Nothing Personal

by Alex Dook

Theft. Extortion. Dinner with Dad.

Lola McKenzie never wanted to steal from her dodgy boss.

But she also never wanted to be stuck in a dead-end job, paying off her dad's debts.

So when she sees a bag of cash sitting around unattended at work, she figures it's time to make life a little easier. Only, the next day her boss is missing, presumed dead - and it won't take a genius to figure out Lola is involved.

Turns out that Lola's pinched more than a bag of cash ... nestled at the bottom of the bag was a USB drive that could be either a curse or an opportunity. Lola doesn't know what's on it, only that it's important enough for the local cops and the local crooks to come looking for it.

Is it a magnet for trouble? Or her ticket out of the hard life? All she has to do is figure out a way to sell it to the highest bidder without revealing her identity.

Should be easy, right?

For fans of Adrian McKinty, Garry Disher and Iain Ryan.

Genres: Crime

324 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2026

About the author

Alex 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.

Reviews

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Gritty Crime, Street Smart Chaos

full review ⬇️

New life rule. If Alex Dook writes it, I’m reading it.

After loving Gunpowder Creek, I went into this with high expectations and Nothing Personal absolutely delivered that same gritty crime energy.

This isn’t polished detective fiction or glamorous crime. It is messy and real with characters making questionable decisions that had me equally stressed and invested the entire time (no spoilers but WHY didn’t she just take a peak at the leverage she had!? 😅)

Honestly, I spent chunks of this book internally yelling at the characters while simultaneously flying through chapters because I needed to know what would happen next.

That’s what Alex Dook does so well. He creates tension through flawed people, dangerous situations and the kind of choices that feel frustratingly human.

The pacing is sharp, the atmosphere is gritty and the story kept escalating in a way that made it ridiculously bingeable.

If you love crime fiction that feels more street-level and character driven with morally messy decisions, tension and high stakes drama this is a must for your TBR pile when it releases in August.

Thank you to Echo Publishing for sharing this great read with me.

[Rachel C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first read of Alex Dook's and I was impressed - enough that I'm seeking out his first novel now to see what it was all about!

Lola is really struggling to make ends meet. Her grumpy old dad has made some poor financial decisions, leaving himself in a severe amount of debt that Lola is trying to repay. To make matters worse, an owl has just flown into and broken her bathroom window. Could she be any more down on her luck?

Stuck working in admin for an auto repair workshop, Lola can't stand her boss, Darren. One night, an impulsive decision leaves her caught up in something more dangerous than she could have imagined. After stealing a small bag of cash from Darren, Lola discovers it also contains a USB and unbeknownst to her, contains sensitive information several people are also trying to get their hands on. Suddenly she finds herself in way over her head, Darren is now missing and her lies are building up.

There was a lot to love about this novel. It was straightforward and written in such an accessible way I was turning the pages from the very beginning. The Perth setting was so good. The suburbs and locations weren't the cliche landmarks and I loved that it felt familiar and authentic.

One thing I really struggled with was some of Lola's decisions that just seemed so naive and reckless. While I did like her character, I found myself increasingly frustrated at the choices she made. I understand this helped to propel the narrative and increase the stakes, but I struggled to look past it 🤪 I also preferred the chapters focused on Lola rather than the Parker family and I wish we'd got to delve into Chris and his story a little more.

Overall this was a really solid Australian crime thriller. I would recommend for anyone wanting a fast- paced, easy to read story with a suburban Perth setting.

3.5 ⭐️

Thanks so much to Good Reading Magazine for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Toby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touch of Leonard and a splash of Coen, regular people making bad choices as they find themselves deeper and deeper in a world they don’t understand. Australian suburbia never felt so dangerous as it does in the hands of Alex Dook and his cast of highly recognisable fools. Between this and his debut Gunpowder Creek he has gone two for two in writing highly impressive and highly entertaining everyman thriller novels that should be celebrated as an exciting new voice in contemporary crime fiction. At the risk of denying us more novels I would happily pay to watch dozens of Alex Dook movies. I’d probably even volunteer to get my film degree dusted off and make them myself.

[Caroline Poole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime doesn’t pay, or does it?
When a series of dubious decisions by desperate people leads to a tangle of criminal activity you wonder where it will end.
There’s a lot of violent and spontaneous action as our lead character Lola tries desperately to right her world for the sake of herself and her ailing father. With a good dose of black humour, unintelligent desperate criminals and a mystery USB stick we get taken on a ride of intense action but very entertaining.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Lola McKenzie. She lives in Perth, Western Australia, and is working in a dead-end job trying to pay off her father’s debts, trying to make each dollar stretch as far as she can. And the unexpected bills keep mounting up: she needs to replace a window at home, smashed when an owl crashed through it.

Lola is at work late one afternoon when her boss puts a bag of cash in the safe and walks away before locking it. Yes, Lola gives way to temptation.

The next morning, Lola’s boss is missing. The bag of cash also contained a USB drive and members of a local crime family are desperate to obtain it. The police want to talk to Lola. And the crime family (most directly represented in the story by an incompetent bumbling fool) want the USB. Lola doesn’t know what is on the USB, but with the crime family in pursuit perhaps she can make some money out of it.

