Rob Sinclair's books are always a enjoyable read, even if you haven't been following a series of specific character. He is good at building suspense.

This book is the second in the DI Stevens series. The first book was un put downable!! This book was just as good, Rob SInclair is a fantastic author and I will read anything he writes.

I was hooked from the first page, and read it in one sitting. I ignored supper and chores and just read all day. AMAZING!!

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

The Rules of Murder is the second book in the DI Dani Stephens series by Rob Sinclair and it is another fast paced and well written police crime novel.

There are numerous twists and turns as Stephens and her colleagues try to identify and then apprehend a killer.

The book kept me page turning throughout and is definitely recommended

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

DI Dani is back on the job after suffering traumatic brain injury from attack from her brother Ben.

Dani and her team are task to investigate who will murder a wealthy family son Oscar after he save a waitress who was working the event is found dead next day and Sophie nowhere to be found.

As they try to find motive it leads into another gruesume death of a judge and Dani wonder if they are looking for more then one killer. On top of it all her brother Ben tries to put his two cents in exchange of talking to his family but Dani wonder does he knows anything or is he just want to mess with her.

I like that this was fast moving plot where there twists and turns that lead you shocking. I didn't like that Dani blame herself in the aftermath of everything but I guess it shows she feels deeply and that want makes her a good cop but with flaws.

This is the second in the series with DI Dani Stephens. If you are familiar with the first novel The Essence of Evil, you will remember Dani's brother tried to kill her and she suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury. Now back at work, she is on the case when a wealthy couples' son is murdered at their summer party. Into the mix comes Dani's brother, Ben who claims he has information to the murder, at a price. When more murders are committed, Dani is very reluctant to deal with him. But the case is very complex involving tricky lawyers and psychologists. A real page turner and brilliantly written. A must read!!

Just as good as the first in the series, another explosive page turning read that you cannot put down. Highly recommended

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a Kindle ARC of The Rules of Murder.

I was pleased to receive an early copy of The Rules of Murder, since I enjoyed the first book in the series, The Essence of Evil.

DI Dani Stephens is back and her new case is no less gruesome than the first.

When a young scion of a wealthy and prominent family is brutally killed, and the young waitress he was romancing is kidnapped, Dani and her loyal team are called in.

As she delves deeper into the case, and the murders rack up, Dani is forced to consult with her sociopathic brother, Ben, who professes to have insider knowledge of the case in exchange to see his family again.

As Dani struggles with a baffling case, her demented brother and her own personal and emotional needs, self medicating and getting little sleep, she must come to terms with the hold her brother has over her and weigh them against the good of her team, the case and the innocent lives that will be impacted.

In Essence of Evil, I liked Dani but I found it difficult to warm up to her. Her brash and aggressive behavior was hard to tolerate, though I understood it was a result of the traumatic injuries her brother inflicted.

But, in this second book, Dani is growing on me. I empathize and sympathize with her continuing struggles to heal mentally, emotionally and psychologically.

I'm a big fan of her partner, Jason, a kind and generous man, a former police officer and an excellent sounding board for Dani's musings and theories.

In most of the books I read, the men are portrayed as adulterers, sexual predators, layabouts, or just plain losers, but Jason is a good person. He is Dani's support, lover, carer, best friend and all around good guy.

Dani's team also deserves accolades. They are all competent, steady, and loyal; and the author plays up their strengths in how they function in the team with Dani as their superior.

My main caveat with The Rules of Murder is that the readers are told who the bad guy is. I prefer to guess the identity myself and unravel the clues as they come, along with Dani and her team.

The writing is good, as is the pacing and tone. The main and secondary characters are all likable and believable (minus the bad guys), and I look forward to reading more of Dani Stephens in the third book. Thinking good thoughts for Jason!

I wasn’t really impressed. I think I liked the cover of the book more than anything. I’d probably try reading from this author again, as the story was well written, this particular one just didn’t impress me.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book I’m exchange for my honest review.

