March 7, 2023
The Rush by Michelle Prak gives new meaning to the words gripping and horrifying. Take Jane Harper’s The Lost Man, add some sinister Wolf Creek, and you’re on the right (or very wrong) rural noir track. The Rush begins with local Quinn’s discovery of an abandoned body on an isolated road in remote South Australia. Add an agitated group of four backpackers on their way to Darwin, their overlap at the remote outback pub where Quinn works and lives—and let the fun/horror begin. In some ways The Rush is a misleading read. It starts off a bit predictably, as a familiar road-tripping, Gen Z story set in a standard Australian outback setting. While the writing is taut from the beginning, with strong scene-setting and dialogue, you are not prepared for the fast-paced twists ahead. It is anything but your typical outback thriller. The unravelling horror is set up so masterfully by the stream of banal travel banter, ominous weather and testy human dynamics. The characters are developed steadily, evoking physical responses from the reader (the main villain Joost with his ‘pale eyes and hungry sneer,’ a stand-out). Aside from its entertainment value, The Rush makes you think, raising relevant themes of climate change, toxic masculinity and the troubling culture of online gaming communities. The Rush is a strong addition to a popular niche in the reading market—well written, compulsive crime thrillers that transport readers to places they are only brave enough to visit from the safety of their armchairs.
September 13, 2024
Prak's atmospheric debut thriller traces three intersecting story lines set in the remote Australian outback. Quinn Durand leaves the pub where she works after hearing a prediction of torrential rains and flash floods. On her way home, she finds an unresponsive man. With no cell service, she approaches him, and he grabs her. Back at the inn, Quinn's boss, Andrea, is hunkered down with her toddler, left alone after her husband went out to help a neighbor. Then, a banging at the door heralds a biker seeking shelter. Finally, a hapless group of university students are left to struggle against the rains as they fight for survival. Jodie Harris narrates each individual as they struggle against the menacing storm and navigate the equally troubling dangers presented by the people around them. Though the rapidly changing perspectives are occasionally disorienting, Harris's narration ramps up the tension and conveys the book's desolate atmosphere. VERDICT This quick but intense tale will have listeners on the edge of their seats. Fans of Jane Harper will want to check this out.--Elyssa Everling
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