He's not after money and power.
But they are after him.


Tucker keeps the tension high. Readers will look forward to Buddy’s next action-packed outing.
Publishers Weekly
The Holdouts keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very first page to the nail-biting finale. Buddy Lock is a hero to root for.
Marti Green, author of the #1 Amazon best-seller Unintended Consequences
The Holdouts has everything that you could want in a police thriller: a unique and compelling hero in NYPD homicide detective Buddy Lock, a mystery that unveils corruption among Manhattan’s rich and powerful, and a twisty, violent ending. Tucker’s story builds up a powerful momentum that will keep readers turning the pages late into the night. Highly recommended.
Reece Hirsch, author of the Chris Bruen series
An addictive page-turner with nonstop action, The Holdouts deftly weaves a story of secrets, corruption, and the captivating allure of power. Running beneath the thrilling mystery is the thread of family—and the sacrifices needed to keep them safe. You’re rooting for the compelling Buddy Lock all the way to the heart-pounding finale that has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end.
Brianna Labuskes, Amazon bestselling author of It Ends With Her
In The Holdouts, James Tucker crafts a story as complex as his characters. With nuanced attention to detail, unexpected twists and turns, and an unforgettable ending, Tucker’s latest Buddy Lock thriller is a tour de force.
Brian Andrews, WSJ bestselling coauthor of the TIER ONE series.

The Buddy Lock series continues in The Holdouts, a breathtaking thriller of power, corruption and murder.

The Holdouts

When a Long Island fishing crew makes a horrific catch – the bodies of an Asian couple dragged up with the trawl from the Atlantic – Homicide cop Buddy Lock knows there isn’t a chance in hell that this is some tragic accident.

But as soon as his investigation begins, so do the warnings to back off. They’re not only coming from within the NYPD, but they’re hitting close to Buddy’s heart—his new family has become the killer’s target.

When other people start disappearing from Chinatown, Buddy finds himself on the trail of a killer whose motives are become more twisting and far-reaching than he imagined. A killer who knows just how to get to him—by pursuing everyone he loves.

Now, Buddy can trust only himself—even as his relentless pursuit of justice is plunging him into the most brutal waters of his career.

It all began with Ben…

A New Year’s Eve celebration begins with the pop of a champagne cork—and ends with the bone-chilling sreams of a killer’s victims…
Meet the Next of Kin »

Once a prodigy at the piano, Detective Buddy Lock walked away from Carnegie Hall and now uses his talent to solve crimes, becoming the NYPD’s most accomplished and unique homicide detective. He’s tuned in to clues nobody else even recognizes.

Still haunted by one mistake that cost an innocent girl her life, Lock now risks all to make amends, to survive his private hell, and to protect his new family. It’s the reason he can never stop working to mete out justice—and punishment—on the streets of New York City.

Part Harry Hole, part Jack Ryan, Lock delivers.
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Buddy Lock, et. al. is a fictional character and © 2016 James Tucker.
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