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Gunpowder Creek
‘Mum, please. I need your help. I’ve done something stupid… They’re coming for me.’
Friday, one thirty p.m. Emily Barnes is finishing work for the week, ready for a break from her laptop. Then she receives a panicked voicemail from her son Zach, punctuated by a gunshot.
By four p.m., she's driving a stolen car out of Perth, with explicit instructions from Zach's captors - in three days, deliver the car to Gunpowder Creek, a ghost town 900 kilometres deep into the West Australian outback. Miss the deadline and Zach dies. And don't open the boot.
The job should be simple. But there's someone dangerous roaming those lonely highways. Someone who doesn't want the car and its cargo to make it to Gunpowder Creek. Someone with cold eyes who has seen death and liked it.
For fans of Adrian McKinty and Will Dean, this cat-and-mouse thriller ignites like the fuse on a stick of dynamite.
Friday, one thirty p.m. Emily Barnes is finishing work for the week, ready for a break from her laptop. Then she receives a panicked voicemail from her son Zach, punctuated by a gunshot.
By four p.m., she's driving a stolen car out of Perth, with explicit instructions from Zach's captors - in three days, deliver the car to Gunpowder Creek, a ghost town 900 kilometres deep into the West Australian outback. Miss the deadline and Zach dies. And don't open the boot.
The job should be simple. But there's someone dangerous roaming those lonely highways. Someone who doesn't want the car and its cargo to make it to Gunpowder Creek. Someone with cold eyes who has seen death and liked it.
For fans of Adrian McKinty and Will Dean, this cat-and-mouse thriller ignites like the fuse on a stick of dynamite.
320 pages, Paperback
Published September 2, 2025
8 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Alex Dook
1 book6 followersAlex Dook is a writer based in Perth, Western Australia. His previous writing has been longlisted for the 2019 Fogarty Literary Award and Highly Commended in the 2021 Fogarty Literary Award. Gunpowder Creek is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 17, 2025
EXCERPT: On her phone she thumbed through to the voicemail. She really should have gotten Zach to visit Jenny on her property near Meekatharra while he was on the camping trip. Of course he would have resisted, but visiting his aunt would have been nice. Especially with Christmas coming up. Not that Emily had made the effort herself to visit. With everything that had gone on in the last few years, it had been easier just to stay in the city and keep her whingeing to herself. Jenny had her own life to worry about.
She played the voicemail. At first all she heard was her son's voice: tight, fearful. It was only on the second listen that she caught the words.
'Mum, please. I need your help. I've done something stupid - oh, fuck. Mum, please. They're coming for me. Oh, Jesus, fuck. No!'
ABOUT 'GUNPOWDER CREEK': Friday, one thirty p.m. Emily Barnes is finishing work for the week, ready for a break from her laptop. Then she receives a panicked voicemail from her son Zach, punctuated by a gunshot.
By four p.m., she's driving a stolen car out of Perth, with explicit instructions from Zach's captors - in three days, deliver the car to Gunpowder Creek, a ghost town 900 kilometres deep into the West Australian outback. Miss the deadline and Zach dies. And don't open the boot.
The job should be simple. But there's someone dangerous roaming those lonely highways. Someone who doesn't want the car and its cargo to make it to Gunpowder Creek. Someone with cold eyes who has seen death and liked it.
MY THOUGHTS: Give me five minutes to get my breath back! That was one hell of a ride!
If you are looking for a pulse-pounding thriller, look no further. THIS IS IT!
Set in the hot, dusty and remote outback of Australia, Gunpowder Creek is relentless in its pace. Full of tension, the pace is set in the first few pages and just doesn't let up. Emily is a mother willing to do anything to rescue her son from the situation he has got himself into, but not really understanding just what she is getting herself into. She thinks all she has to do is provide proof she has delivered whatever may be in the boot of the Commodore, and life will return to normal.
The biggest problem is that she doesn't know what she is delivering.
Or that someone else wants what she has. And will do anything to get it.
I recommend you go into this cold but, whatever you do - READ Gunpowder Creek by Alex Dook and sooner rather than later.
