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Michael Downing

WHO?

“A raw, heart-punch of a novel.”

“Saints of the Asphalt — gritty basketball noir set in Atlantic City.”

SAINTS of the ASPHALT book cover
SAINTS of the ASPHALT book cover

SAINTS of the ASPHALT -

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A gritty, heartfelt story of second chances, lost dreams, and the game that just might save a life.

In the summer of 1997, Atlantic City is booming — a glittering playground for the rich and reckless. But for Timmy Davenport, it's just home. And he wants out.

Once hailed as a “can’t miss” basketball prospect, Timmy seemed destined to escape the streets that shaped him. But after a disastrous sophomore year derails his college career, he returns to the city he tried to leave behind — broke, broken, and battling his demons. Addiction, self-destruction, and the weight of expectations hang over him like a storm.

Over one sweltering summer, Timmy confronts the people and places that defined him: street courts buzzing with talent and trash talk, old friends swallowed by the underworld, and a fractured family he can’t quite reach. As he prepares for a high-stakes tournament that could revive his basketball dreams, he stumbles into a love that might finally anchor him — if he doesn’t lose himself first.

Raw, emotional, and unflinching, Saints of the Asphalt is more than a sports novel — it's a powerful coming-of-age story about redemption, resilience, and the fight to reclaim your future when the past won't let go.

The only thing that matters is what's ahead.

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What readers are saying about SAINTS:

“Gritty and gripping… beautifully executed.”
The story unfolds with a natural, unforced momentum that never breaks the spell.

“Basketball noir at its finest.”
A vivid portrait of Atlantic City where obsession, ambition, and survival collide.

“A heartfelt portrait of a talented kid at risk of getting lost.”
Brutally honest, emotionally real, and impossible not to root for.

Desperate obsession and raw vulnerability drive every page.”
A powerful coming-of-age story balanced on the edge of hope and ruin.

“Thought-provoking and unflinching.”
A clear-eyed look at addiction, ambition, and the cost of escape.

“The gritty side of Atlantic City, superbly portrayed.”
A living, breathing backdrop that anchors this dark, compelling story.

an abstract photo of a curved building with a blue sky in the background

Get in Touch

Connect with Michael Downing for inquiries and questions. Your feedback and questions are always welcome.

info@downingfiction.com