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High Rise
A heart-pounding, high-stakes, high-adrenalin relentless blast of an action-packed thriller, from Gabriel Bergmoser. the bestselling author of The Hunted and The Caretaker.
After a year of searching, rogue ex-cop Jack Carlin has finally found his estranged daughter, Morgan, holed up in the top floor of a rundown, grimy high-rise building. The trouble is, Jack's unconventional policing and information-gathering methods in the past has made him some serious enemies. And what Jack doesn't know as he heads into the building, intent on saving his daughter, is firstly, that Morgan doesn't want to be saved - particularly not by him - and secondly, that the entire criminal underworld in the city are on their way too... There's a bounty on his head, and they're after his blood - and they don't mind if Morgan is collateral damage.
As bounty hunters and gang members converge on the building, father and daughter are thrown into a desperate fight for survival through fifteen storeys of deadly enemies - with only each other to rely on. Die Hard meets The Raid, but the funnier, grittier Australian version. Fast, furious and ferocious, this is thriller writing at its nail-biting, unputdownable best.
After a year of searching, rogue ex-cop Jack Carlin has finally found his estranged daughter, Morgan, holed up in the top floor of a rundown, grimy high-rise building. The trouble is, Jack's unconventional policing and information-gathering methods in the past has made him some serious enemies. And what Jack doesn't know as he heads into the building, intent on saving his daughter, is firstly, that Morgan doesn't want to be saved - particularly not by him - and secondly, that the entire criminal underworld in the city are on their way too... There's a bounty on his head, and they're after his blood - and they don't mind if Morgan is collateral damage.
As bounty hunters and gang members converge on the building, father and daughter are thrown into a desperate fight for survival through fifteen storeys of deadly enemies - with only each other to rely on. Die Hard meets The Raid, but the funnier, grittier Australian version. Fast, furious and ferocious, this is thriller writing at its nail-biting, unputdownable best.
- GenresFiction
Audiobook
First published August 1, 2025
6 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Gabriel Bergmoser
18 books271 followersGabriel Bergmoser is a Melbourne based author and playwright. After starting out in the youth theatre scene with his early plays Windmills, Life Without Me and Hometown, Gabriel completed his Masters of Screenwriting at the Victorian College of the Arts. He co-founded the independent production company Bitten By Productions, entering the Melbourne theatre scene with the one-act comedy Reunion and the futuristic Babylon Trilogy of noir thrillers. Gabriel's 2015 Beatles comedy We Can Work It Out opened to sell out shows and rave reviews – it has also been performed in Queensland and returned to Melbourne stages for the 2018 Fringe Festival.
In 2015 he won the prestigious Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award for his pilot screenplay based on Windmills and was flown to the International Emmys in New York to accept. The same pilot was later nominated for the Monte Miller Award. In 2016 his first young adult novel, Boone Shepard, was published by Bell Frog Books; it was later shortlisted for the Readings Young Adult Prize the day after the sequel, Boone Shepard's American Adventure was released. The third book, Boone Shepard: The Silhouette and the Sacrifice, was released in 2018 and a television adaptation is currently in development with Pirate Size Productions.
His 2016 plays The Lucas Conundrum, Regression and The Critic opened to excellent reviews while his early 2017 play Springsteen sold out its entire season. His play Heroes was nominated for the 2017 Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing and went on to win several awards, including five for Best Production and three for best script, on the 2017 VDL One Act Play Festival circuit. His first musical, Moonlite (featuring original songs by Dan Nixon) was performed as part of the 2018 Midsumma Festival; it received rave reviews, sold out its entire season, and was later selected for the highly sought after Home Grown Grassroots development initiative. His 2019 play, The Trial of Dorian Gray, sold out its entire season, was extended, then sold out again. Several of his plays have been published by Australian Plays.
In 2019 Gabriel signed a two book deal with Harper Collins, with the first, The Hunted, scheduled for publication in July 2020. The Hunted will be published in the UK by Faber with translation rights having sold to Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Italy and France. The film adaptation is currently being developed in a joint production between Stampede Ventures and Vertigo entertainment in Los Angeles, with Gabriel writing the screenplay. He has since signed a second two book deal with Harper for his YA coming of age novel The True Colour of Little White Lies and a follow up.