All the stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#GunpowderCreek #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: ALEX DOOK is a thriller writer based in Perth, Western Australia. Gunpowder Creek is his first novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Echo Publishing via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Gunpowder Creek for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
She played the voicemail. At first all she heard was her son's voice: tight, fearful. It was only on the second listen that she caught the words.
'Mum, please. I need your help. I've done something stupid - oh, fuck. Mum, please. They're coming for me. Oh, Jesus, fuck. No!'
ABOUT 'GUNPOWDER CREEK': Friday, one thirty p.m. Emily Barnes is finishing work for the week, ready for a break from her laptop. Then she receives a panicked voicemail from her son Zach, punctuated by a gunshot.
By four p.m., she's driving a stolen car out of Perth, with explicit instructions from Zach's captors - in three days, deliver the car to Gunpowder Creek, a ghost town 900 kilometres deep into the West Australian outback. Miss the deadline and Zach dies. And don't open the boot.
The job should be simple. But there's someone dangerous roaming those lonely highways. Someone who doesn't want the car and its cargo to make it to Gunpowder Creek. Someone with cold eyes who has seen death and liked it.
MY THOUGHTS: Give me five minutes to get my breath back! That was one hell of a ride!
If you are looking for a pulse-pounding thriller, look no further. THIS IS IT!
Set in the hot, dusty and remote outback of Australia, Gunpowder Creek is relentless in its pace. Full of tension, the pace is set in the first few pages and just doesn't let up. Emily is a mother willing to do anything to rescue her son from the situation he has got himself into, but not really understanding just what she is getting herself into. She thinks all she has to do is provide proof she has delivered whatever may be in the boot of the Commodore, and life will return to normal.
The biggest problem is that she doesn't know what she is delivering.
Or that someone else wants what she has. And will do anything to get it.
I recommend you go into this cold but, whatever you do - READ Gunpowder Creek by Alex Dook and sooner rather than later.
All the stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#GunpowderCreek #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: ALEX DOOK is a thriller writer based in Perth, Western Australia. Gunpowder Creek is his first novel.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Echo Publishing via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Gunpowder Creek for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
August 13, 2025
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Road Trip Thriller, Gritty Outback Crime
- - -
I don’t know what is in the water this year but debut authors in 2025 are absolutely killing it and I’m adding Alex Dook to that list!
Gunpowder Creek is a fast paced, edgy crime thriller set in Western Australia. Ironically, I took this book on a recent flight to WA but only got to open it on the plane ride home back to cold Victoria. Probably for the best as I would have been tempted to drive out of Perth and recreate the journey in this book (hopefully minus the guns, dead bodies and banged up cars).
This unexpected road trip into the WA outback had me glued to the pages. It moved as fast as the car driven by a desperate mum, fuelled with next level, high octane suspense.
Add in hostage situations, quirky small town local characters, guns, knives, plane crashes, dead bodies, smashed windscreens, gunshot wounds and plenty of red dirt and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a gritty, unputdownable crime drama.
Huge congrats to Alex on such a brilliant debut and a big thank you to Echo Publishing this sneak peek!
Vibes: Road Trip Thriller, Gritty Outback Crime
- - -
I don’t know what is in the water this year but debut authors in 2025 are absolutely killing it and I’m adding Alex Dook to that list!
Gunpowder Creek is a fast paced, edgy crime thriller set in Western Australia. Ironically, I took this book on a recent flight to WA but only got to open it on the plane ride home back to cold Victoria. Probably for the best as I would have been tempted to drive out of Perth and recreate the journey in this book (hopefully minus the guns, dead bodies and banged up cars).
This unexpected road trip into the WA outback had me glued to the pages. It moved as fast as the car driven by a desperate mum, fuelled with next level, high octane suspense.
Add in hostage situations, quirky small town local characters, guns, knives, plane crashes, dead bodies, smashed windscreens, gunshot wounds and plenty of red dirt and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a gritty, unputdownable crime drama.
Huge congrats to Alex on such a brilliant debut and a big thank you to Echo Publishing this sneak peek!
October 14, 2025
This fast-paced, tension filled thriller is a fantastic read!!
Emily is a regular woman, going about her fairly ordinary life, when she is thrown into an extremely intense situation. Her response is to do whatever it takes to keep her son alive. To be the tough person her father has always encouraged to
On her mercy drive to the outback WA town of Gunpowder Creek, she encounters obstacle after terrifying obstacle, whilst also having to avoid an ex military mad man, hellbent on retrieving whatever is hidden in her boot.
You will plough through this one with your heart in your mouth, praying for a successful ending!
It's an amazing debut that I thoroughly recommend. This is out today!
4.8 ⭐️'s
Thank you very much to @alexjamesdook and @echo_publishing for my copy to read and review!
October 30, 2025
4/5
This book does not waste pages (and we know I’m here for that). Business from start to finish, it’s hot out the gate and ends with a bang. A dusty and heated Aussie outback thriller, for whose enjoy Candice Fox vibes this is for you! An easy and fast read. I couldn’t put it down!
A great debut book and thanks to Echo publishing for a copy!
This book does not waste pages (and we know I’m here for that). Business from start to finish, it’s hot out the gate and ends with a bang. A dusty and heated Aussie outback thriller, for whose enjoy Candice Fox vibes this is for you! An easy and fast read. I couldn’t put it down!
A great debut book and thanks to Echo publishing for a copy!
August 17, 2025
There seems to be a lot of action out on the roads of the Western Australian outback recently. In Emma Styles debut No Country for Girls, a couple of women go on a Thelma and Louise style Odyssey through the Western Australian outback. And there is also Michael Trant’s Wild Dogs, also set in this remote part of the country. Into this milieu comes Alex Dook firing on all cylinders in his debut Gunpowder Creek.
Gunpowder Creek has a cracking opening chapter – teenager Zach has found himself in questionable company on a “job” that he does not understand and is not prepared for. His mother Emily is interrupted at her corporate job by a desperate voicemail from Zach with gunshots in the background. Before she knows it Emily has bargained with Zach’s shady associates to do the job that he was supposed to do and drive a package to a remote point of Western Australia while they hold Zach captive. Little does she know that a fairly psychotic ex-soldier has been hired to retrieve the same package. It is not long before things for Emily go from not great to bad to worse but she keeps Zach at the front of her mind as she overcomes the obstacles that are thrown at her.
Gunpowder Creek is a high octane crime thriller in a kind of Tarantino/Coen Brothers mode – crazy situations, escalating violence and a ticking clock – but with the Australian roadtrip flavour that probably started as far back as Mad Max. Dook cleverly anchors all this around Emily, an ordinary hard working mum who finds herself pushed into taking extreme action to save her son, only finding that she is not so good at being on the bad side of the line. Dook also gives a great sense of the country that Emily is driving through – the small roadhouses, close knit communities and crumbling buildings.
And while there are maybe a few slightly not believable coincidences, Dook cleverly ramps up the tension and keeps the story flowing so that they are easy to breeze through. Overall, Dook delivers a page turning thriller for action fans, in this assured debut.
Gunpowder Creek has a cracking opening chapter – teenager Zach has found himself in questionable company on a “job” that he does not understand and is not prepared for. His mother Emily is interrupted at her corporate job by a desperate voicemail from Zach with gunshots in the background. Before she knows it Emily has bargained with Zach’s shady associates to do the job that he was supposed to do and drive a package to a remote point of Western Australia while they hold Zach captive. Little does she know that a fairly psychotic ex-soldier has been hired to retrieve the same package. It is not long before things for Emily go from not great to bad to worse but she keeps Zach at the front of her mind as she overcomes the obstacles that are thrown at her.
Gunpowder Creek is a high octane crime thriller in a kind of Tarantino/Coen Brothers mode – crazy situations, escalating violence and a ticking clock – but with the Australian roadtrip flavour that probably started as far back as Mad Max. Dook cleverly anchors all this around Emily, an ordinary hard working mum who finds herself pushed into taking extreme action to save her son, only finding that she is not so good at being on the bad side of the line. Dook also gives a great sense of the country that Emily is driving through – the small roadhouses, close knit communities and crumbling buildings.
