The Rush

by Beth Lewis

Gold fever has taken him. I believe he means to kill me...

Canada, 1898. The Gold Rush is on in the frozen wilderness of the Yukon. Fortunes are made as quickly as they're lost, and Dawson City has become a lawless settlement.

In its midst, three women are trying to find their place on the edge of civilisation. Journalist Kate, along with her dog Yukon, has travelled hundreds of miles after receiving a letter from her sister warning that her husband means to kill her. Martha's hotel and livelihood are under threat from the local strongman, who is set on buying up the town. And down by the river, where gold shimmers from between the rocks, Ellen feels her future slip away as her husband fails to find the fortune they risked so much to seek.

When a woman is found murdered, Kate, Martha and Ellen find their lives, fates and fortunes intertwined. But to unmask her killer, they must navigate a desperate land run by dangerous men who will do anything for a glimpse of gold...

Rich in its setting and characters, The Rush is a gripping historical crime novel perfect for readers of Stef Penney by way of Kristin Hannah and C Pam Zhang.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Westerns, Historical, Canada, Audiobook

400 pages, Hardcover

First published June 10, 2025

About the author

Beth Lewis was raised in the wilds of Cornwall and split her childhood between books and the beach. She has travelled extensively and has had close encounters with black bears, killer whales, and Great White sharks. She has been, at turns, a bank cashier, fire performer, juggler, and is currently working publishing. Her debut novel, The Wolf Road, was shortlisted for the inaugural Glass Bell Award and her third novel, The Origins of Iris was shortlisted for the Polari Prize. She lives in Oxford with her wife and daughter.

Reviews

[Maureen]

*4.5 stars*

There’s gold in them thar hills! Well maybe, but certainly not for all!

“The Rush” is a terrific fictional tale about the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Though gold mining was mainly a masculine affair, there were also women who headed there for various reasons. The author introduces Kate, Ellen and Martha, (all based on real characters). Very much a minority group among the many men, these women had their own personal reasons for making this treacherous journey to Dawson City.

Journalist Kate, along with her dog Yukon, has travelled hundreds of miles after receiving a letter from her sister warning that her husband means to kill her. Martha's hotel and livelihood are under threat from the local strongman, who is set on buying up the town. And down by the river, where gold shimmers from between the rocks, Ellen feels her future slip away as her husband fails to find the fortune they risked so much to seek.

When a woman is found murdered, the three women’s lives become entwined in their quest to find her killer. This will be no easy task, because Dawson City is a cruel and lawless place, where gold is God, and men will let nothing or no one stand in their way.

“The Rush” was a brilliant tale devoting each chapter to one of our three protagonist’s. It’s an exciting and gripping storyline that details the journey to firstly reach the Yukon (no mean feat) and then captures the daily lives of those seeking their fortunes in this unforgiving frozen wilderness, with its long periods of darkness, and the constant threat of starvation, disease and violence.
*There were references to animal cruelty that I quickly skimmed past.* However, I loved Yukon the dog, and also our three protagonists, each with their own riveting stories. I highly recommend this wonderful book. I feel like I’ve been on quite an adventure!

*My thanks to Netgalley and Serpent’s Tail/Viper/ Profile Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

[Margo Laurie]

At heart, this is a murder mystery, and a fast-paced one. The story reminded me a bit of 'A Dangerous Business' by Jane Smiley - but whereas that novel was quietly atmospheric literary fiction, this felt much more rumbustious. The tone and characters have a good-natured toughness which suits the subject of the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush. The focus is on strong female characters in a rough mining town, some seeking to "mine the miners" by selling them various necessities of life. (In the interesting historical note at the end, the author gives biographical sketches of real people who inspired characters in the book). 4.5⭐ rounded up.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Martine]

2.5* rounded up to 3*
The Rush by Beth Lewis is a vividly written novel set during the Klondike Gold Rush, following the lives of three women—each driven by survival and the promise of fortune in the frozen wilderness of the Yukon. I’ve had this book on my TBR for a long time and eagerly awaited its release, so I was excited to finally dive in. The research is excellent and the author really describes the harsh beauty and brutality of the era. However, while the story is told through multiple POVs, I found myself only truly invested in Kate’s storyline. I struggled to connect with the other characters and I felt the pace of the story was too slow at times. Mine is an outlier review (again). However, there are many great 5* reviews.

