Fire in the Tall Grass: A Noah Redford Adventure

by L.S. Goozdich

A High Adventure Thrill Ride into the Heart of Danger!

For fans of Indiana Jones, Uncharted, The Mummy, and 1923 Fire in the Tall Grass delivers pulse-pounding action, high-stakes adventure, and relentless danger!

Under the guise of helping a woman find her husband and a son reunite with his father, Redford plunges into the darkest part of the Congo... soon he realizes that there is more to the story. Guerrilla warfare and a deadly race to an ancient relic find the former ace in this thrilling Noah Redford Adventure!

With fists flying, bullets whizzing, and enemies lurking in every shadow, Redford must rely on his wits, grit, and two-fisted resolve to survive. But in the jungle, the greatest danger isn't always what's hunting you-it's what you're hunting.

A nonstop, edge-of-your-seat adventure packed with brutal fights, breathtaking chases, and a masculine hero cut from the cloth of legends. If you crave action, treasure hunts, and old-school adventure, this book is for you!

Grab your copy and join the expedition today!

Genres: Thriller

144 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2025

About the author

I was born with less than a one percent chance of survival. No doctor thought I would make it. One was brave enough to take a shot. Two open-heart surgeries later and here I am. Living so close to death, I’ve always wanted be sure of my purpose. I wanted to leave nothing behind when my time was up. I wanted no dream to be trapped within my grave.

It didn’t take long for me to understand my purpose, my dream. I was a storyteller. I wanted to write and I wanted to share my stories with people. All the way at the edge of my memory I can recall playing narratives out in front of the family camera. Growing up, my best friend and I made hundreds of films. Every weekend was a new story to tell.

I love narrative and I believe strongly in its power. Narrative has inspired me and helped me become a better man. It is my hope that my work inspires the next man or woman behind me to pick up the pen and give their dream a shot. You never know when the reaper is going to come knocking.

Reviews

[Terrance Layhew]

Maybe it’s the Africa of it all, but Fire in The Tall Grass was giving me pulp-Haggard vibes.

With all the thrilling momentum of a pulp-serial of the 30’s and 40’s, LS Goozdich introduces Noah Redford in his first novel. African game hunting, a mission and a treasure to discover.

It’s the kind of yarn adventure stories are made of. Not a long book, it doesn’t over stay it’s welcome or bog you down with needless sentences to skip.

It gets 5 stars from me! Well done.

[Paige Gordon]

If you are a fan of Indian Jones, Dirk Pitt, or Jack West Jr., you need to pick up this book today!!

I feel like Luke really hit his stride as an author with this story and I found myself totally engrossed and enjoying it the whole time. It’s nothing but old school men’s adventure - overflowing with toxic masculinity, impossible challenges, and a man who will do the right thing and never give up, even when all hell breaks loose. Lukes writing has only gotten better with time, refining all the great aspects and improving everywhere he was lacking. I am so excited to keep reading the man’s work as he continues to improve and refine his God-given talent! Do yourself a favor and check it out, you won’t regret it!

Favorite Quote: “A boy must be steeped in tales of classic heroism. It’s not merely important—it’s essential. He needs to see men of moral clarity, dangerous men who are willing to have bloody confrontations with evil simply because it is the right thing to do.”

[Andrew Barrie]

This book was great! I have looked for a book like this for a long time. Redford feels like a Jack Reacher type but also cut from the same cloth as Allan Quatermain. My only complain is I wish there was more. I hope we see far more Noah Redford books!

[London Baker]

What an amazing book.

The perfect combination of adventure, emotion and life-lessons.

L.S. Goozdich is bringing back a much needed genre.

I cannot wait to see where the next Redford adventure takes him!!!

[Grayson Sullivan]

The future of Men's adventure fiction. No questions asked.

[Brian Rhodes]

It was a quick fun read. Not thought provoking, just an action/adventure story as advertised. If you like the 1999 Mummy and/or Indiana Jones, you’ll enjoy it

[Marty McSkywalker]

Really enjoyed this book, reminded me of Robert E Howard's El Borak mixed with some Indiana Jones. Nice pacing, not too long; a throwback adventure novel. I look forward to the next.

[Corey]

This book is a red-hot blade in the gut for any men’s adventure reader. A grizzled badass battles through a savage jungle where death lurks in every shadow. Relentless action, chases, ambushes, raw survival—hits like a mule. No fluff, just pure, unapologetic grit that’ll make your blood pump. Devoured it in one night; it’s the real deal for men who live untamed. Five stars, brothers-grab this and charge into the wild!

[James Dawson]

L.S. Goozdich's latest novel finds Noah Redford deep in the Congo helping a woman and her son reunite with her husband and the boy's father. Redford quickly learns there is more to the journey than a simple reunion at stake. The action and adventure crack off the page like a whip. If you like Temple of Doom and Sahara, you'll love this book.

[John Kour]

I had a great time with Fire in the Tall Grass. From the opening chapters, it captures the feeling of those classic adventure stories that are all about exploration, danger, and mystery. If you're a fan of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, or Uncharted, you'll probably feel right at home.

Noah Redford is exactly the kind of protagonist I enjoy reading about. He's capable without feeling invincible, resourceful under pressure, and always willing to take risks when it matters. He actually reminded me a bit of Spencer Dutton from 1923 (a battle-hardened World War I veteran with a quiet confidence who feels completely at home in the African wilderness).

The Congo setting adds a lot to the story. Between the dense jungle, ancient secrets, and constant sense of danger, the atmosphere kept me turning the pages. The pacing is fast, and there's always something happening, whether it's a fight, a discovery, or another twist in the expedition.

If I had one criticism, it's that I wish the book had been longer. Just when I felt completely immersed in Noah's adventure, I found myself reaching the final pages. That's probably the best compliment I can give it, I simply wanted more.

Overall, Fire in the Tall Grass is a fun, old-school adventure that knows exactly what it wants to be. It doesn't try to reinvent the genre; it embraces everything that makes classic pulp adventures so enjoyable. I'm already looking forward to Noah Redford's next adventure.

[Nate Granzow]

Love the author's intent with this. It hits on many of the tropes I grew up loving about the turn-of-the-century pulp adventure genre. That said, a few quibbles that pulled me out of the story at times.

1) Lots of head-hopping/abrupt perspective shifts within the same chapter.
2) The narrative moves along quickly, though sometimes at too heady a clip to build adequate investment from this reader.
3) Antagonists were cardboard cutouts, and those that showed potential for some complexity were hurriedly introduced and summarily defeated. In the case of the elite Italian WWI veteran, there was no explanation of what he was doing there, how he knew about the protagonist's mission, or what his motivations were.
4) A few clusters of errors that a good line editor should have caught before publication.

That said, it's still an enjoyable, riotous, fast-paced read that was well worth the modest price of admission.

[Ryan Pote]

L.S. Goozdich’s Fire in the Tall Grass is a blazing triumph, igniting the senses with vivid prose and raw emotion akin to Louis L'Amour. The narrative scorches through a rugged landscape, where survival and vengeance fuel a relentless pace. Goozdich crafts characters like wildfires—unpredictable, fierce, and unforgettable. The tension crackles like dry brush, pulling you into a story that’s as brutal as it is beautiful. With a voice that roars and whispers in equal measure, this novel is a literary inferno, leaving you breathless and craving more. A must-read for thrill-seekers and word-lovers alike!

[R.]

​Style & Craft: 2/5

​Narrative Drive: 2/5

​Structure & Execution: 3/5

​Resonance & Impact: 2/5

​Value & Impression: 2/5

​Overall Rating: 2.2 Stars

I love the idea of more books in the Indiana Jones genre and style so that hooked me for a good $0.99 novella. That said, I wasn't super impressed.

The dialogue was a bit rough and hokey in the back and forth.

Noah was supposed to be a good guy but had no problem basically stealing from a guy and then murdering him and his guards when they attempted to stop him. Now, the guy was shady, but you can't go around murdering every shady scumbag.

[Flyn O'Brien]

So I’m gonna be honest, I went into this thinking it was gonna be a lot cooler, then I opened it up and realized it was meant for young boys in grade school or middle school. Slightly disappointed by that however I will also admit that it was a cool story and had some pretty kick ass action scenes. I wish it was a tad longer to be able to flesh more things out as it throws a ton at you one thing after that other in a way that you get very little time to absorb the new enemy or event that shows up before it’s gone and replaced by something new. Still overall fun read and I’ll gladly hold on to share with my future kids. Solid book for your young sons if you have any.

[Paul Duncanson]

A high tempo Indiana jones style adventure
The traditionally masculine man created to be a moral example to children, I think the cherry on top is that his wife is a librarian. Great choice
“My wife has been living with a stranger ever since I came back from the war”
The book is very quick, there will be the next scene and you expect they will walk there or talk about it, but it simply begins and it leaves you thinking “oh wow we are already there” it’s not inherently bad but it was a little odd

[McCorquodale]

As a longtime fan of adventure novels—from Sabatini’s ‘Captain Blood’ to childhood Hardy Boys, and more recently African adventures—this book fits that lineage. It’s concise, moves swiftly, and I’d say it’s ideal for an older adolescent or young teen boy. While it’s not highly sophisticated, it values manly virtues in a way that stands apart from today’s often overly critical approach to men’s adventure. I’d happily read more in a series like this.

[Reese]

Entertaining for what it was. Honestly, I doubt the author intended it to be anything more than just a fun adventure novel. It did mostly what it set out to do which was to entertain. Yes, it lacked substance and it was pretty cheesy in areas. Dripping with machismo just for the name of the game. The plot moved so quick in areas that it didn’t allow the story or characters to fully flesh out. I enjoyed it for a quick 128 page weekend story. I wouldn’t recommend for anyone over the age of 18.

[Adam Budris]

As someone who thrived on Indiana Jones as a kid, this novella had it all for a rip-roaring action-adventure. That being said, I found this more spectacle than substance. Noah's very static, and while the story had crazy awesome ingredients, the plot crammed in way too much, way too quickly. But it was a fun ride. It definitely scratched my action-adventure itch, and it reminds me that itch is still there.

[Tyler Thornton]

Exactly what I expected, adventure and thrill and danger and a strong badass Indiana Jones type hero. I was a quick read which I enjoyed but I think I would have liked a little more depth and story to it but overall a very good cut and dry adventure! Noah Redford is the man’s man men want to be and I am here for it

[Lizzie Jane]

Fun & fast paced

Fun, fast paced adventure. I read this in about an hour or less. I wouldn't have minded it being expanded a bit and being filled out more. There was something about it that I liked, a simple old fashioned adventure story.

[Keller (Author Charles Hack) Hackbusch]

Great stuff! This is an entertaining and exciting book with all the good Indiana Jones vibes. My only complaint is that it was so short. Highly recommended.

[Lucas]

In Modern Family there is a scene where Jay Pritchett is attempting to write a novel. This novel is like if he had continued that notion into an Indiana Jones style. The plot was nonsensical but I respect the attempt to generate a main character with aspirational qualities and there were a few (albeit somewhat forced) attempts to fit proverbs into the story/dialogue.

[TD Bauer]

I was hoping for more, as the marketin around this book and other stories by the author truck a note with me. But it was just okay... maybe less than that.

[Josh T]

Pretty basic not great but fun and pulpy. Read an Allister McClain book instead