And while there are maybe a few slightly not believable coincidences, Dook cleverly ramps up the tension and keeps the story flowing so that they are easy to breeze through. Overall, Dook delivers a page turning thriller for action fans, in this assured debut.
November 23, 2025
Recently, I’ve found I’m really enjoying books set back home in Perth and Western Australia. Most that I’ve read have been somewhat heavy memoirs or coming-of-age stories, so it was a real kick to read an outback thriller in the same familiar setting.
This story starts out as a slow burn that gradually builds momentum until you realise that there’s no getting off the ride until it’s over. As we venture further into the outback over the course of a couple of days, we fall deeper into desperation and madness. Can really feel the dirt, sweat, and grime building up over the course of the novel. Great pacing and perspective shifts keep things moving along, with realistic and likeable characters and voices. A really fun debut novel, looking forward to more!
This story starts out as a slow burn that gradually builds momentum until you realise that there’s no getting off the ride until it’s over. As we venture further into the outback over the course of a couple of days, we fall deeper into desperation and madness. Can really feel the dirt, sweat, and grime building up over the course of the novel. Great pacing and perspective shifts keep things moving along, with realistic and likeable characters and voices. A really fun debut novel, looking forward to more!
September 17, 2025
Imagine being a parent and getting this voicemail - 'Mum, please. I need your help. I've done something stupid - oh fuck. Mum, please. They're coming for me. Oh, Jesus, fuck. No!'
Well Emily gets this voicemail from her eighteen year old son Zach. He is obviously in trouble. Big trouble. And Emily is prepared to do whatever it takes to get Zach out of trouble.
After she convinces the people Zach was working for that she can deliver the package and finish the job this story cranks it up and is action packed from start to finish.
Reminiscent of The Hitchhiker, Gunpowder Creek is a hair raising, tension filled, white knuckle ride through the wild and lawless outback of WA. Filled with criminal syndicates, hitmen, weird and wonderful outback personalities, an unforgiving environment and a kick arse mother who thinks of nothing but saving her son.
Be prepared to binge this one and hats off to another amazing debut by an Australian author.
Well Emily gets this voicemail from her eighteen year old son Zach. He is obviously in trouble. Big trouble. And Emily is prepared to do whatever it takes to get Zach out of trouble.
After she convinces the people Zach was working for that she can deliver the package and finish the job this story cranks it up and is action packed from start to finish.
Reminiscent of The Hitchhiker, Gunpowder Creek is a hair raising, tension filled, white knuckle ride through the wild and lawless outback of WA. Filled with criminal syndicates, hitmen, weird and wonderful outback personalities, an unforgiving environment and a kick arse mother who thinks of nothing but saving her son.
Be prepared to binge this one and hats off to another amazing debut by an Australian author.
September 13, 2025
3.5
This was a fast-paced thriller, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger to keep you reading. The countdown timeline really added to the tension.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the Western Australian landscape. The vastness, heat, and isolation were almost like characters themselves, heightening their desperation.
The characters were varied and well drawn. No one was 100% good or bad, each had their own motivations. Since the story was told from multiple viewpoints, it added depth to their choices.
While a couple of the twists felt a bit stretched, like any good popcorn-action movie, suspending belief adds to the fun of the story.
Overall this was a great debut novel. Thank you to Good Reading Magazine for the Early Bird copy of this book.
This was a fast-paced thriller, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger to keep you reading. The countdown timeline really added to the tension.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the Western Australian landscape. The vastness, heat, and isolation were almost like characters themselves, heightening their desperation.
The characters were varied and well drawn. No one was 100% good or bad, each had their own motivations. Since the story was told from multiple viewpoints, it added depth to their choices.
While a couple of the twists felt a bit stretched, like any good popcorn-action movie, suspending belief adds to the fun of the story.
Overall this was a great debut novel. Thank you to Good Reading Magazine for the Early Bird copy of this book.
October 8, 2025
Why did I finish this book? I have a problem! This felt like a 17 year old boy with no wrote this. The utter
Absurdity of this book had my eyes rolling so far back in my head. I did not like any character. The plot was so James Bond but written by a child.
How did this get published. I should’ve given up but no I have to finish something I start.
Would not recommend this. This was like a cheep nock off movie that has no actors you know of and think how did they get the ok to do this.
