'Thrums with authenticity' The Times'Powerful, bruising and beautiful' Chris WhitakerA bleak, brilliant slice of American noir' Daily MailThe latest novel from the CWA-shortlisted author of Three-Fifths - a Sunday Times, Guardian and Financial Times Book of the Year____________IT'S NOT A COMEBACK. IT'S A FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE.Xavier "Scarecrow" Wallace is a biracial Black MMA fighter on the wrong side of thirty, who's been given a last-ditch chance to break into the big leagues. He is also losing his battle with pugilistic dementia, a struggle he is desperate to hide.In the nursing home of his father, a white man suffering from Alzheimer's, Xavier witnesses shocking episodes that expose ugly truths about his family and his past.As the big fight draws near, Xavier is faced with a dangerous dilemma: throw his match or suffer the deadly consequences.____________FURTHER PRAISE FOR JOHN VERCHER'John Vercher could well be the next great American novelist' Kia Abdullah'Shrewd and explosive' New York Times'Vercher writes with the intensity of championship round' Kevin Powers, author of The Yellow Birds'A stunning, stone-cold knockout' P. J. Vernon, author of Bath Haus'Think Warrior by way of Fat City' William Boyle, author of Shoot the Moonlight Out'John Vercher writes like a fighter, a dancer, an athlete' Wiley Cash, author of A Land More Kind than Home

A PROPULSIVE AND GRITTY SPORTS DRAMA FOR FANS OF KING RICHARD, WARRIOR AND SA COSBY'S RAZORBLADE TEARS

'Thrums with authenticity... the sweat shines on every page' The Times

'Powerful, bruising and beautiful... Those who haven't discovered John Vercher yet are seriously missing out' Chris Whitaker

'A riveting portrait of masculinity... so exquisite is the result, I would go so far as to say John Vercher could well be the next Great American Novelist' Kia Abdullah

'Shrewd and explosive' New York Times

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FROM THE AUTHOR OF THREE-FIFTHS, A SUNDAY TIMES, GUARDIAN AND FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR

It's not a comeback. It's a fight for his life.

Xavier "Scarecrow" Wallace is a biracial Black MMA fighter on the wrong side of thirty, who's been given a last-ditch chance to break into the big leagues. He is also losing his battle with pugilistic dementia - a struggle he is desperate to hide.

In the nursing home of his father, a white man suffering from Alzheimer's, Xavier witnesses shocking episodes that expose ugly truths about his past and his family.

And as the big fight draws near, a sparring session with a younger competitor goes horribly wrong, leaving Xavier faced with a dangerous dilemma: throw his match or suffer the deadly consequences.

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FURTHER PRAISE FOR AFTER THE LIGHTS GO OUT

'Vercher writes with the intensity of championship rounds. It had me hooked from start to finish' Kevin Powers, author of The Yellow Birds

'Exactly the type of book one needs about the fighting life... Brilliant' Ryan Gattis, author of All Involved

'Think Warrior by way of Fat City... Xavier "Scarecrow" Wallace is a character I just can't shake' William Boyd, author of Shoot the Moonlight Out

'A stunning, stone-cold knockout' P. J. Vernon, author of Bath Haus

'A spellbinding tour de force... Written in deft and visceral prose' Lauren Wilkinson, author of American Spy

'John Vercher writes like a fighter, a dancer, an athlete... After the Lights Go Out left my heart black and blue' Wiley Cash, author of A Land More Kind Than Home