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Barren Cape
'Edgy, gripping and full of menace' Hannah Richell
An abandoned resort seems the perfect place to hide, but is Barren Cape a refuge or a trap?
Former housemates Mac and Erika are homeless.
Well, Erika is fine, she just has to live with her parents until she can find another rental. Mac's situation is much worse – family isn't an option and she's surfing the couches of her increasingly exasperated friends.
Driving around one lonely afternoon, Mac discovers Barren Cape. Once destined to be a luxury escape, now it's just wire fence and gray cement.
It's stark, but quiet. There's no harm in staying a little while…
From the bestselling author of The Rush comes a spine-chilling thriller about what happens when people are pushed to the edge and forced to make unthinkable choices.
‘Taut, terrifying and timely’ B.M. Carroll
‘Prak’s books keep you reading long into the night’ Vikki Petraitis
An abandoned resort seems the perfect place to hide, but is Barren Cape a refuge or a trap?
Former housemates Mac and Erika are homeless.
Well, Erika is fine, she just has to live with her parents until she can find another rental. Mac's situation is much worse – family isn't an option and she's surfing the couches of her increasingly exasperated friends.
Driving around one lonely afternoon, Mac discovers Barren Cape. Once destined to be a luxury escape, now it's just wire fence and gray cement.
It's stark, but quiet. There's no harm in staying a little while…
From the bestselling author of The Rush comes a spine-chilling thriller about what happens when people are pushed to the edge and forced to make unthinkable choices.
‘Taut, terrifying and timely’ B.M. Carroll
‘Prak’s books keep you reading long into the night’ Vikki Petraitis
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2025
20 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Prak
5 books152 followersComing in April 2025: BARREN CAPE.
Michelle Prak's debut thriller THE RUSH was published by Simon & Schuster ANZ; Crooked Lane Books (US); and by HarperCollins France, as LE DELUGE. It's a road trip thrill ride that takes place over two frantic days.
THE RUSH was voted into Better Reading's annual Top 100 reads (2024), and longlisted in the Sisters of Crime Australia Davitt Awards.
Also a short story writer, Michelle was runner-up in the Furphy Literary Prize, 2021.
Between 2019 and 2020, Michelle self-published three women's contemporary novels. Now she's turned to the thriller genre and hopes fans will follow along.
Long before Michelle began writing professionally she was a reader and continues to share on Goodreads.
If you don't want to miss any Michelle Prak news, you can:
Like her Facebook page:
facebook.com/michelleprakauthor
Follow her on Twitter: twitter.com/prakky or Instagram: instagram.com/prakky
Follow her on TikTok: tiktok.com/michelleprakauthor
Subscribe to her newsletter via her website, www.michelleprak.com
For more, please visit:
www.michelleprak.com
Michelle Prak's debut thriller THE RUSH was published by Simon & Schuster ANZ; Crooked Lane Books (US); and by HarperCollins France, as LE DELUGE. It's a road trip thrill ride that takes place over two frantic days.
THE RUSH was voted into Better Reading's annual Top 100 reads (2024), and longlisted in the Sisters of Crime Australia Davitt Awards.
Also a short story writer, Michelle was runner-up in the Furphy Literary Prize, 2021.
Between 2019 and 2020, Michelle self-published three women's contemporary novels. Now she's turned to the thriller genre and hopes fans will follow along.
Long before Michelle began writing professionally she was a reader and continues to share on Goodreads.
If you don't want to miss any Michelle Prak news, you can:
Like her Facebook page:
facebook.com/michelleprakauthor
Follow her on Twitter: twitter.com/prakky or Instagram: instagram.com/prakky
Follow her on TikTok: tiktok.com/michelleprakauthor
Subscribe to her newsletter via her website, www.michelleprak.com
For more, please visit:
www.michelleprak.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
July 12, 2025
3.5★
Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me, and I was disappointed. The suspense and tension just weren’t there for me like I would’ve liked, and I found it really hard to warm to the characters. After the halfway mark, I was expecting the pacing to pick up, but to me, it felt like it did.
I enjoyed the setting and thought that part was well written. I also liked the cover. I’ll be interested to see what this author writes next. Of course, these are only my thoughts, so don’t be put off if you think you enjoy this book. Give it a go; you may love it as other readers have.
Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me, and I was disappointed. The suspense and tension just weren’t there for me like I would’ve liked, and I found it really hard to warm to the characters. After the halfway mark, I was expecting the pacing to pick up, but to me, it felt like it did.
I enjoyed the setting and thought that part was well written. I also liked the cover. I’ll be interested to see what this author writes next. Of course, these are only my thoughts, so don’t be put off if you think you enjoy this book. Give it a go; you may love it as other readers have.
April 13, 2025
EXCERPT: . . . I stripped to my bathers and waded into the foam. It was biting cold and seaweed swirled around my ankles as I tackled the slick stones. Aha. This would be why Barren Cape wasn't super popular. There were lots of beaches along this stretch of South Australia, most with gentle shores and clear blue water. Not to mention closer to the CBD. Barren Cape was an underwhelming spot in comparison. Maybe the resort developers weren't fully aware, maybe they didn't care. Any guests might have spent more time by the pool or in the cocktail bar than on the shore, and of course they would've had the immense sea views from their windows.
Once I was waist deep, I began to swim. It was glorious to have the sweat washed away. I floated, bobbing with the sea, hair fanning in the water. Couldn't help grinning. A beach all to myself.
I lifted my head and studied the resort. No sign of movement. The buildings looked back at me. Still, hollow, yet not foreboding or unsettling. In fact, I felt sorry for the place. It was neglected, unloved.
It was calling out to me.
ABOUT 'BARREN CAPE': An abandoned resort seems the perfect place to hide, but is Barren Cape a refuge or a trap?
Former housemates Mac and Erika are homeless.
Well, Erika is fine, she just has to live with her parents until she can find another rental. Mac's situation is much worse – family isn't an option and she's surfing the couches of her increasingly exasperated friends.
