Richard R. Becker Jr. - Third Wheel

Set in 1982, Third Wheel is the story of a boy who relocates from the Midwest to Las Vegas. Outcast as a newcomer, Brady forges a bond with an older teenage neighbor, Mick. But when Mick invites an ambitious street-level drug dealer into their group, Brady learns that their choices could have dangerous consequences and threaten the lives of those he cares about.Emotionally driven and raw, Third Wheel is a literary thriller that follows a root-worthy underdog, Brady Wilks, as he brushes up against misguided teens, a Mexican drug cartel, and the Mob. With nowhere to turn and troubles at home, Brady finds his only comfort in an impossible romance until it becomes another vulnerability for others to exploit.
The winner of six literary awards - including a Literary Titan Gold Book Award, Silver BookFest Award, and American Best BookFest Finalist Award - Richard R. Becker's debut novel is as suspenseful as it is unapologetic. This teenage crime story with heart hits home with older young adults, new adults, and anyone who remembers the 1980s.