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The Rush
In this riveting psychological thriller—perfect for fans of Jane Harper’s The Survivors and Erica Ferencik’s Into the Jungle—a ferocious storm in the Australian Outback sets the stage for betrayal and murder.
With a massive downpour and flash floods predicted, Quinn Durand leaves work and races for the safety of home. The first drops start to fall as she spots something strange on the familiar bush route. With no reception and nothing but an empty road for miles in either direction, she investigates and discovers it’s a body, dumped by the side of the road. When she approaches to check for signs of life, an arm reaches out and grabs her.
Back at the country pub where Quinn lives, her boss Andrea has prepared for the torrential downpour. She's bunkered down with her toddler son sleeping in the back room when she’s startled by a banging at the door. It's a biker, seeking shelter from the punishing storm.
Meanwhile, out on the roads, two young couples on their way across the country struggle against the lashing rains. Tensions rise as they realize that they don’t really know each other, nor are they remotely prepared for the storm. Alone, angry, and afraid in unfamiliar surroundings, flooding isn’t the only threat bearing down on them.
Chilling, tense, and twisted, this multi-POV popcorn thriller is “compelling and explosive; you won’t be able to put this book down” (Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town).
With a massive downpour and flash floods predicted, Quinn Durand leaves work and races for the safety of home. The first drops start to fall as she spots something strange on the familiar bush route. With no reception and nothing but an empty road for miles in either direction, she investigates and discovers it’s a body, dumped by the side of the road. When she approaches to check for signs of life, an arm reaches out and grabs her.
Back at the country pub where Quinn lives, her boss Andrea has prepared for the torrential downpour. She's bunkered down with her toddler son sleeping in the back room when she’s startled by a banging at the door. It's a biker, seeking shelter from the punishing storm.
Meanwhile, out on the roads, two young couples on their way across the country struggle against the lashing rains. Tensions rise as they realize that they don’t really know each other, nor are they remotely prepared for the storm. Alone, angry, and afraid in unfamiliar surroundings, flooding isn’t the only threat bearing down on them.
Chilling, tense, and twisted, this multi-POV popcorn thriller is “compelling and explosive; you won’t be able to put this book down” (Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town).
Audible Audio
First published May 23, 2023
About the author
Michelle Prak
4 books125 followersMichelle Prak's debut thriller THE RUSH is out now with Simon & Schuster ANZ; with Crooked Lane Books (US); and with HarperCollins France as LE DELUGE.
It's a road trip thrill ride that takes place over two frantic days.
THE RUSH was voted into Better Reading's annual Top 100 reads (2024).
Between 2019 and 2020, Michelle self-published three women's contemporary novels. Now she's turned to the thriller genre and hopes fans will follow along.
Long before Michelle began writing professionally she was a reader and continues to share on Goodreads.
If you don't want to miss any Michelle Prak news, you can:
Like her Facebook page:
facebook.com/michelleprakauthor
Follow her on Twitter: twitter.com/prakky or Instagram: instagram.com/prakky
Follow her on TikTok: tiktok.com/michelleprakauthor
Subscribe to her newsletter via her website, www.michelleprak.com
For more, please visit:
www.michelleprak.com
It's a road trip thrill ride that takes place over two frantic days.
THE RUSH was voted into Better Reading's annual Top 100 reads (2024).
Between 2019 and 2020, Michelle self-published three women's contemporary novels. Now she's turned to the thriller genre and hopes fans will follow along.
Long before Michelle began writing professionally she was a reader and continues to share on Goodreads.
If you don't want to miss any Michelle Prak news, you can:
Like her Facebook page:
facebook.com/michelleprakauthor
Follow her on Twitter: twitter.com/prakky or Instagram: instagram.com/prakky
Follow her on TikTok: tiktok.com/michelleprakauthor
Subscribe to her newsletter via her website, www.michelleprak.com
For more, please visit:
www.michelleprak.com
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 321 reviews
May 11, 2023
As I removed this book from its packaging, I suddenly stopped, held it away from me.
“Oh no,” I sighed. “Something must have leaked.”
And then I realised – it’s just an amazing cover, complete with water and rain effects due to the story being set in a storm!
Nicely played, Simon and Schuster.
The Rush follows multiple characters. Quinn, an employee of remote country pub, The Pindarry, discovers a body on the road – just as rain starts falling. Back at the pub, Andrea and Matt are busy sandbagging in preparation for floods. Matt is called away to help a neighbour, leaving Andrea alone with her sleeping son – and a sketchy biker who doesn’t want to leave. Meanwhile, a group of backpackers embark on a road trip to Darwin - but things soon turn sour for Scott, Hayley, Livia and Joost.
Michelle Prak made me feel every bit of the isolation and desolate landscape of outback Australia. This is an unrelenting page-turner with ominous vibes. As storylines collide, the storm adds to the hostile atmosphere and setting.
“She picks up the lantern and begins checking the pub windows are closed, as if the storm might try to break in.”
At times it felt like Wolf Creek meets Bogart film, Key Largo – but for a social media generation. The female characters of Andrea, Quinn, Livia, and Hayley were particularly well-written; each given remarkable back stories that brought them alive. They were strong, resilient individuals. The Pindarry was a solid character itself – a refuge from the storm? Maybe. Maybe not.
“The Pindarry appears a ridiculous, flimsy old building, with its tacked-on rooms and various entry points. What protection does it really offer? They are miles from anywhere and prey to whoever wants to burst in.”
The Rush plays into our greatest fears – some characters made my skin crawl and filled me with unease. I won’t be going anywhere without phone signal anytime soon!
Despite finding it hard to put down, I was frustrated by character decisions. The characterisation felt inconsistent, and the plot relied heavily on this. One instance effectively meant the death of a character; while another meant I had suspicions of a twist with 200 pages remaining. Sometimes this caused me to disconnect from the story.
Frustrations aside, The Rush is highly readable and touches on important themes like misogyny, climate change, and rural mental health. It’s a roller coaster sure to get adrenaline pumping; with twists, red herrings, and even a lovable dog named Bronte.
If you’re after a fast-paced read, with satisfying ending, and willing to look past inconsistencies, then this could be for you.
“The outback is just as scary as it is in horror movies.”
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia for a copy of this book.
“Oh no,” I sighed. “Something must have leaked.”
And then I realised – it’s just an amazing cover, complete with water and rain effects due to the story being set in a storm!
Nicely played, Simon and Schuster.
The Rush follows multiple characters. Quinn, an employee of remote country pub, The Pindarry, discovers a body on the road – just as rain starts falling. Back at the pub, Andrea and Matt are busy sandbagging in preparation for floods. Matt is called away to help a neighbour, leaving Andrea alone with her sleeping son – and a sketchy biker who doesn’t want to leave. Meanwhile, a group of backpackers embark on a road trip to Darwin - but things soon turn sour for Scott, Hayley, Livia and Joost.
Michelle Prak made me feel every bit of the isolation and desolate landscape of outback Australia. This is an unrelenting page-turner with ominous vibes. As storylines collide, the storm adds to the hostile atmosphere and setting.
“She picks up the lantern and begins checking the pub windows are closed, as if the storm might try to break in.”
At times it felt like Wolf Creek meets Bogart film, Key Largo – but for a social media generation. The female characters of Andrea, Quinn, Livia, and Hayley were particularly well-written; each given remarkable back stories that brought them alive. They were strong, resilient individuals. The Pindarry was a solid character itself – a refuge from the storm? Maybe. Maybe not.
“The Pindarry appears a ridiculous, flimsy old building, with its tacked-on rooms and various entry points. What protection does it really offer? They are miles from anywhere and prey to whoever wants to burst in.”
The Rush plays into our greatest fears – some characters made my skin crawl and filled me with unease. I won’t be going anywhere without phone signal anytime soon!
Despite finding it hard to put down, I was frustrated by character decisions. The characterisation felt inconsistent, and the plot relied heavily on this. One instance effectively meant the death of a character; while another meant I had suspicions of a twist with 200 pages remaining. Sometimes this caused me to disconnect from the story.
Frustrations aside, The Rush is highly readable and touches on important themes like misogyny, climate change, and rural mental health. It’s a roller coaster sure to get adrenaline pumping; with twists, red herrings, and even a lovable dog named Bronte.
If you’re after a fast-paced read, with satisfying ending, and willing to look past inconsistencies, then this could be for you.
“The outback is just as scary as it is in horror movies.”
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia for a copy of this book.
April 9, 2024
WOW!!
This author’s first THRILLER is…
Terrifying!
For me, there is nothing more terrifying than “monsters” in human form, and Michelle Prak was relentless at preying on the many things that women fear most, in this FAST PACED adrenaline thriller set in the remote Australian Outback.
The story takes place over a 48 hours span, alternating back and forth in time, and between three narratives which eventually merge.
A rare February storm is coming and nobody knows better than Quinn how overpowering and deadly rain can be, because as a child, she witnessed a similar storm take down her father’s livestock and wash away everything in its path.
