Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I recently discovered Rob's books, and now I am devouring them! This was a thrilling read, and I finished it in one sitting last night! It was such an entertaining read, can't wait to read the next one! Highly recommended.
TB

This book is the second in a series. It is filled with many twists and turns.
The short snappy chapters make this a pacey read.
Can’t read for another book in this series

Another great read from Rob Sinclair.

Henry and Caroline Redfearne are known for their extravagant summer balls. Everyone who is anyone is there, but this time, things go horribly wrong. Their son is brutally murdered and a waitress kidnapped.

DI Stephen is back at work after recovering from a brain injury she got apprehending a serial killer - her brother, Ben. But there's no time to rest as she's put in charge of finding the culprit. At first, the killer seems obvious, but when Ben contacts DI Stephen with information about the case, things go left field.

Sinclair weaves a gripping tale with twists and turns aplenty. Whatever you think is going on, you're wrong!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

Fabulous plot which I could not put down. Brilliant characters, and twists and turns. Highly recommend to other fans of this genre!!

This is the 2nd book in the Dani Stephen's series and I enjoyed this as much as the first one . It's started off with a fast paced storyline that had me not wanting to put it down . The further I got into it the pace ramped up even more. The book had twists and turns that had me second guessing . This book I would recommend

A great read that kept me hooked throughout. I really like Dani's character and look forward to reading more of her in the future hopefully.

D I Stephen’s has just returned to work after a very serious brain injury sustained in capturing a killer. The killer being her brother Ben, now safely locked away in prison. Birmingham socialites Henry and Caroline Redfearne, hold an annual summer ball, this rather raucous affair is attended by their friends, business colleagues and a smattering of tv or sports celebrities. However the rumours abound that not everything is above board and they often descend into drunken debauchery. Unfortunately whilst all this is happening the Redfearne’s only son is brutally murdered in the garden and a waitress is abducted. D I Stephen’s and her team set to work and within days another killing, this time a high court judge Mary Deville. Sure of who their killer is that he is seeking revenge for his incarceration can D I Stephen’s find him fast enough to protect all those linked to the murderer’s case? And can any of this explain what the connection is to the Redfearnes? With all this going on suddenly her brother gets in touch with information he has to offer, but only for a price.
Rob Sinclair’s writing is a joy to read. Each and every book has me hooked from the first page and thrilled till the very end.Despite this being the second D I Stephen’s novel, it stands up perfectly. In fact having read this I returned to read The essence of evil for a second time, each was as unique and I thoroughly enjoyed realising interesting little touches that made this second in the series my favourite novel from this writer so far.

I enjoyed reading The Rules of Murder by Rob Sinclair is the 2nd in the DI Dani Stephens series. I enjoyed reading the first book and this latest book is a great page turner and full of twists and turns throughout.

I highly recommend both books in this brilliant DI Dani Stephen series especially with a cracking ending!

Big thank you to the author Rob Sinclair, Canela Hera Books and Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed.

A wealthy young man is brutally murdered at his parents' annual anything goes party. Dani and her team work to find the killer before the next vicitm while trying to find Sophie, a young woman last seen with the victim. Great twists, held my attention, excellent suspense and writing.

Dani continues to battle her brain injury while working hard to be an average person. I had a great deal of empathy as she struggled with her personal and working relationships. Her lack of confidence to be able to perform her duties as DI created a strained relationship with her supervisor.
I enjoyed Dani and Easton's relationship. Easy banter, support and some humor.

This annual ball is usually the social event of the year. This year it's different ... the son of the hosts is found dead. He was last seen with a 17-year-old girl, Sophie Blackwood, who by all evidence has been kidnapped.

With a murderer on the loose, Dani and her partner never seem to catch up. With a murdered man, a kidnapped girl, and bodies piling up, Dani has nowhere to turn ... except to her brother. The twin that tried to kill her several years ago.

But does her brother able to actually help her find a killer? If he tried to kill her before, can he really be believed about anything?

The brother plays a pivotal role in this crime fiction although the spotlight is firmly on Dani Stephens. The plot is complex, yet engaging. The characters are deftly drawn, warts and all. Suspense is nicely paced throughout. The action starts at the very first and holds steady until the conclusion. Although 2nd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone, although I recommend reading the books in order.

Many thanks to the author / Canela / Hera Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions are unbiased and entirely my own.

A really enjoyable psychological thriller! Some gory scenes so not for the faint hearted but so right up my alley.

An unusual telling of a murder/thriller from the POV of the good guys and the bad guys. Rob Sinclair takes some unusual twists to keep the story original and this alone keeps readers hooked. The information for a family favor offer from the lead investigator's incarcerated brother adds a new drama as she must decide if the information is worth the trauma. The story is engrossing, keeping your interest and pushing the tension right to the end.

It's the party of the year and Sophie Blackwood is waitressing. When one of the guests sexually harasses her, Oliver, the son of the party's hosts, rescues her and invites her to leave the party for a stroll around the grounds,. At one point Oliver disappears. As time passes, she begins to worry and when she hears a sound, she's terrified that Oliver is returning with friends to take advantage of the isolation. What happens, though, is much much worse. Then the bodies really start piling up.

The Rules of Murder by author Rob Sinclair is the second book in the Dani Stephens series and it is one hell of an addicting, fast-paced, twisty, no-holds-barred thrill ride. The story is told from the perspective of Dani, one of the officers investigating who is recovering from an earlier attack that has left her with some brain damage. Her narrative is occasionally interrupted by that of the killer. Although the murderer is quickly uncovered, it is obvious that he couldn't possibly plan the murders so the real question is who is manipulating him. And here is my one real quibble with the book-we are given several possible candidates that are quickly eliminated mostly because he kills them until we are left with only one but it is never fully clear, at least to me, what's behind his actions now or in the past - then again, this is the second book in the series but the first I have read so maybe if I had read the other, I would have a better understanding. Despite this, I quite enjoyed The Rules of Murder and highly recommend it with one caveat - there is some extreme violence and some gruesome descriptions of the victims so you might want to consider that before you read.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

Dani Stephens is back,!! Even better than the first in the series, our unstoppable detective is thrown into a new case while still recovering from the last. We are used to reading several points of view, often the unknown killer and this one lets us know right away and there are so many unexpected twists which add to the story. Highly recommended.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! There are lots of twists and turns in it, with the main detectives past forming part of her present and investigation. Made for a great read, keeping you guessing until the end.

What an absolute superb read!

This is the 2nd in the DI Dani Stephens series. Having not read the first (now downloaded!) I was slightly wary that it may not all fall into place but I couldn't be more wrong. This can easily be read as a stand alone!

A truly dark, gruesome, exciting, unique, totally gripping thriller that had me hooked from the first page.

It literally does not give up from the very start yo the very end, it's a constant page turner. I honestly can't remember the last time I read such a fast paced novel.

The storyline and plot are fantastically written, the whole thing just flows seamlessly without any pause to reflect.

The characters are outstanding, you can feel every raw emotion and expression shown. Not all are likeable which makes it even more exciting.

We find out the identity of the killer quite early on which is really unusual but it sure as hell doesn't stop you questioning everything and everyone in the book. Full to the brim of eye opening twists it constantly leaves you wanting more.

I loved the cliffhanger at the end (no spoliers) and I'll now eagerly await the next in the series!.

The biggest thanks to netgalley and Canelo for the ARC.

DI Dani Stephens was back, bigger and bolder from before. The author Rob Sinclair put her in all kinds of twists, and she came up fighting. She never gave up even when her twin brother, the serial killer, tried to get closer to her from the prison.

A murder and a kidnapping got Dani and her partner right into the fray. Soon another murder occurred outside her jurisdiction. Connection between the two got Dani thinking and getting to the perp.

My second book by this talented author, I loved the frisson of fear that this story seemed with. There seemed a wall of danger surrounding Dani at all times. It was amazing to see this dynamic cop traverse through them fearlessly. Rob really made her brain tick furiously, especially in the end when she tried to connect all the dots together.

In this book, I got to read the dark thoughts of the killer, and that gave a dark chilling aura to the book. Dani was my beacon then, whereby I followed her, loving her determination in each step. Short snappy chapters made this book a fast read, the killer made it a dark one, and Dani made it an exciting one.

And yes, I am a Dani fan...

#TheRulesofMurder #NetGalley This is the second in the series but having not read the first, it was quite capable of being read as a standalone. A very gruesome crime thriller that is well written with plenty of action. We find out pretty early who the killer is which I though would irritate me but, in fact, quite the opposite - it kept me turning the 'virtual' pages as Dani raced against time to find Damian and stop his killing spree. A few unanswered questions and a cliffhanger at the end with Jason leaving me eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

A unique and gripping premise, this book takes you on a wild ride inside the mind of a diabolical killer...one who ends up hitting a bit too close to home. Eye-opening twists keep you engrossed in the story for hours on end, and culminates with a satisfying conclusion. Recommended.

**My sincere thanks to the author and publisher for providing a copy free of charge through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**