The Rush by Beth Lewis review

About The Book

Book: The Rush
Author: Beth Lewis
Standalone or Series: Standalone
Publisher: Viper
Publication Date (UK): 10th June 2025

My Review

I must admit I rarely pick up historical fiction. Like, at all. Although I did grow up loving Call of the Wild and White Fang! I’d heard such amazing early chatter about The Rush that I had to request an ARC from Viper. And I’m so glad I did.

Set in 1898, The Rush follows the stories of three women whose lives collide during the Klondike Gold Rush. There’s Kate, a journalist making the long and dangerous journey from Kansas to Dawson City, in Canada, accompanied by her dog, Yukon. She’s received a letter from her sister, who fears for her life but getting there will take months and nothing about the journey is easy.

Then over in Yukon in Dawson City, there’s Martha, who is running a brothel/hotel. Whilst in nearby Boulder Creek we meet Ellen, living on a gold claim while her husband desperately mines for their fortune.

Lewis’s writing strikes the perfect balance: rich and evocative without ever feeling dense or overdone. I felt completely immersed and there’s a tension that simmers beneath every page, as the women find their fates and fortunes intertwined by a murder.

I loved the strength of the women in this, especially for the time it was set. As a fortune teller tells Kate: “I tell the men what they want to hear. But I tell women what they need to know.”

The Rush is compelling, intriguing and gripping. Even if, like me, historical fiction isn’t your usual pick, this one is well worth the journey.