The Murder Rule

*Dervla McTiernan's latest brilliant novel, What Happened to Nina?, is out now*

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 people are saying about The Murder Rule

‘Ingenious’ Sunday Times

‘Thoroughly engrossing’ Mail on Sunday

‘Meticulously planned and beautifully executed, this is glorious storytelling to rival John Grisham’ Daily Mail

‘The Murder Rule holds one’s interest from its cheeky opening pages through its final scene’ Wall Street Journal

‘Gripping and full of tension, with twist after unexpected twist. You’ll devour it’ Karin Slaughter

‘A fast-paced, clever and totally thrilling story that you will want to read in one sitting' Jane Casey

‘Anyone who enjoys true crime podcasts will not want to miss this book’ Jackie Kabler

‘The Murder Rule is utterly absorbing, entertaining and intriguing’ Liz Nugent

‘Dervla McTiernan has become one of my favourite writers, and if you read The Murder Rule, she will quickly become one of yours’ Don Winslow

‘Loved it, really gripped’ Jane Fallon

‘Pacy and intelligent’ Patricia Gibney

‘Taut, gripping, beautifully written’ Simon Lelic

‘This is McTiernan at a whole new level’ Jo Spain

‘Thoroughly addictive’ Anna Downes

‘Deceptive and devious, this twisted and turned in exactly the way I hoped it would’ Sam Holland


Genre: Mystery

"The Murder Rule has nailed something fundamentally true about being human; that none of us are quite who we pretend to be and that being the hero in your own story doesn't stop you from being the villain in someone else's. Grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go. Brilliant." - Gabriel Bergmoser

"Deceptive and devious, this twisted and turned in exactly the way I hoped it would, resulting in an ultimately satisfying conclusion. A fantastic read." - Sam Holland

"Extraordinary. Haunting. An incredible thriller. I could not put this book down. Dervla McTiernan is a gifted writer with a very special way of telling a story. This is a heart-stopping roller coaster of a tale." - Adrian McKinty

"Dervla McTiernan is an extraordinary writer, and The Murder Rule is a brilliant, breathtaking, and irresistible thriller with unforgettable characters and twists on top of twists." - T J Newman

"The Murder Rule is utterly absorbing, entertaining and intriguing." - Liz Nugent

"Gripping and full of tension, with twist after unexpected twist. You won't just read The Murder Rule, you'll devour it." - Karin Slaughter

"Diabolically clever and deeply moving." - Don Winslow