The Reading Bud

Book Blog by Heena Rathore-Pardeshi

Book Review: High Desert (PEOPLE MAKING DANGER) by Adam Fike

Book Details:

Author: Adam Fike
Release Date:
19 March, 2021
Series: PEOPLE MAKING DANGER
Genre: Crime Fiction, Western Fiction
Format: E-book 
Pages: 69 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
MUSCLE CAR WESTERN – Hanner only wants to tinker in his desert junk yard, fish for wrecks on the highway and forget his family legacy. A rotten Sheriff, fate and a vault full of organized crime loot have another idea.
Free samples at adamfike.com/books.
PEOPLE MAKING DANGER is a collection of quick, fun, three-act, feature-length stories, full of suspense, surprises and dark humor. All told in the present tense. Like reading a movie.

“What a HOOT… recommended to me by a friend… High Desert is a clean shot at life and crime in the mid-twentieth century… I haven’t laughed so much in years. I plan to start on The Quiet Ones and work my way through them all.”

– BookBub Review 

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

High Desert by Adam Fike is a gritty, cinematic slice of crime fiction that perfectly captures the raw, unpredictable energy of the American West. Adam Fike doesn’t just tell a story about a botched heist and the violent, eccentric characters surrounding it, he creates a living, breathing desert landscape where danger lurks behind every gas station, junkyard, and stretch of empty highway. The atmosphere is heavy with heat, dust, and tension, giving the story a visual quality that feels ready-made for the screen.

What makes this tale so compelling is the cast of flawed but unforgettable characters. From Hanner, the hardened junkyard owner with his own rules of survival, to small-time hustlers, con men, and corrupt lawmen, every interaction is laced with suspicion, wit, and the constant threat of betrayal. The dialogue is sharp and often darkly humorous, while the pacing keeps the narrative moving with the same relentlessness as a car engine roaring across desert roads.

Overall, High Desert is a meditation on survival, morality, and the blurred lines between law, outlaw, and everything in between. It’s grim, fast-paced, and at times unexpectedly funny, making it a standout entry in the People Making Danger collection.


You can also read this review at:

Goodreads


Amazon


I love reading your comments, so please go ahead…

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

I’m Heena

Welcome to The Reading Bud, my cosy corner of the internet dedicated to all things books and authors. Here, I invite you to join me on a journey of discovering under-represented books, independent and small press authors, and all things book with a touch of love and loud purrs. Let’s get Reading!

Book of the Month

Read this captivating story on the adventures and hardships of Frank Knightlite, a man who strives to illuminate darkness with his lantern in search of answers to life’s questions.
You can get it here.
October 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

Reading is like breathing to me.

Recent Posts

  • Book Review: Hidden Witch: Betrayal: Book Two by Tony Jaehrling

    Book Details: Author: Tony Jaehrling Release Date: November 12, 2024Series: Betrayal (Book #2)Genre: Fantasy, Magic, Witchcraft, DemonsFormat: E-book Pages: 438 pagesPublisher: Peter Anthony JaehrlingBlurb:In her first few months on the Lorynthian throne, Tamyr Thimpor survived internal assaults to…

  • Book Spotlight: Bazaar by Miles Joyner

    Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Miles Joyner for his latest release, Bazaar. Book: BazaarAuthor: Miles JoynerPublication date: March 24, 2025Genres: Crime, Thriller, Suspense, TechnothrillerPage Count: 355 pagesPublisher: World Castle Publishing About…

  • Excerpt Reveal: Gone to Ground by Morgan Hatch

    Welcome to TRB Lounge! We’re thrilled to host author Morgan Hatch today, who will be unveiling an intriguing excerpt from the first installment of their new suspense-thriller trilogy, Gone to Ground. Dive in and get an…

  • Book Review: Eyes of A Different Color: Memoir Of Love From Israel To America by Robert Jaffee

    Book Details: Author: Robert Jaffee Release Date: December 21, 2024Series:Genre: MemoirFormat: E-book Pages: 289 pagesPublisher: Robert Jaffe PublishingBlurb:Oy vey! It’s 1979 and a young Israeli girl finds love with an American doctor during a brief visit and risks…

  • ARC Review: Two Crowns, Three Blades (The Legends of Baelon Book 2) by Robert A. Walker

    Book Details: Author: Robert A. WalkerRelease Date: April 30, 2025Series: The Legends of Baelon (Book #2)Genre: Fantasy, AdventureFormat: E-book Pages: 393 pagesPublisher: –Blurb:“Revenge is a temptress, full of promise, but she rarely satisfies… and almost always exacts payment.“Still…