A singularly compelling debut novel, about a desert where people go to escape their past, and a truck driver who finds himself at risk when he falls in love with a mysterious woman. Ben Jones lives a quiet, hardscrabble life, working as a trucker on Route 117, a little-travelled road in a remote region of the Utah desert which serves as a haven for fugitives and others looking to hide from the … to hide from the world. For many of the desert’s inhabitants, Ben’s visits are their only contact with the outside world, and the only landmark worth noting is a once-famous roadside diner that hasn’t opened in years.
Ben’s routine is turned upside down when he stumbles across a beautiful woman named Claire playing a cello in an abandoned housing development. He can tell that she’s fleeing something in her past—a dark secret that pushed her to the end of the earth—but despite his better judgment he is inexorably drawn to her.
As Ben and Claire fall in love, specters from her past begin to resurface, with serious and life-threatening consequences not only for them both, but for others who have made this desert their sanctuary. Dangerous men come looking for her, and as they turn Route 117 upside down in their search, the long-buried secrets of those who’ve laid claim to this desert come to light, bringing Ben and the other locals into deadly conflict with Claire’s pursuers. Ultimately, the answers they all seek are connected to the desert’s greatest mystery—what really happened all those years ago at the never-open desert diner?
In this unforgettable story of love and loss, Ben learns the enduring truth that some violent crimes renew themselves across generations. At turns funny, heartbreaking and thrilling, The Never-Open Desert Diner powerfully evokes an unforgettable setting and introduces readers to a cast of characters who will linger long after the last page.
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The Never-Open Desert Diner is a standalone mystery novel written by debut author James Anderson. It is a story that follows a trucker: Ben who makes deliveries to people who choose to live in the barren Utah desert. Off the grid? Um…yes. Ben is pretty much these people’s only contact with the world outside of the desert. They ask for stuff, Ben brings them stuff. It’s a routine that works for everyone involved. But when a beautiful cello player: Claire enters the scenario, everything goes haywire.
Although The Never-Open Desert Diner is marketed as a mystery, it didn’t seem like a traditional mystery to me. Yes, there were lots of questions that needed answers but what I thought was focal about this book was the imagery. In a Utah desert setting that is thought to be completely void of life, Mr. Anderson brings everything to life and that was my favorite thing. Being a former truck driver, book publisher, and an award-winning documentary producer all helped I’m sure. So while this wasn’t an over-the-top awesome mystery in my opinion, I certainly did enjoy it overall. The writing was good and I highlighted several quotes that I’d like to hang on my wall – cross-stitch style to keep in line with the theme 😉 Also, I have visited the American desert several times and Mr. Anderson brought some of those memories back to life for me so for that I thank him. If you enjoy a variety of adult fiction, then check it out!
I loved this novel, a literary masterpiece.
What a nice surprise. I picked this one due to the desert location. I love books written in Arizona. This was the desert close to Arizona and the way it was written it could have been here as well. It was a book I had a hard time putting down and looked forward to getting back to it each time. The characters are well developed and very real. Felt like I was right there and knew each one. Loved the antique and history and how it developed. Not a predictable ending like so many. I ordered the second one and hope it’s as good.
I did not expect to enjoy this story as much as I did. Not my “go to” type of story but this was interesting with enough twists and turns to hold me through the last page. Enjoyable and I recommend it to all types of readers.
Loved this book. Couldn’t wait to get his next book. I am recommending it to everyone I know who also likes the writing in the Longmire series. Great characters
Strange and beautiful. Excellent writing, imaginative characters, unique.
this was a fun read. Wacky characters, wacky behavior. Enjoyable.
Noir, loved it.
When driving the vast ranges of the west, have you ever wondered where those little roads that lead off the interstate eventually end?
This wonderfully engaging mystery captures the colorful characters along these road, their lives, and whimseys..
Very well done.
A worthwhile read, with better character development than I’d anticipated.
The basic premise of the book is quite promising, but the execution leaves something to be desired. There are too many contrivances, lapses in logic and continuity, and some parts are simply implausible. This is the sort of product that would have benefitted from the author taking his work seriously and plotting things out a bit more effectively.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. The writing was fantastic and the story itself was unique. You’ve got to read it. Highly recommended.
I enjoyed this book. It was funny and sad. Kept me reading.
This was a different kind of book for me to read and I found it interesting.
I loved this book the characters drew me in they were unique in there own way and I wanted to know their story
I liked this book, and it kept me interested. The first person narrative was a little off putting at first, but the main character became interesting enough for that technique to work. However, for me, the ending did not live up to the buildup. Almost as if the author couldn’t think of a way to tie things up.
Lots of potential but missed the mark.
Fantastic book, an absolutely MUST read! I absolutely promise you will not be disappointed. And above all of this, it features the world’s best motorcycle, the Vincent Black Shadow.
Interesting characters, very real desert rats. Great desert scenes and a very human story. I’ll read more by this author.
A very different, enjoyable book. It is haunting and brings up interesting questions about live, love, loyalty and the whims of life.