The first drops start to fall when Quinn spies a body in the road. She has already lost reception so she cannot call for help, and she feels obligated to stop.
Back at the Pindarry, the remote country pub where Quinn works, Andrea and Matt have begun sandbagging the place in preparation for heavy rains, when Matt is called to help a neighbor with flooding.
Alone with her sleeping three year old son in the back room, Andea reluctantly lets a biker in to wait out the storm, feeling obligated to do so, despite having reservations about him.
And, out on the wet roads, tensions are rising between four backpackers on their way to Darwin. Hayley and her boyfriend Scott, are on break from University and they have invited two others to join them on a road trip to share expenses. But, what do they really know about Joost and Livia?
They never expected to hit bad weather, but if they can just make it to the Pindarry, they will have a place to shelter in until the worst of the storm has passed.
The storm provides a menacing atmosphere, and the tension is PALPABLE! My heart was in my throat and if this were a movie on the big screen I would have been on the edge of my seat!
Worrying about Quinn’s loyal dog Bronte, added to my anxiety (thankfully she escapes unscathed!)
Don’t pick this up late at night if you plan on getting any sleep-the quick chapters had me saying “just one more” and before I knew it, it was way past my bedtime!
AVAILABLE NOW
This is an adrenaline thriller you won’t want to miss!!
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
Thank You to Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
This author’s first THRILLER is…
Terrifying!
For me, there is nothing more terrifying than “monsters” in human form, and Michelle Prak was relentless at preying on the many things that women fear most, in this FAST PACED adrenaline thriller set in the remote Australian Outback.
The story takes place over a 48 hours span, alternating back and forth in time, and between three narratives which eventually merge.
A rare February storm is coming and nobody knows better than Quinn how overpowering and deadly rain can be, because as a child, she witnessed a similar storm take down her father’s livestock and wash away everything in its path.
The first drops start to fall when Quinn spies a body in the road. She has already lost reception so she cannot call for help, and she feels obligated to stop.
Back at the Pindarry, the remote country pub where Quinn works, Andrea and Matt have begun sandbagging the place in preparation for heavy rains, when Matt is called to help a neighbor with flooding.
Alone with her sleeping three year old son in the back room, Andea reluctantly lets a biker in to wait out the storm, feeling obligated to do so, despite having reservations about him.
And, out on the wet roads, tensions are rising between four backpackers on their way to Darwin. Hayley and her boyfriend Scott, are on break from University and they have invited two others to join them on a road trip to share expenses. But, what do they really know about Joost and Livia?
They never expected to hit bad weather, but if they can just make it to the Pindarry, they will have a place to shelter in until the worst of the storm has passed.
The storm provides a menacing atmosphere, and the tension is PALPABLE! My heart was in my throat and if this were a movie on the big screen I would have been on the edge of my seat!
Worrying about Quinn’s loyal dog Bronte, added to my anxiety (thankfully she escapes unscathed!)
Don’t pick this up late at night if you plan on getting any sleep-the quick chapters had me saying “just one more” and before I knew it, it was way past my bedtime!
AVAILABLE NOW
This is an adrenaline thriller you won’t want to miss!!
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
Thank You to Crooked Lane Books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
June 14, 2023
4★
“Quinn and this man are the only two people for miles around. Whoever this is, wherever he came from, he needs medical attention, urgently. Then his arm flings up and a cold hand clutches Quinn’s wrist.”
Shudder! For some reason, I have always found that scenario terrifying - an unconscious person suddenly leaping back to life and on the attack. I’m sure it comes from the classic Audrey Hepburn movie “Wait Until Dark”, which if you’ve never seen, do!
That’s from the prologue, and we are told it is Tuesday 7 February 6pm. Before each chapter is the name of a character the day, the date, and the time.
Quinn’s encounter happened during a torrential downpour on a remote road, and Quinn was already nervous about having misjudged her timing to get back to the outback pub where she lived and worked. But people in rural and regional areas know that there may not be another vehicle for a long time, especially when a storm has been forecast.
The main characters are a couple, Hayley and Scott, students in Adelaide, South Australia, who decide to drive from Adelaide straight north to Darwin, camping along the way. Hayley has felt things are stale – Scott is gaming on his computer all the time and ignoring her. She hopes getting out beyond wi-fi and mobile coverage will encourage him to focus on her, on them.
“This drive from Adelaide to Darwin wasn’t the most exotic choice, it was one of the cheapest. And Hayley hopes it will help assuage her guilt at not having seen much of her own country. She’s tired of hearing international students’ travel stories in class and not being a part of it. It took several dedicated months to convince Scott it was the perfect time for a road trip.
‘When we graduate and get jobs, we’ll only have four weeks’ holiday a year,’ she’d said. ‘That’s not much.’
‘Gee, thanks for the reminder,’ Scott said.
‘C’mon, a road trip will be fun.’
‘We don’t have the money.’
‘It’s not expensive! We don’t need hotels, we just need a tent.’
‘You’re forgetting the biggest cost.’
‘What?’
‘Fuel.’
‘We can get a few others to drive with us, share the cost.’
Scott made the same tart expression he always did when Hayley suggested anything new. ‘I guess we could do that, but who are we going to invite? Everyone we know is either busy or I wouldn’t want to be stuck in a car with them.’
‘Let’s advertise on a travel website or forum or something.’
‘That’s how you meet serial killers.’
Hayley had slapped his arm. ‘Stop it! I’m being serious. I wanna do this.’”
You can see what a bundle of fun Scott is (not). But they find an attractive Brazilian environmental campaigner, Livia, and a tall, skinny Dutch guy with very good manners and a kind of warped sense of humour.
But back to Quinn. She’s a young woman from a remote cattle property that went bust during the drought, and she’s now in charge of emptying the house before it’s sold. Meanwhile, she lives and works at the Pindarry, a roadside ‘hotel’ with rough cabins and a campground. Tourists stop for insta-worthy photos, and it’s the local pub for the region.
Its young owners, Matt and Andrea, with a three-year-old son, run the place with only Quinn for help. Chapters move between the road trip and the Pindarry, beginning in extreme dry heat and shifting to the torrential rain we are told is coming from the prologue.
When Andrea is stuck alone at the Pindarry (Matt's away, helping a neighbour), a motorcycle gang arrives - just as the storm is beginning to threaten - and where is that Quinn? Still not back?!
“Bikes rev again and Andrea wraps her arms around herself. The engines crescendo and several riders appear at the window’s edges.”
There were a few times where I felt I had to suspend disbelief, but I just kept going and enjoyed the terrifying ride. I think most readers will do likewise, and I’m not going to spoil anyone’s fun by saying what they are here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the copy for review.
“Quinn and this man are the only two people for miles around. Whoever this is, wherever he came from, he needs medical attention, urgently. Then his arm flings up and a cold hand clutches Quinn’s wrist.”
Shudder! For some reason, I have always found that scenario terrifying - an unconscious person suddenly leaping back to life and on the attack. I’m sure it comes from the classic Audrey Hepburn movie “Wait Until Dark”, which if you’ve never seen, do!
That’s from the prologue, and we are told it is Tuesday 7 February 6pm. Before each chapter is the name of a character the day, the date, and the time.
Quinn’s encounter happened during a torrential downpour on a remote road, and Quinn was already nervous about having misjudged her timing to get back to the outback pub where she lived and worked. But people in rural and regional areas know that there may not be another vehicle for a long time, especially when a storm has been forecast.
The main characters are a couple, Hayley and Scott, students in Adelaide, South Australia, who decide to drive from Adelaide straight north to Darwin, camping along the way. Hayley has felt things are stale – Scott is gaming on his computer all the time and ignoring her. She hopes getting out beyond wi-fi and mobile coverage will encourage him to focus on her, on them.
“This drive from Adelaide to Darwin wasn’t the most exotic choice, it was one of the cheapest. And Hayley hopes it will help assuage her guilt at not having seen much of her own country. She’s tired of hearing international students’ travel stories in class and not being a part of it. It took several dedicated months to convince Scott it was the perfect time for a road trip.
‘When we graduate and get jobs, we’ll only have four weeks’ holiday a year,’ she’d said. ‘That’s not much.’
‘Gee, thanks for the reminder,’ Scott said.
‘C’mon, a road trip will be fun.’
‘We don’t have the money.’
‘It’s not expensive! We don’t need hotels, we just need a tent.’
‘You’re forgetting the biggest cost.’
‘What?’
‘Fuel.’
‘We can get a few others to drive with us, share the cost.’
Scott made the same tart expression he always did when Hayley suggested anything new. ‘I guess we could do that, but who are we going to invite? Everyone we know is either busy or I wouldn’t want to be stuck in a car with them.’
‘Let’s advertise on a travel website or forum or something.’
‘That’s how you meet serial killers.’
Hayley had slapped his arm. ‘Stop it! I’m being serious. I wanna do this.’”
You can see what a bundle of fun Scott is (not). But they find an attractive Brazilian environmental campaigner, Livia, and a tall, skinny Dutch guy with very good manners and a kind of warped sense of humour.
