What do you think?
Rate this book
Biker #1
Biker: Bad Road Rising Book 1
Josh Pratt is an ex-con turned private investigator. Ginger Munz, a woman dying of cancer hires him to find the son she lost as a baby. The child’s father is a sadistic sociopath named Moon who has vowed to kill her, and Josh’s girlfriend Cass, for ratting him out. The trail leads to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and west into a no-man’s land where Josh learns the monstrous fate of the stolen child.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2013
199 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 29, 2019
Oh my God!
WTH!
One of the best compliments you can give to a writer of a book is that you could not put the book down. I had to sleep, eat and go to work, but other than that I was devouring this TASTY work of fiction from WAY COOL writer Mike Baron.
I know Baron from his outstanding work with comic books, particularly his creation of Badger, which had a long run in First Comics from 1983 until 1991, The Flash in the late 80s and various other titles. In that medium, he was able to convey an action story with complicated emotional detail and strong characterization.
Here, without illustrations, he is able to put together an action oriented and fast moving, tightly wound narrative that still has better than average dialogue and three dimensions. I compared this to Lee Childs Jack Reacher books, which are fun, but can be as two dimensional as a cardboard cutout. Baron’s protagonist is as complex as anyone you’d meet at an AA meeting or standing outside the probation office.
Actually, I thought about Baron’s martial artist hero Badger frequently as I read. His hero here, Josh Pratt, is an ex-con private investigator who is as comfortable amidst the Sturgis bike week crowd as he is at his pastor’s house, having embraced Christianity while in prison. Baron maintains a dramatic tension throughout with a tough population of players and not just a little mental instability.
Pratt is hired to find a missing child and his quest lands him sideways of a biker gang with some very unexpected twists in the road.
Great fun and I’ll read more from Baron.
WTH!
One of the best compliments you can give to a writer of a book is that you could not put the book down. I had to sleep, eat and go to work, but other than that I was devouring this TASTY work of fiction from WAY COOL writer Mike Baron.
I know Baron from his outstanding work with comic books, particularly his creation of Badger, which had a long run in First Comics from 1983 until 1991, The Flash in the late 80s and various other titles. In that medium, he was able to convey an action story with complicated emotional detail and strong characterization.
Here, without illustrations, he is able to put together an action oriented and fast moving, tightly wound narrative that still has better than average dialogue and three dimensions. I compared this to Lee Childs Jack Reacher books, which are fun, but can be as two dimensional as a cardboard cutout. Baron’s protagonist is as complex as anyone you’d meet at an AA meeting or standing outside the probation office.
Actually, I thought about Baron’s martial artist hero Badger frequently as I read. His hero here, Josh Pratt, is an ex-con private investigator who is as comfortable amidst the Sturgis bike week crowd as he is at his pastor’s house, having embraced Christianity while in prison. Baron maintains a dramatic tension throughout with a tough population of players and not just a little mental instability.
Pratt is hired to find a missing child and his quest lands him sideways of a biker gang with some very unexpected twists in the road.
Great fun and I’ll read more from Baron.
October 31, 2019
Josh Pratt - ex-con turned private investigator - is trying to stay squeaky clean. He is also trying to find a missing child.
A crazy rollicking ride.....
This book is sooooooo out of the box for me.
I’ve zero interest in motorcycles- bike gangs - and or crime culture with a bunch of knuckleheads with names like Taco...
But....
the soft side of our protagonist - Josh Pratt- against the biker Aztec Skull gang ...
along with his sweet spot for Ginger...
in her pink terry cloth robe -girlfriend pizzazz- flipping eggs...
was actually fun-page entertaining!
Not without violence - and killings - but beneath the black biker boots, black jeans, and black muscle shirts...a little love is found!
Once a year - I try to pick a very ‘dude’ type book .... this did the trick!
Happy Trick & Treats 🎃👻
3.5 rating... Fun! I might read more in the series! 🏍🏋️♂️💰💕
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
A crazy rollicking ride.....
This book is sooooooo out of the box for me.
I’ve zero interest in motorcycles- bike gangs - and or crime culture with a bunch of knuckleheads with names like Taco...
But....
the soft side of our protagonist - Josh Pratt- against the biker Aztec Skull gang ...
along with his sweet spot for Ginger...
in her pink terry cloth robe -girlfriend pizzazz- flipping eggs...
was actually fun-page entertaining!
Not without violence - and killings - but beneath the black biker boots, black jeans, and black muscle shirts...a little love is found!
Once a year - I try to pick a very ‘dude’ type book .... this did the trick!
Happy Trick & Treats 🎃👻
3.5 rating... Fun! I might read more in the series! 🏍🏋️♂️💰💕
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
December 19, 2022
A former outlaw biker, having found Jesus in prison, is now a PI. He gets into some bottom of the barrel scrapes, and that's before heading to the Sturgis Biker Rally to find a missing person.
Sort of Lansdale-esque. Entertaining, yet sickening.
Sort of Lansdale-esque. Entertaining, yet sickening.
May 19, 2018
A Very Christian Book
When you buy a book with a biker hero, you expect a dark time about a cynical outlaw doing outlaw things and maybe a bad guy getting his due. Josh Pratt, however, owes his freedom to his belief in Jesus, and his faith is not an artifact or an excuse: he Carrie's it with him everywhere. He is a deeply flawed man and he knows it, which is exactly what a Christian should be. The book gains warmth from a number of believable characters who are also decent people. The bad guys are truly awful and there are some parts that have me nightmares. But Baron's prose is riveting and his book is full of hope. Highly recommended.
When you buy a book with a biker hero, you expect a dark time about a cynical outlaw doing outlaw things and maybe a bad guy getting his due. Josh Pratt, however, owes his freedom to his belief in Jesus, and his faith is not an artifact or an excuse: he Carrie's it with him everywhere. He is a deeply flawed man and he knows it, which is exactly what a Christian should be. The book gains warmth from a number of believable characters who are also decent people. The bad guys are truly awful and there are some parts that have me nightmares. But Baron's prose is riveting and his book is full of hope. Highly recommended.
July 14, 2019
Absolutely fantastic story. Great suspense and more. You never know what to expect with the different characters and plot.
October 15, 2019
Biker Roars Off with a Bang
This story combines amazing imagination with excellent characters and descriptions that put the reader in the driver's seat. The story itself is excellent, and the descriptions of the Sturgis rally are spot on and amazingly detailed. My biker days are behind me, but this book took me back to a great time in my life. I was never one of these characters, but I have met them all. What a great book!
This story combines amazing imagination with excellent characters and descriptions that put the reader in the driver's seat. The story itself is excellent, and the descriptions of the Sturgis rally are spot on and amazingly detailed. My biker days are behind me, but this book took me back to a great time in my life. I was never one of these characters, but I have met them all. What a great book!
November 28, 2018
Excellent book!
It was very hard to put this book down! The juxtaposition of biker, man who quotes the Bible, womanizer; and private investigator was fascinating, if sometimes jarring.
I’m going to read the rest of this series, starting today!
It was very hard to put this book down! The juxtaposition of biker, man who quotes the Bible, womanizer; and private investigator was fascinating, if sometimes jarring.
I’m going to read the rest of this series, starting today!
December 4, 2018
With his lean, mean, and tight storytelling, Mike Baron is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers!
January 15, 2023
Better than I hoped for
This is an excellent book. When it comes to biker fiction it's either hit or miss with no middle ground: and this one is a hit. The main character is very likable and his character development through the story is well written. The supporting characters are written just as well. The story takes place mostly in Wisconsin which is where I live so I love reading about places that I know. The rest is at Sturgis and that's where the story really takes off. To me the story has an Old West vibe to it. The good guys are good but flawed, and the bad guys are really freaking bad. Kinda like a Peter Brandvold novel which he mentions in the book. Now I'm off to start reading number two. You should read number one. You'll be glad that you did.
This is an excellent book. When it comes to biker fiction it's either hit or miss with no middle ground: and this one is a hit. The main character is very likable and his character development through the story is well written. The supporting characters are written just as well. The story takes place mostly in Wisconsin which is where I live so I love reading about places that I know. The rest is at Sturgis and that's where the story really takes off. To me the story has an Old West vibe to it. The good guys are good but flawed, and the bad guys are really freaking bad. Kinda like a Peter Brandvold novel which he mentions in the book. Now I'm off to start reading number two. You should read number one. You'll be glad that you did.
June 29, 2022
Josh Pratt is a former biker who finds Christ while in prison and is now trying to turn his life around by becoming a private investigator. His first "Real" case is finding boy abducted by his father , 16 years after the abduction.
This book had the same vibe as a Steven Seagal film. A lot of bang bang, punch punch,, vroom vroom and fuck fuck. All in a good way. The Protagonist reminds me of a Steven Seagal role and the Antagonists is one of the best and fucked up bad guys, I've found in a book in a loooonnnng time. Supporting characters are solid and I have high hopes for the rest of this series
This book had the same vibe as a Steven Seagal film. A lot of bang bang, punch punch,, vroom vroom and fuck fuck. All in a good way. The Protagonist reminds me of a Steven Seagal role and the Antagonists is one of the best and fucked up bad guys, I've found in a book in a loooonnnng time. Supporting characters are solid and I have high hopes for the rest of this series
May 25, 2021
Awesome read
This concludes the Biker series for me having started with Biker 8 and gone backwards in order. I especially enjoyed this one, since I live twenty minutes from Sturgis , just outside of Desdwood. I enjoy your works as it seems you write them with a shared appreciation of our similarities of experience. Can’t wait for latest endeavor after Catfish Calling. I’m definitely hooked!
This concludes the Biker series for me having started with Biker 8 and gone backwards in order. I especially enjoyed this one, since I live twenty minutes from Sturgis , just outside of Desdwood. I enjoy your works as it seems you write them with a shared appreciation of our similarities of experience. Can’t wait for latest endeavor after Catfish Calling. I’m definitely hooked!
September 25, 2024
It started off good but ultimately fell flat. I really liked the descriptions of the environment, as well as the part where Pratt discovers the villain’s hideout. From the halfway point onwards, however, the story became quite dull and uninteresting despite the constant sense of tension throughout it. I feel as if the plot was quite unfocused, with characters constantly taking detours that seemed more like filler than anything else.
June 28, 2019
A Rich Mixture of All the Best Entertainment!
For fellow readers who enjoy the height of entertainment encompassing horror, evil, love and lust, cruelty and sensitive all mixed throughout a highly entertaining read, Mike Baron sets the benchmark!
For fellow readers who enjoy the height of entertainment encompassing horror, evil, love and lust, cruelty and sensitive all mixed throughout a highly entertaining read, Mike Baron sets the benchmark!
October 15, 2020
Hard boiled biker noir
This is the first in the series I have read and I guarantee it won’t be the last. It is hardboiled, action noir. It has a thrill a minute but is filled with soul and redemption. Josh Pratt is an unforgettable hero.
This is the first in the series I have read and I guarantee it won’t be the last. It is hardboiled, action noir. It has a thrill a minute but is filled with soul and redemption. Josh Pratt is an unforgettable hero.
May 17, 2022
Great story
I wasn’t too sure what this story would be about but I thought why not? I am glad I did. Sporadic clashes in the book but not as much as I thought there would be. Some investigation and a bit of love.
I wasn’t too sure what this story would be about but I thought why not? I am glad I did. Sporadic clashes in the book but not as much as I thought there would be. Some investigation and a bit of love.
November 6, 2022
Exciting
With parts a little hard to believe... but a fun read anyway...a very interesting character makes the story that much more compelling
With parts a little hard to believe... but a fun read anyway...a very interesting character makes the story that much more compelling
June 7, 2013
I met Mr. Baron at Comic Con, Denver this year. Well known for his comic book and graphic novel work in the past (Nexus, Badger, The Punisher and many more) I wasn't sure what to expect with this author's foray into traditional novels.
After a lively conversation, Mr. Baron sized me up and recommended I start with Biker, which I happily picked up. I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was very pleasantly surprised.
Baron works his characters well, infusing them with plenty of humanity along with noble, ignoble, and sometimes downright base motivations. He carries the spectacular characteristics of the traditional comic book world into printed novels very well indeed, striking just the right level of the fantastic for mainstream reading. His work is very visual, as one might expect, and the action scenes are much more plausible than most offerings I have read recently.
In short, Mr. Baron takes us on a short, wild ride that had me perusing his other offerings as soon as I had finished the first. I expect I'll be reading all of Baron's novels. And soon.
