😳What's driving the sicko psycho to maim and kill, and kill, and....? Mesmerizing!😳

👍👍😍 4.5🌟stars
It's a pageturner, that's for sure! Detective Dani Stephens never has a chance to catch a breath once a chain of truly gruesome attacks set the Birmingham police on the hunt for the culprits and the motive. I found it fast-paced, well-written, with just the right amount of detail, partly told from the killer's crazed perspective, and with a plot that solves the immediate crime spree but keeps us guessing at just how far Dani's evilly-scheming, imprisoned twin brother will go to mess with her mind!

This is a series and an author I will be looking to follow:-)

Thanks to publishers Canelo/Hera and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Wow!!! What an exciting second novel in the DI Dani Stephens series!! I was lucky enough to read the first book, Essence of Evil, and absolutely loved it. It left me wanting to know more of Dani’s story and thankfully I didn’t have to wait long to find out more! Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Publishing for the ARC of The Rules of Murder. Once again Rob Sinclair writes a story so intense and full of emotions that I felt myself on a roller coaster of fear, adrenaline, and at times sadness. I couldn’t wait to finish it but I am now bummed it’s over and have to wait for hopefully another story to come. Actually I’d love to see many more DI Stephens stories to come.

3.5 stars.

Well written and well developed storyline. Interesting plot.

I found the first half of the story a little slow though and didn't connect that much with the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

An engrossing and entertaining read that kept me hooked till the end.
I liked the well thought cast of characters, the setting, and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I continue to enjoy this series though I am dying for the author to write the back story book. This time in some ways there was not a lot of mystery you know the perpetrator pretty early on. It is the why that is the mystery solved. Danis relationship with her brother continues to intrigue and it seems like there will be more to come based on the ending of this book.

I was given a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Love all of Rob’s work and this is no disappointment. A well written novel, with well written characters and
Plot. Looking forward to the next instalment

Another harrowing case with massive personal implications for Dani and her team. She must be one of the unluckiest police officers in UK crime fiction.

Absolutely enjoyed this novel by an extremely talented writer. She weaves a twisted net and the reader immediately gets wrapped up in it. Can’t recommend it enough

This is the second book in this series and it starts at full speed with a murder at a party. The owner’s son is brutally murdered and one of the girls who was working there, is missing.
Dani is asked to visit her twin brother in prison as he says he has information on the killer, but won’t say anything unless she agrees to a deal.
Soon another body is found and Dani and Easton face a race against time to find the link to the murders.
They know the identity of the killer but they seem to be one step ahead all the time and then Dani realises her boyfriend, Jason is linked to the killer and has to rush to save him.
This is a great crime thriller that keeps you guessing throughout the book.
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A definite page turner. Great follow up to Essence of Evil. Very well written. Intriguing characters and great back stories. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Another action packed thriller. The character of Dani is complex and unique. Love or hate her she keeps you turning pages. The plot is fast paced and full of suspense and tension. There are several twists along the way. The ending left me wanting more. I find Ben to be the most interesting character and the relationship between the siblings makes for great reading. I'm can't wait for the next book.

The second in the D I Danni Stevens series, loved the first one Essence of Evil a five star and brilliant read. I really thought that this authors storytelling could not get any better. Boy was I wrong. What a way to start my reads for 2020!!!!!! This book definitely ticked all my boxes, enough tension and suspense to keep me glued to my seat. Creepy and scary which had me constantly holding my breath. I read this book in one sitting, I could not stop reading. Oh did I mention enough blood and gore to keep me very happy. If I could award this book more than five stars I would. As I said before this is only the second book in the series and I can't wait to read more. So highly recommended.
I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

What a fab start to the story, of which the author sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go.

The further into this story I got, I really didn’t envy Dani whatsoever. The case she is working on turns out to be anything other than straight forward. Not only that, the body count starts mounting, making this a very exciting and thrilling read. Not so great for Dani though as the pressure is on.

Some chapters we see inside the killers head and by heck, it wasn’t a good place to be. Without a doubt this was one chill fest of a read. The murders are brutal and made me a bit squeamish, yet I was loving every minute of it. It was like being on a big roller coaster ride, where you feel a mixture of being scared and frightened but the exhilaration is exciting and thrilling at the same time.

The Rules Of Murder is a brilliant second book to the series. I thought the first book was good but the author has really exceeded himself with this one. There is never a dull moment as there is so much going on and guarantees that the reader will be hooked from beginning to end. There are so many heart stopping moments which had me fearing for certain characters lives. Definitely a contender for best serial killer thriller and a must read for fans of this genre.

I was part of the blog tour for The Essence Of Evil back in September, and I really enjoyed my first meeting with DI Dani Stephens. I have been curious about what would happen next to her character ever since, so of course when I was invited to read the sequel I had to say yes immediately. I'm definitely not regretting that decision, because there is no doubt that The Rules Of Murder is another solid and pretty brutal serial killer thriller! Oh yes, fans of heart racing and suspenseful thrillers will definitely be in for a treat.

The first thing that stands out in this series is its main character Dani Stephens. While in a way you can see her as the typical damaged detective lead, her character has so much more dept than that. Not only is she a detective with a serial killer twin who actually tried to kill her, but she also suffered brain damage as a result of that attack and is still struggling with the consequences. It is fascinating to follow her on this journey and while the real progress regarding the brain damage matter was developed in book one, it is still a pretty important element in the sequel. The psychological aspect of the story in general plays a big role throughout the story, although the focus is mostly shifted towards the killer in this case.

Dani's murdering twin brother Ben once again plays a role in The Rules Of Murder. He is a truly fascinating character and definitely provides for a very interesting angle in this sequel. What does he know about this killer? Or is he simply lying about having any knowledge? It definitely added a whole different layer of mystery and intrigue to the plot. And talking about the plot: if you are looking for a fast, shocking and disturbing plot with brutal murders that simply chill you to the bone, you will be more than satisfied with The Rules Of Murder. The murder scenes are definitely not for those with a weak stomach! The plot itself is quite complex and definitely has quite a few twists and turns, although I do have to say that I saw some of the plot twists coming pretty early on... The action and suspense mostly made up for that though.

The story is told through two different POVs: Dani and the killer. We mostly stick with our detective lead, with intermittent chapters that give us a glimpse inside the disturbed mind of our serial killer. And boy, those chapters are pretty twisted! The writing reflects the state of mind of the killer brilliantly and I felt these chapters added a little something extra to the story as well. The story ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, leaving you wanting to know more and how certain plot developments will continue in the future... The Rules Of Murder is by no means a meek story and it will have plenty of action, suspense and properly twisted and graphic scenes for you in store. If you like your detective/serial killer thrillers fast and dangerous, you should definitely try this series!

Wow! This is fast paced, filled with multiple murders, great characters, fantastic plot and a fascinating lead character in DI Dani Stephens. A 5* crime thriller which fans will love. Just read it and enjoy! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is the second in the series and didn't disappoint. A fast paced, gripping read full of complex characters and an intense mystery. Full of twists and turns it kept me on the edge of my seat.

I enjoyed this book. I love watching how Dani works each case. This one had so much emotion and turmoil. Seeing how she handles a brain injury and find a killer is exciting. I am really looking forward to the next book to see how it all goes with Jason. This book had so many twists and turns, I just could not figure it all out. All in all, a very decent read. I can’t wait for the next.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of The Rules of Murder, the second novel to feature DI Dani Stephens of the Birmingham Police.

Oliver Redfearne is attending his parents’ charity ball when he is murdered and his companion, Sophie Blackwood disappears. DI Dani Stephens is unsure if Sophie is to blame or a victim but a call from her brother who is in prison for murder offering information in return for a favour makes her understand that Sophie is a victim.

I enjoyed The Rules of Murder which is a fast moving thriller rather than a sedate police procedural. It is told in the third person, mostly from Dani’s point of view although there are chapters from the killer’s point of view. This latter is interesting as the author has a stab at describing a psychotic personality. Personally I don’t like hearing from the killer and in this case I found it less than convincing. I cannot reconcile the detailed, clever planning that went into the murders with the character that not only hears voices but feels rats scratching in his head. From the investigative point of view it starts as a whodunnit but they quickly identify a suspect and it turns into a chase as he easily eludes them time after time.

This is a violent novel with multiple victims savagely killed so it won’t be for every reader but it is also action packed and has a psychological edge as the team struggle for motive. I would even say it’s tense and exciting as they race to catch the killer. I particularly liked the ending which weighs what Dani can prove against what she believes and sets up the next novel. I think the plot is well conceived and executed, with one speed, fast so any niggles can be ignored as it moves forward. I like the nod to current day social concerns, not least the morality of “quid pro quo” as Ben tries to manipulate Dani. It held my attention from start to finish with its fast pace and twists.

Hmm, DI Dani Stephens. As ever in crime fiction she has a quirk and this is a doozie - she has brain damage from when her brother tried to kill her, making her moody and unpredictable. I find it unlikely that in real life she would be leading investigations but it’s fiction. I find her hard to warm to as she’s short tempered and a bit self absorbed but she’s effective and certainly propels the novel forward. Her brother, Ben, is the most fascinating character in the novel as he is revealed as a manipulative psychopath and I can’t wait to find out what he gets up to next.

The Rules of Murder is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

The story is intriguing, but I did not like the characters. And it's really hard to like a novel if you don't like the main character. For a police detective, Dani Stephens is a remarkably insecure woman. She reads weak. I feel for her, but I don't like her.

While the brutal murder of a rich young man and the kidnapping of the young waitress who was with him is the good premise for a story -- the idea that the police would even consider bullying a young wife and mother into letting her murderous (and tried to murder her) husband visit his children is absurd. And that Dani can't stick up for herself or her sister-in-law is disturbing. Sorry, but this book is a miss for me.

Fast-paced and thrilling, "The Rules Of Murder" is the highly anticipated second book in a new series. I thoroughly enjoyed the return of DI Dani Stephens in all her flawed glory. In this installment, the reader is kept guessing for the majority of the story which serves to ramp up the tension even further. Author Rob Sinclair is a skilled (and welcome) addition to the genre.