No one is innocent in this story …

The unmissable no.1 bestselling New York Times thriller of the year

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.

‘Complex, unsettling and relentless, with a female protagonist on a journey of self-discovery that will culminate in a riveting final act, The Murder Rule is a great read’ Sydney Morning Herald

‘Tense and fascinating, dripping with the sort of suspense and intrigue we’ve come to depend on from Dervla McTiernan’ Christian White

‘Dervla McTiernan somehow makes the crime writing caper look effortless (spoiler: it isn’t). This one’s a headlong rush.’ Jock Serong

‘An extremely smart, thoroughly addictive, super twisty legal thriller that strikes the perfect balance between high-stakes action and real emotional depth. An absolute must-read, I guarantee you won’t be able to put it down.’ Anna Downes, author of The Safe Place

‘Clever and compelling, Dervla McTiernan has seamlessly switched from fast-paced police procedural to original and suspenseful legal drama without missing a beat.’ Sarah Bailey, author of The Housemate

‘Gripping and full of tension, with twist after unexpected twist. You won’t just read The Murder Rule, you’ll devour it.’ Karin Slaughter, no.1 bestselling author of Pieces of Her

‘Diabolically clever, highly compelling and deeply moving’ Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of City on Fire

‘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 rollercoaster of a tale.’ Adrian McKinty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chain

Author Biography

Number one internationally bestselling author Dervla McTiernan is the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of six novels, including the much-loved Cormac Reilly series and two number one bestselling standalone thrillers, The Murder Rule and What Happened to Nina?, both New York Times Best Thrillers of the Year and both currently in development for screen adaptation. Dervla is also the author of four novellas, and her audio novella, The Sisters, was a four-week number one bestseller in the United States. Before turning her hand to writing, Dervla spent twelve years working as a lawyer in her home country of Ireland. Following the global financial crisis, she relocated to Western Australia where she now lives with her husband, two children and too many pets.