I highly recommend Mike Baron to lovers of Dean Koonts, and anyone who has enjoyed comic books and/or thrillers. This is good stuff.
After a lively conversation, Mr. Baron sized me up and recommended I start with Biker, which I happily picked up. I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was very pleasantly surprised.
Baron works his characters well, infusing them with plenty of humanity along with noble, ignoble, and sometimes downright base motivations. He carries the spectacular characteristics of the traditional comic book world into printed novels very well indeed, striking just the right level of the fantastic for mainstream reading. His work is very visual, as one might expect, and the action scenes are much more plausible than most offerings I have read recently.
In short, Mr. Baron takes us on a short, wild ride that had me perusing his other offerings as soon as I had finished the first. I expect I'll be reading all of Baron's novels. And soon.
I highly recommend Mike Baron to lovers of Dean Koonts, and anyone who has enjoyed comic books and/or thrillers. This is good stuff.
February 6, 2017
Biker is Mike Baron's gritty tale of Josh Pratt, a private detective and ex-con in Wisconsin who gets caught up in solving mysteries for money. This time, his biker life, which led him to prison, serves him well since he still maintains those connections and needs to penetrate a biker gang to solve the crime. Baron takes his readers on a fun ride, and he resolves his stories in a way that is always satisfying to his readers.
September 2, 2019
Exciting
I enjoyed this book in much the way I enjoy the Levon Cade series. It’s fast packed with plenty of action and ass kicking. I took a star off for the bad formatting in the Kindle version. I’ve seen worse but it still bothers me when -‘s are in the middle of a sentence
and paragraphs are awk-wardly spaced.
The main character Josh Pratt is interesting and although he’s found Jesus I’m not sure if Jesus has found him.
The pacing in the action scenes are well-done. I think another round of editing would’ve made it a better book. I will probably read the second one to follow character development.
I enjoyed this book in much the way I enjoy the Levon Cade series. It’s fast packed with plenty of action and ass kicking. I took a star off for the bad formatting in the Kindle version. I’ve seen worse but it still bothers me when -‘s are in the middle of a sentence
and paragraphs are awk-wardly spaced.
The main character Josh Pratt is interesting and although he’s found Jesus I’m not sure if Jesus has found him.
The pacing in the action scenes are well-done. I think another round of editing would’ve made it a better book. I will probably read the second one to follow character development.
July 22, 2019
It's a good one !
I'd never heard of Mike Baron, I have now ! I'm so impressed with his writing and this has been a real page turner. Pratt tries so hard to be good, you just keep rooting for him . This book contains a bit of everything including some surprises. Pratt turns out to be a good PI and now I'm on to # 2. A BIG ps ....I love the way Mr. Baron has Pratt leaning on God in his book! GOD BLESS💞 ....pat....
I'd never heard of Mike Baron, I have now ! I'm so impressed with his writing and this has been a real page turner. Pratt tries so hard to be good, you just keep rooting for him . This book contains a bit of everything including some surprises. Pratt turns out to be a good PI and now I'm on to # 2. A BIG ps ....I love the way Mr. Baron has Pratt leaning on God in his book! GOD BLESS💞 ....pat....
April 17, 2015
I have been a fan of Mike Baron since the Capital Comics days with Badger and Nexus, and this novel did not disappoint. This was one full-throttle story that I had trouble putting down. The protagonist, Josh Pratt, is a great character, and I hope we see him again. Loved the surprise cameo on the last page, too.
September 2, 2019
Surprisingly decent book
Definitely not for everyone, however it is a well written story. Very good character development, great understanding of his target audience. I look forward to next book in series, thank you.
Definitely not for everyone, however it is a well written story. Very good character development, great understanding of his target audience. I look forward to next book in series, thank you.
April 27, 2023
Mr. Baron is an outstanding writer. I highly recommend reading his stuff. My first reading experience with Mr. Baron was back in the late and early 90s. His comic book creation NEXUS is what got me hooked to his scribbling.
October 30, 2019
Interesting read.
It was interesting but I feel a little far fetched. I might read another by Mr. Baron but am not sure.
It was interesting but I feel a little far fetched. I might read another by Mr. Baron but am not sure.
Read
February 16, 2024DNF
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews