Port Moody writer rolls out a new mystery
Devlin’s P.I. Hammerhead Jed enters roller-derby world
Port Moody author A.J. Devlin officially now has a series on his hands, as his second novel Rolling Thunder once again stars former pro wrestler and now full-fledged private investigator Hammerhead Jed Ounstead.
In the series the newly minted P.I. finds himself embroiled in a mystery surrounding the disappearance of the coach of a women’s roller derby team.
Devlin took some time away from self-isolating with his wife and two kids to answer some Postmedia questions.
QDid the success of your first book 2018’s Cobra Clutch — it was nominated for and won some awards — put extra pressure on you?
ACobra Clutch doing well was a thrill — but yes, the nomination for the 2019 Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery and the 2019 Arthur Ellis Award win for Best First Crime Novel provided a little pressure, but in a good way! My biggest concern was providing a worthy followup to Hammerhead Jed’s debut. I’m very excited about Rolling Thunder and think it’s a great continuation and might even better capture the “voice” of the series.
QIn Cobra Clutch the story was set in the wrestling world. This time it’s women’s roller derby. What was it about the latter that drew you to that world? Was it the names?
AYes and no! The idea for the Hammerhead Jed series was always for a former pro wrestler to explore fringe sports or unusual subcultures while working as a private investigator. With his pro wrestling background and growing up as the son of a legendary Vancouver police officer, Jed is uniquely suited for such work. But women’s flat-track roller derby is such a treasure trove of action and amazing names, and after having Jed revisit his wrestling past, roller derby seemed like the perfect environment for his sophomore adventure.
QSpeaking of names, during your research what were some of the best names you heard?
AGreat question! Pro wrestlers have pretty cool names. My favourite moniker has to go to Uncle Daddy Tony Baroni. He is crazy talented in the squared circle, and the guy is so generous with his time and expertise. He also put me in touch with the wonderful folks at ECCW (Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling). Another favourite is Cat Power, the one and only Joshi Slayer, a badass, who was kind enough to blurb Rolling Thunder. Finally, there are a lot of wild derby names that appear in Rolling Thunder, including quite possibly my favourite one of all flaunted by a redhaired butt-kicker named Pippi Longstomping.
QHammerhead Jed aside, who is your favourite fictional detective or private investigator? Why?
AEither Joe R. Lansdale’s Hap and Leonard, Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, or Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Jed’s a wisecracking PI with a lethal sidekick, so I probably emulated Elvis Cole the most, but tonally I like to think that the quirkiness of Lansdale’s Hap and Leonard series make Jed’s adventures a spiritual successor of sorts. And Connelly is simply a titan in the mystery and thriller genres.
QWhat is it about Hammerhead Jed that makes you happy?
AProbably his positivity (and wisecracking nature). I enjoy exploring the psyche of damaged protagonists, but Hammerhead perseveres despite his troubles.
QAre there rules that need to be adhered to when it comes to creating a great detective?
AI think so. For me the trick was finding a way to create a hybrid-athlete detective who had a unique motivation for becoming a private investigator. And I think the key is to come up with some kind of moral compass for the character. Hammerhead Jed is far from perfect, but he has a big heart, which I hope makes him relatable and someone you are willing to follow on an adventure.
QWhat did you write when you were in Hollywood writing scripts?
AA bit of everything — horror, thrillers, action-adventure, rom-coms, dramas, slapstick comedies — you name the genre and I probably took a crack at it. I also co-wrote several screenplays with my late mentor, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, Leonard Schrader. I was able to dedicate my first book to his memory and learned so much while working with him. However, it wasn’t until I moved back to Vancouver, met my wife, became a dad, that I was able to write something that was truly my own — and that was the Hammerhead Jed series.
QWhen you write novels do you see the stories playing out like a movie?
AI definitely craft stories from a more cinematic perspective. However, I prefer writing novels because as my professor used to say, “a novel is a completed work, while a screenplay is a blueprint that’s going to wind up with a lot of fingers in the pot.”
QWhat’s next for Hammerhead Jed?
AIn Book 3, Jed enters the world of mixed martial arts. As a former pro wrestler, Jed is used to being the biggest, toughest guy in the room, so it’s been fun to explore that no longer being the case.