Not a vibe
Absurdity of this book had my eyes rolling so far back in my head. I did not like any character. The plot was so James Bond but written by a child.
How did this get published. I should’ve given up but no I have to finish something I start.
Would not recommend this. This was like a cheep nock off movie that has no actors you know of and think how did they get the ok to do this.
Not a vibe
October 13, 2025
3 stars
Fast paced debut novel
Thanks to publisher for ARC.
Fast paced debut novel
Thanks to publisher for ARC.
November 28, 2025
Completely ridiculous but a lot of fun. Great to finally have some kick-ass female characters to read about.
November 10, 2025
A cast of seriously unlikeable characters through the iconic WA outback.
September 11, 2025
There’s some willing suspension of disbelief required here but the plot is original, the pace cracking and the character development genuinely impressive. Hard to believe this is the authors debut work! Perhaps he has a dozen other manuscripts in various stages of completion lurking about. A standout crime thriller!
October 6, 2025
Gunpowder Creek destaca por su intensidad cruda y su peso emocional. En lugar de apoyarse únicamente en el impacto fácil, Alex Dook construye el suspense con contención, dejando que el silencio, la distancia y la incertidumbre moral sean los que generen tensión. El interior australiano no es solo un escenario; funciona como una cámara de presión emocional, donde cada decisión del personaje tiene consecuencias reales.
Lo que más me llamó la atención es el tono realista. La tensión no proviene de giros exagerados, sino de reacciones creíbles ante situaciones imposibles. Es un thriller que respeta tanto a sus personajes como a su trama, y eso hace que cada momento de conflicto se sienta auténtico. Crudo, directo y profundamente humano.
Una gran opción para quienes prefieren la presión psicológica antes que el caos teatral.
En Inglés:
ENGLISH VERSION (for posting):
Gunpowder Creek stands out for its raw intensity and emotional weight. Rather than relying on shock factor alone, Alex Dook builds suspense through restraint—letting silence, distance and moral uncertainty do the heavy lifting. The Australian outback is not just scenery; it functions as an emotional pressure chamber, forcing every character choice to feel consequential.
What impressed me most is the grounded tone. The tension doesn’t come from exaggerated twists, but from believable reactions under impossible circumstances. It’s a thriller that respects its characters as much as its plot, which makes every escalation feel earned. Gritty, unpolished in the best way, and unapologetically human.
A strong entry for readers who prefer psychological pressure over theatrical chaos.
#GunpowderCreek #AlexDook #AustralianThriller #OutbackNoir #PsychologicalSuspense #BookReview #ThrillerReaders #MysteryAndSuspense #NetGalley
Lo que más me llamó la atención es el tono realista. La tensión no proviene de giros exagerados, sino de reacciones creíbles ante situaciones imposibles. Es un thriller que respeta tanto a sus personajes como a su trama, y eso hace que cada momento de conflicto se sienta auténtico. Crudo, directo y profundamente humano.
Una gran opción para quienes prefieren la presión psicológica antes que el caos teatral.
En Inglés:
ENGLISH VERSION (for posting):
Gunpowder Creek stands out for its raw intensity and emotional weight. Rather than relying on shock factor alone, Alex Dook builds suspense through restraint—letting silence, distance and moral uncertainty do the heavy lifting. The Australian outback is not just scenery; it functions as an emotional pressure chamber, forcing every character choice to feel consequential.
What impressed me most is the grounded tone. The tension doesn’t come from exaggerated twists, but from believable reactions under impossible circumstances. It’s a thriller that respects its characters as much as its plot, which makes every escalation feel earned. Gritty, unpolished in the best way, and unapologetically human.
A strong entry for readers who prefer psychological pressure over theatrical chaos.
#GunpowderCreek #AlexDook #AustralianThriller #OutbackNoir #PsychologicalSuspense #BookReview #ThrillerReaders #MysteryAndSuspense #NetGalley
October 24, 2025
‘Mum, please. I need your help. I’ve done something stupid… They’re coming for me.’
