I read and listened to this book at the same time, and whereas I understand that it wont be for everyone I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the narrator too.

Deception and intrigue is the name of the game, challenge the system to exact revenge and threaten the stability of those who threaten

It's a good start. I was immediately intrigued, and we know that Hannah is a gray and interesting character. The premise is great. A good setup. It's a revenge story, which you get a hint off from the blurb itself. Just when you reach 60% of the book, everything changes. The characters you were rooting for and the characters you started rooting against change. The focus of the story shifts to two character we meet after the 60% mark.

The characters fell flat. Only Hannah was a little likable. Some characters whom you think are important just don't show up after one point. From what Hannah tells us, we know that Rob Parekh is a good lawyer, but we never actually see that in action. Same with Shawn. The court scene in the end was a bit of a stretch, putting Parekh out of character. A lot of the characters could have been combined.

Apart from Hannah being as gray as she is, the one thing that kept me going is the narration. The performance was gripping, and the delivery was emotive.

I kept waiting for the pay-off, but never got it. It felt like this story is trying to tell too many things at once and didn't have one single message or focus. Even Hannah's character ARC came up after the 70% mark.

I really liked the diversity normalized. Many books used diversity like a selling point and even add unnecessary sub-plots for it. This book did have an irrelevant sub-plot, but it was to try to win diversity points. I like that.

Overall, an average book. Nothing memorable. If you want a story with a couple of twists, you can give it a try. It's a one time read.

The Murder Rule is a standalone thriller and unlike Dervla McTiernan’s other books, it is set in the USA. The felony murder rule is a law according to which a defendant can be charged with first-degree murder for a killing that occurs while s/he was committing a felony, even if s/he wasn’t actually the killer. It’s an interesting law and could make a great premise for a book or a film, although it wasn’t really clear to me how it fitted this particular novel.

The main character, Hannah Rokeby, inveigles her way onto The Innocence Project, a team of brilliant lawyers and law students, led by Professor Parekh, which aims to overturn miscarriages of justice for innocent prisoners on Death Row. From the beginning, it’s clear that Hannah wants to be involved with the high-profile case of Michael Dandridge, not to clear his name, but to sabotage the work of the other members of the team so that Dandridge remains on Death Row. Hannah’s chapters alternate with extracts from the diary of her mother, Laura, which provide the reason for Hannah’s motives.

I listened to the audiobook which was brilliantly narrated by Kate Orsini and Sophie Amoss.

This is an intriguing novel. It is well-paced with never a dull moment and there’s plenty of mystery as well as a couple of good twists. Despite two rather unlikeable female characters, I was invested in the story. However, I had a few minor issues with it. I found it far-fetched at times. I also found the sudden and brief introduction of Sean as a narrator late on in the book jarring. Finally, the court scene was a bit over the top for me.

Overall, though, a very enjoyable and entertaining read / listen.

I have read other books by this author and really like the series set in Ireland. This one was very different but still enjoyable. Hannah joins a team who are working to overturn a wrongful conviction but is working to her own agenda. Who can be trusted and how far will people go to hide the truth?

There are some interesting insights into the US justice system, particularly the murder rule.

The narrators were all very good but there were longer than expected gaps at the beginning of the chapters and the sound quality wasn't great in the Netgalley app.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was my first by this author, and what a page turner it was! I loved the audio book and the narrators did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life.

I love fast paced legal thrillers, McTiernan did a great job with the clever twists. I loved the angle of The Innocence Project. I found this quick, bingeable thriller highly entertaining and look forward to reading more from her.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ALC.

This was a proper old school thriller and I loved it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the novel.

The murder rule by Dervla McTiernan with a cast of narrators Kate Orsini, Sophie Amoss and Michael Crouch is an interesting listen, told from Hannah's perspective she has moved to gain a position with a charity who help clear victims of injustice, Michael Daidridge is the case she wants on. Told in parallel is the diary extracts she has found in her sick mothers possession. They expose slowly why Hannah wants to be on the case and will do anything to secure Michael's permanent position in jail.

Set in America the characters are believable, right from the off Hannah can't be trusted but when you find out her reasoning you are on her side. There is plenty of legal drama and manipulation, oh and the twists!

Overall, a good thriller with plenty of twists. A worthy 4*
Thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio and Netgalley for the AAC

An interesting take on a legal drama. Hannah has grown up without her father and having to look after her alcoholic mother. When she finds a diary, which seems to explain who killed her father, she sets out to ensure he doesn't get free but learns things aren't always what they seem.