[Jo Lee]

Happy publication day 🥳🎉🎧

At its core, The Rush is a historical murder mystery, but Beth Lewis sweeps us back to 1890’s Canada and The Gold Rush in a way that elevates the story and allows it to span several genres, giving voice to the woman of the times who are so often forgotten in the stories. I highly recommend hanging around for the authors note at the end where she shares the inspiration for the story and the characters.

We have 3 main female protagonists to tell this epic tale;

Journalist Kate. Who sets out for the Yukon with her dog aptly named Yukon with the premise of writing the stories of the journey and the miners, but also on the hunt for her sister, who she fears is in danger.

Ellen, who has settled on the land with her husband who is failing miserably in his hopes of striking it rich.

Martha (Ma) the local hotelier and madam who has rightly predicted that the men will be in need of more than one home comfort in a hard land.

When a body turns up, the 3 woman unite to uncover the killer, but along the way, with the guidance of a fortune teller, they discover themselves, their wants and needs and friendship in a hard land.

This is one of my favourite reads in a long time, a big story with big characters, and scenery and story so well written you’ll be sure you’ve hopped back in time. I feel a best seller coming on.

The choice to have 3 separate narrators for the characters was perfect and Deborah McBride, Georgina Sadler and Kate Hanford delivered knockout performances 🎧

4.5 🌟
Huge thanks to Profile Books Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Tilly Fitzgerald]

The best book I’ve read this month - I couldn’t put this down and was hooked from the very first chapter! I loved every single one of our very different, but strong and independent leading women, and the story was as exciting as the gold rush itself! I adore books that have that western feeling to them, and this is one of the best - and definitely my favourite of the author’s, who is a brilliant writer.

The only negative thing I would say is that there’s a lot of animal violence and death, which I really can’t stomach so had to skim over. Otherwise, a fantastic read!

[Albóndiga Lee]

3,5 estrellas

Esta historia de cuatro mujeres que convergen en Alaska en plena fiebre del oro me ha resultado muy interesante en cuanto ambientación, y aunque es una historia fácil de leer con buen ritmo y tiene un misterio central que me ha interesado y ha hecho que me la ventile en un pisplás (tampoco es muy extensa) me ha faltado algo, quizás algo de profundidad en los personajes o en lo que rodea a la narración, quizás esperaba algo más no sé Kristin Hannah o Kate Quinn y se me ha quedado un poco corta.

[Laura y sus libros]

Había leído anteriormente varias novelas ambientadas en la fiebre del oro, pero todas ponían el foco en los personajes masculinos, dejando en segundo plano a las mujeres que, de una forma u otra, sostenían esos microcosmos hostiles que surgieron al otro lado del Atlántico. Además, todas las historias que conocía transcurrían en California, así que desconocía que más al norte, en las áridas y gélidas tierras del Yukón y Alaska, también florecieron asentamientos de personas que perseguían el sueño de un futuro mejor.

Lo que hace especial Fiebre de oro es precisamente eso: nos muestra la otra cara de aquella época a través de tres mujeres muy diferentes que, por distintos motivos, terminan coincidiendo en Dawson City.

La fiebre del oro acaba de estallar en la inhóspita región del Yukón. Las fortunas se levantan y se derrumban en cuestión de días, y Dawson City se ha convertido en un lugar donde la ambición, la violencia y la supervivencia marcan las reglas del juego.

Kate Kelly necesita llegar cuanto antes a Klondike tras recibir una desesperada petición de ayuda de su hermana Charlotte, que vive en Dawson City. Periodista de profesión, consigue financiación para emprender el peligroso viaje a cambio de escribir una serie de crónicas sobre la vida de los buscadores de oro.

Martha regenta un hotel-bar y lucha por proteger a las mujeres que trabajan para ella en un entorno donde pocas personas están dispuestas a velar por los demás.

Ellen, por su parte, sobrevive como puede mientras mira hacia atrás e intenta comprender cómo ha terminado atrapada en esa situación.

Cuando una de las chicas de Martha aparece asesinada, las vidas de estas tres mujeres comenzarán a entrelazarse de una manera que parece escrita por el destino.

La verdad es que esta novela me ha gustado muchísimo. Entré en ella sin expectativas y en apenas unas páginas ya estaba completamente atrapada por la historia. Beth Lewis consigue transportarte a unos paisajes de una belleza deslumbrante que, al mismo tiempo, pueden convertirse en los más crueles y despiadados asesinos.