A voice mail from her son Zach on a Friday afternoon signals the beginning of a nightmare for Perth mother Emily Barnes. She rushes over to Zach’s flat and then finds herself accepting a job with a critical deadline. Zach is being held captive, and his captors will kill him unless Emily drives a car to Gunpowder Creek, 900 kilometres north of Perth. She needs to be there at 6 am on Monday morning.
By 4pm on Friday, Emily is on her way, driving a nondescript grey Holden Commodore. Emily has a strict set of instructions to comply with, her phone has tracking software installed on it, and she is told not to open the boot of the car.
What follows is a wild and unpredictable journey. Unforeseen events, an unexpected flat tyre and a looming deadline increase the tension. The story shifts between Emily and Zach, with both under increasing pressure. And yes, there is a dramatic ending.
Despite some reservations about the starting point, I became caught up in Emily’s desperation to save her son. Towards the end believability was tested by aspects of the story but I was totally invested by then. Who would survive, and how?
An impressive debut novel, and I hope this is the first of many novels by Mr Dook.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
A voice mail from her son Zach on a Friday afternoon signals the beginning of a nightmare for Perth mother Emily Barnes. She rushes over to Zach’s flat and then finds herself accepting a job with a critical deadline. Zach is being held captive, and his captors will kill him unless Emily drives a car to Gunpowder Creek, 900 kilometres north of Perth. She needs to be there at 6 am on Monday morning.
By 4pm on Friday, Emily is on her way, driving a nondescript grey Holden Commodore. Emily has a strict set of instructions to comply with, her phone has tracking software installed on it, and she is told not to open the boot of the car.
What follows is a wild and unpredictable journey. Unforeseen events, an unexpected flat tyre and a looming deadline increase the tension. The story shifts between Emily and Zach, with both under increasing pressure. And yes, there is a dramatic ending.
Despite some reservations about the starting point, I became caught up in Emily’s desperation to save her son. Towards the end believability was tested by aspects of the story but I was totally invested by then. Who would survive, and how?
An impressive debut novel, and I hope this is the first of many novels by Mr Dook.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
November 20, 2025
WOW. WOW. WOW. What a fantastic debut from Alex Dook.
I absolutely LOVED Gunpowder Creek. It was an adrenaline filled thriller, full of suspense, drama, murder, and betrayal. It was so good, I don't even know if this review will do it justice.
I was hooked immediately, right from the very first chapter. I honestly couldn't put it down.
I loved everything about it. It was fast paced, clever, unique and incredibly compelling. It had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
I loved the different view points, especially the chapters from Emily, Zach and Shane.
Emily was a great main character, she was strong, determined, loyal and relatable. She was going through every mother's worst nightmare, yet she kept it together, and managed to get through each challenge along the way.
Alex is an exceptional new talent in the thriller world and I hope there will be a lot more of his books to come. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
I very highly recommend. If you're only going to read one more thriller this year, make sure it's Gunpowder Creek, you won't regret it.
5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Especially for fans of J.P. Pomare, Adrian McKinty, Simon Kernick, and J.S. Monroe.
Thanks to Netgalley, Echo Publishing, and Alex Dook for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely LOVED Gunpowder Creek. It was an adrenaline filled thriller, full of suspense, drama, murder, and betrayal. It was so good, I don't even know if this review will do it justice.
I was hooked immediately, right from the very first chapter. I honestly couldn't put it down.
I loved everything about it. It was fast paced, clever, unique and incredibly compelling. It had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
I loved the different view points, especially the chapters from Emily, Zach and Shane.
Emily was a great main character, she was strong, determined, loyal and relatable. She was going through every mother's worst nightmare, yet she kept it together, and managed to get through each challenge along the way.
Alex is an exceptional new talent in the thriller world and I hope there will be a lot more of his books to come. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
I very highly recommend. If you're only going to read one more thriller this year, make sure it's Gunpowder Creek, you won't regret it.
5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Especially for fans of J.P. Pomare, Adrian McKinty, Simon Kernick, and J.S. Monroe.
