Treat yourself to a gripping mystery thriller with A.W. Baldwin's Slickrock. Malia, a young college student, is in a precarious situation after being inexplicably kidnapped from a nightclub. She wakes up to find herself inside a camper in an unknown canyon, held captive by three strangers. Meanwhile, Deputy Dawson is searching for the missing ranch hand, Karl Payne. Dawson unexpectedly comes across a hunter who sends one of his men to assist him in his search. With the help of a reclusive moonshiner and wanderer named Relic, Malia escapes from the camper. But now, a dangerous murderer is on Malia and Relic's trail. As Dawson crosses their path, he realizes his own life is in danger. Can Malia find her way to safety? Will Dawson be able to catch the culprits?

Packed with suspense, mystery, and action, Slickrock is a riveting novel without a single dull moment in the entire book. Weaving a fast-paced yarn, A.W. Baldwin ensures the reader is entertained all the way through. Using dynamic characters and fascinating twists and turns of the plot, the author crafts a narrative rich in drama and intrigue. Every character is distinct and well-developed. The three major characters come from different backgrounds. I liked the unexpected friendship between Malia and Relic, and although Dawson seemed like a wildcard at first, by the end, I found myself rooting for him. Baldwin builds the action scenes very well, bringing tension and suspense to those moments that make the stakes seem real. I also enjoyed the ending. It felt very satisfying. If you're looking for an absorbing crime thriller, this is the perfect book for you.

Slickrock by A.W. Baldwin is an engaging thriller about Malia, a young student who is drugged and kidnapped from a nightclub. Malia admires her friend Sheila so much and carries some of her belongings as they go to the club. On that night, a group of kidnappers who intend to kidnap Shelia mistake her for Malia. Malia wakes up in a camper at a place called Slickrock Canyon. Luckily, she is rescued by Relic, a lonely man known to be a moonshiner and a ghost of the desert. Malia and Relic must run as the kidnappers chase them in the dangerous canyon. The ransom plan starts to fall apart, and the kidnappers are beginning to fight each other; hidden truths are revealed, and Malia has to remain brave and strong to survive.

This is indeed a great book. I love how the desert formed a major part of the story. It has its own dangers, like floods and wild animals, that add more risk to Malia and Relic than just the bad guys. I enjoyed following Malia's development; she started as a shallow person who wanted to be like her friend, but after her bad experience, she became strong and resilient and changed her perception of herself. The author did a great job of creating the dialogues between the characters; they were sharp, human, and felt realistic. I loved the surprises as well, and the turn of events left me in awe. Slickrock by A.W. Baldwin is about survival, friendship, and learning about ourselves. I recommend it to readers who enjoy exciting thrillers about crime, mystery, and survival.