Driving around one lonely afternoon, Mac discovers Barren Cape. Once destined to be a luxury escape, now it's just wire fence and gray cement.
It's stark, but quiet. There's no harm in staying a little while…
MY THOUGHTS: Michele Prak has elected to build this novel around the ever-increasing problem of homelessness which affects more and more of our young (and not so young) people as rentals are converted to Air BNBs. The idea of using a partially completed and abandoned resort - to be honest, I was immediately thinking of the abandoned and derelict Sheraton Resort in Rarotonga - was nothing short of inspired. Such buildings are at once sad and chilling. Thank you, Michele Prak, I will never again be tempted to poke around in one!
While Mac is feeling much safer in her empty hotel room, which while it has a door has no handle, than when she was sleeping in her car, there are things going on in the seemingly empty resort that should have her running for her life.
We've all heard the idiom, 'No good deed goes unpunished, and in Mac's case this is very true. Her reaching out to help someone else may be her undoing. Mac should also remember that a secret is not a secret when more than one person knows.
I can't say any of the characters are particularly likeable. But that's okay, I don't have to live with them. They are all human. They are all in circumstances I would hate to endure. With this in mind, I can cut them some slack.
The story is told from multiple points of view - Mac, Erika, and Brex. Erika is Mac's ex-housemate and best friend, Brex a young teenager Mac tries to help.
This is a book best gone into knowing as little as possible. Just enjoy the simmering tension and the increasing sense of menace. I had no idea how this was going to end but while it is a little bit of a cliff-hanger, I was more than satisfied.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#BarrenCape #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: She is a professional communicator with a thirty-year career in PR, social media, and politics. Her short stories have been shortlisted in several competitions, and she was runner-up in the Furphy Literary Award 2021. Michelle lives in Adelaide and teaches communication subjects at the University of South Australia.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Barren Cape by Michelle Prak for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Once I was waist deep, I began to swim. It was glorious to have the sweat washed away. I floated, bobbing with the sea, hair fanning in the water. Couldn't help grinning. A beach all to myself.
I lifted my head and studied the resort. No sign of movement. The buildings looked back at me. Still, hollow, yet not foreboding or unsettling. In fact, I felt sorry for the place. It was neglected, unloved.
It was calling out to me.
ABOUT 'BARREN CAPE': An abandoned resort seems the perfect place to hide, but is Barren Cape a refuge or a trap?
Former housemates Mac and Erika are homeless.
Well, Erika is fine, she just has to live with her parents until she can find another rental. Mac's situation is much worse – family isn't an option and she's surfing the couches of her increasingly exasperated friends.
Driving around one lonely afternoon, Mac discovers Barren Cape. Once destined to be a luxury escape, now it's just wire fence and gray cement.
It's stark, but quiet. There's no harm in staying a little while…
MY THOUGHTS: Michele Prak has elected to build this novel around the ever-increasing problem of homelessness which affects more and more of our young (and not so young) people as rentals are converted to Air BNBs. The idea of using a partially completed and abandoned resort - to be honest, I was immediately thinking of the abandoned and derelict Sheraton Resort in Rarotonga - was nothing short of inspired. Such buildings are at once sad and chilling. Thank you, Michele Prak, I will never again be tempted to poke around in one!
While Mac is feeling much safer in her empty hotel room, which while it has a door has no handle, than when she was sleeping in her car, there are things going on in the seemingly empty resort that should have her running for her life.
We've all heard the idiom, 'No good deed goes unpunished, and in Mac's case this is very true. Her reaching out to help someone else may be her undoing. Mac should also remember that a secret is not a secret when more than one person knows.
I can't say any of the characters are particularly likeable. But that's okay, I don't have to live with them. They are all human. They are all in circumstances I would hate to endure. With this in mind, I can cut them some slack.
The story is told from multiple points of view - Mac, Erika, and Brex. Erika is Mac's ex-housemate and best friend, Brex a young teenager Mac tries to help.
This is a book best gone into knowing as little as possible. Just enjoy the simmering tension and the increasing sense of menace. I had no idea how this was going to end but while it is a little bit of a cliff-hanger, I was more than satisfied.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#BarrenCape #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: She is a professional communicator with a thirty-year career in PR, social media, and politics. Her short stories have been shortlisted in several competitions, and she was runner-up in the Furphy Literary Award 2021. Michelle lives in Adelaide and teaches communication subjects at the University of South Australia.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Barren Cape by Michelle Prak for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
March 25, 2025
Mackenzie (Mac) was one of the homeless in her city of Adelaide, South Australia, as she and her best friend Erika had been evicted from their rental. Erika was able to return to her family home while they were looking for another place, but Mac didn't have that luxury. When she decided to join her sister, Georgia, in London, she sent off for her passport and visa, but the wait still meant she needed a roof over her head, and her friends were getting sick of her.
When Mac discovered the abandoned Barren Cape resort one afternoon when her random driving took her in a different direction, she decided to investigate. Burrowing under the protective fence; ignoring the "keep out" signs and security warnings, Mac discovered somewhere she could lie low at night. Deciding to tell no one, not even Erika, she was settled for a few days - until trouble visited...
Barren Cape is Aussie author Michelle Prak's second novel, and while I loved her first - The Rush - this one didn't live up to my expectations. There wasn't a character that I found likeable and there were unanswered questions at the end of the book, which was frustrating. I'll definitely give her next a go though, and look forward to checking it out.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for my ARC to read and review.
When Mac discovered the abandoned Barren Cape resort one afternoon when her random driving took her in a different direction, she decided to investigate. Burrowing under the protective fence; ignoring the "keep out" signs and security warnings, Mac discovered somewhere she could lie low at night. Deciding to tell no one, not even Erika, she was settled for a few days - until trouble visited...
Barren Cape is Aussie author Michelle Prak's second novel, and while I loved her first - The Rush - this one didn't live up to my expectations. There wasn't a character that I found likeable and there were unanswered questions at the end of the book, which was frustrating. I'll definitely give her next a go though, and look forward to checking it out.
With thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for my ARC to read and review.
February 18, 2025
Barren Cape is the second thriller by Australian author, Michelle Prak. Yes, the housing affordability crisis has been in the news, but until Mac and Erika are evicted from their flat, it was someone else’s problem; now, it’s theirs, too. Erika goes back to her parents. After months of couch surfing and a frightening, aborted attempt at sleeping in her car, Mac stumbles on a possible solution: an unfinished coastal resort abandoned during the pandemic. No water or power, but standing empty, right on the beach, a public ablutions block nearby.
She sneaks in, sets herself up for a temporary stay (her British visa surely can’t take too long now) and makes sure to stay under the radar of the lazy security guard. What she doesn’t count on: a violent prison escapee, a trio of truant teens, and a thoughtless friend unable to keep a secret.
A bit of an introvert, Mac felt safe and happy on her own, but suddenly that all changes and her life is in danger. Luckily, when the friend eventually sorts her flawed priorities, she turns out to be gutsy and brave There’s not a huge body count, but there is plenty of tension, with twists, turns and surprises keeping the reader guessing. Topical, wholly credible, and nail-bitingly good.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley, Better Reading Preview, and Simon & Schuster Australia.
She sneaks in, sets herself up for a temporary stay (her British visa surely can’t take too long now) and makes sure to stay under the radar of the lazy security guard. What she doesn’t count on: a violent prison escapee, a trio of truant teens, and a thoughtless friend unable to keep a secret.
A bit of an introvert, Mac felt safe and happy on her own, but suddenly that all changes and her life is in danger. Luckily, when the friend eventually sorts her flawed priorities, she turns out to be gutsy and brave There’s not a huge body count, but there is plenty of tension, with twists, turns and surprises keeping the reader guessing. Topical, wholly credible, and nail-bitingly good.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley, Better Reading Preview, and Simon & Schuster Australia.
February 20, 2025
Michelle Prak brings the reality of the housing crisis in Australia to the pages of Barren Cape. I loved Michelle’s first book, The Rush, and knew that we would be in for another wild ride with this book. Once again, I was hooked not wanting to stop reading.
Best friends Mac and Erika find themselves out on the street when they are evicted. Try as they might, they can’t seem to find anything decent and affordable to move to so drastic measures are required. Erika can go back to her family home, as crowded as it maybe, at least she has a roof over her head and is safe. Mac is not so lucky and finds herself begging friends for a couch for a night. She soon tires of this and after a scary night sleeping in her car, she comes across an abandoned building site that was to be a high end resort. How bad could it be?
The author makes you feel the fear of breaking into this building and hiding from security, as well as that feeling of being alone. But how alone is she? Is she is danger? Mac is pretty resilient and tough but she starts to think maybe this is not such a great idea. Makes you think about what you would do in this situation.
Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read, it was page turning and freaked me out in places. Out in Australia on April 2nd.
Best friends Mac and Erika find themselves out on the street when they are evicted. Try as they might, they can’t seem to find anything decent and affordable to move to so drastic measures are required. Erika can go back to her family home, as crowded as it maybe, at least she has a roof over her head and is safe. Mac is not so lucky and finds herself begging friends for a couch for a night. She soon tires of this and after a scary night sleeping in her car, she comes across an abandoned building site that was to be a high end resort. How bad could it be?
The author makes you feel the fear of breaking into this building and hiding from security, as well as that feeling of being alone. But how alone is she? Is she is danger? Mac is pretty resilient and tough but she starts to think maybe this is not such a great idea. Makes you think about what you would do in this situation.
Thanks so much to Simon and Schuster Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read, it was page turning and freaked me out in places. Out in Australia on April 2nd.
April 2, 2025
A mystery thriller, Barren Cape (2025) by Michelle Prak is set in Adelaide with several young characters. Housemates Mac and Erika are forced to leave their rental property and move back home. Mac is uncomfortable living with her mother’s boyfriend and decides to couch-surf until she finds her own place. Craving her own space, Mac decides to camp in an abandoned luxury development, known as Barren Cape. Yet things turn bad when Erika visits and her friends decide to party. Caught up in a dangerous situation, Mac finds herself trapped, her things stolen and unable to escape. Overall, it’s a disappointing tale, seemingly focused on housing issues, lacking real tension and under sketched characters, making it a two and a half star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given. With thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.
April 14, 2025
The second release from Australian author Michelle Prak is a thrilling thriller that will stimulate and satisfy your reading mind.
Barren Cape is an addictive, compelling and impressive read.
Once this resort was going to be luxury plus but money ran out and it’s left to ruins.
Mac and Erika are now homeless after their landlord upped the rent and greed set in.
Erika returns to her parent’s house until she finds her next home.
But for Mac circumstances are different, she has no place to stay permanently.
Out for a drive Mac comes across Barren Cape, now run down and very vacant.
It’s right on the beach, secluded, abandoned and no one is around……
Or so she thought….
There’s something or someone lurking in the dark….
Enter if you dare!
It’s smart, sharp and simply entertaining.
Michelle highlights that fact there’s a problem with housing in our country when people just want security.
There’s mystery, twists and a whole lot of intrigue.
I enjoyed this book that I picked up Michelle’s first book straight away to devour.
Barren Cape is an addictive, compelling and impressive read.
Once this resort was going to be luxury plus but money ran out and it’s left to ruins.
Mac and Erika are now homeless after their landlord upped the rent and greed set in.
Erika returns to her parent’s house until she finds her next home.
But for Mac circumstances are different, she has no place to stay permanently.
Out for a drive Mac comes across Barren Cape, now run down and very vacant.
It’s right on the beach, secluded, abandoned and no one is around……
Or so she thought….
There’s something or someone lurking in the dark….
Enter if you dare!
It’s smart, sharp and simply entertaining.
Michelle highlights that fact there’s a problem with housing in our country when people just want security.
There’s mystery, twists and a whole lot of intrigue.
I enjoyed this book that I picked up Michelle’s first book straight away to devour.
April 4, 2025
My heart went out to these main characters as soon as I read their plight. Where can you live when there is nowhere to go?
A gripping read as we explore the limited options open to young and homeless women as they seek security.
Enjoyed the South Australian setting!
A gripping read as we explore the limited options open to young and homeless women as they seek security.
Enjoyed the South Australian setting!
April 16, 2025
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Barren Cape by Michelle Prak
You’ll become so immersed in this book you’ll forget you’re reading, I flew through it! I absolutely loved this somewhat disturbing and suspense packed thriller.
Welcome to Barren Cape an abandoned and uncompleted luxury resort set on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. It’s the perfect accomodation for someone who is left homeless with little choice of finding suitable accomodation in Australia’s worst rental housing crisis.
Mac and Erika were evicted from their rental accommodation and were finding it extremely difficult to find somewhere else to rent. Erika has gone back to live with her parents but Mac is struggling and tired of couch surfing.
When Mac finds the fenced off and abandoned building at Barren Cape she burrows under the fence and makes one of the rooms her temporary home, it’s the perfect place to hide out but is it a refuge or is there something sinister going on?
The shocking turns and twists will have you on the edge of your seat! Perfect for thriller fans and those that love a fast read! I want to read more by this talented South Aussie author.
Publication Date 02 April 2025
Publisher Simon & Schuster Australia
Thanks heaps to the amazing team Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy of the book.
Barren Cape by Michelle Prak
You’ll become so immersed in this book you’ll forget you’re reading, I flew through it! I absolutely loved this somewhat disturbing and suspense packed thriller.
Welcome to Barren Cape an abandoned and uncompleted luxury resort set on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. It’s the perfect accomodation for someone who is left homeless with little choice of finding suitable accomodation in Australia’s worst rental housing crisis.
Mac and Erika were evicted from their rental accommodation and were finding it extremely difficult to find somewhere else to rent. Erika has gone back to live with her parents but Mac is struggling and tired of couch surfing.
When Mac finds the fenced off and abandoned building at Barren Cape she burrows under the fence and makes one of the rooms her temporary home, it’s the perfect place to hide out but is it a refuge or is there something sinister going on?
The shocking turns and twists will have you on the edge of your seat! Perfect for thriller fans and those that love a fast read! I want to read more by this talented South Aussie author.
Publication Date 02 April 2025
Publisher Simon & Schuster Australia
Thanks heaps to the amazing team Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy of the book.
April 3, 2025
Whoa, I was not expecting the multi directions of this novel. The twists and turns are masterful. The characters are as deeply complex and diverse as we readers are.
The author builds the backstories in detail and then sends us on a rapid roller coaster of events and emotions. Trust me, it doesn’t end how you think it will.
It may be an exciting crime thriller but it is also so much more. The underlying subplots and social influences did leave me thinking. A lot.
The author builds the backstories in detail and then sends us on a rapid roller coaster of events and emotions. Trust me, it doesn’t end how you think it will.
It may be an exciting crime thriller but it is also so much more. The underlying subplots and social influences did leave me thinking. A lot.
April 22, 2025
Mac and Erika have found themselves homeless. While Erika can move back in with her family, Mac's relationship with her mum is complicated. When Mac finds an abandoned resort, she thinks she has won the lottery. A roof over her head, along with some camping supplies, will suffice until she gets her visa to head to the UK. But Mac is not the only person who has found Barren Cape, and the longer she stays there, the more danger she is in.
Michelle Prak really knows how to write suspenseful tales with characters you relate to and baddies you want to suffer. Barren Cape is an excellent second book that definitely satisfies my taste for psychological thrillers.
Michelle Prak really knows how to write suspenseful tales with characters you relate to and baddies you want to suffer. Barren Cape is an excellent second book that definitely satisfies my taste for psychological thrillers.
March 2, 2025
I really enjoyed the author’s first novel and this one didn’t disappoint either.
Mac and Erika have been forced to move out of their rental and are struggling to find alternative living arrangements. When she happens upon an abandoned luxury beach resort, Mac thinks she’s found an ideal solution, but not everything is as it seems…
Short chapters and 3 different character perspectives made this a quick and easy read, and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. The stakes and pace really picked up in the last part of the book and the ending tied everything up nicely. Mac was a relatable character and I felt sympathetic towards her.
The book’s cover helps give you a clear idea of where the action is taking place, and the writing itself is also very descriptive and atmospheric, especially the night time scenes. Being from SA myself I really loved that it was set there, however it was an odd mix of real place names and fictional ones!
I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good Australian mystery. Thank you so much to Better Reading for providing an ARC for review!
Mac and Erika have been forced to move out of their rental and are struggling to find alternative living arrangements. When she happens upon an abandoned luxury beach resort, Mac thinks she’s found an ideal solution, but not everything is as it seems…
Short chapters and 3 different character perspectives made this a quick and easy read, and I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. The stakes and pace really picked up in the last part of the book and the ending tied everything up nicely. Mac was a relatable character and I felt sympathetic towards her.
The book’s cover helps give you a clear idea of where the action is taking place, and the writing itself is also very descriptive and atmospheric, especially the night time scenes. Being from SA myself I really loved that it was set there, however it was an odd mix of real place names and fictional ones!
I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good Australian mystery. Thank you so much to Better Reading for providing an ARC for review!
March 9, 2025
Desperate times lead to desperate measures. When Mac finds herself homeless after her and flatmate are evicted, she finds it harder and harder to couch surf and rely on friend's hospitality.
While out driving one day she notices a turn off to an abandoned barely complete resort, Barren Cape. This place is empty, it's desolate, it's out of the way, it's perfect isn't it? No one would know if she camped there for a while. Problem solved.
Little does Mac know that she is not the only person that has found their way into Barren Cape. The situation Mac soon finds herself in will test her to her limits.
With a gradually building sense of menace and tension, I found myself bracing for jump scares and yelling at Mac quite a few times. The startling conclusion and revelation of what really occured was so well done. I will never look at an abandoned building the same way again.
