The Murder Rule is the first book by Dervla McTiernan that I’ve read and I wasn’t overly impressed. I am prepared to suspend disbelief to a certain extent but nothing rang true in this story; cardboard characters and amateur writing also didn’t help. I listened to the audio version and narrations were decent, hence an extra star in my rating.

3.5 stars, rounded up for great audiobook narration. This is a story about a young woman who seeks revenge for how her mother was treated as a young woman. In order to achieve her goal, she needs to infiltrate the Innocence Project in Virginia.

This was well-written and well-paced, and I liked the fact that it wasn’t a simple story of villain and victim. Hannah, the protagonist, is a sympathetic character, although I certainly didn’t agree with a number of her actions. This made her all the more credible.

Without giving too much away, and while assuring you that we get a satisfying ending to this novel, I can sense a series coming on with Hannah and the Innocence Project. I will definitely be looking out for it. I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was excellent, so I can recommend it from that point of view also.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

To describe The Murder Rule as improbable would be to get the word "improbable" to do an awful lot of heavy lifting. This psychological suspense novel has plot holes that would be large enough to swallow small planets. But it's good fun, nonetheless.

Hannah Rokeby is a law student in Maine with a burning desire to transfer to the University of Virginia so she can volunteer to work for Professor Parekh on The Innocence Project, a team of enthusiastic lawyers who seek to overturn miscarriages of justice. To qualify for the program's support, you have to be actually, demonstrably innocent - they are not into getting people off on technicalities. Hannah is determined to work on the most high profile of their cases: that of convicted murdered Michael Dandridge, and she doesn't much care who she damages along the way.

The bulk of the story is seen through Hannah's point of view, cur for the first half with excerpts from her mother Laura's old diary of a summer keeping house for a rich family. The summer did not end well. It quickly becomes obvious how this diary set the path that sent Hannah to Virginia.

The story that unfolds is partly a legal thriller, partly a cosy detective story, and partly a Bildungsroman. It's an odd mix, and the strings require some heavy manipulation to make it [sort of] hang together. In judging the story, it would be best, perhaps, not to dwell on how a legal team determined to right the wrongs of the criminal justice system could turn a blind eye to the misdeeds of one of their own. Best too not to ask how Dandridge qualified for the program given that there was little evidence to point to his actual innocence, even if his conviction was questionable. And definitely best not to ask how Hannah was forgiven her misdeeds by her peers when she had, by her own admission, ruined the career of one of their colleagues, Hazel, in a particularly vicious (but amusing) way in her quest to take Hazel's place on the Dandridge team - because some sins are simply too big to be forgiven.

There are then the structural issues - where the interleaving of Hannah's story and the diary runs out after half way because the story needs the diary to have been fully read before the real action can begin. And there is a single but significant scene that requires Hannah to be away from the action, leading to that one section being ascribed to Sean, rather than Hannah or Laura. This may be less noticeable in the text version of the story, but the audiobook version uses separate narrators for Hannah and Laura's diary, leading to the late introduction of Sean's male voice.

For all the failings. there are intriguing puzzles for the reader to work on and the occasional interesting twist. There are moments of genuine tension, and some of Hannah's machinations are comedy gold (see the reference to Hazel's departure...). Some of the scene setting feels more authentic than the action.

The audio version of this book was entertaining if nothing else. It leaves the reader asking questions - not least 'why was this called The Murder Rule?' when it seemed to have nothing at all to do with this rather specific point of law.

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Murder Rule.

The Murder Rule is an exciting book. I enjoyed the puzzle and characters, but there were timing issues. I am perplexed how the entire book takes place in one-two weeks. Impossible!. Hannah joins the Innocent Program and in 24 hours she is on the lead time for their high-profile case. and they have a week to prep before trial. Realistically, why not extend this over a few months. This was my major issue with the book, but there is a lot to love. There are puzzles within puzzles and you'll learn to like the characters.

I was able to finish the book within two days, so it held my attention and the pages flew by once I got past my irritation with the rush timing.

Fantastic audiobook that I just couldn’t stop one more chaptering!!!
No one is innocent in this story.

First Rule: Make them like you.
Second Rule: Make them need you.
Third Rule: Make them pay.

They think I’m a young, idealistic law student, that I’m passionate about reforming a corrupt and brutal system.

They think I’m working hard to impress them.

They think I’m here to save an innocent man on death row.

They're wrong. I’m going to bury him.

What a gripping mystery

This was a very disturbing but good read.

Thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and could not get enough of.

I’d heard a lot about The Murder Rule, and then happily I got approved for it on NetGalley. Love when that happens!

Hannah is a law student who has connived her way into a coveted position in UVA Law’s chapter of the Innocence Project. Her law prof boss thinks she’s just really eager to help free their latest client, but unbeknownst to him and the other students, she’s actually doing the opposite and is determined he won’t see the light of day again.

There’s a convoluted back story here involving Hannah’s mother; and we see a lot of that in flashbacks throughout the book. That element of the story was well written and explained a lot of Hannah’s plan for revenge.

Overall, I enjoyed this. I listened to it on audio and flew through it, mostly cause I really wanted to get back to it to find out what happened next!
I enjoy an unreliable narrator, and there’s more than one in this book!

I would say that while I’m not a legal expert, even to me some of the legal outcomes in this book seemed a bit improbable, to say the least. A lot of suspending of my disbelief!

There’s also a couple of plot holes and an over emphasis on descriptive writing that I didn’t always feel was necessary.

They said, the storyline interested me and it kept me entertained while I struggled through covid!

With thanks to @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the opportunity to read The Murder Rule, available to buy now.

The Murder Rule audiobook started off well, narrated from the point of view of the main character Hannah, with snippets from her mother's (Laura) diary of how she had come to conceive Hannah and the mishaps that had happened along the way. It felt to me like I was bobbing along on a sea of dialogue slowly going nowhere. There were few twists and even less excitement where this story is concerned I’m afraid. If you’re a fan of Dervia McTiernan, then you may find that a saving grace but for myself, I would rather spend my time with a book that I’m struggling to put down, rather than pick up.

This one was a quick and fun book.
An okayish-one-time read at its best.

But audiobook wise, the narrator was amazing!

Not a bad listen but not a thriller as such more of a murder mystery I don't want to spoil the story so all I am going to say is don't believe everything you are told

Hannah talks her way into working on the university Innocence Project and really wants to work on a specific case - a man on death-row for rape and murder. However, Hannah has an alternative motive.
Told from the point of view of Hannah in present and from her mum Laura’s diary when she was 19. As the story develops, more and more detail from Laura’s past and Hannah’s motive is disclosed. Lots of twists and a steady amount of intrigue keeps you wanted to read more.

Hannah begins working at the Innocence Project to help prisoners who have bee wrongly convicted of crimes; however, her motives aren't all clear as to why she is really working there.

I loved the twists and turns in this novel; the underlying story of possibly a innocent man fighting for his freedom as well as Hannah's ulterior motives al create a dark and tense atmosphere that kept me hooked. I both read the book and listened to the audiobook and loved both formats. The cast of narrators were really engaging and I ended up listening to more of the story via audiobook as it was so entertaining.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the book and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah gets herself into the Innocence Project team to help her mum convict someone from her past. She befriends the team working on the case she wants in on and makes some masterful moves to get onto that very team.

The narration for this audiobook was great, I love that there are three different narrators so really distinguish each POV. This is the first time I’ve listened to an audiobook with an unreliable narrator and I loved it! It’s also the first time I’ve read a book with the full knowledge of what an unreliable narrator is and wow, this one blew my mind! What a story!

Hannah is so clever, I really liked her character and weirdly felt very connected to her. I love the entire legal team and they were written and portrayed. Laura was not likeable! I immediately got manipulative vibes but nowhere near to the level that she really is!

I really great, twisty story that kept my interested the whole way through. 5 stars from me.

Very interesting characters and overall a superb story. Highly recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

Loved this audiobook. Well written & fabulous characters. Enjoyed the twist & well worth a read. Excellent book.

The Murder Rule

Narrated: Kate Orsini; Sophie Amoss; Michael Crouch ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Story: The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a really intriguing premise. Nothing is black or white in this book and you really can't trust any characters. A real enjoyable ride.

I've read a few books by Dervla McTiernan and I absolutely love her writing style and story telling. I'm yet to dislike one of her books.

The Murder Rule is my first Dervla McTiernan book. It centres on Hannah, transferring to another US University to get a place on its Innocence Project and save Michael Dandridge from death row. I found the work undertaken by the Law students on the Innocence Project fascinating - the way in which they check trial material and attempt to gather new leads and evidence. I was interested to read that McTiernan herself is a qualified lawyer.

Law is incredibly competitive and places on Innocence Projects are limited. Even when Hannah gets a place on the project her relationship with her fellow Law students bristles with uneasiness and competitiveness. Hannah is completely consumed with her agenda and I really bought into her motivation and that she would do whatever it takes to achieve it.

There were so many twists and turns along the way with this thriller and I was genuinely surprised by all of them. I will certainly look out for more Dervla McTiernan books in the future.

Both narrators were great. Kate Orsini in particular, who narrated most of the audiobook, was brilliant and did a fantastic job switching between the characters.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for making this ARC available to me for a fair and honest review.

The Murder Rule is set in America so has a different feel to other books by Dervla. A bit of a slow burner to start with but kept me interested throughout. I enjoyed the plot and the narration is very well done.

On paper this premise is just for me, it ticks all the boxes and yes I enjoyed it and the narration was great. I was just bored as it went on for so long- the end got interesting. And I really hated Hannah, no awareness of other people it is just her.

This wont put me off more books by this author and narrator but this one wasnt for me.

I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

4.5⭐️

An Irish author, who is new to me. The setting is the US with this psychological suspense/ mystery with a legal leaning. This is a unique storyline which I loved.

I had the audiobook version narrated by Michael Crouch, Sophie Amoss, Kate Orsini. We are spoilt having 3 narrators. However having said that, I preferred the female narrators, as the male narrator didn’t come in until the late stages of the book at which stage I felt that he detracted from the story.

Hannah is a law student volunteering with an organisation called the Innocence project, which helps prisoners get retrials. She has an ulterior motive for undertaking this work and is very manipulative gaining the post.

It starts with email exchanges which never transfer well to audio, this was minimal so it didn’t spoil the listening experience.

It is told using a past and present narrative, the past is provided by Hannah’s mother diary set in 1994, the present (2019) by Hannah.

Hannah is very single minded in her mission. She wasn’t a nice character, I liked having a main character who was manipulative and devious with scant regard to the law or morales, the irony as a legal student wasn’t lost on me. It’s hard to find a likeable character, Sean was my favourite. Some of the characters behaviours were extreme, but felt believable, they added so much interest to the story.

The plot has a good complexity with plenty of twists and turns, i have no understanding of the US legal so I was able to go with the flow. I was well hooked throughout.

One that I recommend, although it seems to have mixed reviews.