What follows is fast-paced journey full of suspense. The crime family will stop at nothing to retrieve the USB, and the police are also interested. Lola is a flawed but likeable character and while I didn’t like her impulsive early choices, I was hoping that she’d survive.

This is Mr Dook’s second novel and, like his first ‘Gunpowder Creek’, it held my attention from beginning to end. What’s next, Mr Dook?

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Echo Publishing for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing Personal by Alex Dook took me a while to get into, and I nearly set it aside a few times early-on. White collar crime and mobster stories aren't really my thing and we're introduced to a lot of not-particularly-likeable characters at the same time. Lola, our narrator, is fine, but some of the support cast felt a little inconsistent — like they shifted personality as the story progressed, which made me wonder whether that was deliberate on Dook's part or just where the writing took him.

The premise is a classic comedy of errors. Lola makes an impulsive decision at work that sets off a chain of increasingly complicated events involving local cops, local crooks, and a USB drive that everyone is after. There were a few subplots I found a bit muddy, and one supporting character who appears and then essentially vanishes, which left me wondering what her purpose was beyond reminding Lola of the life she doesn't have.

What worked for me was the relationship between Lola and her father — a former academic who's made some spectacularly bad decisions and left them both in a precarious situation. Their dynamic felt real, with sympathy and frustration running in both directions.

The final third does pick up, with more pace and a couple of twists I appreciated.

Read the full review on my website: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...

[_biancasbookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book by WA author Alex Dook, and once again, he has delivered an absolute cracker of a read!

Nothing Personal introduces us to Lola McKenzie, whose dad is drowning in debt. Lola herself is at a crossroads, trying to figure out what she wants from life. Then one day, she spots a bag full of cash left behind by her awful, sexually predatory boss.

Temptation gets the better of her and she takes it. But what seems like a lucky break quickly spirals into something far more dangerous.

Hidden at the bottom of the bag is a USB stick that everyone wants their hands on, and they’ll stop at nothing to get it.

I absolutely flew through this book and was hooked from the very first page. Fast-paced, suspenseful and packed with twists, it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Alex has a real talent for creating relatable characters and stories that keep you guessing until the very end.

While Gunpowder Creek will forever hold a special place in my heart, Nothing Personal is a fantastic follow-up and further cements Alex as one of my favourite Australian crime writers.

Congratulations, Alex, on another unforgettable book. I already can't wait to see what you write next! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hooked me far more than I expected, it’s sharp, addictive, and impossible not to race through. Lola McKenzie is the kind of character who leaps off the page: flawed, funny, desperate, and trying her best to survive a life that keeps stacking the odds against her. When she makes one reckless decision to swipe a bag of cash from her shady boss, the story detonates into a fast‑paced spiral of danger, dark humour, and escalating stakes. What starts as a moment of impulsive rebellion quickly becomes a fight to stay one step ahead of everyone who suddenly wants a piece of her.

The real brilliance of the book lies in the twist that Lola didn’t just steal money, she accidentally walked off with something far more valuable and far more dangerous. With both criminals and police closing in, she’s forced into a high‑wire game where every choice could save her or ruin her. The tension is constant, the writing is razor smart, and the plot unfolds with the perfect mix of chaos and charm. It’s a wildly entertaining ride from start to finish, and one of those stories that reminds you how fun a clever, character driven thriller can be.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5★s

Lola McKenzie was working a dead end job, trying to make enough money to pay off her dad's debts. The day her boss arrived back at work after a boozy lunch, he carelessly left a bag in the safe, but with the door open. Lola had never been one to resort to stealing, but the temptation was too great. And what she stole - as well as the money - was the start of a disastrous period in her life. Lola had criminals after her; also the police. When she was attacked in her apartment, things went from bad to worse. What could she possibly do to reverse what had happened?

Nothing Personal by Aussie author Alex Dook is set in WA, where the author lives. Unfortunately the formatting (this is a NG copy) was terrible, with sentences and words missing all over. It was hard to keep track of, because of losing sentences in the middle of a conversation, among other things. I managed to get the gist of the story but I wasn't enamoured with it.

With thanks to NetGalley & Echo Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Yolanda Congerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing Personal was my first Alex Nook novel, and it certainly won’t be my last. This fast-paced crime thriller, set in Western Australia, explores how ordinary people can find themselves making difficult choices when they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Lola, the story’s protagonist, is struggling to make ends meet in a dead-end job while trying to pay off her late father’s debts. When an unexpected opportunity comes her way, it seems like the fresh start she’s been hoping for. However, things quickly spiral out of control, and before long she finds herself entangled in Perth’s dangerous organised crime scene, crossing paths with the notorious Parker family.

I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded through multiple perspectives, giving insight into the motivations of each character. Everyone is simply trying to get ahead, and their actions are driven more by circumstance than malice, which adds depth and realism to the narrative.

I highly recommend this novel to fans of crime fiction looking for a gripping, well-paced read with compelling characters and plenty of tension.