While out driving one day she notices a turn off to an abandoned barely complete resort, Barren Cape. This place is empty, it's desolate, it's out of the way, it's perfect isn't it? No one would know if she camped there for a while. Problem solved.
Little does Mac know that she is not the only person that has found their way into Barren Cape. The situation Mac soon finds herself in will test her to her limits.
With a gradually building sense of menace and tension, I found myself bracing for jump scares and yelling at Mac quite a few times. The startling conclusion and revelation of what really occured was so well done. I will never look at an abandoned building the same way again.
February 16, 2025
This was my first ARC from Simon and Schuster for 2025. A story which was both current and relatable as the main character finds herself couch surfing during the housing crisis. Her predicament finds her squatting at an isolated half constructed beach resort, but unknown to her she's now the only one staying there. I was hooked to this story from the start, as the individual POV's from the characters added the necessary details which had my palms sweaty and teeth grinding. It was a suspenseful page turning story which was executed efficiently, leaving no unanswered questions and providing closure to the end. Thanks to Better Reading Australia for the opportunity.
April 26, 2025
This one really got you thinking - what would you do if you were put in this situation? We all hope that we would never become homeless but in this day and age it's something that could quite easily happen. Sick of putting friends out, Mac looks for alternative places to stay when she comes across an abandoned, half built hotel. There were parts of this book that I had to stop reading at 1am for fear of not being able to get to sleep after my adrenalin spiked 😂 I also really predicted this story line going a completely different way so I enjoyed seeing how this story unfolded
April 6, 2025
Thank you Simon & Schuster AU for the ARC to review -
“the housing crisis -
a scary fact and
scary how relevant
it is in our
ever constant
growing present and
I'd not yet
read a
Psychological Thriller
that so bravely
addressed the fact
that so many people
are under duress and
my heart ached
instantly for
Mack and Erika but
I wasn't sure
initially what
to make of
Brex but
it was evident
that our
third narrator
was also
under duress…
Brex
youngest of
the three
female main
characters and
i wonder if
Michelle Prak
had planned
for her to gage
the strongest
reaction out
of me because
even now
I'm wondering
why the tough
exterior but –
maybe when
you're made
to feel inferior?
I think Brex
only ever wanted
freedom but
a fraught family
life left her
seeking survival and
isn't it interesting?
the multi faceted
layers of
characters presented
within?
Brex
Erika and
Mac -
different and
yet intrinsically
similar and
my pulse was
racing throughout
for Erika and Mac and
my heart broke
throughout for
Miss Mac who
just wanted
a place of
her own -
couch surfing
one night
sleeping in her car and
unwanted attention -
deflection from
relying on mates and
being tired of
feeling
in the way
leads our Mac
to discover
the gnarly ruins
of Barren Cape…
a luxurious resort
a ghost of
its promised glory
abandoned yet
evocative in
its depiction -
one could easily
envision each
skeleton of
a room and yet
at every cobweb and
crevice…
uncertainty
looms -
hair raising
on my arms as
I just was desperately
hoping Mac
would be safe
from harm…
I'm not
saying Erika
didn't have
her heart in
the right place -
yet I did
think her
simpering actions
to Theo
grew to be
of slight distaste but
all the same -
ah to be
lovestruck
Cupid's arrow and
nothing was ever
going to be
“on the straight and
narrow…”
Alternating POVS
between Erika
Mac and Brexleigh
sure made for
an utterly bingeable
read and
as characters lives’
intersected -
Barren Cape swiftly
becoming an
ever present
linking thread…
so much
like its
own character
and our
characters
all just wanting
to leave old lives
behind –
yet at
Barren Cape
who will
escape
with
the tide?”
“the housing crisis -
a scary fact and
scary how relevant
it is in our
ever constant
growing present and
I'd not yet
read a
Psychological Thriller
that so bravely
addressed the fact
that so many people
are under duress and
my heart ached
instantly for
Mack and Erika but
I wasn't sure
initially what
to make of
Brex but
it was evident
that our
third narrator
was also
under duress…
Brex
youngest of
the three
female main
characters and
i wonder if
Michelle Prak
had planned
for her to gage
the strongest
reaction out
of me because
even now
I'm wondering
why the tough
exterior but –
maybe when
you're made
to feel inferior?
I think Brex
only ever wanted
freedom but
a fraught family
life left her
seeking survival and
isn't it interesting?
the multi faceted
layers of
characters presented
within?
Brex
Erika and
Mac -
different and
yet intrinsically
similar and
my pulse was
racing throughout
for Erika and Mac and
my heart broke
throughout for
Miss Mac who
just wanted
a place of
her own -
couch surfing
one night
sleeping in her car and
unwanted attention -
deflection from
relying on mates and
being tired of
feeling
in the way
leads our Mac
to discover
the gnarly ruins
of Barren Cape…
a luxurious resort
a ghost of
its promised glory
abandoned yet
evocative in
its depiction -
one could easily
envision each
skeleton of
a room and yet
at every cobweb and
crevice…
uncertainty
looms -
hair raising
on my arms as
I just was desperately
hoping Mac
would be safe
from harm…
I'm not
saying Erika
didn't have
her heart in
the right place -
yet I did
think her
simpering actions
to Theo
grew to be
of slight distaste but
all the same -
ah to be
lovestruck
Cupid's arrow and
nothing was ever
going to be
“on the straight and
narrow…”
Alternating POVS
between Erika
Mac and Brexleigh
sure made for
an utterly bingeable
read and
as characters lives’
intersected -
Barren Cape swiftly
becoming an
ever present
linking thread…
so much
like its
own character
and our
characters
all just wanting
to leave old lives
behind –
yet at
Barren Cape
who will
escape
with
the tide?”
April 27, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publish for a copy of this fabulous book to read and review.
I loved Michelle Prak's first novel The Rush, so I knew I would be hooked on Barren Cape within the first few pages.