But back to Quinn. She’s a young woman from a remote cattle property that went bust during the drought, and she’s now in charge of emptying the house before it’s sold. Meanwhile, she lives and works at the Pindarry, a roadside ‘hotel’ with rough cabins and a campground. Tourists stop for insta-worthy photos, and it’s the local pub for the region.
Its young owners, Matt and Andrea, with a three-year-old son, run the place with only Quinn for help. Chapters move between the road trip and the Pindarry, beginning in extreme dry heat and shifting to the torrential rain we are told is coming from the prologue.
When Andrea is stuck alone at the Pindarry (Matt's away, helping a neighbour), a motorcycle gang arrives - just as the storm is beginning to threaten - and where is that Quinn? Still not back?!
“Bikes rev again and Andrea wraps her arms around herself. The engines crescendo and several riders appear at the window’s edges.”
There were a few times where I felt I had to suspend disbelief, but I just kept going and enjoyed the terrifying ride. I think most readers will do likewise, and I’m not going to spoil anyone’s fun by saying what they are here.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the copy for review.
April 28, 2023
The Pindarry was a country pub, isolated in the vast Australian outback of the Northern Territory, a place where tourists flocked in the dry months, but stayed away in the wet. Andrea, her husband Matt and three year old son Ethan lived in and ran the pub, with Quinn working and living on site. Quinn's family farm was an hour away and she was trying to prepare it for sale. The day the rains began, Quinn and her dog, kelpie Bronte, had left the farm on the way back to The Pindarry when she spotted a body on the side of the road. Knowing she couldn't leave him, but knowing also that she couldn't lift him, she didn't know what to do...
Four young people, two who lived and went to university in Adelaide, Hannah and Scott, and two backpackers, Brazillian environmentalist Livia and Joost, an engineering student from the Netherlands, joined forces to drive in Scott's grandfather's 4WD from Adelaide to Darwin, checking out the tourist spots on the way. But none of them had taken the weather into account. Certainly, they hadn't expected the force of the flooding rains and how little their tents would protect them. With tensions rising and tempers flaring, what would be the outcome for these four, unprepared young people?
The Rush, debut thriller from Aussie author Michelle Prak is outstanding! Intense, gripping, terrifying - my heart was pounding while I was reading. The characters were perfectly written, from the scary bikie who returned to the pub, right down to little Ethan and Bronte. This compelling thriller is the best I've read since I consumed another Aussie debut - Gone to Ground - and I'm looking forward to what Ms Prak writes next. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Four young people, two who lived and went to university in Adelaide, Hannah and Scott, and two backpackers, Brazillian environmentalist Livia and Joost, an engineering student from the Netherlands, joined forces to drive in Scott's grandfather's 4WD from Adelaide to Darwin, checking out the tourist spots on the way. But none of them had taken the weather into account. Certainly, they hadn't expected the force of the flooding rains and how little their tents would protect them. With tensions rising and tempers flaring, what would be the outcome for these four, unprepared young people?
The Rush, debut thriller from Aussie author Michelle Prak is outstanding! Intense, gripping, terrifying - my heart was pounding while I was reading. The characters were perfectly written, from the scary bikie who returned to the pub, right down to little Ethan and Bronte. This compelling thriller is the best I've read since I consumed another Aussie debut - Gone to Ground - and I'm looking forward to what Ms Prak writes next. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2024
4.5🌟
Buckle up…It’s going to be a bumpy ride!
Australian couple Hayley and Scott have hit a stale patch in their relationship. Deciding they need to get away, they believe a road trip across Australia is just what they need to reignite the spark.
To help with costs and make things a bit more adventurous they find 2 other young travelers to join them. Joost from the Netherlands and Livia from Brazil.
By the way…did anyone think to check a weather report?
The storm of the century is heading their way and about to create massive flooding all along their route.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the outback, the only pub/ lodging in the area is also preparing for the storm. Running the pub, Andrea, Matt and their son live there as well. In the off season their only other help comes from Quinn, a young Australian woman. But when Matt is called away to help a neighbor it’s up to Andrea and Quinn to keep the tiny pub safe.
And the torrential rains started falling…
I loved the vividly descriptive writing, putting me right in the middle of the Australian outback. I was side-by-side with the characters trying to survive the dangers lurking in the storm.
You can feel the tension rising as the storm increases.
I had just a couples issues that kept this from being a full five-star experience.
☔️ I was frustrated with the ending, feeling it felt a bit rushed. After the huge build up I wanted more. (maybe that's just me)
☔️ Jodie Harris did a great job with the narration on the audio version. But since it was told from multiple POV’s I felt that additional narrators would have added so much more to the experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media 🎧
Buckle up…It’s going to be a bumpy ride!
Australian couple Hayley and Scott have hit a stale patch in their relationship. Deciding they need to get away, they believe a road trip across Australia is just what they need to reignite the spark.
To help with costs and make things a bit more adventurous they find 2 other young travelers to join them. Joost from the Netherlands and Livia from Brazil.
By the way…did anyone think to check a weather report?
The storm of the century is heading their way and about to create massive flooding all along their route.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the outback, the only pub/ lodging in the area is also preparing for the storm. Running the pub, Andrea, Matt and their son live there as well. In the off season their only other help comes from Quinn, a young Australian woman. But when Matt is called away to help a neighbor it’s up to Andrea and Quinn to keep the tiny pub safe.
And the torrential rains started falling…
I loved the vividly descriptive writing, putting me right in the middle of the Australian outback. I was side-by-side with the characters trying to survive the dangers lurking in the storm.
You can feel the tension rising as the storm increases.
I had just a couples issues that kept this from being a full five-star experience.
☔️ I was frustrated with the ending, feeling it felt a bit rushed. After the huge build up I wanted more. (maybe that's just me)
☔️ Jodie Harris did a great job with the narration on the audio version. But since it was told from multiple POV’s I felt that additional narrators would have added so much more to the experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media 🎧
April 12, 2024
3.5 Stars
I believe that it's best to approach this novel without knowing too much about it beforehand. So, I'll try my best to avoid spoilers and keep it vague.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, but they don't converge until the final third of the book. I should mention that the story starts off slowly, but it picks up around 44% and becomes a page-turner. However, I do wish that the pacing had been better and the ending wasn't so rushed. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable story overall. If you're interested in reading a novel featuring characters dealing with a harsh environment and some psychological thrills, then this book is definitely worth checking out.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Michelle Park, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I believe that it's best to approach this novel without knowing too much about it beforehand. So, I'll try my best to avoid spoilers and keep it vague.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, but they don't converge until the final third of the book. I should mention that the story starts off slowly, but it picks up around 44% and becomes a page-turner. However, I do wish that the pacing had been better and the ending wasn't so rushed. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable story overall. If you're interested in reading a novel featuring characters dealing with a harsh environment and some psychological thrills, then this book is definitely worth checking out.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Michelle Park, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
March 29, 2024
WOWZERS! Talk about a banger! Another 5-star read.
This story takes place in the Australian outback which has been suffering from a drought but now the forecast is for plenty of rain and possible flooding due to a cyclone building off the northern coast. The story follows multiple characters including the husband and wife owners of a remote country pub, The Pindarry, and their employee who is currently making her way back to the pub from her father's house just as rain starts falling. Meanwhile, couple Hayley and Scott have teamed up with two total strangers to embark on a road trip to Darwin.
There are quite a few characters scattered across the area and we hear from some of them on a timeline of about 48 hours. Almost from the start I was on edge, only partly because of the threat posed by the storm and the isolation of the area. If you're at all familiar with the Outback I imagine you would really appreciate this book. The ending was *chef's kiss*! I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say it was creepy and intense and I highly recommend it. This is another instance where the epilogue was necessary and appreciated in my opinion.
To be honest, I don't understand the title unless it refers to the rush of water during the downpour or maybe it means something different in Australia.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. This review will be published on Goodreads and Netgalley as of March 29, 2024 and on amazon.ca after the publication date, April 9, 2024.
This story takes place in the Australian outback which has been suffering from a drought but now the forecast is for plenty of rain and possible flooding due to a cyclone building off the northern coast. The story follows multiple characters including the husband and wife owners of a remote country pub, The Pindarry, and their employee who is currently making her way back to the pub from her father's house just as rain starts falling. Meanwhile, couple Hayley and Scott have teamed up with two total strangers to embark on a road trip to Darwin.
There are quite a few characters scattered across the area and we hear from some of them on a timeline of about 48 hours. Almost from the start I was on edge, only partly because of the threat posed by the storm and the isolation of the area. If you're at all familiar with the Outback I imagine you would really appreciate this book. The ending was *chef's kiss*! I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say it was creepy and intense and I highly recommend it. This is another instance where the epilogue was necessary and appreciated in my opinion.
To be honest, I don't understand the title unless it refers to the rush of water during the downpour or maybe it means something different in Australia.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. This review will be published on Goodreads and Netgalley as of March 29, 2024 and on amazon.ca after the publication date, April 9, 2024.
