The Rush

A Novel

Beth Lewis

In a lawless land stricken with gold fever, the struggle for survival and fortune takes a turn towards murder in this gripping western crime novel from the author of The Wolf Road.

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 civilization. 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...

Beth Lewis was raised in the wilds of Cornwall and split her childhood between books and the beach. She has traveled extensively throughout the world and has had close encounters with black bears, killer whales, and great white sharks.  She is the author of The Wolf Road and lives in Oxford with her wife and daughter.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"A gut-punching mystery that vibrantly captures the savagery of the Alaskan frontier, with its women and wildernesses that refuse to be tamed."
Anna Bailey, author of Tall Bones

"Lewis flawlessly recreates the savage beauty of the wilds—and the lives of those beholden to the exhilarating lawlessness of gold fever. A bold and brilliant novel." Vaseem Khan, author of The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra
 

"An expansive and gloriously thrilling book told with such authenticity. Beth Lewis employs a rich palette to immerse the reader in the lives of the Klondike women. Masterful storytelling." Marion Todd, author of Old Bones Lie

"Stirring, evocative, spellbinding. The Rush is storytelling at its solid gold best."
Tammy Cohen, author of When She Was Bad 

"Compelling and clever. Beth Lewis strikes gold in her murderous tale of three women involved in the Canadian gold rush."
Claire Seeber, author of Bad Friends

"A wicked combination of spellbinding storytelling and a captivating plot that will capture the heart of any reader. The Rush is my top read of this year."
 Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me

"Perfectly captures that dangerous combination of chaos and desperation, and the three women's interlocking stories and their resilience and vulnerability were so well written." Emma Curtis, author of One Little Mistake

"Compelling, moving and highly immersive. In this little-tapped seam of historical fiction, Beth Lewis offers up pure gold. I loved it." Philippa East, author of Little White Lies

"Lewis brilliantly captures the perilous allure of the Yukon Gold Rush, weaving a tale of three women's intertwined destinies with rich authenticity and suspense. A compelling journey into the heart of human resilience." Joanna Wallace, author of You'd Look Better as a Ghost

"Powerful and beautifully told. Beth Lewis captures the savage beauty of the natural landscape, as well as the men's feverish race to strike it rich or die trying—but most importantly, she gives a voice to the women, whose near-forgotten life stories glisten with hidden gold. Brilliant writing and essential reading." Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal