Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Murder Rule by Dervla McTiernan

1 review

readerette's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

The plot was promising but unfortunately nothing came together for me. If you can suspend belief about how long it takes for someone to trust someone who blackmails them, what a severe beating actually does to a person, car chases, and how the law and law enforcement works, this one might be fun for you. 

Some of the things I didn't enjoy:
  • The character development felt half-finished so I wasn't really rooting for anyone, just curious how it would turn out. 
  • Information is kept from the reader so you just have to be passively along for the ride rather than being able to unfold the mysteries as you go. 
  • The description of the violence perpetrated against a character at one point made it seem like they wouldn't survive, and then they were up and about the next day, driving, walking, talking coherently and using their brain while hopped up on painkillers and with broken ribs, a smashed face and bruised organs.
  • The courtroom scene is completely beyond belief, which ruins one character's redemption arc and the "just desserts" for another, because it would never happen the way it was portrayed. 
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