May 12, 2023
Outback Australia can be harsh… it is beautiful but dangerous. The Rush will make you think twice about road tripping. I seriously could not put this book down. It is the kind of book that begs to be binged in one sitting. Think Wolf Creek and you are on the right track.
A storm is coming, in more ways than one. 4 teenagers set off from Adelaide to Darwin by car. Hayley and Scott are local students and to save money have found some backpackers to join them. Livia and Joost make up the foursome. Things are going well to begin with, camping and seeing the vast expanse of the outback. And then the rain comes. And not just sprinkles, this is torrential rainfall that nobody could have predicted. They have no wifi and no phone service. They’re only option to head for the Pindarry Pub for shelter, but will they all make it?
There is much, much more to it than that but that is all you need to know o get you hooked in. Believe me when I say that this is one fast paced, wild adventure that none of them expected. The setting is dark and intense. They are cut off from the rest of the world, nobody else is out on the roads and who knows what creatures lurk in the bushes.
You just need to read this exceptional debut novel from Michelle Prak. Publishes on May 3rd, get ready for non stop action and plenty of surprises. Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia for my advanced reading copy.
A storm is coming, in more ways than one. 4 teenagers set off from Adelaide to Darwin by car. Hayley and Scott are local students and to save money have found some backpackers to join them. Livia and Joost make up the foursome. Things are going well to begin with, camping and seeing the vast expanse of the outback. And then the rain comes. And not just sprinkles, this is torrential rainfall that nobody could have predicted. They have no wifi and no phone service. They’re only option to head for the Pindarry Pub for shelter, but will they all make it?
There is much, much more to it than that but that is all you need to know o get you hooked in. Believe me when I say that this is one fast paced, wild adventure that none of them expected. The setting is dark and intense. They are cut off from the rest of the world, nobody else is out on the roads and who knows what creatures lurk in the bushes.
You just need to read this exceptional debut novel from Michelle Prak. Publishes on May 3rd, get ready for non stop action and plenty of surprises. Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia for my advanced reading copy.
May 5, 2023
EXCERPT: The rain begins as a gentle tapping at first, so quiet she could be imagining it.
Matt gives a whoop.
'What, Daddy?' Ethan asks.
'Can you hear that?' Matt squats down beside Ethan on the dirt. The boy touches his own face; he's felt a few drops on his cheek. Andrea leaves the shelter of the verandah and tilts her face skywards. There's an uncomfortable swirling in her gut, a mix of excitement and trepidation, and she wishes they could predict what was going to happen tonight. She's never stayed at a place that's been sandbagged.
ABOUT 'THE RUSH': The first drops start to fall when Quinn spies the body. With no reception and nothing but an empty road for miles, does she stop to help or keep driving to safety?
Back at the iconic country pub where Quinn works, Andrea is sandbagging the place in preparation for heavy rains. Alone with her sleeping son in the back room, she reluctantly lets a biker in to wait out the storm.
Out on the wet roads, tensions arise among four backpackers on their way to Darwin. They haven’t prepared for this kind of weather and the flooding isn’t the only threat on the horizon …
MY THOUGHTS: The Rush is a quick, suspenseful and thrilling read.
Forget dangerous weather, the poisonous snakes and spiders, the crocodiles and other assorted venomous Australian threats - it's people you really need to be frightened of. The only problem is, how do you determine which people pose a threat?
Michelle Prak cleverly increased the tension as the story progressed, throwing in the occasional red herring which successfully diverted my attention from the real danger. The final showdown is breathtaking, and I mean that. I was literally not breathing as I read.
Told from multiple points of view, this chilling thriller is a definite recommendation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheRush #NetGalley
I: @prakky @simonschusterau
T: @Prakky @SimonSchusterAU
#australiancrimefiction #contemporaryfiction #crime #domesticdrama #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Between 2019 and 2020, Michelle self-published three women's contemporary novels which was a lot of fun. Now she's turned to the thriller genre and hopes fans will follow along.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Rush by Michelle Prak for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Matt gives a whoop.
'What, Daddy?' Ethan asks.
'Can you hear that?' Matt squats down beside Ethan on the dirt. The boy touches his own face; he's felt a few drops on his cheek. Andrea leaves the shelter of the verandah and tilts her face skywards. There's an uncomfortable swirling in her gut, a mix of excitement and trepidation, and she wishes they could predict what was going to happen tonight. She's never stayed at a place that's been sandbagged.
ABOUT 'THE RUSH': The first drops start to fall when Quinn spies the body. With no reception and nothing but an empty road for miles, does she stop to help or keep driving to safety?
Back at the iconic country pub where Quinn works, Andrea is sandbagging the place in preparation for heavy rains. Alone with her sleeping son in the back room, she reluctantly lets a biker in to wait out the storm.
Out on the wet roads, tensions arise among four backpackers on their way to Darwin. They haven’t prepared for this kind of weather and the flooding isn’t the only threat on the horizon …
MY THOUGHTS: The Rush is a quick, suspenseful and thrilling read.
Forget dangerous weather, the poisonous snakes and spiders, the crocodiles and other assorted venomous Australian threats - it's people you really need to be frightened of. The only problem is, how do you determine which people pose a threat?
Michelle Prak cleverly increased the tension as the story progressed, throwing in the occasional red herring which successfully diverted my attention from the real danger. The final showdown is breathtaking, and I mean that. I was literally not breathing as I read.
Told from multiple points of view, this chilling thriller is a definite recommendation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheRush #NetGalley
I: @prakky @simonschusterau
T: @Prakky @SimonSchusterAU
#australiancrimefiction #contemporaryfiction #crime #domesticdrama #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Between 2019 and 2020, Michelle self-published three women's contemporary novels which was a lot of fun. Now she's turned to the thriller genre and hopes fans will follow along.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Rush by Michelle Prak for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
May 2, 2023
The Rush is the debut thriller by Michelle Prak and is a true outback noir thriller that builds in intensity. It’s all about the isolation and how dire the trouble can be when something goes wrong. But it’s also a reminder that even in the harsh and unforgiving Australian outback it’s not always the expected dangers that you have to be most aware of.
The rain is coming and when it rains in the outback the potential for disastrous flooding is real and can have devastating consequences. Local homesteads and hotels prepare early with sandbagging and precautions to prevent their belongings from being washed away. It also means there are far fewer travellers on the roads.
The Stuart Highway dissects the Australian continent from Adelaide to Darwin and provides a dusty route through some of the most remote landscape on the planet. One of the stops along the way is the Pindarry Hotel, a noted watering hole and a necessary place to take a break and fill the belly. The owners are Matt and Andrea who live there with their 3 year old son Ethan. Also there is their one employee, Quinn, a woman from a nearby property. But as the rain hits, Quinn hasn’t returned from a recent trip home.
On the road is a group of four young people travelling together on a road trip adventure from Adelaide to Darwin. Hayley and Scott are students at Adelaide University and they have brought along a Brazilian activist Livia and a Dutch backpacker Joost. Their intention is to check out the various tourist spots along the way and, basically, have the adventure of a lifetime. The impact of the flooding rains is a little more excitement than they had bargained for.
Danger is present everywhere in remote and isolated places. It can come from the people you meet, the unexpected changes in the local climate or by any unfortunate accident. But all too often for women the world over, the real danger comes from the opposite sex.
Although the crux of this thriller is all too familiar and is an ever-present problem in today’s society, it is given a unique twist to make it even more compelling. A great strength of The Rush is the portrayal of the main female characters. We’re given a thorough insight into their backgrounds, the setbacks they’ve overcome in the past and the strength and resilience they use to face down their fears. The actions and reactions of Andrea, Quinn, Livia and Hayley were completely understandable and believable.
I thought Michelle Prak did a fine job of setting up a few little red herrings that sent my mind racing off in one direction only to have the rug pulled out from under me when the real twists were revealed.
The Rush is a compelling read with constantly mounting tension the key to its success. It’s atmospheric and deals well with troubling themes. It also tended to play on my emotions which is a sure sign that I was fully invested.
My thanks to Simon Schuster Australia via NetGalley for a digital ARC of the book that allowed me to read, enjoy and produce this review.
The rain is coming and when it rains in the outback the potential for disastrous flooding is real and can have devastating consequences. Local homesteads and hotels prepare early with sandbagging and precautions to prevent their belongings from being washed away. It also means there are far fewer travellers on the roads.
The Stuart Highway dissects the Australian continent from Adelaide to Darwin and provides a dusty route through some of the most remote landscape on the planet. One of the stops along the way is the Pindarry Hotel, a noted watering hole and a necessary place to take a break and fill the belly. The owners are Matt and Andrea who live there with their 3 year old son Ethan. Also there is their one employee, Quinn, a woman from a nearby property. But as the rain hits, Quinn hasn’t returned from a recent trip home.