Thanks to Netgalley, Echo Publishing, and Alex Dook for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2025
Okay, first, this book was off the rails! Second, this was a great example of how far a mother will go for their child. Seriously! Several times throughout the story I thought "would I do this?" and the answer was "yes." Thankfully, I'd like to assume I won't have to go this far, but I know that I have been a fierce mama bear, so Emily's dedication and actions seem plausible to me. I was also impressed with how her character was developed as the story went along. So, not only did you get a solid action story but you also became well acquainted with Emily and maybe learned a bit more why she was so adamant to save her son. Two things: why didn't she grab a pair of pants/shorts when she got the shirt? and if Emily had been a male Liam Neeson would play her in the movie.
Thanks to NetGalley and Echo Publishing for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Echo Publishing for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
September 29, 2025
Five Stars. Fast paced, edge of your seat, the ultimate game of cat and mouse. That's exactly how I would describe Gunpowder Creek - the debut go the year by Alex Dook.
We're thrown straight into the action with Emily, who receives a panicked voicemail from her son. To save his life, she has just three days to deliver a car - and the mysterious package inside - to Gunpowder Creek, deep in the West Australian Outback. I absolutely devoured this book. I could not put it down. Alex Dook is a voice to watch - the next Gabriel Bergmoser. Mark my words: this book will be optioned for film or TV.
If you love thrillers that grip you from page one, Gunpowder Creek is a must-read.
This book was Kindly gifted to me from my friends at Good Reading Magazine. Thank you for the advanced copy.
We're thrown straight into the action with Emily, who receives a panicked voicemail from her son. To save his life, she has just three days to deliver a car - and the mysterious package inside - to Gunpowder Creek, deep in the West Australian Outback. I absolutely devoured this book. I could not put it down. Alex Dook is a voice to watch - the next Gabriel Bergmoser. Mark my words: this book will be optioned for film or TV.
If you love thrillers that grip you from page one, Gunpowder Creek is a must-read.
This book was Kindly gifted to me from my friends at Good Reading Magazine. Thank you for the advanced copy.
December 3, 2025
Emily Barnes had figured that encouraging her son Zach to move out would help him take on more responsibilities and act like a grown up. Unfortunately, one Friday afternoon an emergency call she receives at work disabuses her of that notion.
It turns out that Zach has fallen in with some criminal elements and got himself into a really dangerous situation. The only chance that Emily stands of getting him out of it is to deliver some seriously dodgy cargo to a remote Outback location. Only a mother would even consider it. But can she pull it off?
A tense, suspenseful piece of story talent in an atmospheric setting, this undoubtedly succeeds in holding the reader's attention throughout.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
It turns out that Zach has fallen in with some criminal elements and got himself into a really dangerous situation. The only chance that Emily stands of getting him out of it is to deliver some seriously dodgy cargo to a remote Outback location. Only a mother would even consider it. But can she pull it off?
A tense, suspenseful piece of story talent in an atmospheric setting, this undoubtedly succeeds in holding the reader's attention throughout.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 10, 2025
An Aussie noir debut tale, Gunpowder Creek (2025) by Alex Dook is a tension-laden thriller. When Zach Barnes is taken captive after he bungles a job for shady characters, his mother rushes to his rescue. Emily Barnes then volunteers to undergo a nine-hundred-kilometre road trip to remote Gunpowder Creek in Western Australia. Needing to deliver the car and its unknown boot contents, a kangaroo and then a flat tyre cause difficulties, as she is pursued by a man armed with a gun. The action unfolds over a weekend with menacing tension and a foreboding of doom that is a gripping, if bloody at times, four star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.
September 1, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Excuse me…but how is Gunpowder Creek a debut 🤯 If you love fast paced, outback thrillers then you need to read this book! Far out, it was so good!!
✨Dook had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish and left me wanting more! It was a fast paced, gritty thriller with a female lead you can’t help but admire and root for.
I loved the plot and the writing style. The chapters are fast and punchy and are told from different perspectives. The characters are all different, some a little quirky, and the cat and mouse action was so good! I loved it from start to finish! I’ll never look at that stretch of highway the same again 😳
This is a brilliant debut that I highly recommend. Thank you to the author and echo publishing for a copy to read and honestly review.
Excuse me…but how is Gunpowder Creek a debut 🤯 If you love fast paced, outback thrillers then you need to read this book! Far out, it was so good!!