Michelle brings the Australian Housing crisis (particularly the rental crisis) to life in this book as she delves into the lives of best friends Mac and Erika who are both searching for a new rental and coping with living with friends and family. Until Mac discovers Barren Cape, a once destined for greatness grand resort that was abandoned half completed due to the developer going bankrupt. Seems like the perfect place to stay until a new home can be found... or is it!
This book was a wild ride and just when I thought I had everything worked out the ending kinda jumped up and smacked me in the face. I was disappointed by the final choices that Mac and Erika made but can see the growth in each character that the author was aiming for.
Highly recommend this book and can't wait to see what is next from Michelle Prak!
I loved Michelle Prak's first novel The Rush, so I knew I would be hooked on Barren Cape within the first few pages.
Michelle brings the Australian Housing crisis (particularly the rental crisis) to life in this book as she delves into the lives of best friends Mac and Erika who are both searching for a new rental and coping with living with friends and family. Until Mac discovers Barren Cape, a once destined for greatness grand resort that was abandoned half completed due to the developer going bankrupt. Seems like the perfect place to stay until a new home can be found... or is it!
This book was a wild ride and just when I thought I had everything worked out the ending kinda jumped up and smacked me in the face. I was disappointed by the final choices that Mac and Erika made but can see the growth in each character that the author was aiming for.
Highly recommend this book and can't wait to see what is next from Michelle Prak!
April 20, 2025
After being priced out of their home by rent increases, former housemates Erika and Mac are officially homeless. Erika has her family home to fall back on but for Mac, family is not an option and she is forced to couch surf and rely heavily on the kindness of her friends.
One afternoon, while Mac is trying to find a place to sleep that evening, she stumbles across the empty Barren Cape. The resort seems safe for a while but with such a large space and so many empty rooms, it’s impossible to know who else might be hanging around.
This was such a gripping read! I loved reading this as part of a read along but it was challenging to stop after each days designated chapters.
The characters pull you in and there is an interesting focus on the housing crisis as a baseline for the story. I also loved the twists in the story, as soon as you think the story is going one way, there’s a change in the narrative and it goes somewhere completely different.
Thank you Tandem Collective, Simon & Schuster and Michelle Prak for my copy of this book in exchange for my review
One afternoon, while Mac is trying to find a place to sleep that evening, she stumbles across the empty Barren Cape. The resort seems safe for a while but with such a large space and so many empty rooms, it’s impossible to know who else might be hanging around.
This was such a gripping read! I loved reading this as part of a read along but it was challenging to stop after each days designated chapters.
The characters pull you in and there is an interesting focus on the housing crisis as a baseline for the story. I also loved the twists in the story, as soon as you think the story is going one way, there’s a change in the narrative and it goes somewhere completely different.
Thank you Tandem Collective, Simon & Schuster and Michelle Prak for my copy of this book in exchange for my review
April 22, 2025
2.5⭐️
March 28, 2025
Would you stay overnight in an abandoned resort?
When Mackenzie’s and Erika’s landlord doesn’t renew their lease, they join the long queue of people to look for rentals. Their optimism turns into frustration and it seems that they are out of luck.
Erika has to move back into her cramped family home but Mac’s situation is getting from bad to worse every day as she has to rely on a different friend each night to have a place to sleep.
One afternoon she discovers the abandoned construction site of a beach resort. Desperate and not wanting to ask for more favours, Mac decides to crawl through the wire fence and sleep at Barren Cape.
As I already loved Michelle Prak’s first novel ‘The Rush’, I was beyond excited to get a copy of Barren Cape prior to its publication on 2nd April 2025 and had to read it immediately.
I loved the tension Michelle created in this novel. She took a situation in which sadly too many people can find themselves these days only too easily and added her special touch to create a story I didn’t want to put down.
On the surface I might not have much in common with her characters but I found myself drawn into their lives and connected to Mac in particular. I felt her disappointment and frustration, her fears as she tried to fall asleep in a bare room of the desolate resort.
I won’t say more but I was on the edge of my seat as events unfolded. I absolutely loved the suspense and atmosphere created and had to force myself to slow down so that I wouldn’t miss anything. I highly recommend both of Michelle’s books for #AussieApril
And is it too early to ask for another novel, Michelle?
Thank you so much Michelle Prak and Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this fantastic novel. I really appreciate it.
The copy was a gift but opinions are all my own.
P.S. And I love that they have retained the design feature of the previous cover. I loved the wet windscreen design of The Rush 💦 and was excited to see the Wire Fence to get the same treatment.
When Mackenzie’s and Erika’s landlord doesn’t renew their lease, they join the long queue of people to look for rentals. Their optimism turns into frustration and it seems that they are out of luck.
Erika has to move back into her cramped family home but Mac’s situation is getting from bad to worse every day as she has to rely on a different friend each night to have a place to sleep.
One afternoon she discovers the abandoned construction site of a beach resort. Desperate and not wanting to ask for more favours, Mac decides to crawl through the wire fence and sleep at Barren Cape.
As I already loved Michelle Prak’s first novel ‘The Rush’, I was beyond excited to get a copy of Barren Cape prior to its publication on 2nd April 2025 and had to read it immediately.
I loved the tension Michelle created in this novel. She took a situation in which sadly too many people can find themselves these days only too easily and added her special touch to create a story I didn’t want to put down.
On the surface I might not have much in common with her characters but I found myself drawn into their lives and connected to Mac in particular. I felt her disappointment and frustration, her fears as she tried to fall asleep in a bare room of the desolate resort.
I won’t say more but I was on the edge of my seat as events unfolded. I absolutely loved the suspense and atmosphere created and had to force myself to slow down so that I wouldn’t miss anything. I highly recommend both of Michelle’s books for #AussieApril
And is it too early to ask for another novel, Michelle?
Thank you so much Michelle Prak and Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this fantastic novel. I really appreciate it.
The copy was a gift but opinions are all my own.
P.S. And I love that they have retained the design feature of the previous cover. I loved the wet windscreen design of The Rush 💦 and was excited to see the Wire Fence to get the same treatment.
April 11, 2025
Strap in for an edge of you seat, suspense packed thriller 🙌
Mac is completely out of options, recently evicted from her share house with Erika. She doesn’t have the luxury of a family to turn to like Erika does. Couch hopping from friend to friend while unable to find a place to live she comes across an abandoned, semi finished resort by the beach called Barren Cape
This derelict property gives her a quiet, rent free roof over her head until she can board a plan to stay with her sister in London
It’s been abandoned for so long.. surely no one else has the same idea?
I absolutely devoured this gripping read! I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Michelle has a wonderful ability to immerse you completely in the resort. Mac is such a tough character, she is very independent and resilient given the challenges thrown at her. You really feel for her and the horrible situation she is put in
Thank you so much Simon & Schuster and Michelle Prak for sending me a copy! I absolutely loved Barren Cape
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mac is completely out of options, recently evicted from her share house with Erika. She doesn’t have the luxury of a family to turn to like Erika does. Couch hopping from friend to friend while unable to find a place to live she comes across an abandoned, semi finished resort by the beach called Barren Cape
This derelict property gives her a quiet, rent free roof over her head until she can board a plan to stay with her sister in London
It’s been abandoned for so long.. surely no one else has the same idea?
I absolutely devoured this gripping read! I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Michelle has a wonderful ability to immerse you completely in the resort. Mac is such a tough character, she is very independent and resilient given the challenges thrown at her. You really feel for her and the horrible situation she is put in
Thank you so much Simon & Schuster and Michelle Prak for sending me a copy! I absolutely loved Barren Cape
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 7, 2025
Wow, what a page-turner this new book from Michelle Prak is.
I devoured it in one day.
With the housing and rental crisis in Australia, this is a very topical theme for this thriller... every character is being pushed to their limits, and they will all find out just how far they are prepared to go for themselves and their friends.
Fast-paced and surprising, this is a thriller that feels like it could be all too real.
Thanks to the Publisher for the ARC of this book.
I devoured it in one day.
With the housing and rental crisis in Australia, this is a very topical theme for this thriller... every character is being pushed to their limits, and they will all find out just how far they are prepared to go for themselves and their friends.
Fast-paced and surprising, this is a thriller that feels like it could be all too real.
Thanks to the Publisher for the ARC of this book.
February 27, 2025
An abandoned and isolated half-built luxury beach resort. A escaped prisoner. A homeless young woman and a trio of smartarse teenagers. Sounds like an interesting setup but in the end disappointing. There’s a few thrilling moments but mostly I just didn’t care about the characters and even though the story is fast moving some of the dialogue is just stupid. And why introduce the stalker character and do nothing important with him? Meh.
July 9, 2025
This was great!
The story was really interesting and just twisty enough to keep me engaged the whole way through without being too ridiculous.
A couple of the characters really grated on me but they also mostly ended up redeeming themselves.
All up - a very good time 👍
The story was really interesting and just twisty enough to keep me engaged the whole way through without being too ridiculous.
A couple of the characters really grated on me but they also mostly ended up redeeming themselves.
All up - a very good time 👍
March 14, 2025
Thank you to @netgalley and @simonandschusteraustralia for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
After being evicted, amidst the housing crisis in Australia, friends Mac and Erika are left with limited options. Erika turns to her family for refuge but for Mac, that’s not an option. She’s couch surfing at her friends places but she’s made the ask one too many times.
While driving around she discovers Barren Cape. It was meant to be a luxurious resort by the beach, but when the pandemic hit, the plans were abandoned. The building sits lonely and desolate, just concrete, empty rooms and chain link fences. But maybe it’s the perfect hideout for Mac at least for a little while. Her closest friend can’t keep a secret, some truant teens show up and a body is uncovered on the roof: her private and peaceful accommodation is no longer.
I loved the unique premise of this book and the author paints complex and multifaceted characters. I was immersed into the uncommon setting of the book and the creepy vibes of the abandoned resort. The multiple perspectives kept the pace moving and I was holding my breath for the safety of the characters. Filled with mystery and suspense, I recommend this one highly!
I’m hoping for a sequel…so much to explore for Mac and Erika. I could see another story with an update on Erika after that ending and Mac’s life in London!
After being evicted, amidst the housing crisis in Australia, friends Mac and Erika are left with limited options. Erika turns to her family for refuge but for Mac, that’s not an option. She’s couch surfing at her friends places but she’s made the ask one too many times.
While driving around she discovers Barren Cape. It was meant to be a luxurious resort by the beach, but when the pandemic hit, the plans were abandoned. The building sits lonely and desolate, just concrete, empty rooms and chain link fences. But maybe it’s the perfect hideout for Mac at least for a little while. Her closest friend can’t keep a secret, some truant teens show up and a body is uncovered on the roof: her private and peaceful accommodation is no longer.
I loved the unique premise of this book and the author paints complex and multifaceted characters. I was immersed into the uncommon setting of the book and the creepy vibes of the abandoned resort. The multiple perspectives kept the pace moving and I was holding my breath for the safety of the characters. Filled with mystery and suspense, I recommend this one highly!
I’m hoping for a sequel…so much to explore for Mac and Erika. I could see another story with an update on Erika after that ending and Mac’s life in London!
March 12, 2025
Barren Cape has a fabulously constructed plot. It explores the desperate measures a young woman will go to, just to put a roof over her head and have a safe place to sleep at night. Given our current cost of living crisis, it is also a story that is totally relatable and believable.
Mac and Erika are the two characters central to the story and how they react to suddenly being homeless after being housemates together. Cue the abandoned resort and it's infinite options and opportunities to live rent free. Combine this with an escaped criminal and some wayward teenagers who also see the resort as a place to hang out and fate has their paths cross with deadly results. The suspense builds slowly and is compelling right through to the end. It was a five star read for me.
Thank you to Better Reading for my advanced copy to read and review.
Mac and Erika are the two characters central to the story and how they react to suddenly being homeless after being housemates together. Cue the abandoned resort and it's infinite options and opportunities to live rent free. Combine this with an escaped criminal and some wayward teenagers who also see the resort as a place to hang out and fate has their paths cross with deadly results. The suspense builds slowly and is compelling right through to the end. It was a five star read for me.
Thank you to Better Reading for my advanced copy to read and review.
July 19, 2025
Barren Cape is an enjoyable psychological thriller by Michelle Prak. After Mac and Erika's landowner wanted to sell their units, they became homeless. Erika decided to go back home. However, Mac had no one to go back to, and after driving around, found Barren Cape, an abandoned luxury resort and decided to stay for a couple of nights. However, was this the wrong thing for Mac, or was it the start of changing her life for the better? Readers of Barren Cape will continue to follow Mac and Erika as they discover what happens.
I was looking forward to reading this book because I enjoyed her previous book. However, I was disappointed with this book. This book was too slow for me, but I did finish it, so that's why I gave it a three. The plot of the book, written by Michelle Prak, was well done and prompted me to think about the problems that young adults face when they have no one to care for them.
Michelle Prak did an excellent job of portraying her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. The book is well-written and researched by Michelle Prak. I liked Michelle Prak's description of the settings in this book, which complemented the plot well.
I recommend this book.
I was looking forward to reading this book because I enjoyed her previous book. However, I was disappointed with this book. This book was too slow for me, but I did finish it, so that's why I gave it a three. The plot of the book, written by Michelle Prak, was well done and prompted me to think about the problems that young adults face when they have no one to care for them.
Michelle Prak did an excellent job of portraying her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. The book is well-written and researched by Michelle Prak. I liked Michelle Prak's description of the settings in this book, which complemented the plot well.
I recommend this book.
April 1, 2025
Barren Cape was an interesting read and I appreciated the focus on the rental crises here in Australia. Sleeping/squatting in an abandoned development does sound like something people would do when they are desperate to have a roof over their head but don't want to inconvenience their friends and family and/or have overstayed their welcome after many months.
There are three groups in this story: 14-15 year old delinquents, then there is Mac and Erika in their early 20's and then Theo and his friends in their mid 20s. But I really struggled with not seeing a maturity difference between the older groups and the delinquents. It seemed like everyone's actions and language on the same level and quite immature.
I liked Mac, she was strong and focused and had a goal and I really empathized with her. She was really the only character that I became emotionally connected with. But I still struggled to see how she had x2 good paying jobs but yet couldn't afford to stay somewhere cheap at least a few nights a week, she didn't appear to be a big spender.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for a copy to honestly review.
There are three groups in this story: 14-15 year old delinquents, then there is Mac and Erika in their early 20's and then Theo and his friends in their mid 20s. But I really struggled with not seeing a maturity difference between the older groups and the delinquents. It seemed like everyone's actions and language on the same level and quite immature.
I liked Mac, she was strong and focused and had a goal and I really empathized with her. She was really the only character that I became emotionally connected with. But I still struggled to see how she had x2 good paying jobs but yet couldn't afford to stay somewhere cheap at least a few nights a week, she didn't appear to be a big spender.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia and Netgalley for a copy to honestly review.
February 24, 2025
I read this while holidaying on the Fleurieu Peninsula but couldn't imagine quite where, in this idyllic area, an abandoned property would be. It certainly didn't feel menacing or sinister. And the novel didn't portray this feeling either. The plot was real and mostly believable. I appreciate the fact that the country is going through a housing crisis but how three separate groups all decide to squat in the now disused and abandoned development seemed to stretch my imagination a bit too far. I empathised with Mac and her situation. At times I found it impossible to differentiate between the teenagers and the 'adults'. I found their actions and language immature and, at times, childish. To quote one of the adults, "Teens scare me." I failed to become emotionally invested in any of the characters and found them unlikeable and shallow. The double-barrelled ending was quite silly. The novel felt like I was reading a book written for a Young Adult audience. Perhaps they would relate more to this novel. Thanks to Better Reading for their advanced copy in return for an honest review.
April 23, 2025
Barren Cape by Australian author Michelle Prak is an authentic fiction mystery with fear-filled moments and suspenseful intrigue.
Mac and Erika are housemates who find themselves homeless, Erika returns home but Mac must find a place to stay. When she comes across abandoned Barren Cape, which was once a luxury escape, she feels it’s the perfect place to stay. Little does she know she will be met with unruly teenagers and a violent prison escapee.
The author clearly has a vivid imagination and a way with words that compels you to keep reading. You'll find yourself drawn into this story as the descriptive writing brings the scene alive in your head, allowing you to live the story and feel the helplessness and fear.
There are plenty of twists and turns that keep you hanging on and guessing. I found the characters compelling and to be the next-door-variety: completely believable.
Barren Cape is a story I enjoyed, it is just the right length to intrigue a reader and give them something to think about. The subject is a heart-breaking story with the housing crisis and homelessness, but a guaranteed thrilling, 'edge of your seat' read that you won't easily put down.
Prak has crafted a highly enjoyable story that crosses many genres and will certainly have appeal for all different types of readers, I highly recommended.
Mac and Erika are housemates who find themselves homeless, Erika returns home but Mac must find a place to stay. When she comes across abandoned Barren Cape, which was once a luxury escape, she feels it’s the perfect place to stay. Little does she know she will be met with unruly teenagers and a violent prison escapee.
The author clearly has a vivid imagination and a way with words that compels you to keep reading. You'll find yourself drawn into this story as the descriptive writing brings the scene alive in your head, allowing you to live the story and feel the helplessness and fear.
There are plenty of twists and turns that keep you hanging on and guessing. I found the characters compelling and to be the next-door-variety: completely believable.
Barren Cape is a story I enjoyed, it is just the right length to intrigue a reader and give them something to think about. The subject is a heart-breaking story with the housing crisis and homelessness, but a guaranteed thrilling, 'edge of your seat' read that you won't easily put down.
Prak has crafted a highly enjoyable story that crosses many genres and will certainly have appeal for all different types of readers, I highly recommended.
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