What do you think?
Rate this book
Mistake Creek
Updated cover edition found here.
There's a storm coming...
When Nina O'Brien returns to the small town of Mistake Creek after ten years, she's in a race against time to protect her father's business from an incoming storm so it can be sold to pay for his urgent medical treatment.
As flood warnings echo over the radio and the storm breaks with enormous force across the tiny Californian community, Nina is joined by others seeking shelter from the onslaught.
Her life is changed forever when a stranger appears at her door, bloodied and incoherent.
With a ruthless killer exposed among the small group, Nina is thrust into a deadly conspiracy involving a military veteran seeking revenge and an FBI agent desperate to prevent a catastrophic terrorism threat.
Alone, with no means to raise the alarm, Nina realises that to save one man, she must learn to trust another.
There's a storm coming...
When Nina O'Brien returns to the small town of Mistake Creek after ten years, she's in a race against time to protect her father's business from an incoming storm so it can be sold to pay for his urgent medical treatment.
As flood warnings echo over the radio and the storm breaks with enormous force across the tiny Californian community, Nina is joined by others seeking shelter from the onslaught.
Her life is changed forever when a stranger appears at her door, bloodied and incoherent.
With a ruthless killer exposed among the small group, Nina is thrust into a deadly conspiracy involving a military veteran seeking revenge and an FBI agent desperate to prevent a catastrophic terrorism threat.
Alone, with no means to raise the alarm, Nina realises that to save one man, she must learn to trust another.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2015
111 people are currently reading
1263 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Amphlett
206 books677 followersBefore turning to writing, USA Today bestselling crime author Rachel Amphlett played guitar in bands, worked as a TV and film extra, dabbled in radio, and worked in publishing as an editorial assistant.
She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction with over 30 crime novels and short stories featuring spies, detectives, vigilantes, and assassins.
A keen traveller and accidental private investigator, Rachel has both Australian and British citizenship.
You can find out more about Rachel and her books at www.rachelamphlett.com.
Praise for Rachel Amphlett
“Fast paced with vivid characterisation and clever twists, [None the Wiser] is another winner” Adrian McKinty
“[None the Wiser] is a terrific start to a new series” Jo Spain, With Our Blessing and The Confession
“Quirky, creepy and twisted tales” James Oswald, Sunday Times bestselling author
“Thrilling start to a new series. Scared to Death is a stylish, smart and gripping crime thriller” Robert Bryndza
"Scared to Death… moves along at breakneck speed with twists and turns" Angela Marsons
She now wields a pen instead of a plectrum and writes crime fiction with over 30 crime novels and short stories featuring spies, detectives, vigilantes, and assassins.
A keen traveller and accidental private investigator, Rachel has both Australian and British citizenship.
You can find out more about Rachel and her books at www.rachelamphlett.com.
Praise for Rachel Amphlett
“Fast paced with vivid characterisation and clever twists, [None the Wiser] is another winner” Adrian McKinty
“[None the Wiser] is a terrific start to a new series” Jo Spain, With Our Blessing and The Confession
“Quirky, creepy and twisted tales” James Oswald, Sunday Times bestselling author
“Thrilling start to a new series. Scared to Death is a stylish, smart and gripping crime thriller” Robert Bryndza
"Scared to Death… moves along at breakneck speed with twists and turns" Angela Marsons
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 26, 2017
Well this one is certainly action packed and frequently way over the top in the violence stakes! I cringed when one character was crawling around with a bone sticking out of his leg.
Anyway it all made for a thrilling and exciting read with just a touch of romance thrown in for good measure. It was a little over the top for my taste but still a good read.
Anyway it all made for a thrilling and exciting read with just a touch of romance thrown in for good measure. It was a little over the top for my taste but still a good read.
June 15, 2022
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, then look no further than this book. Mistake Creek by Aussie author Rachel Amphlett is a gripping thriller that has quite a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Looking forward to reading more by this author. Highly recommended.
October 19, 2015
How could you not get sucked in to a thriller that starts with a car chase and sounds of gunshot across wild country and follows that up with a group of strangers hunkered down in a massive storm finding an injured man collapsed on their doorstep?
This gritty thriller has it all, wild weather, wicked men, feisty women, FBI agents, heinous plots to kill millions of people, guns, motorbikes, helicopters and explosives. Heck, what more can I say. Great characters, great plot. Just read it - it's good ... and thrilling! 4.5★
September 17, 2016
As Nina O’Brien and Ross Flanagan worked side by side nailing boards over windows, tying down loose objects and racing against time, she wondered if she had done the right thing coming home to Mistake Creek and preparing her father’s truck stop for sale. With him no longer able to run the business, and Nina herself now living in the city after moving away ten years ago, she realized she had no other option; her heart wasn’t in it though as it had been her home for as long as she could remember. Still, with the storm bearing down on them, their choices were limited.
