When Hannah Rokeby moves from Maine to Virginia to work on The University of Virginia’s Innocence Project – a Pro Bono Clinic that seeks exoneration for wrongfully convicted people – everyone believes she’s just another young, idealistic law student who is passionate about reforming a corrupt and brutal system. They think she’s working hard to impress them.
When she’s assigned to work on the case of Michael Dandridge – a man who has served eleven years for the rape and murder of Sarah Fitzhugh – they think she’s there to save an innocent man on death row. They’re wrong. She’s there to bury him.
BR readers are no stranger to Dervla McTiernan. Her debut novel, The Ruin, was a critically acclaimed, international bestseller that won the Ned Kelly Crime Award for Best First Fiction and Davitt Award for Best Adult Novel. She followed this up with The Scholar, which went straight to the Neilson Bookscan Top 5 on release in 2019, while her third novel, The Good Turn, went straight to no.1, confirming her place as one of Australia’s best crime writers.
Now she returns with her first ever standalone thriller, The Murder Rule, which is soon to be adapted into a major television series. Inspired by the true story of a young law student who worked at the Innocence Project and eventually uncovered evidence which exonerated a man who had been in prison for 26 years, McTiernan has created an unforgettable, twisty thriller that will have readers hooked from beginning to end.
The novel follows dual perspectives: Hannah in 2019 as she joins the Innocence Project and uses her craft and cunning to ensure Michael Dandridge doesn’t walk free, and Hannah’s mother, Laura, whose diary recounts the events surrounding the death of wealthy man Tom Spencer in 1994. McTiernan brilliantly weaves both timelines together, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, as she gradually reveals how Spencer’s death relates to the Dandridge case.
With a unique premise, pitch-perfect plotting and a complex female protagonist at its centre, The Murder Rule is an unputdownable legal thriller and an absolute must-read for 2022. There’s no stopping McTiernan – she really is at the top of her game here.
Great review of The Murder Rule! Legal thrillers that combine suspense with courtroom drama always make for an engaging read, and your insights highlight what makes this book stand out. While exploring discussions around legal themes, I also came across Montgomery Court Appeals which offered an interesting perspective on detailed case-related topics. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this compelling novel—I’m adding it to my reading list.
This review does a great job of highlighting the suspense and legal intrigue that make The Murder Rule such a compelling read. The discussion around courtroom strategy and hidden motives was especially interesting. While exploring topics related to legal proceedings, I also came across Cuyahoga Court Cases, which offers useful insights into judicial information and case-related resources. Thanks for sharing this thoughtful review and bringing attention to such an engaging thriller.
This review does a great job of highlighting the suspense and legal intrigue that make The Murder Rule such a compelling read. The discussion around courtroom strategy and hidden motives was especially interesting. While exploring topics related to legal proceedings, I also came across Cuyahoga Court Cases, which offers useful insights into judicial information and case-related resources. Thanks for sharing this thoughtful review and bringing attention to such an engaging thriller.