The Rule surprised me, and in a good way.

I was expecting a fairly standard modern detective novel. In fact it turns the typical formula on its head. Instead of following a detective trying to figure out whodunnit, and their motive, we know from the start who did what and why. First of all, the murder is an accident. We watch it happen. The rest of the novel follows the parallel stories of the murderer, his father Scott, the victim's cronies and family, as Hannah, the detective trying to solve the case, closes in.

It's sharp, tense, pacey, clever, and at times very funny. And it also holds a depth of sadness. You cannot help feeling pity for Daniel and his family, ordinary people desperately trying to save their son from the consequences of his thoughtless actions. Ready to do anything, and to sacrifice themselves to save him.

The Rule is well written crime fiction that I couldn't put down. Unlike a lot of other books in the genre, however, it also lingered in my mind for days after I had finished it.

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. It's not too often I read a thriller where I actually find the killer to be both endearing and very likeable. This is one of those times. Daniel has some leaning disabilities, he doesn't know his own strength. His parents have given him rules one is that he cannot engage in physical contact with anyone in case he hurts them accidentally. A book about the lengths a mother and father and even a police officer will go to to protect their son. A page turner of a read. #davidjackson #therule #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #litsy #netgalley #thestorygraph #bookqueen #bookstagram #netgalley

When we first meet Daniel we think he’s a child. He acts like a child and speaks like a child and his inner monologue is that of a child. But we soon learn he is in fact about to turn 23 and is looking forward to his birthday.

But Daniel also has a rule which his parents insist he must follow, and The Rule is not to touch anyone. We soon discover why: Daniel is uncannily strong and can cause harm without meaning to.

Daniel lives with his mum and dad in a block of flats and one day they encounter a man in the lift, a drug dealer, and things go awry.

I won’t divulge spoilers but needless to say, Daniel’s strength now leads the family into great peril. Because the drug dealer’s associates want to know what has happened to him, as do the police, and it isn’t long before they’re all closing in

The Rule is the second novel by David Jackson that I’ve read, after his excellent novel The Resident. This isn’t a sequel, but it’s similar in that it takes a surprising premise and runs with it. Like The Resident, The Rule is well worth a read.

Excellent, keeps the reader engaged throughout. Story of how far a family will go in order to protect one of their own and to avenge something done to their family.

I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley for a review. A terrific read kept you wanting more, loved the characters and pacing of this novel. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were fantastic and the dialogue brilliant. The humour woven throughout was wonderful and had me laughing out loud on many occasions. Just what was needed! I thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author in the future. Thank you for this opportunity to read this book.

I loved The Resident which was written by David Jackson last year which led me to buy some of the authors other books. So when I saw this as a new stand alone novel I couldn’t resist. This is a clever, dark humoured thriller. With a fast pace to keep you gripped.

Daniel Timpson is a 22 year old with the mind of a child, he loves his comic books, his superhero is Adam-9, he has a briefcase like his hero which he carries round. He enjoys drawing pictures. He is very strong and physically large, but he has a very placid nature. In a weeks time it will be his birthday. His parents Scott and Gemma love Daniel to bits and like most parents would do anything for their child. The family live in a flat on the twelfth floor of a block of flats. Sometimes the lift reads of the stench of urine. Sometimes hanging around the foyer if the flats there is a gang of youths, drinking cheap alcohol and smoking roll ups, they don’t even live in the flats.

One day there was an accidental death in the lift of the building, because Daniel broke the rule the one rule his parents have given him to keep him safe. Scott and Gemma will do anything to protect their son, but as one bad decision leads to another they find themselves getting deeper and deeper into trouble and things start to spiral out of control. In charge if the investigation is DI Hannah Washington who despite wondering if she is on the right career path is determined to solve this crime. To catch the killer. Even whilst she is dealing with her own demons.

This is a great read with some great characters, I really liked Daniel and the plot was really well thought out. Hannah’s side story is also good and adds to the whole feeling of the book. This is one I highly recommend. If you haven’t read any of David Jackson’s books yet they are definitely worth checking out.

A darkly funny and thrilling read.

I loved David Jackson's The Resident, and this book is just as unique and engaging as that one was.

There are totally implausible plot points throughout, but it really doesn't matter as it is so well written, and the characters are so authentic, that the plot feels almost secondary to them.

There are a few "key characters" but the only thing that bothered me is that Hannah, the police officer, and Daniel, the young man, took a back seat towards the end. They were highly interesting characters that I wanted to see more of so I felt they could have had more attention overall and their storylines felt a little thin on the ground. The ending was wholly satisfying though.

Parents will do anything to protect their children wont they? especially if they have some sort of disability.
What follows is a fairly lighthearted but disturbing read.

The Rule is simple. Don’t touch anyone. This is to protect people, to stop someone getting hurt. Twenty-three year old Daniel can follow this rule, just one of a number of rules that he follows to keep himself safe. But one day he forgets the rule…and it sets off a devastating sequence of events.
Daniel lives with his mum and dad in a pretty run-down area. He leads a simple life, but when he sees his father being attacked by a man in the lift - the man whose backpack contains bags of white powder, bundles of money and a gun - Daniel knows what he has to do.
Unfortunately, Daniel’s strength results in him killing this man. A tragic accident, but out of concern for how their son might be treated by the police, Daniel’s parents do not do what most would. They cover up the crime…and so begins a terrifying few days as the consequences of their actions catch up with them.
While we cannot help but be invested in the events surrounding Daniel and his family, I really liked the way we also got the story of Hannah, the lead officer investigating the murder (because, of course, this is discovered pretty quickly) and how she is forced to confront her own demons in the course of this investigation.
The story itself is so out of the everyday, but the care with which the characters are presented means you cannot help but follow each twist and turn in desperation of seeing how things pan out.
The Rule is a fast-paced story, but one which draws you in. You’re exposed to a dark underbelly, and though some of the choices made by these characters are definitely putting them on the wrong side of the law it’s hard not to hope things work out for them.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this in advance of publication.

