Michael Balkind

Biography

Michael Balkind is the author of the Deadly Sports Mysteries as well as other novels. His novels are endorsed by literary greats including James Patterson, Clive Cussler, John Lescroart, Wendy Corsi Staub & Tim Green. He has appeared on ESPN's The Pulse and Sportsnet's Daily News Live and was featured on the cover of Publishers Weekly. He has co-hosted and is a regular guest on The Clubhouse radio show. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America and The Metropolitan Golf Writers Association. Balkind graduated from Syracuse University and currently resides in New York.

Where to find Michael Balkind online

Videos

Sudden Death (1 minute) Video Trailer
A little golf, a little Rock-n-Roll, a little Murder! "Pure fun pure intrigue. The action never stops till a fascinating climax!" Clive Cussler

Dead Ball (1minute) Video Trailer
"Listen up, sports and mystery fans! Buy Dead Ball right now. Remember “Bo Knows Sports”? They should update it to “Balkind knows sports (and mysteries, too).” John Lescroart Video trailer for the novel, Dead Ball. The sequel to the critically acclaimed bestseller, Sudden Death by Michael Balkind.Balkind's books have been endorsed by James Patterson, Clive Cussler, John Lescroart and many more.

Series

Books

Stealing Gold
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 91,980. Language: English. Published: December 14, 2021 . Categories: Fiction » Sports, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense
“With sharply drawn characters and a plot as twisty and dangerous as a Super-G race on an icy course, Balkind’s Stealing Gold gives new meaning to the term a slippery slope.” Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times Bestselling author of Where It Hurts
The Fix
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 81,870. Language: English. Published: January 10, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » General, Fiction » Adventure » Action
(5.00 from 5 reviews)
Meet Colt Walker, one of the best college quarterbacks in the game. Why would a guy with Heisman and NFL potential risk it all on petty gambling? Meet referee, Frank Gastner, a man consumed by alcohol, gambling, and divorce. Follow as alcohol, lies, and bookies wreak havoc on them until they meet on the field, each hoping to resolve his own dilemma. You’ll be left guessing until the final play.
Gold Medal Threat
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 52,060. Language: English. Published: December 30, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Sports, Fiction » Mystery & detective » General
(5.00 from 5 reviews)
When Casey and Johnny overhear assassins discussing “taking out” an Olympic gymnast just prior to the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, they team up with Chelsea and Samantha, and attempt foil the crime. Suspense, action and lots of fun combine as the team puts their lives in harms way to identify and stop the assassins, before it’s too late.
Dead Ball
Series: Deadly Sports Mysteries, Book 2. Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 63,110. Language: English. Published: July 20, 2010 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Mystery
(4.75 from 4 reviews)
The Sequel to Sudden Death. Murder, sports, greed, & glamour. The story takes place at AllSport, a facility that trains inner city athletes with pro potential. Combining athletes who come from lives of poverty with big money & the country’s top pro athletes proves to be a combustible mix. A brazen murder is committed. The suspect list is long. Is murder just another form of competition?
Dead Ball
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 63,120. Language: English. Published: July 20, 2010 . Categories: Fiction » Anthologies » Mystery
Murder, sports, greed, & glamour. The story takes place at AllSport, a facility that trains inner city athletes with pro potential. Combining athletes who come from lives of poverty with big money & the country’s top pro athletes proves to be a combustible mix. A brazen murder is committed. The suspect list is long. Is murder just another form of competition? Full-throttle action!
Sudden Death
Series: Deadly Sports Mysteries, Book 1. Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 71,300. Language: English. Published: July 11, 2010 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » General
(4.31 from 16 reviews)
"You like golf, you like murder mysteries - then Sudden Death is your book!" James Patterson "Pure fun, pur intrigue. the action never stops till a fascinating climax!" Clive Cussler

Michael Balkind's tag cloud

action    alpine    balkind    baseball    basketball    cheating    clive cussler    college    crime    cussler    fiction    football    france    gambling    golf    gymnastics    james patterson    john lescroart    kids    lacrosse    murder mystery    mystery    mystery novel    nfl    olympics    patterson    ryan burr    sequel    skiing    sport    sports    sports fiction    sports fixing    sports mystery    sports novel    sports thriller    sudden death    suspense    teen    teens    thriller    ya    young adult   

Smashwords book reviews by Michael Balkind

  • Soul Identity on Oct. 28, 2010

    Dennis Batchelder pulls you in right from the beginning of this fascinating tale and captivates you until the final page. A twisted version of reincarnation may be tough to swallow for many, including me. But believer or not, Soul Identity will grab your interest, entertain you, and maybe, just maybe, get you to consider the viability of its premise. Protagonist Scott Waverly, a computer security specialist with a quick wit, takes you on an exciting journey filled with suspense, deception, murder, and humor. Batchelder's writing style is light, witty and fun, making the book difficult to put down. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read more of the authors work.
  • Heart of Diamonds: A Novel of Scandal, Love, and Death in the Congo on Dec. 30, 2010

    An Exhilirating & Eye Opening read! As Heart of Diamonds begins, the description of a brutal rebel attack on a Congolese village as told by a young Congolese boy will tear fiercely at your heartstrings. The brutality this child endured sets the stage for the balance of the story, yet it had me wondering if I could handle more. Donelson's descriptions of life in the Congo are revolting yet riveting. As I continued turning the pages my view quickly changed from trepidation to anticipation. While the depiction of the vicious, bloody civil war in the Congo remains a constant background theme, the exposure of a diamond smuggling operation by American TV journalist, Valerie Grey, takes you on an exhilarating journey. When Grey uncovers the corrupt scheme she quickly learns that she is dealing with a group of ruthless criminals who will stop at nothing to prevent her from airing her story. The deeper she probes, the deeper the roots of corruption seem to have grown. Soon it becomes evident that Grey and her assistant can trust no one. Nonstop action, devastation and brutality run concurrent with altruism and romance in this thriller making it an energetic and exhilarating read. Mr. Donelson, thank you for opening this reader's eyes to the horrors of the Congo. I was moved by this novel's ability to teach as well as thoroughly entertain. Bravo Mr. Donelson!