A perfect western/adventure story/mystery set in the gold rush

 

5 stars

I found myself struck with gold fever whilst reading The Rush. The atmosphere and sensibilities of the late 1800s Canadian Yukon struck a chord with me. This blend of western/adventure story/mystery hit all the right notes by immersing the reader into this time and place. I was interested in each of three main characters: Martha, who runs the local hotel; Kate, a journalist searching for her sister; Ellen, whose husband is desperate to strike gold being deeply in debt. A mystery brings them together in the quest for the truth.

Living in the Yukon before the turn of the century was not an easy existence, especially for a woman. It was good to view this life through these three people with differing levels of knowledge on how to succeed in this tough, unforgiving man's world. Martha is world weary and has a good measure of all and sundry who she deals with daily. A matriarch, of sorts, she has her smarts and a bit of muscle who help her protect 'her girls'. Ellen is rather jaded by the life she lives as each day proves to her that her husband may be more talk than action, not quite living up to expectations. Kate undertakes the arduous journey from Kansas to the Yukon with her trusty dog aptly named Yukon. She is innocent, but not a fool, and learns how to adapt to this difficult existence.

Life is cheap, here, and justice is unlikely to be found. The Rush gave the unvarnished truth of this age and a real feel for what it would have been like to be in the heart of the gold rush among so many desperate souls. I felt fully immersed by this story and would have loved it to go on and on. Well crafted storytelling at its finest. I loved The Rush.