Finally inside and joined by long distance truck driver, Phil, they were shocked to hear the sound of a motorcycle roaring to a stop outside – when two soaked and dishevelled bikers banged on the door, Nina was more than happy to offer them shelter. But when another crash at the door revealed a bloodied and exhausted man, in a state of collapse, their shock was apparent. As Nina attempted to tend to the stranger’s wounds she knew something wasn’t right – her uneasiness was apparent – but then suddenly the dynamics changed, and she knew they were in trouble. She had no idea who she could trust…
Thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nina knew she was in terrible danger – her life and the lives of others depended on her making the right choices. But the people involved had too much to lose; Nina was only collateral damage. Isolated as they were by the storm, with all communication lost, desperation and exhaustion was their constant companion. Would they be able to stop the threat of a dreadful terrorism attack from becoming a reality?
Mistake Creek by Aussie author Rachel Amphlett is an absolutely gripping thriller, fast paced from the very first page; it kept me enthralled until I reached the end a few hours later. With an excellent plot, the intrigue and mystery was tense and powerful. I have no hesitation in recommending Mistake Creek highly to all mystery/suspense/thriller lovers.
With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
Finally inside and joined by long distance truck driver, Phil, they were shocked to hear the sound of a motorcycle roaring to a stop outside – when two soaked and dishevelled bikers banged on the door, Nina was more than happy to offer them shelter. But when another crash at the door revealed a bloodied and exhausted man, in a state of collapse, their shock was apparent. As Nina attempted to tend to the stranger’s wounds she knew something wasn’t right – her uneasiness was apparent – but then suddenly the dynamics changed, and she knew they were in trouble. She had no idea who she could trust…
Thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nina knew she was in terrible danger – her life and the lives of others depended on her making the right choices. But the people involved had too much to lose; Nina was only collateral damage. Isolated as they were by the storm, with all communication lost, desperation and exhaustion was their constant companion. Would they be able to stop the threat of a dreadful terrorism attack from becoming a reality?
Mistake Creek by Aussie author Rachel Amphlett is an absolutely gripping thriller, fast paced from the very first page; it kept me enthralled until I reached the end a few hours later. With an excellent plot, the intrigue and mystery was tense and powerful. I have no hesitation in recommending Mistake Creek highly to all mystery/suspense/thriller lovers.
With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
March 13, 2022
Mistake Creek is set in the Central Valley of California. A young woman Nina O’Brien, returns there from San Francisco to sell up her father’s disused truck stop to cover his medical bills. A drought-breaking storm is rolling in and Nina gains help from a neighbour, Ross Flanagan, with whom she was romantically connected at one stage, to patch up the roof and windows. With the phone lines down and the road into town cut at the flooded creek, the pair are isolated there with a bikie couple, a truck driver who knew Nina’s father and the arrival of a stranger hammering at the door, a knife wound to his shoulder. He’s a special agent who had infiltrated a terrorist cell of home-grown ratbags with a biological weapon, until his cover was blown.
Published in 2015, this was one of the author’s better stories. A fast-paced read where at times it was hard to separate the good actors from the bad. It worked for me as the sook-factor was toned-down and in the desperate race to escape/survive items are lost or mislaid, forcing Nina and the stranger to use their wits and improvise. I liked that. Recommended.
Published in 2015, this was one of the author’s better stories. A fast-paced read where at times it was hard to separate the good actors from the bad. It worked for me as the sook-factor was toned-down and in the desperate race to escape/survive items are lost or mislaid, forcing Nina and the stranger to use their wits and improvise. I liked that. Recommended.
September 23, 2015
Take a thrilling ride with FBI agent Kyle Roberts and (I never should have returned to Mistake Creek) Nina O’Brien as they fight to prevent a biological terrorist attack on the citizens of San Francisco all during the worst storm Mistake Creek, California has seen in years.
This is a fast paced read. It was easy to get swept up in the adrenaline pumping action. I read it in two days. The storyline is straightforward, although it does have its unexpected twists, and it’s not so far fetched that it becomes unbelievable.
Kyle is a likeable protagonist, tough but not too tough. Nina is strong and capable and proves she can hold her own when the going gets rough.