I have to admit (cos you can easily check from my review) that the first in this series didn't really wow me. I found that Dani's personal life and situation overshadowed the case being solved. But I respected that, as a first in series, there is a certain amount of scene setting, back story to be established etc etc. I have read and loved all the author's previous books so I was hopeful that this follow up would hit its mark, and am pleased to report that it did, and then some!
We start at a ball, the hottest social event in the calendar. We meet Sophie who is waitressing the event and witness certain guests' behaviours. We follow how she is rescued by the son of the host family, how the two of them escape the party. We cut to the next day. He has been brutally killed, she is missing. Enter Dani Stephens and her team to investigate. What follows is an extremely well plotted story that encompasses quite a few emotions and which has the police running rings around themselves, on occasion puppeteered by Dani's incarcerated killer brother. A man at his manipulative best. As the body count rises, the police try and find a link between the victims. A link that once realised leads her back to her brother once again...
After a shaky start I'm really warming to Dani. She seems to be getting her act together and is more able to concentrate on what is happening at work, leaving most of her personal issues to the side. Until that is her brother gets involved. But this worked better with the main story than it did last time. His input is integral, his motives dubious, his manipulation extreme and his actions hamper the investigation. Who is the killer and why are hot topics throughout the book and only really revealed towards the end. I didn't have much luck guessing ahead in this one. But that didn't matter as I was so wrapped up in what I was reading that I hardly had time to catch my breath let alone formulate anything else.
Pacing is good and the balance in this book between things within and without the crime has been restored. Dani is coming on well as a series main character and I am now very excited to see what the author has in store for her next outing. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the ARC.
This is #2 in the DI Dani Stephens series: I really enjoyed #1 but WOW - this is an absolute Cracker of a story!

The riveting back-stories are updated and carried through from The Essence of Evil where Dani is still coping with her Traumatic Brain Injury inflicted upon her by her murderous brother Ben, but she's a thoroughly determined Detective Inspector who is becoming trusted once again by her senior officers.

Wealthy Henry and Caroline Redfearn are holding their annual fund-raising party. Eighteen year old Sophie Blackwood is one of the casual waitresses for the 200 guests at Drifford Park. She and 18yr-old Oscar Redfearn take a walk across the lawns to a private beauty-spot early that summer's evening.
DI Dani Stephens and her team arrive there Sunday morning where the groundskeeper had discovered the gruesome remains of Oscar, with no sign of Sophie except for the discovery of an earring and a blood trail. So, the investigation begins. Forensics identify bite marks on the deceased - they know who but not the motive, until a second equally gruesome and frenzied attack leads to the death of a trial judge. But is that the real connection? Is there one killer or two?

Once again, Dani's brother Ben inserts himself into her investigation. He's desperate to have contact with his x-wife Gemma and his children in return for information. But what could he really know?
This complex and fast-moving plot has some shocking twists with long-term consequences, especially for Dani.
We are taken into the realms of sexual harassment (at the party) and bribes for evidence to disappear - because the wealthy can buy anything - can't they? In the midst of it all Dani is trying to prevent further deaths but begins to blame herself in the aftermath.

Brilliantly flowing writing, intriguing research, rounded characters and believable dialogue. A great epilogue to round things off very satisfactorily (just as I like).

Next instalment soon, please, Rob!

What an explosive ending to a page-turning mystery. The Rules of Murder by Rob Sinclair is the second book in the DI Dani Stephens crime thriller series. Dani is a strong yet flawed female protagonist who has a dark backstory. I liked how her character was written and how her journey was portrayed in this book. I also liked the other characters of Easton and Jason.

The author did an excellent job of writing about criminal psychology and revealing aspects of what makes people turn into killers.

The overall story and plot were well developed and moved at a steady pace with several intense moments. The mystery aspect had me guessing until the end. I am looking forward to reading more of the DI Dani Stephens series.

What a super story. Scary and dark and terrifying. Loved it. Would love to read more in this series x