He empatizado con cada una de las protagonistas a pesar de ser tan distintas entre sí. He sufrido con ellas, he hundido los pies en el barro, he desafiado los rápidos del Yukón, he sentido la emoción de encontrar una pepita de oro entre mis manos, se me ha roto el corazón y lo he vuelto a reconstruir junto a ellas. Sobre todo, he encontrado en sus historias una poderosa muestra de la sororidad que tantas veces necesitamos.

Fiebre de oro es una historia de supervivencia, valentía y resistencia que pone en valor la fortaleza de las mujeres en uno de los entornos más hostiles imaginables, rodeadas de hombres cegados por la obsesión de hacerse ricos. Inspiradas en mujeres reales, las protagonistas de esta novela me han regalado una lectura fascinante y profundamente humana.

Sin duda, ha sido una magnífica lectura y me he quedado con muchas ganas de seguir descubriendo la obra de Beth Lewis.

Mientras los libros de historia recuerdan a quienes encontraron oro, esta novela nos recuerda a las mujeres que sobrevivieron a su fiebre.

[Katherine (now only socially active on Instagram at Katie_Lou_Book_Reviews)]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set in 1898 amidst the Klondike Gold Rush in Yukon, Canada, this story follows three women - Kate, a journalist who travels hundreds of miles with her dog Yukon after receiving a letter from her sister who is in grave danger from her husband, Martha a hotel/brothel owner whose livelihood is under threat from a local businessman that is buying up all the businesses, and Ellen, a wife whose husband is under the spell of the Gold Rush but hasn’t had any luck striking gold. These three women’s lives become entwined after a local woman is found murdered. The story is based on real events, and whilst the characters are fictional, they are inspired by real people.

Told in alternating chapters focusing on our three female protagonists, all of whom I loved from the outset, it shows the struggles of journeying to the Yukon, and life in the midst of the Gold Rush for women surrounded by men, all of whom will let no one stand in their way of what they believe is their rightful fortune. Women were definitely in the minority and I love the way that the author has brought to the forefront the plight of the women during this era.

Some parts were hard to read, especially the references to animal cruelty, but I believe it was necessary to include this, not as a way to embellish the story, but to show us how selfish and single minded the men really were and how hard life was back then. There is also hope within the story, with the friendship of the women and how they stick together and look out for each other.

It’s a really well paced story, there weren’t any parts that dragged for me, I was thoroughly engrossed from start to finish, and the underlying mystery as to who killed the woman kept me really engaged too.

This is the first book I’ve read by Beth Lewis, and it definitely won’t be my last. An absolutely superb story, entertaining and also informative as I didn’t know anything about the Gold Rush prior to reading this book!

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird]

I enjoyed this audiobook.
It follows three women who are each affected by the 'Gold Rush' in Canada in 1898. I didn't know much about the Gold Rush prior to starting this book, but it was an interesting, gripping and enjoyable listem. The three narrators did a stellar job of conveying the emotion of each woman's story.
I didn't think it quite had the emotional impact for me, which is why I've chosen 4 stars.

[Eva]

Beth Lewis has quickly become one of my go-to authors and so I had rather high expectations where 'The Rush' was concerned. I'm happy to say that, once again, Beth Lewis delivered. And then some.

'The Rush' features three women caught up in the gold rush of the late 1890s up in the Klondike region of Canada. Kate is a reporter, who has travelled miles in search of her sister; Ellen lives down by the river, stuck in a most unhappy marriage; and Martha owns the hotel, which is constantly under threat from someone who is buying up the entire town. When a woman is found murdered, these three women will find themselves connected somehow, and their lives will never be the same.

I adored absolutely everything about 'The Rush'. From the very first page, I found myself transported to a time and place I knew very little about. First up, there's an exhilarating adventure while Kate is traveling to the Klondike region. Mountain passes, and rapids, and ice rivers, and whatnot. It's a miracle to know people actually made those journeys and crossed this incredibly unforgiving landscape to get to places unknown in search of gold. Many won't make it there, lose loved ones along the way, or arrive without the supplies they paid for. And for many, none of it will be worth it.

Martha's story is the story of a strong-willed woman, who will not let anyone walk all over her. She's quite the mother figure, trying to look after those in her employ as best as she can, to keep them safe from the local douchebag. But all may not be well with Martha, and soon she will have a choice to make and she will have to decide what her future will look like.

