Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan Narrator: Kate Orsini, Michael Crouch, Sophie Amoss
Published by HarperAudio on May 10, 2022
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 9 hours, 19 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
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.
I’ve enjoyed everything I have read from this author, which was mostly police procedurals. The settings previously have been non US. The Murder Rule is based in the US. The main character is a law student as are many of the supporting characters or lawyers. The legal aspects are part of the perspectives.
Hannah is a third year law student. She was raised by a single mom who is an alcoholic. I do wonder a bit how she has money to pay for things as she doesn’t seem to be penny-pinching. A case is being retried for the man she believes murdered her father (before she was born). She does everything to join the justice project group defending him.
Initially, she seems to want to bury the defendant and find evidence making look more guilty. As she collects facts, which she is extremely clever and capable at doing, I think she just wants the truth. What happened with her mother, father and this man so many years ago?
Hannah’s very talented and comes up with more information than the people working on the project long-term. She’s fearless in collecting information and interviewing people. Hannah’s motives may have been different but I just wanted to know the truth. All the bits and pieces twist around to a shocking and satisfying conclusion.
Narration:
I have to say I was lost in the story which generally means the narrators did very well. The voices seemed appropriate and the performance kept me engaged. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
About Dervla McTiernan
Internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed writer, Dervla McTiernan is the author of The Ruin, The Scholar and The Good Turn. The Ruin was published in 2018 and is the first in the detective Cormac Reilly series. The Ruin was a top ten bestseller and an Amazon Best Book of July 2018. Dervla was a New Blood Panellist at Harrogate Festival. The Scholar was published in 2019 and was a top five bestseller. The Good Turn will be published in 2020. The Ruin has been optioned for TV by Hopscotch Features.
Dervla spent twelve years working as a lawyer. Following the global financial crisis, she moved from Ireland to Australia and turned her hand to writing. Dervla is a member of the Sisters in Crime and Crime Writers Association, and lives in Perth, Australia, with her husband and two children.
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
 |
| Writing |
|
| Characters |
|
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 Heartwood by Amity Gaige #AmityGaige #JustineLupe #AlmaCuervo #RebeccaLowman #AliAndreAli #CaryHite #HelenLaser @simonaudio.bsky.social#LoveAudiobooks @SimonAudio - April 24, 2025
- 🎧 Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry #EmilyHenry @justjuliawhelan @penguinaudio.bsky.social @libro.fm#LoveAudiobooks @BerkleyRomance @BerkleyPub@PRHAudio - April 22, 2025
- Sunday Post – 20 April 2025 @caffeinatedreviewer.com @readingreality.bsky.social @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - April 20, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
Glad you enjoyed this, Anne💜 It’s wonderful when you get lost in a story.
Thank you Jonetta. I’m a real fan of this author.
I love stories that revolve around the law, I don’t read enough of them. This sounds excellent!
yes it’s really more a legal thriller than a police procedural.
You know I enjoy a good crime procedural. I haven’t read this author before but I’d like to give her a try. Wonderful review, Anne!
She’s one of my favorite authors Rachel. I’d say this is a bit more legal thriller than police procedural.
That’s an interesting set up for the investigation. I’ve got the first book on audio and need to get around to it.
This one is a stand-alone, set in the US. Her series is a police procedural set in Ireland. I enjoy all her books.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one. It sounds really fun.
I really enjoyed this one. It’s different from her series as it is set in the US. Very twisty.
I love that the main character is still a law student in this one. Just seems more fun somehow. 🙂
I really enjoyed it. It’s set in the US where her series is overseas.
This sounds fascinating. A crime is so much more personal when the person investigating it related to the victim.
Yes exactly! There was a lot of emotion threaded thru as we learned about different aspects.
I was curious about this and glad to see you enjoyed it.
I love this author. It’s different than her series a law student instead of police. US rather than an Intl setting. Twisty plot with emotional threads.
I really thought that this was part of a series. I may have to get my hands on it now that I know that it is a stand-alone.
yes it’s stand-alone. I suppose if it does well it might become a series but if so, it’s the first book. It’s quite different from her police inspector series. I enjoyed both.