In 2015 he won the prestigious Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award for his pilot screenplay based on Windmills and was flown to the International Emmys in New York to accept. The same pilot was later nominated for the Monte Miller Award. In 2016 his first young adult novel, Boone Shepard, was published by Bell Frog Books; it was later shortlisted for the Readings Young Adult Prize the day after the sequel, Boone Shepard's American Adventure was released. The third book, Boone Shepard: The Silhouette and the Sacrifice, was released in 2018 and a television adaptation is currently in development with Pirate Size Productions.
His 2016 plays The Lucas Conundrum, Regression and The Critic opened to excellent reviews while his early 2017 play Springsteen sold out its entire season. His play Heroes was nominated for the 2017 Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing and went on to win several awards, including five for Best Production and three for best script, on the 2017 VDL One Act Play Festival circuit. His first musical, Moonlite (featuring original songs by Dan Nixon) was performed as part of the 2018 Midsumma Festival; it received rave reviews, sold out its entire season, and was later selected for the highly sought after Home Grown Grassroots development initiative. His 2019 play, The Trial of Dorian Gray, sold out its entire season, was extended, then sold out again. Several of his plays have been published by Australian Plays.
In 2019 Gabriel signed a two book deal with Harper Collins, with the first, The Hunted, scheduled for publication in July 2020. The Hunted will be published in the UK by Faber with translation rights having sold to Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Italy and France. The film adaptation is currently being developed in a joint production between Stampede Ventures and Vertigo entertainment in Los Angeles, with Gabriel writing the screenplay. He has since signed a second two book deal with Harper for his YA coming of age novel The True Colour of Little White Lies and a follow up.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 29, 2025
This is one of the most exciting books I have ever read. It is gleefully violent. The violence, or threat of, is constant.
Jack Carlin is a disgraced former cop. Now living as a vigilante as he tries to atone for his previous misdeeds. What he regrets most is the non existent relationship with his daughter Morgan. When he finds out she is in the sights of the police he is determined to save her.
Morgan is living in a decrepit high rise in a bad neighbourhood, and this building becomes the setting for one of the most hair raising, white knuckle rides you will ever read.
With cameos by Maggie from The Hunted, The Inheritance and The Hitchhiker and Anders from The Caretaker and the introduction to many other bloodthirsty characters with no regard for human life, this is one hell of a story.
Think Tarantino type violence. The visuals I had while reading were insane and this would make an incredible movie.
If you can stomach reading about violence then this book and the preceding books are sensational. There is a great story behind it all and the violence is an integral part of that story due to the nature of the characters.
Gabe I think this might be my favourite of the series. I hope the audio ones are released in print as well.
Jack Carlin is a disgraced former cop. Now living as a vigilante as he tries to atone for his previous misdeeds. What he regrets most is the non existent relationship with his daughter Morgan. When he finds out she is in the sights of the police he is determined to save her.
Morgan is living in a decrepit high rise in a bad neighbourhood, and this building becomes the setting for one of the most hair raising, white knuckle rides you will ever read.
With cameos by Maggie from The Hunted, The Inheritance and The Hitchhiker and Anders from The Caretaker and the introduction to many other bloodthirsty characters with no regard for human life, this is one hell of a story.
Think Tarantino type violence. The visuals I had while reading were insane and this would make an incredible movie.
If you can stomach reading about violence then this book and the preceding books are sensational. There is a great story behind it all and the violence is an integral part of that story due to the nature of the characters.
Gabe I think this might be my favourite of the series. I hope the audio ones are released in print as well.
August 7, 2025
High Rise reads like a head-on collision between The Raid, Gangs of London, and Dredd and I mean that in the best possible way. It’s violent, relentless, and utterly addictive. The breakneck pacing had me tearing through the pages, barely catching my breath between gunfire and gut-punches.
What truly caught me off guard and I’m kicking myself for this was realising, only at the very end, the clever connections to Bergmoser’s other works. As a scatter reader of his novels, I never clocked the recurring characters until now. I’d just assumed he really liked that name…
Needless to say, I’ll be diving into the back catalogue with fresh eyes. Bergmoser’s universe is darker, sharper, and more interconnected than I gave it credit for.
What truly caught me off guard and I’m kicking myself for this was realising, only at the very end, the clever connections to Bergmoser’s other works. As a scatter reader of his novels, I never clocked the recurring characters until now. I’d just assumed he really liked that name…
Needless to say, I’ll be diving into the back catalogue with fresh eyes. Bergmoser’s universe is darker, sharper, and more interconnected than I gave it credit for.
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August 19, 2025If I was to describe this book in one sentence, it would be.
“A high paced, high speed race for your life set in one night.” Get ready. Buckle up and wear your seatbelt.
In this book we are introduced to the character of Jack Carlin. Retired cop and vigilante. He is desperately trying to find his daughter Morgan before she ends up in a terrible situation or worse dead. The pace of this book is terrific. In typical Gabriel style it is shocking. In one scene I remember shouting out, “What!”, when an axe landed in a man’s neck laughing non stop as I continued to read.
This book was worth the wait. 5/5 I’m so excited for the sequel Harper Collins come on please! We need to know what happens to Jack next.
Gabe is the ultimate storyteller and I am grateful every day for stumbling upon his first book in a Free Street Library introducing me to one of my favourite vigilante characters of all time. Maggie.
“A high paced, high speed race for your life set in one night.” Get ready. Buckle up and wear your seatbelt.
In this book we are introduced to the character of Jack Carlin. Retired cop and vigilante. He is desperately trying to find his daughter Morgan before she ends up in a terrible situation or worse dead. The pace of this book is terrific. In typical Gabriel style it is shocking. In one scene I remember shouting out, “What!”, when an axe landed in a man’s neck laughing non stop as I continued to read.
This book was worth the wait. 5/5 I’m so excited for the sequel Harper Collins come on please! We need to know what happens to Jack next.
Gabe is the ultimate storyteller and I am grateful every day for stumbling upon his first book in a Free Street Library introducing me to one of my favourite vigilante characters of all time. Maggie.
July 5, 2025
You come for the being trapped in a sleazy apartment building with every criminal Melbourne has to offer but you stay for the characters.
August 30, 2025
Gabriel Bergmoser is never dull and HIGH RISE is one of his most action intense works yet. Jack Carlin’s daughter Morgan has left prison but she hasn’t moved on from her guilt or anger with Jack. When trouble is knocking on Morgan’s door Jack decides that he needs to see his estranged daughter to ensure her safety. Little does he know but his presence at her slum high rise flat brings with it every scum bag in Melbourne creating a hostage situation straight out of a NYC thriller or The Raid.
Cinematic in its action scope and surprisingly emotional, HIGH RISE is one of Bergmoser’s best since THE CARETAKER. You don’t need to be deeply invested in the Maggie-verse to become invested in HIGH RISE but there are a few people you’ll be pleased to see.
I’m not generally an action fiction devotee, but Bergmoser has the lean and mean style I appreciate. Straight to the bloody point.
Highly recommended.
Cinematic in its action scope and surprisingly emotional, HIGH RISE is one of Bergmoser’s best since THE CARETAKER. You don’t need to be deeply invested in the Maggie-verse to become invested in HIGH RISE but there are a few people you’ll be pleased to see.
I’m not generally an action fiction devotee, but Bergmoser has the lean and mean style I appreciate. Straight to the bloody point.
Highly recommended.
September 11, 2025
This is everything I've come to expect from Bergmoser - supersonic pace, extreme violence, and all the twists and turns you could want. In High Rise, the main characters are not new, but this can easily be read as a standalone.
September 18, 2025
High Rise blew me away. From the first page, it’s tense, raw, and impossible to put down. The whole story feels urgent and alive, set in a world that’s gritty but so real. It’s more than just a thriller. It makes you think about choices, survival, and how far people will go when pushed. Honestly, it’s the kind of book that shakes you and sticks with you long after you finish.
September 1, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this because of its fast paced story I would say that if you are a fan of Jack Reacher books then you will definitely enjoy this
November 30, 2025
I received a copy of High Rise from Harper Collins Australia to review.
Rating of 4.5.
Prepare for carnage as rising Australian author Gabriel Bergmoser presents a high-octane and beautifully brutal thriller, High Rise, an outstanding and deeply entertaining novel with some real intensity behind it.
Plot Synopsis:
After a year of searching, rogue ex-cop Jack Carlin has finally found his estranged daughter, Morgan, holed up in the top floor of a rundown, grimy high-rise building. The trouble is, Jack's unconventional policing and information-gathering methods in the past has made him some serious enemies. And what Jack doesn't know as he heads into the building, intent on saving his daughter, is firstly, that Morgan doesn't want to be saved - particularly not by him - and secondly, that the entire criminal underworld in the city are on their way too... There's a bounty on his head, and they're after his blood - and they don't mind if Morgan is collateral damage.
As bounty hunters and gang members converge on the building, father and daughter are thrown into a desperate fight for survival through fifteen storeys of deadly enemies - with only each other to rely on. Die Hard meets The Raid, but the funnier, grittier Australian version. Fast, furious and ferocious, this is thriller writing at its nail-biting, unputdownable best.
Now that was a load of fun. High Rise was a highly entertaining and relentlessly exciting Australian novel, as Bergmoser unleashes one of his dangerous protagonists on a horde of criminals. Featuring a continuous blast of action, violence and family drama, High Rise was an amazing and addictive novel that I absolutely powered through.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/11/30/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
Rating of 4.5.
Prepare for carnage as rising Australian author Gabriel Bergmoser presents a high-octane and beautifully brutal thriller, High Rise, an outstanding and deeply entertaining novel with some real intensity behind it.
Plot Synopsis:
After a year of searching, rogue ex-cop Jack Carlin has finally found his estranged daughter, Morgan, holed up in the top floor of a rundown, grimy high-rise building. The trouble is, Jack's unconventional policing and information-gathering methods in the past has made him some serious enemies. And what Jack doesn't know as he heads into the building, intent on saving his daughter, is firstly, that Morgan doesn't want to be saved - particularly not by him - and secondly, that the entire criminal underworld in the city are on their way too... There's a bounty on his head, and they're after his blood - and they don't mind if Morgan is collateral damage.
As bounty hunters and gang members converge on the building, father and daughter are thrown into a desperate fight for survival through fifteen storeys of deadly enemies - with only each other to rely on. Die Hard meets The Raid, but the funnier, grittier Australian version. Fast, furious and ferocious, this is thriller writing at its nail-biting, unputdownable best.
Now that was a load of fun. High Rise was a highly entertaining and relentlessly exciting Australian novel, as Bergmoser unleashes one of his dangerous protagonists on a horde of criminals. Featuring a continuous blast of action, violence and family drama, High Rise was an amazing and addictive novel that I absolutely powered through.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2025/11/30/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
August 30, 2025
After a year of searching, rogue ex-cop Jack Carlin has finally found his estranged daughter, Morgan, holed up in the top floor of a rundown, grimy high-rise building. The trouble is, Jack's unconventional policing and information-gathering methods in the past has made him some serious enemies. And what Jack doesn't know as he heads into the building, intent on saving his daughter, is firstly, that Morgan doesn't want to be saved - particularly not by him - and secondly, that the entire criminal underworld in the city are on their way too... There's a bounty on his head, and they're after his blood - and they don't mind if Morgan is collateral damage.
As bounty hunters and gang members converge on the building, father and daughter are thrown into a desperate fight for survival through fifteen stories of deadly enemies - with only each other to rely on.
This book showcases Bergmoser at his bloody best. It's well-written, packed with a fantastic cast of characters, and loaded with nonstop action. Jack Carlin is on a mission to find his daughter, ultimately tracking her to a high-rise. As I mentioned, the cast is excellent—even Maggie from THE HUNTED makes a cameo.
However, it’s quite violent, so if that’s not your thing, this might not be the book for you. For the rest of us, dive right in and enjoy.
My only gripe, and this is purely personal, is that the book is written in present tense. But like I said, that’s just me. Overall, it’s an exhilarating read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this story.
As bounty hunters and gang members converge on the building, father and daughter are thrown into a desperate fight for survival through fifteen stories of deadly enemies - with only each other to rely on.
This book showcases Bergmoser at his bloody best. It's well-written, packed with a fantastic cast of characters, and loaded with nonstop action. Jack Carlin is on a mission to find his daughter, ultimately tracking her to a high-rise. As I mentioned, the cast is excellent—even Maggie from THE HUNTED makes a cameo.
However, it’s quite violent, so if that’s not your thing, this might not be the book for you. For the rest of us, dive right in and enjoy.
My only gripe, and this is purely personal, is that the book is written in present tense. But like I said, that’s just me. Overall, it’s an exhilarating read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this story.
October 28, 2025
Gabriel Bergmoser's High Rise is an extremely tight action thriller novel set in a single location over the course of one chaotic day. Ex-cop Jack Carlin is searching for his distant daughter Morgan, and finds her living at the top of a massive, beat-up apartment building. What follows is a chaotic and violent fight for survival as bounty is placed on Carlin's head, and he's faced with escaping the building with Morgan alive while battling bounty hunters, gangsters and loads of other opportunists.
What I really loved about reading High Rise was the breakneck pacing of its story. It plays out like the best single-location action thrillers, with constant twists and turns around every corner. Alongside the story, the characters of Jack and Morgan are fleshed out excellently. Through chapter perspectives that alternate the two leads, more is revealed about these broken and messy characters that make them even more loveable. Bergmoser's writing impressively pivots perspectives between both characters, and makes this such a compelling and fast-paced read.
I pretty rarely read straight-up thriller novels, instead leaning towards science fiction and stories with a specific genre leaning. I'm so glad I gave High Rise a shot because its gritty story was super refreshing (the Australian setting definitely made the characters fresh and uniquely relatable too!)
What I really loved about reading High Rise was the breakneck pacing of its story. It plays out like the best single-location action thrillers, with constant twists and turns around every corner. Alongside the story, the characters of Jack and Morgan are fleshed out excellently. Through chapter perspectives that alternate the two leads, more is revealed about these broken and messy characters that make them even more loveable. Bergmoser's writing impressively pivots perspectives between both characters, and makes this such a compelling and fast-paced read.
I pretty rarely read straight-up thriller novels, instead leaning towards science fiction and stories with a specific genre leaning. I'm so glad I gave High Rise a shot because its gritty story was super refreshing (the Australian setting definitely made the characters fresh and uniquely relatable too!)
December 19, 2025
Aussie noir, but make it inner city, and a distant cousin of everyone’s favourite Christmas movie - Die Hard.
Jack Carlin, a disgraced former cop, bit of a shady history, and flawed father is on a hit list - but first he needs to get his estranged daughter, Morgan, to safety. However, getting down from the top floor of a decrepit apartment block isn’t easy - especially when there’s a $2m bounty on your head. Full of fast-paced and innovative, in many parts, action, with a credulity stretch as to how much an older body can take (I’m an authority on the older body, being in possession of one myself) this gets the gang all back together - the author’s previous books have featured a couple of characters who make an important appearance here. A quick read, but a worthy escape into the seedier side of life. I’ve also learned some tips in case I should ever be in that situation.
Jack Carlin, a disgraced former cop, bit of a shady history, and flawed father is on a hit list - but first he needs to get his estranged daughter, Morgan, to safety. However, getting down from the top floor of a decrepit apartment block isn’t easy - especially when there’s a $2m bounty on your head. Full of fast-paced and innovative, in many parts, action, with a credulity stretch as to how much an older body can take (I’m an authority on the older body, being in possession of one myself) this gets the gang all back together - the author’s previous books have featured a couple of characters who make an important appearance here. A quick read, but a worthy escape into the seedier side of life. I’ve also learned some tips in case I should ever be in that situation.
October 2, 2025
Fast paced, brutal at times, involving a father and daughter who are flawed characters but essential well meaning. If you like crime stories, drama, complex relationships and an involved plot this book is sure to please. I really enjoyed it .
September 3, 2025
A kobo read.
This took sometime to become an engaging story.
It was a thriller where a father, a disgraced cop [there are plenty in Aust's police] yearned to save his drug addicted daughter.
This took sometime to become an engaging story.
It was a thriller where a father, a disgraced cop [there are plenty in Aust's police] yearned to save his drug addicted daughter.
September 14, 2025
2.5 ⭐ but the rating comes from me not liking cops and guns thrillers. Impressive that a book can be 98% set in a single apartment building and still be engaging
October 3, 2025
3.5⭐️
October 4, 2025
Really enjoyed this
October 23, 2025
Felt like a more cartoonish version of The Raid. Would probably work better as a movie.
October 25, 2025
A fast paced thriller. Beware, there is lots of gore and a bit too much action than I cared for.
December 4, 2025
Love books by Gabriel. Excellent fast paced read! Great characters and storyline! Enjoy!
October 14, 2025
What a bloody thrill ride!
A fast-paced, high-octane, violent roller coaster of action, revenge and deceit.
Perfect for those who love Die Hard (me 🙋♀️) and @gobergmoser books (also me 🙋♀️)
A fast-paced, high-octane, violent roller coaster of action, revenge and deceit.
Perfect for those who love Die Hard (me 🙋♀️) and @gobergmoser books (also me 🙋♀️)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews