Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan

3 reviews

lpdx's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75


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travelseatsreads's review against another edition

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mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I've mixed feelings about this one. While I liked the overall reading/listening experience of the book and enjoyed the general plot I did feel a little put out towards the ends with some of the twists and turns.

So what I did like:
• A variety of different characters with some very distinct different motives
• The uncertainty and uneasiness of who exactly was telling the truth was conveyed very well throughout
• The tension and unknown entity of the relationship between Hannah and her mother.

What I wasn't keen on:
• Unfortunately sections of the plot line felt a little too unrealistic at times and one or two aspects didn't add up at the end for me.

I switched between ebook and audiobook and enjoyed both formats. The audiobook was great with a 3 person cast which made it easy to follow. 

Overall, an enjoyable read which looks at the concept of justice, revenge and who is really innocent after all?

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outsmartyourshelf's review

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

3.5

Hannah Rokeby's first day on campus (or grounds) at the University of Virginia is vital for her plan to succeed. She needs to get herself noticed at The Innocence Project, a non-profit organisation that take on possible miscarriages of justice. The biggest case at the moment is that of convicted killer, Michael Dandridge, & the Project is hoping to have his conviction overturned. Hannah wants in on the case, but not to help, but to make sure Dandridge stays behind bars for good.

The first glimpse of Hannah we get is a short email correspondence between her & the leader of the Project, Prof Rob Parekh, where Hannah has no compunction in alluding to blackmail in order to secure a spot on the team. This sets the tone for Hannah for most of the book, a character who has no scruples in screwing over another person (sorry Hazel) to get what she wants, which in this case is revenge for her mother. The narrative is told mainly from Hannah's point of view, with some chapters from her mother's diary setting the scene.

I was all for giving this book 4+ stars as it grabbed my attention from the outset. The story was intriguing, fast-paced & looked to be barreling along to a gripping conclusion - but then, for me, it went wrong. Because I enjoyed reading it for most of the book, I'm rating this 3.5 stars.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, HarperCollins UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am voluntarily giving an honest review.

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