Mistake Creek will appeal to a wide range of readers, especially those that like a thrilling read filled with danger and action but will also appeal to those that like a little romance with their thrillers.
If you are already a fan of author Rachel Amphlett, Mistake Creek will not disappoint. If you haven’t discovered her amazing thrillers yet, I highly recommend them and now is the time to start.
This is a fast paced read. It was easy to get swept up in the adrenaline pumping action. I read it in two days. The storyline is straightforward, although it does have its unexpected twists, and it’s not so far fetched that it becomes unbelievable.
Kyle is a likeable protagonist, tough but not too tough. Nina is strong and capable and proves she can hold her own when the going gets rough.
Mistake Creek will appeal to a wide range of readers, especially those that like a thrilling read filled with danger and action but will also appeal to those that like a little romance with their thrillers.
If you are already a fan of author Rachel Amphlett, Mistake Creek will not disappoint. If you haven’t discovered her amazing thrillers yet, I highly recommend them and now is the time to start.
July 3, 2015
I will read more form this author as I really enjoyed this book, I had not heard of her before. A lot of action with luckily only a small amount of romance.
November 7, 2020
Setting: California, USA. When Nina O'Brien returns to her hometown of Mistake Creek to arrange the sale of her father's truck-stop, she little realises the drama that is to come. Firstly, the drought that has ravaged the area is coming to a dramatic end with a monumental storm - thunder, lightning, high winds and torrential rain - and secondly, having barricaded themselves in, she and local farmer's son Russ also find themselves hosting truck driver, Phil, and married couple Dani and Sean, who arrived on a motorbike seeking shelter from the storm. Then an injured man, Kyle, rocks up and they also take him in - but why has he got a knife wound? And is there a killer amongst them? With no phone signal, the creek flooded and the only other road blocked by a landslide, Nina and Russ are on their own and must decide who to trust....
Great conspiracy thriller - found it hard to put down due to the fast-paced action even though the characters were perhaps not as well fleshed out as they could have been. When you throw into the mix a drugs-runner and his murderous cronies, undercover FBI agents and a violent storm, you have all the ingredients for an exciting and gripping read - 8/10.
Great conspiracy thriller - found it hard to put down due to the fast-paced action even though the characters were perhaps not as well fleshed out as they could have been. When you throw into the mix a drugs-runner and his murderous cronies, undercover FBI agents and a violent storm, you have all the ingredients for an exciting and gripping read - 8/10.
November 6, 2016
Lots of action & just a sprinkling of Romance. A really good read
May 13, 2015
Another great book with thrills, action, twists and nicely fast paced though out. There is a change here in this book as the author uses a regular person as the main character, as is regular I mean normal, with no super human powers, etc, She is a normal person trying to make her way in life as she needs to return home to help her Dad, and happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nina is thrown into turmoil of who to trust, help and who to ask for help, but she is a strong person and turns out to be a star. I also enjoyed the setting, a small area some where in California called Mistake Creek. A great place to grow up in but probably a boring place to live, that's why things are happening there, sleepy, quiet, no one will notice. But.......
September 25, 2015
Struggled to get into this for some reason but it was ok.
October 24, 2016
This was an easy read in the manner of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Everyone, the goodies anyway, lived happily ever after. The story moved along well but all the villains were stereotypical. Imagine a pair of leather jacketed bikies that turned up out of nowhere not being badies? There was a lot of action and a heap of very fortuitous coincidences. People lucked in and all the dominoes fell the right way. If you want a simple easy read, this is the book for you. If you something less simplistic, then look elsewhere.
August 23, 2025
3 - 3 1/2 stars. This book was a good holiday read. Nina O'Brien is helping her Dad by cleaning up his bankrupt truck stop to get it ready to sell. There is a huge storm and the river floods so she and the people at the truck stop can't leave. Someone is a killer. This was not a bad little read, but the fact that the book was supposedly set in California and yet the author used words that no Californian would use like "petrol" and others like it, kind of annoyed me. But it wasn't a bad little read. Some terrorists, FBI, a big storm and a bit of romance.
June 8, 2017
Unbelievable
Unbelievably bad that is.
It started promisingly, the first couple of chapters were quite gripping, unfortunately around a third of the was through it started to get rather silly and then deteriorated further. The second half was complete, total rubish and the last couple of pages sickly nauseating.
Unbelievably bad that is.
It started promisingly, the first couple of chapters were quite gripping, unfortunately around a third of the was through it started to get rather silly and then deteriorated further. The second half was complete, total rubish and the last couple of pages sickly nauseating.
March 4, 2019
This was just ok... Nina O’Brien returns to mistake creek to close up her fathers gas station...go back to the city and find a job and take care of dad...things happen, the storm, two people on a motorcycle, abt injured man whom she doesn’t know, Ross her neighbor and ex love interest and how all are tangled in a mess only fbi can help ...
December 9, 2023
An interesting idea, although for most of it I kept thinking it was set in Australia - it certainly seemed more like it whilst reading!
The sense of place was good (although, of course, seemed like Aus) and most of the characters, and there were some nicely tense bits and twists.
Loses a point for the lack of locality.
The sense of place was good (although, of course, seemed like Aus) and most of the characters, and there were some nicely tense bits and twists.
Loses a point for the lack of locality.
August 13, 2017
This was so exciting from beginning to end! There was so many quirks and mystery to whom can be trusted. Who in the story was the enemy and who the heroes. So much suspense and the romance was unnerving as in who will Nina choose! This novel has everything!
November 17, 2017
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.
This was the second book I've read by this author and it won't be the last. This author has a great style of writing and great character development. The action level never slowed. Great book. I highly recommend it.
This was the second book I've read by this author and it won't be the last. This author has a great style of writing and great character development. The action level never slowed. Great book. I highly recommend it.
October 31, 2020
Loved it
Fast paced action packed and a great story! What more could you ask for? I read it in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. Off to search out more books by this author!
Fast paced action packed and a great story! What more could you ask for? I read it in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. Off to search out more books by this author!
March 25, 2021
Slow to start
Enjoyed storyline but found it took a good time to get into it. Was starting to wonder where story was going. Eventually the storyline took off and in the true style of author became engrossing.
Enjoyed storyline but found it took a good time to get into it. Was starting to wonder where story was going. Eventually the storyline took off and in the true style of author became engrossing.
September 17, 2023
This story draws you in and makes you hold your breath as the action sweeps you away. Very believable characters and scenes. This was my second time reading it and it had been just long enough that each twist and turn surprised me all over again. I look forward to following this author.
October 10, 2017
Good Book.
I truly enjoyed this book. I like to be be excited to read the next chapter. This book was that way. Thumbs up for me.
I truly enjoyed this book. I like to be be excited to read the next chapter. This book was that way. Thumbs up for me.
December 9, 2018
The first novel I've read by this author and it didn't disappoint. Action from the word go and enough plot to keep you reading without going overboard or being too far fetched. Enjoyed the book.
February 17, 2019
Loved this book
Great book. I spent Sunday afternoon read ing t from beginning to end without putting it down. I highly recommend it
Great book. I spent Sunday afternoon read ing t from beginning to end without putting it down. I highly recommend it
June 14, 2019
This book was definitely action packed with many very tense moments. Never knew what was lurking around the corner. Enjoyed it very much.
April 10, 2020
Exciting!
Exhilarating, fast paced plot. The characters come alive and lead you on an exhilarating and fast paced race against the bad guys.
Exhilarating, fast paced plot. The characters come alive and lead you on an exhilarating and fast paced race against the bad guys.
January 26, 2022
Couldn't Put It Down
Wow, what a good book. Kept me on my toes trying to figure out the good guys from the bad. Had me pretty much stumped through the whole thing.
Wow, what a good book. Kept me on my toes trying to figure out the good guys from the bad. Had me pretty much stumped through the whole thing.
December 13, 2025
Not her best work.
September 9, 2016
Nina has been called back the Mistake Creek from concerned neighbors over the increasing forgetfulness of her father who runs the towns gas station and truck stop. She is getting it ready to sell when a bad storm hits the town flooding the creel and shutting down the roads. Friends and strangers are stuck in the truck stop during the storm but people are turning up dead and she does not know who to trust.
September 15, 2016
Exciting thriller great characters, highly recommend
My first read of a novel by Rachel Amphlett she has written a thriller that's topical, is hard to put down as the story builds around a drought breaking storm undercover FBI agents and an internal terrorist determined to get his revenge against the federal government. The book has a lot of thrills, lots of pace and a feisty girl finding love. Brilliant book I want to read more from Rachel.
My first read of a novel by Rachel Amphlett she has written a thriller that's topical, is hard to put down as the story builds around a drought breaking storm undercover FBI agents and an internal terrorist determined to get his revenge against the federal government. The book has a lot of thrills, lots of pace and a feisty girl finding love. Brilliant book I want to read more from Rachel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews