This was much more of a page-turner than I anticipated. I wouldn't call it a 'classic' or anything, but I could not put it down (finished it in less than a day), and I think it's because the themes tick a lot of personal 'boxes':

• References a contemporary atrocity committed by an actor with an unclear motive and plausible ties to intelligence/governmental agencies

• A portrait of the loser dad who aches to connect with his child(ren) but cannot get out of his own way

• Vegas as the mecca for American opulence and gluttony

• The motive for the modern mass shooter being 'greatness'; to be noticed, to be remembered

I won't pretend to be an expert on debut novels, but I would imagine this is a pretty heavy-hitter as far as first offerings go. Well done!