✨Dook had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish and left me wanting more! It was a fast paced, gritty thriller with a female lead you can’t help but admire and root for.
I loved the plot and the writing style. The chapters are fast and punchy and are told from different perspectives. The characters are all different, some a little quirky, and the cat and mouse action was so good! I loved it from start to finish! I’ll never look at that stretch of highway the same again 😳
This is a brilliant debut that I highly recommend. Thank you to the author and echo publishing for a copy to read and honestly review.
October 7, 2025
The opening scene of Gunpowder Creek is a cracker. I say scene as I feel like this book was written with the idea of it being made into a movie. And it would be a great movie. It opens with ineffectual Zack making a very poor life choice and making a chilling call to his mother Emily. Emily is the star of this book! Would I take a car 900k with unknown "cargo" in the boot to save my son? I would hope so, but I think most of us would not have the survival instinct she shows during the road trip.
Alex Dook's descriptions of the WA landscape are well drawn, and I got a real sense of place. The Syndicate characters are terrifying, and the body count impressive!
Alex Dook's descriptions of the WA landscape are well drawn, and I got a real sense of place. The Syndicate characters are terrifying, and the body count impressive!
July 20, 2025
Really enjoyed this debut novel from Alex Dook.
Set in WA, Emily Barnes listens to a voicemail from her son. He's panicked and there's a gunshot. Within hours, she's his stand-in for a delivery that she knows nothing about.
A story about how far a parent would go to save their child.
It's fast-moving, plenty of action, and edge of your seat drama.
Set in WA, Emily Barnes listens to a voicemail from her son. He's panicked and there's a gunshot. Within hours, she's his stand-in for a delivery that she knows nothing about.
A story about how far a parent would go to save their child.
It's fast-moving, plenty of action, and edge of your seat drama.
September 11, 2025
Gunpowder Creek is written by Alex Dook. This is Alex’s debut novel and what a page turner it is, he has definitely announced his arrival with a bang.
I knew as soon as I read the back cover I wanted to read this book. “Mum, please. I need your help. I’ve done something stupid…. They’re coming for me” I needed to know what happened next but as a Mum it had me thinking what would I do if I was in Emily’s place. It had had a great plot and pace and I wanted to keep reading into the night.
The novel starts with Emily receiving the panicked voice mail message from her son Zach. She undertakes a plan to save Zach this involves her driving a stolen car into the unforgiving Western Australian outback. She needs to make a delivery within 3 days to Gunpowder Creek or Zach dies. She is told to not open the boot.
I throughly enjoyed this book and have been telling others about it, I gave it 5 stars. Great characters some you dislike with a passion and I had so much empathy towards Emily who turned into a fierce Mumma Bear. Fabulous read.
I knew as soon as I read the back cover I wanted to read this book. “Mum, please. I need your help. I’ve done something stupid…. They’re coming for me” I needed to know what happened next but as a Mum it had me thinking what would I do if I was in Emily’s place. It had had a great plot and pace and I wanted to keep reading into the night.
The novel starts with Emily receiving the panicked voice mail message from her son Zach. She undertakes a plan to save Zach this involves her driving a stolen car into the unforgiving Western Australian outback. She needs to make a delivery within 3 days to Gunpowder Creek or Zach dies. She is told to not open the boot.
I throughly enjoyed this book and have been telling others about it, I gave it 5 stars. Great characters some you dislike with a passion and I had so much empathy towards Emily who turned into a fierce Mumma Bear. Fabulous read.
November 1, 2025
3.5 up to 4 because this is an amazing debut novel. I admit I lost the thread of the plot of the various layers of nefarious baddies. The violence that exploded in the second half almost made me give up, I found it all a bit too much.
August 31, 2025
Pretty good effort for a debut novel, but quite a few very improbable happenings stet h the imagination.
October 24, 2025
Had a hard time buying into the ludicrous premise and increasingly preposterous developments.
December 4, 2025
Very exciting but just a bit too convoluted, improbable and predictable.
December 9, 2025
A gritty, tense outback road trip thriller.
This is a fantastic debut novel!
This is a fantastic debut novel!
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