About the book

Third-year law student Hannah Rokeby looks like the perfect recruit for the University of Virginia’s Innocence Project—bright, relentless, idealistic. But Hannah has come south with a secret brief: keep death-row inmate Michael Dandridge right where he is.

Armed with charm and a razor-sharp mind, she embeds herself in the legal team while quietly pulling every thread that might unravel the appeal. Yet the deeper she digs, the more the case—and her own past—start to look nothing like she was told.

When the truth threatens to detonate the life she’s built on lies, Hannah must decide which rules to break, and who will pay the price.

ISBN: 9780008407971

ISBN 10: 0063042207

Pages: 304

On Sale: 12/5/2022

Format: Hardcover

Who this book is for:

For readers who enjoy psychologically intense legal thrillers that explore justice, ambition, and the cost of winning.

Author’s Note

I’d been thinking for years about writing a story where a young law student works on an exoneration case, but I could never really find the hook that would make it something fresh and interesting. I was hanging out laundry one Saturday morning when it hit me — what if she was working the case, not to free the innocent man, but to secretly try to pull the case down from the inside, to make sure he died for his crimes? Oof! As soon as I had that, I knew I was off and running. (And there’s a writing tip for you … the best ideas come with the really boring tasks).

— Dervla

Character Spotlight

Recurring characters:

Hannah Rokeby: A brilliant, ruthless law student who manipulates her way onto the University of Virginia’s Innocence Project. Driven by a dark secret from her mother’s past, she’s determined to ensure a death row inmate stays in prison—not set him free.

Robert Parekh: A charismatic law professor and director of the University of Virginia’s Innocence Project. Ambitious, and willing to bend the rules to win cases. Values determination, cunning and effectiveness over idealism.

Dervla’s stories are driven by people

Flawed, determined, and often caught between what’s right and what’s possible. Here are a few of the key voices at the heart of this series.

Awards & critical praise

‘Gripping and full of tension, with twist after unexpected twist. You won ‘t just read The Murder Rule, you’ll devour it.’

Karin Slaughter

NYT bestselling author of Pieces of Her

‘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

‘Diabolically clever, highly compelling and deeply moving.’

Don Winslow

NYT bestselling author of City on Fire

‘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

‘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

NYT bestselling author of The Chain