On the road is a group of four young people travelling together on a road trip adventure from Adelaide to Darwin. Hayley and Scott are students at Adelaide University and they have brought along a Brazilian activist Livia and a Dutch backpacker Joost. Their intention is to check out the various tourist spots along the way and, basically, have the adventure of a lifetime. The impact of the flooding rains is a little more excitement than they had bargained for.
Danger is present everywhere in remote and isolated places. It can come from the people you meet, the unexpected changes in the local climate or by any unfortunate accident. But all too often for women the world over, the real danger comes from the opposite sex.
Although the crux of this thriller is all too familiar and is an ever-present problem in today’s society, it is given a unique twist to make it even more compelling. A great strength of The Rush is the portrayal of the main female characters. We’re given a thorough insight into their backgrounds, the setbacks they’ve overcome in the past and the strength and resilience they use to face down their fears. The actions and reactions of Andrea, Quinn, Livia and Hayley were completely understandable and believable.
I thought Michelle Prak did a fine job of setting up a few little red herrings that sent my mind racing off in one direction only to have the rug pulled out from under me when the real twists were revealed.
The Rush is a compelling read with constantly mounting tension the key to its success. It’s atmospheric and deals well with troubling themes. It also tended to play on my emotions which is a sure sign that I was fully invested.
My thanks to Simon Schuster Australia via NetGalley for a digital ARC of the book that allowed me to read, enjoy and produce this review.
May 13, 2023
Well what can I say, I read this one in one day there was no way I could leave it for too long I had to find out what happened to these four young people doing a trip from Adelaide to Darwin, this trip was meant to be a fun trip, two young Aussies and two overseas backpackers come along and see what happens.
The Pindarry is a very old pub stuck in the middle of nowhere run by Matt and Andrea they have a small son Ethan and Quinn a young local now lives and works there, it is a very popular place to stop for travelers of the outback. They have been in drought for a long time now and Quinn and her dog Bronte have been sorting things at the farm she used to live on when on her way back the rain starts and it looks like it is not going to stop, when Quinn finds a the body of a man lying on the roadway, she has to do her best to get him in the car and back to the pub.
Four young people Hayley, her boyfriend Scott, Dutchman Joost and Brazilian Livia are on a trip of a life time in Scott’s grandfather’s 4WD when the rain hits there has already been some tension between them but things get worse when a road is washed away and decisions have to be made, they are not prepared fully for what is happening, none of it.
This story is compelling reading, MS Prak has created characters who are real some not so likeable and some show such strength and courage they had me cheering them one, in this mystery thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and then the twist I did not see coming, these characters are so convincing. This is MS Prak’s debut thriller and I can’t wait for more, I do highly recommend this one if you are looking for a fabulous story that will keep you thinking and turning the pages
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review
The Pindarry is a very old pub stuck in the middle of nowhere run by Matt and Andrea they have a small son Ethan and Quinn a young local now lives and works there, it is a very popular place to stop for travelers of the outback. They have been in drought for a long time now and Quinn and her dog Bronte have been sorting things at the farm she used to live on when on her way back the rain starts and it looks like it is not going to stop, when Quinn finds a the body of a man lying on the roadway, she has to do her best to get him in the car and back to the pub.
Four young people Hayley, her boyfriend Scott, Dutchman Joost and Brazilian Livia are on a trip of a life time in Scott’s grandfather’s 4WD when the rain hits there has already been some tension between them but things get worse when a road is washed away and decisions have to be made, they are not prepared fully for what is happening, none of it.
This story is compelling reading, MS Prak has created characters who are real some not so likeable and some show such strength and courage they had me cheering them one, in this mystery thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and then the twist I did not see coming, these characters are so convincing. This is MS Prak’s debut thriller and I can’t wait for more, I do highly recommend this one if you are looking for a fabulous story that will keep you thinking and turning the pages
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital copy to read and review
May 16, 2023
Outback road trip thriller!
This was standard but a fun read nonetheless, perfect if you are looking for some mindless entertainment. It actually reads like a movie, easily visualized and regularly paced throughout.
It isn’t complex, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s an outback road trip thriller, so we all know what’s basically going to happen anyway.
This was standard but a fun read nonetheless, perfect if you are looking for some mindless entertainment. It actually reads like a movie, easily visualized and regularly paced throughout.
It isn’t complex, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s an outback road trip thriller, so we all know what’s basically going to happen anyway.
January 2, 2024
This was a good story to complete my 2023 reading journey. The book summary introduces the three different storylines, which is a lot to pack into 272pgs. Michelle Prak’s fast-paced, edge of your seat story of bringing a bunch of strangers together out in the bush of Australia in a torrential rainstorm makes for an intense read.
The story starts with Quinn, a bartender at the legendary Pindarry Pub and Hotel, an Australian hotspot on social media, is on her way back to the Pindarry after packing up her family’s home that is being prepared to sell. It’s pouring down rain and she’s trying to get back to the Pindarry before the floods start when she sees a body in the road. The man is unconscious and really beaten and banged up, so she gets him into her car and takes him back to the Pindarry with her.
Back at the Pindarry, bar manager, Andrea, is alone with her three-year-old son, Ethan, after her husband, Matt, left to help a neighbor put up more sandbags at his home. Earlier in the day, Matt and Andrea had to kick out a bunch of bikers after one of them took off on a motorcycle with Ethan and drove around the parking lot. After Matt leaves, Rosey, the biker who took Ethan, comes back, and starts harassing Andrea and won’t leave when she tells him to get out. Right then, Joost walks into the Pindarry and shortly thereafter, helps Andrea get rid of Rosey out of the pub.
Joost is a Dutch guy from the Netherlands who was traveling the previous day with three other people, Hayley, Scott and Livia. However, he shows up at the Pindarry late at night, in the pouring down rain with a broken and bruised nose and other wounds on his face. Most of the story flips back and forth from the previous day between Joost and his travelling companions and the current day when he shows up at the Pindarry alone.
It's well into the second half that the three different storylines collide and after that it’s an intense and scary mad dash to the explosive end. The epilogue ties up all the loose ends into a very satisfying ending. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #TheRush
The story starts with Quinn, a bartender at the legendary Pindarry Pub and Hotel, an Australian hotspot on social media, is on her way back to the Pindarry after packing up her family’s home that is being prepared to sell. It’s pouring down rain and she’s trying to get back to the Pindarry before the floods start when she sees a body in the road. The man is unconscious and really beaten and banged up, so she gets him into her car and takes him back to the Pindarry with her.
Back at the Pindarry, bar manager, Andrea, is alone with her three-year-old son, Ethan, after her husband, Matt, left to help a neighbor put up more sandbags at his home. Earlier in the day, Matt and Andrea had to kick out a bunch of bikers after one of them took off on a motorcycle with Ethan and drove around the parking lot. After Matt leaves, Rosey, the biker who took Ethan, comes back, and starts harassing Andrea and won’t leave when she tells him to get out. Right then, Joost walks into the Pindarry and shortly thereafter, helps Andrea get rid of Rosey out of the pub.
Joost is a Dutch guy from the Netherlands who was traveling the previous day with three other people, Hayley, Scott and Livia. However, he shows up at the Pindarry late at night, in the pouring down rain with a broken and bruised nose and other wounds on his face. Most of the story flips back and forth from the previous day between Joost and his travelling companions and the current day when he shows up at the Pindarry alone.
It's well into the second half that the three different storylines collide and after that it’s an intense and scary mad dash to the explosive end. The epilogue ties up all the loose ends into a very satisfying ending. I want to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks #TheRush
March 3, 2023
OMG!! And what a RUSH this was!
Unrelenting in its suspenseful pace, this book will have you reading far longer than you may have anticipated…so make time for an undisturbed read.
When young Australian couple Hayley and Scott decide to take time out from their university studies for a unique Australian outback road trip adventure, they look for two more passengers to share this experience with them and some of the costs.
The obvious choice was to look for backpackers wanting to share in a similar experience.
Hayley is hoping this time out will help to reignite their flagging relationship and get Scott out into the open air and away from his fascination for online gaming for awhile.
Scott is reluctant but finally agrees and after much online searching they settled on a young single guy named Joost, from the Netherlands and a slightly older girl named Livia, from Brazil.
They plan to drive across the Australian outback from Adelaide to Darwin in a borrowed four wheel drive, and sleeping only in tents at planned stops along the way will save them money.
This is quite a daunting trip for experienced travellers, and not one for the faint hearted, but they are all keen and feel up to the task with Hayley planning a strict itinerary.
As they embark upon their journey reports of impending bad weather ahead start to present concerns that they may get caught in the midst of a drought breaking storm. They press on in the belief that the storm will pass and just give much needed relief to the drought plagued outback. They have a reliable car that is capable of navigating all sorts of conditions, so they are not too concerned.
What could possibly go wrong?
This is an impressive debut thriller from Michelle Prak which sets an unrelenting, suspense filled pace from the very start.
I couldn’t fault it and very much look forward to what she writes next.
5⭐️s or 😱😱😱😱😱
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review.
March 19, 2024
I listened to “The Rush” on audio book, and confirmed once again I do love audiobooks that are narrated by Australian narrators, I personally find the accent very relaxing to listen to.
The plot is set in the Australian outback during extreme weather of rain downpours and flash floods. In the bush there is nothing around for miles and miles, no cell reception, completely deserted, and when Quinn is driving home in attempts to get to safety before the harsh weather begins, she stumbles upon a body dumped at the side of the road.
On the other side we have alternating POV from multiple other characters and side plots as the events unfold.
Although the narrator did a fantastic job, I just couldn’t get into this one or connect with any of the characters. I may be the outlier here as I have seen many other rave reviews so I’d still recommend trying this one for yourself.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Michelle Prak and NetGalley for the Audiobook.
Publish date: April 9th
The plot is set in the Australian outback during extreme weather of rain downpours and flash floods. In the bush there is nothing around for miles and miles, no cell reception, completely deserted, and when Quinn is driving home in attempts to get to safety before the harsh weather begins, she stumbles upon a body dumped at the side of the road.
On the other side we have alternating POV from multiple other characters and side plots as the events unfold.
Although the narrator did a fantastic job, I just couldn’t get into this one or connect with any of the characters. I may be the outlier here as I have seen many other rave reviews so I’d still recommend trying this one for yourself.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Michelle Prak and NetGalley for the Audiobook.
Publish date: April 9th
April 9, 2024
In South Australia’s Outback, Quinn is making her way to her job at the only pub/hotel for miles and miles. However, she’s stopped in her tracks when she comes across a body, seemingly dumped by the side of the road. Meanwhile, her employers are preparing for what’s expected to be huge rainfall after what’s been a lengthy drought. Also, making their way towards the same area are a group of motorcyclists on their way to a funeral, and four young people are setting out to drive from Adelaide to Darwen on the Stuart Highway.
With the storm pending, tensions are running high. Quinn’s issue is obvious, but at the pub they’re desperately rushing around preparing for the impacts of the coming storm. The motorcyclists are a pushy, boozy crowd and appear to have at least one bad actor in their midst. The group of four are a squabbling, mismatched group, seemingly unable to agree on anything. Paths will eventually cross, and as a result, a number of these people will be put at risk.
The story is told from the point of view of various characters, which works pretty well in sustaining a degree of unpredictability throughout. The problem for me is that I didn’t find any of these people particularly engaging, and as a result, I didn't become truly invested in their fate. For the most part, I also found it pretty slow going, even if towards the end, a sense of suspense was eventually created. But then it suddenly ended - unexpectedly, abruptly. The remainder of the book is an over-elaborate walkthrough of the aftermath.
I listened to an audio version, narrated by actor Jodie Harris. For the most part, she does a good job, though I did find her portrayal of one character (a Dutchman) strangely irritating. It’s a book that will, I’m sure, find an audience that will appreciate the tale to a greater degree than I did. In truth, I found it to be rather disappointing, and certainly not on a par with books written by my favourite Aussie mystery and suspense writers, such as Chris Hammer and Jane Harper.
My thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing a copy of this audiobook via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
With the storm pending, tensions are running high. Quinn’s issue is obvious, but at the pub they’re desperately rushing around preparing for the impacts of the coming storm. The motorcyclists are a pushy, boozy crowd and appear to have at least one bad actor in their midst. The group of four are a squabbling, mismatched group, seemingly unable to agree on anything. Paths will eventually cross, and as a result, a number of these people will be put at risk.
The story is told from the point of view of various characters, which works pretty well in sustaining a degree of unpredictability throughout. The problem for me is that I didn’t find any of these people particularly engaging, and as a result, I didn't become truly invested in their fate. For the most part, I also found it pretty slow going, even if towards the end, a sense of suspense was eventually created. But then it suddenly ended - unexpectedly, abruptly. The remainder of the book is an over-elaborate walkthrough of the aftermath.
I listened to an audio version, narrated by actor Jodie Harris. For the most part, she does a good job, though I did find her portrayal of one character (a Dutchman) strangely irritating. It’s a book that will, I’m sure, find an audience that will appreciate the tale to a greater degree than I did. In truth, I found it to be rather disappointing, and certainly not on a par with books written by my favourite Aussie mystery and suspense writers, such as Chris Hammer and Jane Harper.
My thanks to Dreamscape Media for providing a copy of this audiobook via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 6, 2023
I must have read a completely different book to everyone else 😅 I don't think I've read a book with such unlikable characters before. It didn't feel authentic at all, how the characters acted seemed really over the top the entire story. It was just weird!? I dunno, it must be me cause everyone else seems to love it 🤣
November 3, 2023
The Rush by Aussie author Michelle Prak is an outback thriller unlike any other. This book is addictive and once you start it you won’t want to put it down. And I must make mention of the cover which is very cleverly done.
April 2, 2024
It is a little hard to believe this is the author’s debut novel because this thriller was rather terrifying. Everyone know the Australian outback is dangerous, but this book introduces to things you wouldn’t think to be afraid of. This story is told through several different voices of different women struggling through a rare Australian rainstorm so sudden and fierce it is flooding everything. Hailey, her boyfriend Scott decide to use their break from university to go on an adventure roadtrip and invite along Livia, a Brazilian activist, and Joost a boy from the Netherlands. Their adventure is interrupted with the rain, but it turns more dangerous than they imagined. Meanwhile Andrea’s husband is at a neighbor’s trying to keep his home from flooding and alone with her toddler while a biker comes to seek shelter. The story has some pretty good twists and while there were some parts I wished would move a little faster the last third zipped by and I couldn’t have stopped listening for anything. I gave it 4.5 stars rounded up for some excellent twists. I listened to the audiobook and felt like the narrator did a wonderful job. The voice of Joost may be haunting me for a bit.
January 7, 2024
Love the cover, love the title, didn't love the book.
Sadly this did not work for me. I was expecting something in the vein of Taylor Adams' "No Exit", but did not find that here. This felt choppy, confusing, slow and not at all a thrill ride I was hoping for.
I found the characters stupid, and I found myself confused. I just didn't care to finish it, was close to DNF'ing but pushed through.
The atmosphere of the setting was good though.
Sadly this did not work for me. I was expecting something in the vein of Taylor Adams' "No Exit", but did not find that here. This felt choppy, confusing, slow and not at all a thrill ride I was hoping for.
I found the characters stupid, and I found myself confused. I just didn't care to finish it, was close to DNF'ing but pushed through.
The atmosphere of the setting was good though.
July 19, 2023
This was a fabulous debut!
The author weaves a bunch of threads together in what is the perfect storm (literally, it's about to flood) and raises the suspense to new heights. We have a body on the road, backpackers in trouble and a lone biker about to cause some trouble. All the while, a more significant and unsuspecting danger lurks. Such a clever twist that I could never have seen coming. I look forward to more by this author. 4.5*
The author weaves a bunch of threads together in what is the perfect storm (literally, it's about to flood) and raises the suspense to new heights. We have a body on the road, backpackers in trouble and a lone biker about to cause some trouble. All the while, a more significant and unsuspecting danger lurks. Such a clever twist that I could never have seen coming. I look forward to more by this author. 4.5*
May 20, 2023
The Rush is an exciting and gripping debut thriller from Michelle Prak set in the outback of South Australia.
Quinn is late returning to the isolated Pindarry Hotel on the Stuart Highway, where she works and lives, when, through the rain, she spies a badly injured man on the roadside, and unable to leave him there, drags him into her car.
Andrea is anxious when her husband leaves her at the Pindarry Hotel to help an elderly farmer whose property is flooding. With the pub sandbagged and their employee, Quinn, due to arrive any minute, Andrea resolves to stay calm for the sake of her sleeping two year old son, until the power goes out, and a stranger comes to the door demanding to be let in.
Hayley, traveling from Adelaide to Darwin on the Stuart Highway with her boyfriend Scott and backpackers Livia and Joost, is only concerned for her carefully planned itinerary when the rain starts on their second day of travel. But then the roads begin to flood, and as tensions among the foursome grow, Hayley finds herself in a desperate rush for sanctuary.
The Rush is a fast-paced read as it largely unfolds from the perspectives of Quinn, Andrea, Hayley and Livia over a period of about two days. Suspense is introduced early, and built on effortlessly. The threats are recognisable and engender empathy for the characters at risk. Red herrings belie a breathtaking climactic reveal, that provides a unique twist on the story’s themes.
Prak somehow renders the vast landscape of outback South Australia claustrophobic as the characters converge on Pindarry. The violence of the storm, as it strips away modernity, releases a feral energy that enhances the oppressive atmosphere.
A well crafted addition to the oeuvre of rural Australian crime fiction, The Rush is an immersive and riveting read.
Quinn is late returning to the isolated Pindarry Hotel on the Stuart Highway, where she works and lives, when, through the rain, she spies a badly injured man on the roadside, and unable to leave him there, drags him into her car.