I probably found myself most invested in Ellen's life down by the river. Ellen married young, but her marriage is far from the fairytale she expected. She finds herself pretty much a prisoner of the husband who cares little about her, who keeps adding debt upon debt while trying to find a fortune in the midst of the mud. Despite the harsh circumstances, Ellen loves it here. She just doesn't love her husband.

In case it's not clear, the men don't come out of this looking well. Bar a few that I think you can count on one hand, they're mean and brutal. Nothing matters expect finding gold and amassing a fortune. There are plenty of potential suspects where the murder of the local woman is concerned. But will the killer ever be found?

These three formidable, fierce, and independent women won me over in an instant and I felt rather sad when my time with them came to an end. This tale of survival showcases the strength of women in the most ruthless environment, surrounded by unfeeling men who are blinded by the rush. Inspired by some real life women, I loved every minute of their absorbing stories and I wholeheartedly appreciate that Beth Lewis gave them the spotlight they so rightfully deserve. This is once again superb storytelling from this author and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

[Candace]

I enjoyed reading this one while running in dry, dusty mountain trails for ambiance. And the dog lives. You’re welcome.

[Jo Rawlins]

Absolutely brilliant! The characters Martha, Ellen and Kate are all from such very different backgrounds but are connected through the murder of someone close to all three. The three female protagonists are all strong women - a character trait necessary for survival in the gold rush taking place in the Klondike region of Canada in the late 1800s.

Great plot with lots of interesting moments and definitely a lot of action. Really well-paced. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I was curious how accurate the events were and found a substantial part of the novel inspired by real life events. This was really interesting in itself to read about alongside the novel.

I am also particularly excited to see Goldsboro Books have a special edition of this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Marisolera]

Cuesta un poquito porque el comienzo es lento, y te embarullas hasta que reconoces las historias de cada una de las narradoras. Pero llega un momento, cuando las tres finalmente coinciden, en que la historia coge ritmo y ya no la puedes dejar. Una historia de mujeres en el Klondike en plena fiebre del oro y de los abusos a los que las someten los hombres, ya sean económicos, físicos o sexuales, así como la discriminación que sufren por ser mujeres en un tiempo y en un lugar donde no era fácil serlo.

[Suzan]

The words compelling and gripping are often used to describe a book, and if they were ever fitting for a story, it would be this one!

Beautifully told, The Rush captures the beauty and savagery of the Yukon area during the rush for gold in the 1890s. It’s a moving and powerful story, and one that brought that slice of history to life for me in a very immersive way.

It’s told from the viewpoint of three different women who each had a very distinct voice and personality. Their strength, grit, and resilience was inspiring, and through their eyes we see how too often humanity got sacrificed on the trail for gold.

The vivid descriptions of the area made it feel like it was its own defiant and untamable character.

By turns beautiful and moving, and then in a heartbeat raw and gritty, this is a story that I couldn’t put down, and one that will stick with me for quite some time.

Highly recommended for fans of exceptionally written historical fiction.

[Helen]

I loved this! I’ve never read anything by Beth Lewis before, or even come across her, but this is one of my favourite books of the year so far. It’s set in Canada during the Gold Rush and follows the stories of three very different women whose paths cross in Dawson City in the Klondike.

The Rush begins with the arrival of Kate Kelly in Skaguay (now Skagway), Alaska, in 1898. Kate is there to meet up with the guide who is going to take her along the White Pass Trail, the route to Yukon and the Klondike goldfields. She needs to get there as quickly as possible because she has received a desperate plea for help from her sister, Charlotte, in Dawson City: This may be my last letter. He has finally found me and there is nowhere left to run.

In the little Klondike settlement of Boulder Creek, Ellen Rhodes spends her days alone in her cabin, cooking, cleaning and washing, while her husband, Charlie, goes down to the river and digs for gold that never appears. Ellen is sure they’re wasting their time and money, but Charlie refuses to give up on his dream. Finally, we meet Martha, owner of the Dawson Hotel, which doubles as the town’s brothel. Martha is fiercely proud of the business she has built up and is determined to keep it out of the hands of the ruthless Bill Mathers, who seems to be buying up the entire town.

The three women take turns to narrate the story, with the viewpoints rotating throughout the book. They are leading very separate lives at first, but are drawn together when one of Martha’s girls is found murdered. They’re also connected by a mysterious fortune teller who encounters all three of them and seems to have an uncanny ability to truly predict the future. There’s a mystery element to the novel as the women try to find out who the murder victim really is, who has killed her and why, but although this was intriguing and cleverly plotted, what I really loved was the setting and learning what it was like to be a woman in that fascinating but harsh environment where there were any number of natural and man-made disasters – an avalanche, a fire, an outbreak of typhoid – that could change everything in an instant.

I seem to read very few historical novels set in Canada, so I was pleased to have come across one with such a strong sense of place. The vivid descriptions made it easy for me to imagine the cabin by the river where Ellen and Charlie’s marriage falls apart, a victim to the obsessive fever that grabs hold of some human beings when gold is mentioned, and the streets of Dawson City where enterprising men and women like Martha have discovered that the real fortune is to be made not from mining but from the miners. But I particularly enjoyed following Kate’s journey from Alaska into Canada’s Yukon territory, a journey which includes a dramatic, exhilarating adventure crossing the dangerous White Horse Rapids.

I had assumed that the characters were entirely fictional, so I was surprised to read the author’s note at the end of the book and discover that many of them, including Kate, Ellen and Martha, are actually based loosely on real historical figures. This really is a fascinating book, in so many different ways, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

[M.J.]

The Rush is a fabulous novel about the Gold Rush in Canada in the late 1800s. It takes us to Dawson City and introduces us to three strong-willed women in a world where men seem to hold all the power—or do they?

Our three main characters offer a nuanced view of Dawson City and the surrounding area during the Gold Rush. We have our brothel owner, Martha (although she thinks of it differently), our prospector's wife, Ellen, and our young news reporter, Kate, who is also a visitor to the area. And we also have a mystery to solve: Who murdered Molly?

This is a fast-paced novel, the narrative switching between our three women and moving slightly backwards and forwards through time. It is a fascinating look at what was happening in 1898 and how this affected those involved. It is at times bleak and unsettling. It is also an interesting examination of what drove men (and women) to venture to such inhospitable locations. The mystery itself is well-plotted and keeps readers on their toes. Who killed Molly? And more importantly why?

I found this novel to be thoroughly engrossing. I especially enjoyed learning how the author devised her characters based on real historical personalities.

A fine read. Sure to be devoured by all.

[Louise]

I didn't know what to expect from this title, but I loved it.
The author paints a vivid picture of life during the Klondike Rush period and even though some of the main characters could feel a little stereotypical (Ellen; the housewife, Martha; the Madam, Kate; the unconventional woman of her time) each of the women feel fleshed out and you can't help root for them.

While the whodunnit plot had a few twists and turns to try keep the reader guessing, I personally felt it was obvious who the culprit was - but it didn't take away any enjoyment from the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Viper audio for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Karon Buxton]

Great riveting read with three Strong female narratives pulling the story together , clever plotting and characterisation , I love anything to do with the “wild west “ and the murder thrown in , a gold rush “whodunnit “ make it even more engaging - however not a 5 star for me purely due to the ending and the last 20 odd pages which felt v weak compared to rest of the story - however the historical notes from the author at the end are gripping ! Beth Lewis links the stories of the real people of history from these towns to her characters and the real gold rush of Dawson city , Klondike and Skagway . A fantastic page turning debut

[Sandie B]

I am currently reading On Writing by Stephen King. He asks when the Ideal Reader loses interest in the story. Here it is: when Kate goes to look for her sister’s murderer in the dog fight arena and gets badly beaten. I can’t really tell why this was my turn off point. The only evidence they have to determine who killed Molly/Charlotte is four scratches on his neck so the three main characters go around Dawson City accusing multiple men of murder until their necks are exposed. Revenge of the feminists in 1898.

[Joanne]

The Rush by Beth Lewis tells the story of three women who are in the Klondike at the time of the Gold Rush (late 19th century) for varying reasons. Martha is a hotel owner in Dawson City (for hotel, read brothel!), Ellen is the wife of a prospector who isn’t finding any gold but stubbornly won’t give up no matter how much debt he gets into, and Kate is a journalist who is writing a piece about life in the camps and towns around the area. She has an ulterior motive for going though, as she has received a desperate letter from her sister and worried that her life is in danger.

I loved all the women in the book. They were tough in their own ways because they had to be. The author showed the harsh realities of life for those in Dawson City. Danger lurked around every corner but the promise of riches from the gold spurred people on. The environment, the climate, the lawless society, violence motivated by the lust for gold and illness were just some of the challenges that the people faced.

This is one of those books where you just get completely immersed in the world the author has created. I was totally invested in the life of each woman and didn’t want to put the book down and leave them behind. As well as being a fascinating insight into the social history and the lives of women of the era, this was also a rather good murder mystery. When a woman is murdered, the paths of the three women become inextricably linked and they must work together to find out who killed her, and also to safeguard themselves.

If you pushed me to choose a favourite of the three women, I'd go with Martha. Choosing the owner of a brothel might seem a bit odd but I loved Martha for her feistiness and strength and also for her caring ways. The women in her hotel may have been prostitutes but to her they were like family, her girls, and she looked after them well. Despite being tough and brooking no nonsense, she also had a caring side to her as well.

The Rush is an excellent historical crime thriller. I was totally glued to its pages and flew through them while at the same time, not wanting it to end. It’s the first book by Beth Lewis I’ve read but it certainly won’t be the last.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm]

The Rush grabbed my attention (thanks to a fellow bookstagrammer's post) because of its Canadian location and its focus on women's experiences during the Yukon gold rush. Centred around the lives of three strong women in difficult historical times, I was expecting something along the lines of Melissa Lenhardt's Sawbones and it was ... kind of.

A mix of history, mystery and coming-into-herself, this book explores the experiences of women on the edge of civilization, during a time when societal expectations upon women were strong. It had all the fixin's for a good read but the storytelling fell flat for me.

It took a while for the trio of women to finally connect and while the descriptions of the area were wonderful, a lot of time was spent bouncing between the three women without propelling the story enough. Martha, Kate and Ellen brought unique POVs, but Kate's dog Yukon ended up being my favourite character. [** I caution dog loving readers that there is a violent scene involving canines which I skimmed.]

This is a good pick for history lovers. It's well-researched with vivid descriptions of the Yukon and what life was like for those who were brave and desperate enough to attempt to find their fortune in the wilds and brutality of the Yukon. I appreciate how the author shines a light on women's experiences in Canadian history, but the telling of the story with so much (too much?) going on, paired with awkward dialogue and a very slow pace in the second half detracted from my enjoyment. I'm in the minority so if you love historical fiction, give this book a try.

Note: read the afterward for more historical details

[Margie Steigerwald]

I was attracted to this book because I like historical fiction if it is done well. I appreciated the research that the author did for background on women's stories from the Klondike Gold Rush (see her note in the back of the book). I especially liked the descriptions of Skagway, the experience of riding on the White Pass Trail and of waiting for the thaw of Lake Bennett. I've been to these places and the descriptions matched my expectations. What I didn't like was some of the female protagonists, especially Ellen who seemed so weak until the end. I liked Kate and enjoyed knowing that all of the female characters were based loosely on real women of the Klondike. The violence seemed exaggerated to fit a barroom brawl western genre. Some of the action felt forced and like a spaghetti western. Dare I say, "tropes."? As far as the setting goes it was spot on until she said something about "pine trees." Those are not as common as spruce so a fact checker would have been helpful. In summary, I liked the beginning chapters, and then got lost in the middle and everything was too tidied up in the end. Enjoyed the historical notes and the women's POV, though this book fell short of my expectations for an Alaskana book club read. Too late, it's on our list and we got the book for the local library thinking it would be a good read for teens, but with all the violence against women, it may not be appropriate. Is it reality or exaggeration, it's sadly unclear to me.

[Cassidy]

A great book to end the year off with. The Rush follows three women in the Yukon during the Gold Rush in 1898. Their lives intertwine after a woman is found murdered in Dawson. Lewis' writing was easy to get into and the ending was explosive. For fans of Kristin Hannah's historical fiction and The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.

[Stephanie]

Listened to the audio, great narration and loved the intertwining stories

[Cait Mara]

-1 for queerbaiting

[laureneliza]

A good blend of mystery and historical fiction, though I think it worked better as the latter-- the descriptions of time and place are so vivid and really transport you to the era. I thought the mystery resolution was a bit weak but overall still really enjoyed this.

[Chels Adams]

I really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend. Canada in the year 1898, 3 women whose lives are intertwined, and none of them are afraid to tell a man what they think despite the times. Fab!

[Mis Lecturas]

3.5⭐️

[NikyB]

4.5⭐️ Wow what a book. Great storytelling with vivid descriptions of a lawless town during the Gold Rush of 1898. Our three main characters are all strong women with different problems in their lives who come together as friends. With murder and the gold rush fever in the town, the pace of the story was excellent and I couldn’t put the book down. Highly recommended.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf)]

DNF - there's too much animal cruelty for me to continue as it's a big trigger for me.