Thank you to Good Reading Magazine for an Advanced Reader Copy.

[Nerelle Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one sneaks up on you….

A slow burn that builds up the intensity, builds up the action and builds up the suspense, and doesn’t leave you wanting.

This story is a dual point of view of two people that couldn’t be further apart in their lives and upbringing, but fate, circumstances and choices will inevitably bring them together with deadly consequences.

Lola is the main protagonist, and you really feel for her. She seriously just can’t catch a break, which is what pushes her to desperation and into a mindset that she believes she just has no other option. A desperate act that has a huge domino effect.

The whole story balances on a knife edge and that thin line between the normal every day and the dark world of criminals, where sometimes it’s the choices of others that decides which side of the line you are on, whether you are aware of it or not.

The combination of the great storyline, complexity of the characters, vivid locations as well as the high stakes, make for a truly entertaining read that I would highly recommend.

Thank you Good Reading Magazine and Echo Publishing for my fabulous ARC for review.

Publication date | 4 August 2026

#nothingpersonal
#alexdook
#deadlychoices
#echopublishing

[Michele (michelethebookdragon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing Personal is a scintillating follow up to Gunpowder Creek and is just as tense and nail-biting.

Lola is in a desperate situation and needs money fast. When she sees the opportunity to steal a bag with money in it from where she works, she takes it. Lola has no idea what will flow on from that decision and what she has gotten herself into.

The Parker family are thugs. Running a protection racket in the suburbs of Perth has given them a cushy lifestyle. But there are others looking to muscle in on their turf and with the old man sick, and the step brothers constantly trying to outdo one another, the time may have come for their little empire to fall.

When the desperate paths of Lola and the Parkers cross it leads to a violent game of cat and mouse and the body count starts to climb.

I was on the edge of my seat reading this book. It is intense, fast paced, gritty, vicious, heart pounding, adrenaline pumping and a riot to read.

I love how these characters and the locations were brought to life and I felt that I was there watching situations unfold.

If you like your stories full of danger, with unhinged mobsters running around, with people that are so desperate they will do anything to try to get out of their situation, then Nothing Personal will fit the bill.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Echo Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
Sometimes some people just can’t cut a break and disaster seems to spiral.
Circumstances and perhaps manifestations play a part.
Dodgy people and being broke doesn’t help the situation either.
Meet Lola and her cascade of bad luck.
Lola struggled financially and works in a job and lives pay cheque to pay cheque.
Her dad is broke and unwell adding to her drama.
A bag of cash tempts, a boss disappears and an astute police officer adds danger, intrigue and a dash of humour.
A collection of characters that make this an interesting and exciting read.
Death, bad decisions and an unlikely alliance will keep those pages turning.
I just love the concept of an accidental baddie and I was team Lola.
Subtle humour was apt and lightened the tension.
The comments about MAFS and Bushells teabags were classic.
The tenderness and respect between Lola and the police officer was well written and appreciated.

[Justine Jenke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing Personal is the first book I have read from this author, and certainly won’t be my last.

The book is about a girl called Lola. Life is passing her by. She is in a job she hates, and her dad is giving her a lot of problems. She has no money and no real prospects. The opportunity presents itself to steal a bag of money from her boss’s safe. There is also a USB drive in the bottom of the bag.

What follows is a cat and mouse game, with members of a crime family trying to get hold of the USB, and the police in hot pursuit as well.

I enjoyed the book, it was a quick and easy ready. I didn’t warm to Lola at first, however by the end of the book I was cheering her on. There was plenty of action happening to keep me interested.

My only criticism is that I would have liked to have known exactly what was on the USB – but maybe this may be explained in a sequel??

A great read, will definitely read more from this author.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s amazing how much of a mess your life can become, just because of a single spontaneous decision to take a bag of money left lying around by your boss. Lola McKenzie has plenty of money problems, and thinks this money could help her keep her head above water. But before she knows it, she’s surrounded by way more problems than before, and everything gets worse every time she tries to make it better.
There was certainly plenty of action in this book. Then there’s a variety of crooks, with everyone looking out for themselves and threat levels escalating throughout. This book certainly isn’t dull. It highlights the dark world of protection rackets and standover merchants, and explores the difficulties of family dynamics. An entertaining read.
I received a copy of this book from Good Reading for review.

[Emily (the_bookdragons_den) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the ripping debut of Gunpowder Creek last year, Alex Dook returns with his new gritty suburban thriller Nothing Personal. It’s a fast paced and atmospheric cat and mouse read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Dook has a knack for writing a compelling narrative that focuses on the flaws and bad decisions his characters make and then provides an entertaining domino effect that you just couldn’t predict.

The desperation driving the characters in this book makes them messy, flawed and incredibly engaging. I was equal parts frustrated and entertained by them…they were so naive at times! I love reading a book that is set where I live and the backdrop of Perth makes for a great suburban setting.

Nothing Personal is a fantastic slow-burn thriller that has firmly established Dook as a must read author for me.

Thank you to Echo Publishing for a copy to review.

[Amanda E · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75☆

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Another terrific thriller from Alex Dook.