Underspin

Zhao debuts with a searing portrait of a table tennis star who dies under mysterious circumstances at age 24. The story opens with Ryan Lo’s funeral, then rewinds to recount his life story from the perspectives of those who knew him. There’s Kagin, a regional umpire looking to enhance his professional standing at the national championships in Las Vegas, where he meets Ryan and his girlfriend, Anabel, when the couple are teens. Soon after, Ryan’s controlling coach, Kristian, forces him to break up with Anabel. Rahul, who trained with Ryan as a boy and no longer plays the game, recounts how Ryan lost his qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics, prompting Kristian to publicly berate him. As an adult, Ryan fires Kristian but continues to communicate with him. At the same time, he plays in a German professional league, where he sustains a debilitating leg injury. Later, in New York City, Ryan is hired as a private coach but is quickly fired for showing up to a training session smelling of beer. While a plot twist revealing the reason behind Ryan’s downfall is a bit too telegraphed, the novel offers an intense immersion in the world of table tennis while remaining focused on the dramatic ups and downs of Ryan’s career. It’s an illuminating story of dedication and sacrifice. Agent: Julia Kardon, HG Literary. (Sept.)