an understanding of how evil people think and what drives them to plan harmful actions.
This was missing for me in this novel. Overall, however, Balkind does an excellent job on his debut
novel and his attention to detail and thorough understanding of both golf and his characters
supplies the reader with an enjoyable read. There is enough substance in this book to appeal to
golfers and non-golfers and men and women both are likely to find it entertaining.
Paula Buermele: Paula is the author of The Dream Catcher Tour. She is a member of the Upper
Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association and the Metro Detroit Creative Writers group.
“Saturday was an exquisite day. A deep blue sky was dotted with just enough cottony clouds to give
periodic relief from the intense sun. The air was balmy and as expected, the crowds overflowed the
fairways.” Descriptions like this put the reader right into the context of Balkind’s story about a
pro golfer playing through a personal threat on his life. Told in a play-by-play style, “Sudden
Death” is rich with detail. Each day is rooted in a solid foundation of narrative and top-dressed
with believable dialogue.
Reid Clark, the main character, lives the somewhat stereotypical life of the sports star and he treats
the supporting cast of characters thoroughly and delightfully throughout the novel. One
entertaining example describes Reid lavishing all-you-can-spend shopping trips on his sisters and
another illustrates the family’s enjoyment of one another as they spend time together between the
Master’s tournament and the contest laced with the threat on Reid’s life.
The security detail embedded with Reid as he goes about practicing and playing serves as a
counterweight to the family-and-friends scenes. They, along with the wide range of emotions
experienced by Reid as the tension builds, remind the reader that having superior skills and worldly
success are no guarantee of sustaining a peaceful state of mind. Balkind does a good job of
gradually building the mystery and suspense throughout the story: “As much as he had tried, Reid
couldn’t concentrate on the movie. He was upset and annoyed. Why had it taken a death threat to
get him to spend time with the people he loved? Was someone really going to take all this away
from him?”
Adding another layer of interest to the story is a scene where Reid films an endorsement commercial
for a golf ball company. I thought this scene provided an interesting insight into how professional
sports stars have to be good at more than just the sport they love and it provided a sense of balance
to the mystery and description of daily activities of life on the tour.
I gave Sudden Death four stars because while the suspense built throughout the novel and I felt
that Reid’s character grew steadily with each chapter, I didn’t really get a good look inside the
head of the character who wished to kill Reid. Part of the enjoyment of reading mysteries for me is
gaining an understanding of how evil people think and what drives them to plan harmful actions.
This was missing for me in this novel. Overall, however, Balkind does an excellent job on his debut
novel and his attention to detail and thorough understanding of both golf and his characters
supplies the reader with an enjoyable read. There is enough substance in this book to appeal to
golfers and non-golfers and men and women both are likely to find it entertaining.
Paula Buermele: Paula is the author of The Dream Catcher Tour. She is a member of the Upper
Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association and the Metro Detroit Creative Writers group.