Causing the reader to question their opinions about people as well as opening debate about abuse of power and how far familial ties run, murder rule leads you round a number of twisty corners before following the usual good will win message.

This is an enjoyably twisty thriller with a protagonist who is sometimes endearingly unlikeable and flawed. I liked how ruthless Hannah is and how her character develops over the story. The dual narrative segues beautifully and it will keep you hooked to the last page.

One of my fave audios of the month, twisty and enthralling. Plot was gritty and easy to follow, listened as I was completing a dissertation and was a good distraction to work. 4 stars

This was a good listen with an interesting plot with lots of twists and turns. With well developed characters it made it a entertaining story.

I’m not normally drawn to books set in America or those narrated with American accents & I have to admit it was a bit of a shock when I started to listen as I had assumed (wrongly) that the story was set in the UK or Ireland. Sometimes the accent puts me off to the point I stop listening, but this audiobook is well narrated and I found myself quickly becoming involved in the story.
A storyline with several twists & turns to shake the listener and grip our interest. I really enjoyed the book from start to finish. The storyline isn’t overly predictable and is written & narrated at a pace that held my interest throughout.
A gripping listen. I am new to this author but having enjoyed this audiobook I will definitely look out for any other audiobooks written by them.

***ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.co.uk in return for an honest review***

I loved this novel. The parallel storylines will keep you reading way past bedtime.

Thank you netgalley for the advance copy. I loved the authors previous books presumed this was another in the series- slightly disappointed when I realised it wasn't. I felt there was a lot of characters in this book and it felt a bit disjointed. But once I got settled into the storyline I enjoyed the read

Have read this author before and really enjoyed the writing. Was expecting the setting and narration to be Irish because of previous books. Interesting plot, lots of twists and turns until the end and all involving US law enforcement & legal system. The characters are well developed and life complications are all in the mix. I liked the protagonist and the story engaging. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

Novel set in Virginia

A well plotted novel that builds in a good few twists and turns.

Hannah Rokeby is a trainee lawyer and she has got herself onto the Innocence Project, a collective working on cases where there has a been a miscarriage of justice. She specifically wants to work on the case of Michael Dandridge, who was sentenced several years ago for the rape and murder of a young woman. Right from the off it is clear that Hannah is a determined young woman, who doesn't baulk at crossing boundaries. She has a mission and come hell or high water, she is going to do what she needs to do. She is sly, she is determined, she lets nothing get in her way and these qualities serve her purpose very well.

The reason for her mission is largely set out in the diary of her now alcoholic mother, Laura - penned in the mid 1990s -  which is presented as part of the whole narrative.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and it is well narrated. I feeling the billing of the book as a thriller is a bit tenuous but it certainly falls into mystery category and the author pens a well plotted storyline, that moves smoothly back and forth. It is hard to say more without offering spoilers. I enjoyed listening to it and was always keen to pick up where I left off, but I think there was something about the story that didn't altogether resonate, maybe the characters were just a little thin, or maybe that fact Hannah got herself in on the project just felt a touch contrived.

Overall a good listen but perhaps not an altogether outstanding read for me.

This slow build listen had a great story line, although not very realistic. The story is told from Laura’s view mixed on with her mothers diary. Knowing abit about the legal system I feel this could have been researched better to be more viable but if you can look past that a good story

I have been a huge fan of Dervla Mctiernan since I read the Cormac Reilly series. Ao I as really excited for this one. But unlike the other series this one is a legal thriller. Our main character Hannah joins the Innocence Project which aims at giving justice to falsely accused death row prisoners. But she has ulterior motives for joining the project.
I enjoyed this fast paced legal thriller. I wanted to keep turning the pages and finish it in one sitting. My only problem was with the ending which was not 100% convincing. It seemed more fantastical than realistic and bar that this book was a solid thriller. The narration was also well done. Would definitely recommend for fans of Dervla Mctiernan

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel and so that is what my review is based upon.

There are 3 narrative strands in slightly different timelines.

Present day we have Hannah and, briefly, Sean. Historically, we have Laura. The female narrators were both great, especially the one voicing Hannah’s segments. For me, the male narrator was less successful.

Law student Hannah arrives at the Innocence Project determined to get onto the team dealing with the Dandridge case. But her motivation quickly becomes suspect.

Although some parts of the novel were a little hard to swallow, overall I found it a gripping listen, with enough twists to keep me guessing. I would definitely be interested in other books written u the same author.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.