Andrea is anxious when her husband leaves her at the Pindarry Hotel to help an elderly farmer whose property is flooding. With the pub sandbagged and their employee, Quinn, due to arrive any minute, Andrea resolves to stay calm for the sake of her sleeping two year old son, until the power goes out, and a stranger comes to the door demanding to be let in.
Hayley, traveling from Adelaide to Darwin on the Stuart Highway with her boyfriend Scott and backpackers Livia and Joost, is only concerned for her carefully planned itinerary when the rain starts on their second day of travel. But then the roads begin to flood, and as tensions among the foursome grow, Hayley finds herself in a desperate rush for sanctuary.
The Rush is a fast-paced read as it largely unfolds from the perspectives of Quinn, Andrea, Hayley and Livia over a period of about two days. Suspense is introduced early, and built on effortlessly. The threats are recognisable and engender empathy for the characters at risk. Red herrings belie a breathtaking climactic reveal, that provides a unique twist on the story’s themes.
Prak somehow renders the vast landscape of outback South Australia claustrophobic as the characters converge on Pindarry. The violence of the storm, as it strips away modernity, releases a feral energy that enhances the oppressive atmosphere.
A well crafted addition to the oeuvre of rural Australian crime fiction, The Rush is an immersive and riveting read.
July 10, 2024
Ooof! This was brilliant! Well deserved of all the stars 🤩
Just like it’s title, this book is a RUSH in the adrenaline fulled way. Not sure why I haven’t seen this around more as its one of the best debuts I’ve read in a long time!
Andrea, Matt and their three-year-old son live in and run The Pindarry. A remote country pub located in the outback of the Northern Territory. With a huge storm coming they start to sandbag the building in preparation for flooding.
Quinn, the only employee of Andrea an Matt is on her way back to the pub when she spots a body on the road - with the storm brewing and no mobile reception she is unsure war to do …
Meanwhile an agitated group of four backpackers on their way to Darwin, arrive at the Pindarry looking for refuge from the storm …
The Rush takes place over a 48 hour period. Told from alternating timelines and multiple POVs opening up a very clever storyline that’s horrifying and yet gripping. You won’t be able to put it down. I was holding my breath until; the very last page.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jodie Harris - it was just brilliant! I would love to see this being made into a movie.
Many thanks to Dreamscape Media for an ALC 🎧
Just like it’s title, this book is a RUSH in the adrenaline fulled way. Not sure why I haven’t seen this around more as its one of the best debuts I’ve read in a long time!
Andrea, Matt and their three-year-old son live in and run The Pindarry. A remote country pub located in the outback of the Northern Territory. With a huge storm coming they start to sandbag the building in preparation for flooding.
Quinn, the only employee of Andrea an Matt is on her way back to the pub when she spots a body on the road - with the storm brewing and no mobile reception she is unsure war to do …
Meanwhile an agitated group of four backpackers on their way to Darwin, arrive at the Pindarry looking for refuge from the storm …
The Rush takes place over a 48 hour period. Told from alternating timelines and multiple POVs opening up a very clever storyline that’s horrifying and yet gripping. You won’t be able to put it down. I was holding my breath until; the very last page.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jodie Harris - it was just brilliant! I would love to see this being made into a movie.
Many thanks to Dreamscape Media for an ALC 🎧
November 25, 2023
I usually love thrillers set during natural disasters, and this one was not only the first Australian flood thriller I’ve read, but also one of the creepier (aka better) ones I’ve read!
Haley and Scott are a college couple trying out adventure instead of doing schoolwork and playing video games. They never do anything fun, so Haley talks the reluctant Scott into a cross-country road trip. They will camp, they will go to new places, and they’ll hopefully get out of their respective ruts. They need people to chip in with gas money, so they find two other people who also want to take the journey.
Livia is a climate change activist from Brazil who needs to go to the other side of Australia anyway, so she is the first pick. The second travel buddy ended up being Joost, a Dutch kid with body odor taking a gap year off university. All four of them underestimate the inherent danger in this trip; the Outback will be long to get through, with no cell service and no people for hundreds of miles. Making things worse, a storm is coming in. This drought-ridden area is in for some possible trouble…
The group does have a spot to stop in the middle of nowhere: the Pindarry Hotel, famed for its age and isolated location. Andrea and Matt run the hotel/pub with Quinn, a live-in employee, and her dog, Bronte. Their toddler son Ethan rounds out this small group running the tourist spot. To round out the characters in the book, we also have a group of bikers which contains one particularly nasty character.
The rain begins, and it’s bad. Roads are nearly impassable - not that you can see through it to drive anyway. Properties are starting to flood. The power goes out. Our road-trip friends are getting not-so-friendly with each other and can’t agree on how to stay safe. Then, things REALLY get out of hand and by the end, almost nobody is safe. The suspense is there from the beginning, making this a true page-turner. I enjoyed the entire thing! This may be a popcorn thriller, but it’s a wild one. 4.5 stars, rounded up for this thriller debut!
(Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Michelle Prak and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on April 9, 2024.)
Haley and Scott are a college couple trying out adventure instead of doing schoolwork and playing video games. They never do anything fun, so Haley talks the reluctant Scott into a cross-country road trip. They will camp, they will go to new places, and they’ll hopefully get out of their respective ruts. They need people to chip in with gas money, so they find two other people who also want to take the journey.
Livia is a climate change activist from Brazil who needs to go to the other side of Australia anyway, so she is the first pick. The second travel buddy ended up being Joost, a Dutch kid with body odor taking a gap year off university. All four of them underestimate the inherent danger in this trip; the Outback will be long to get through, with no cell service and no people for hundreds of miles. Making things worse, a storm is coming in. This drought-ridden area is in for some possible trouble…
The group does have a spot to stop in the middle of nowhere: the Pindarry Hotel, famed for its age and isolated location. Andrea and Matt run the hotel/pub with Quinn, a live-in employee, and her dog, Bronte. Their toddler son Ethan rounds out this small group running the tourist spot. To round out the characters in the book, we also have a group of bikers which contains one particularly nasty character.
The rain begins, and it’s bad. Roads are nearly impassable - not that you can see through it to drive anyway. Properties are starting to flood. The power goes out. Our road-trip friends are getting not-so-friendly with each other and can’t agree on how to stay safe. Then, things REALLY get out of hand and by the end, almost nobody is safe. The suspense is there from the beginning, making this a true page-turner. I enjoyed the entire thing! This may be a popcorn thriller, but it’s a wild one. 4.5 stars, rounded up for this thriller debut!
(Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Michelle Prak and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on April 9, 2024.)
June 19, 2023
Absolutely loved this road-trip thriller set in Outback Australia. Four young strangers travel across a remote and isolated area during heavy rainfall. What could go wrong?! Loved the untrustworthy characters who kept me guessing and the glimpse of a part of Australia not many people get to see. THE RUSH is fast, furious and completely addictive!
October 1, 2023
I'm sorry to go against your recommendation Dad, but this was one of the most boring books I've ever read.
April 24, 2024
Did you watch Wolf Creek and think "that Australian Outback holds some terrifying potential"?
Well, strap on your hiking boots and let's see what other new fears we can activate with Michelle Prak's debut novel, The Rush.
As we often see in Australian novels these days, it's the weather and the terrain that become the major players in the story, while the people do their best to navigate the hardships thrown at them. That is certainly the case here, where a relentless and powerful storm brings together an assortment of people, some with bad intentions and some with only the intention to survive, to shelter in a small, off the beaten path motel.
If you liked the claustrophobia of Daisy Darker or Rock Paper Scissors, I think you'll find this one thrilling too. I had to keep stopping myself not to rush through it to find out what was going to happen next.
Well, strap on your hiking boots and let's see what other new fears we can activate with Michelle Prak's debut novel, The Rush.
As we often see in Australian novels these days, it's the weather and the terrain that become the major players in the story, while the people do their best to navigate the hardships thrown at them. That is certainly the case here, where a relentless and powerful storm brings together an assortment of people, some with bad intentions and some with only the intention to survive, to shelter in a small, off the beaten path motel.
If you liked the claustrophobia of Daisy Darker or Rock Paper Scissors, I think you'll find this one thrilling too. I had to keep stopping myself not to rush through it to find out what was going to happen next.
Read
July 22, 2023*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Michelle Prak’s first release with major publishing house Simon & Schuster Australia is a creepy, intense and atmospheric outback noir tale. The Rush is a multiple perspective novel, taking the traditional format of an outback thriller with an extra serving of terror included in this remote area suspense tale.
The Rush sees four women battle against the odds in this electrifying new country thriller from South Australian lecturer Michelle Prak. A body is discovered by a woman named Quinn just as the heavens open. But Quinn is located in an extremely isolated locale and she is unable to get reception, leaving her without any means to communicate this shocking find. Quinn is left with a difficult choice to consider as she weighs up whether she should ask for help or continue to drive on. As preparations begin to safeguard the local area against the incoming rain at the country pub where Quinn works, Andrea is a woman left alone with her son. But when Andrea lets in a lone biker to her establishment in the wake of the incoming treacherous storm, she wonders if it was the right choice to make. As the rain comes in hard, there are four backpackers out in the elements. They are not ready for this kind of dangerous weather and now mother nature isn’t the only thing they have to worry about. Will everyone survive this perfect storm?
I am familiar with Michelle Prak and her work after interviewing this Adelaide based writer in 2019. I also read and reviewed Prak’s contemporary fiction self-published release Goodbye Newsroom in 2020. I was interested to see how Michelle Prak would transition from contemporary fiction to outback noir. It was great to see a new voice enter the very fashionable outback thriller genre, which made Jane Harper and Chris Hammer household names.
The Rush is an easy one sitting style read. I managed to get through this Simon and Schuster 2023 publication in just a few hours. The chapters are easy and very readable. Prak has made The Rush an accessible read, so even if you are new to the genre of outback noir, this particular book would be a good starting point. I think Prak had all the correct elements incorporated in The Rush for a standard Australian crime thriller. Prak probably goes in a slightly different direction, taking the chill factor up a notch so this one feels a little like Australian hellish torture movie Wolf Creek. I definitely got these vibes from the onset, as Prak draws on the naïve backpacker direction in The Rush. The atmosphere is probably my favourite part of The Rush. I appreciated the thick and sultry atmosphere of the incoming storm. The remote landscape was rendered well and I definitely felt like an intruder in this one, the setting is very viscous. The outback stage radiates through this tale, compounding the events further for the reader.
The characters were a strong bone of contention for me. I did like the shifting standpoint format which Prak takes, it was a good way to unfurl this intense read. However, it was hard to like or root for this cast set. I didn’t find anyone that I cared for and I had some difficultly accepting the decisions these people made as the narrative progressed. It was quite frustrating at times and I found myself growing rather annoyed by the end of the book. I continued on until the end. Thanks to the neat epilogue, The Rush reaches a solid conclusion.
The Rush integrates themes of male power, toxicity, the media, online communities, the weather, safety, the impact of climate change and outback miseducation. I appreciated these themes and the manner in which they were presented in The Rush. Although I had some issues with the actions of the characters in this novel, I would be happy to read another Michelle Prak thriller in the future.
*I wish to thank Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Michelle Prak’s first release with major publishing house Simon & Schuster Australia is a creepy, intense and atmospheric outback noir tale. The Rush is a multiple perspective novel, taking the traditional format of an outback thriller with an extra serving of terror included in this remote area suspense tale.
The Rush sees four women battle against the odds in this electrifying new country thriller from South Australian lecturer Michelle Prak. A body is discovered by a woman named Quinn just as the heavens open. But Quinn is located in an extremely isolated locale and she is unable to get reception, leaving her without any means to communicate this shocking find. Quinn is left with a difficult choice to consider as she weighs up whether she should ask for help or continue to drive on. As preparations begin to safeguard the local area against the incoming rain at the country pub where Quinn works, Andrea is a woman left alone with her son. But when Andrea lets in a lone biker to her establishment in the wake of the incoming treacherous storm, she wonders if it was the right choice to make. As the rain comes in hard, there are four backpackers out in the elements. They are not ready for this kind of dangerous weather and now mother nature isn’t the only thing they have to worry about. Will everyone survive this perfect storm?
I am familiar with Michelle Prak and her work after interviewing this Adelaide based writer in 2019. I also read and reviewed Prak’s contemporary fiction self-published release Goodbye Newsroom in 2020. I was interested to see how Michelle Prak would transition from contemporary fiction to outback noir. It was great to see a new voice enter the very fashionable outback thriller genre, which made Jane Harper and Chris Hammer household names.
The Rush is an easy one sitting style read. I managed to get through this Simon and Schuster 2023 publication in just a few hours. The chapters are easy and very readable. Prak has made The Rush an accessible read, so even if you are new to the genre of outback noir, this particular book would be a good starting point. I think Prak had all the correct elements incorporated in The Rush for a standard Australian crime thriller. Prak probably goes in a slightly different direction, taking the chill factor up a notch so this one feels a little like Australian hellish torture movie Wolf Creek. I definitely got these vibes from the onset, as Prak draws on the naïve backpacker direction in The Rush. The atmosphere is probably my favourite part of The Rush. I appreciated the thick and sultry atmosphere of the incoming storm. The remote landscape was rendered well and I definitely felt like an intruder in this one, the setting is very viscous. The outback stage radiates through this tale, compounding the events further for the reader.
The characters were a strong bone of contention for me. I did like the shifting standpoint format which Prak takes, it was a good way to unfurl this intense read. However, it was hard to like or root for this cast set. I didn’t find anyone that I cared for and I had some difficultly accepting the decisions these people made as the narrative progressed. It was quite frustrating at times and I found myself growing rather annoyed by the end of the book. I continued on until the end. Thanks to the neat epilogue, The Rush reaches a solid conclusion.
The Rush integrates themes of male power, toxicity, the media, online communities, the weather, safety, the impact of climate change and outback miseducation. I appreciated these themes and the manner in which they were presented in The Rush. Although I had some issues with the actions of the characters in this novel, I would be happy to read another Michelle Prak thriller in the future.
*I wish to thank Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
June 8, 2023
(3.5 stars)
It's funny that Michelle Prak called her book The Rush, because it's exactly my critique of the finale: it felt rushed. I really enjoyed the first half of this novel that explores backpacker murders in the outback. The characters are kind of annoying, so you're perhaps a little too keen for some of them to die. Take the boring Hayley (or her douche-canoe boyfriend, Scott) as examples. Hayley is more interested in thinking how photos of her trip position her socially than anything else: "She thinks about the photos she’ll take, the trove of experiences to showcase on her Instagram account, the hashtags she’ll finally be able to use. How jealous the other third year accounting students will be."
Then there is Andrea, a "tough rural publican", who seems to have decided to live an outback, isolated rural pub life just to please her partner. She's hiding being pregnant because it will bring this conversation to a head. There's also Quinn, who has put her life on hold working in a bar while reminiscing in a seemingly unsellable (due to drought) family property where her father took his own life and all the other family members have abandoned. And finally, Livia, who is apparently a noble activist but all about the staged environmental metrics on her Insta: "She needs a few appealing animals to bring her audience back."
This female cast of characters all (well all bar the first to die) coalesce at "The Pindarry [which] is more than a hundred years old, with rooms and sheds added over the years, anchored by the picturesque verandah. It’s often pictured in outback tourism blogs and Instagram posts." It's a showdown with obvious parallels to Wolf Creek, and an unlikely killer, because when you talk about backpacker murders, you always assume some redneck rural bloke who lives an isolated life is doing it.
Which brings me to the bit I didn't like about this book. The tension it build in the first part of the book was lost in a too fast ending, then a tedious rushed epilogue tying up all the story lines. Felt like the author hit the word count. Shame to throw away such a promising piece of outback noir, complete with an interesting twist, because you can't be bothered integrating the why into the story itself.
It's funny that Michelle Prak called her book The Rush, because it's exactly my critique of the finale: it felt rushed. I really enjoyed the first half of this novel that explores backpacker murders in the outback. The characters are kind of annoying, so you're perhaps a little too keen for some of them to die. Take the boring Hayley (or her douche-canoe boyfriend, Scott) as examples. Hayley is more interested in thinking how photos of her trip position her socially than anything else: "She thinks about the photos she’ll take, the trove of experiences to showcase on her Instagram account, the hashtags she’ll finally be able to use. How jealous the other third year accounting students will be."
Then there is Andrea, a "tough rural publican", who seems to have decided to live an outback, isolated rural pub life just to please her partner. She's hiding being pregnant because it will bring this conversation to a head. There's also Quinn, who has put her life on hold working in a bar while reminiscing in a seemingly unsellable (due to drought) family property where her father took his own life and all the other family members have abandoned. And finally, Livia, who is apparently a noble activist but all about the staged environmental metrics on her Insta: "She needs a few appealing animals to bring her audience back."
This female cast of characters all (well all bar the first to die) coalesce at "The Pindarry [which] is more than a hundred years old, with rooms and sheds added over the years, anchored by the picturesque verandah. It’s often pictured in outback tourism blogs and Instagram posts." It's a showdown with obvious parallels to Wolf Creek, and an unlikely killer, because when you talk about backpacker murders, you always assume some redneck rural bloke who lives an isolated life is doing it.
Which brings me to the bit I didn't like about this book. The tension it build in the first part of the book was lost in a too fast ending, then a tedious rushed epilogue tying up all the story lines. Felt like the author hit the word count. Shame to throw away such a promising piece of outback noir, complete with an interesting twist, because you can't be bothered integrating the why into the story itself.
December 18, 2022
Wow!! What a wild ride that was. Australian outback thriller at its best. The atmosphere of a building storm in the Outback, the tension of a road trip going wrong, a body in the middle of the road, all adds up to a book that you simply can’t put down. I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book and I cannot say enough to recommend it. I believe this is going to be huge when it is released in 2023. Thanks to Better Reading and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this fantastic book. Well done Michelle, I look forward to reading more thrillers from you.
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