Oh, dear. Once again, I find myself firmly in the minority. Is it me? Is it the books? Who knows.

David Jackson’s DS Nathan Cody series is one of my favourite crime series but for some reason his stand-alones seem to fail to hit the mark with me. I wasn’t all that impressed by ‘The Resident‘ and to be honest, I’m even less impressed by ‘The Rule‘.

It started out reasonably well. Daniel is a strong and imposing young man of almost twenty-three who sufferers from learning difficulties and doesn’t know his own strength. A mere friendly hug could leave someone with a pair of broken ribs. So Daniel has been set a rule by his parents : no touching. But when Daniel and his father see something they shouldn’t have, Daniel breaks the rule and somebody dies. To keep Daniel safe, his father makes the dead body disappear. But the dead person’s family and the police are looking for him. How far will Daniel’s parents go to keep him safe?

Daniel is a wonderful character and he will find a way into your heart without even trying all that hard. As the reader, you want to keep him safe as much as his parents do. I found the other characters a bit harder to connect with. Daniel’s mother seemed almost like an afterthought. She’s there but she doesn’t really leave a mark on proceedings. Daniel’s father, Scott, is much more prominent as he digs hole after hole after hole … you get the picture.

Then there’s the detective in charge of the investigation. Hannah carries quite a bit of emotional baggage around with her. It’s why this case was handed to her. If she fails to solve it, and her bosses fully expect her to fail, the force has an excuse to throw her out. This complicates matters where your feelings as a reader are concerned. Part of me wanted her to solve the case but another part didn’t because that would mean Daniel would be in trouble. There was however an element to Hannah’s storyline that didn’t sit well with me and certain events started to annoy me.

A great and promising start soon started to falter for me. I felt there were moments where the story began to drag a little. It lacked the thrill and the tension I felt it needed to keep me hooked. It also ended up a bit more “out there” than I expected. Obviously it’s fiction but I do feel characters still need to act somewhat credible and there is at least one who seems to have a complete character transplant at breakneck speed. However, I kept reading because I had no idea where things would end. And that’s where the strength of this story lies. This incredibly murky area where you somehow rather easily accept that certain things must be done to keep Daniel safe, ignoring things you wouldn’t normally ignore.

A quick read, yes, but all things considered I was pretty disappointed. ‘The Rule‘ is getting some incredibly high ratings and great reviews though so quite clearly I’m just broken or something 😂.

This book was SO unique, I hope I can do it justice.
Firstly, I have to shine a light on the main character Daniel, whose innocent and beautiful personality made me laugh, cry and want to meet him! I adored him, and the humour he brought to the book softened the intensity of the thriller side of it.
The characters of Scott and Gemma were somewhat implausible at times, and the decisions they made were frustrating for the reader. Usually, these frustrations would overwhelm my feelings for the book overall, but Jackson did an excellent job of not letting these issues detract from the enjoyment of it.
It was extremely intense at times, and I couldn't get through some scenes fast enough, but the poignancy and heartbreaking moments really sold this book to me, and I absolutely loved it.

I am a big fan of this authors other work, so I was really looking forward to this one, and I was not disappointed!

The Rule is the story of Timpson family. Scott and Gemma are the doting parents of Daniel, a 22 year old gentle giant with learning disabilities who doesn't know his own strength. After a few incidents, the family make a rule that Daniel has to avoid physical contact with others as much as possible, so that no-one else gets hurt. This work well on the whole, until one night when Scott and Daniel encouter a stranger who pushes things too far and Daniel breaks the rule with disastrous consequences. The following spiral shows the extremes of what can happen when a parent pushes the lengths that they will go to to protect their child.

All the characters in this book are perfect. Even the bad guys are drawn so well, you can't help but plot their demise along with the others! You can't help to fall in love with Daniel and empathise with Scott and Gemma who any parent will know the feelings they were going through. This resonates with Hannah too, to get back up and carry on when the absolute worst thing has happened to you is admirable and inspirational.

A great, page-turner of a book that grabs you at the start and builds the pace and tension until it spits you out the other end!

Having read The Resident, I was really looking forward to reading this one and it didn't disappointment!

I love how David manages to write characters that you're pulled into backing despite the crime they've committed. He managed it in The Resident and he's done it again with Scott and Daniel in this.

It was tense and hilarious (humour, something else that David does really well!).

I loved Scott and Daniel, although there were times when I wanted to give Scott a good shake. He really wasn't made for the life of a criminal, which led to some questionable decisions, hence the reason for wanting to give him a shake. Although, and without giving anything away, he does make up for the earlier questionable decisions in the end.

Thank you to PH, NetGalley and David for the chance to read this book.

Daniel is so excited for his upcoming birthday and is looking forward to having fish and chips and getting comics based on his favourite superhero. Daniel will be 23 years old on his next birthday. When something happens that will possibly result in Daniel been taken away from his parents, they will do anything to prevent this from happening even kill !

I so enjoyed reading this book. It has a great storyline and there were plenty of great one lines that had me laughing to myself. We see how far a parent would go go protect their vulnerable child no matter what age that child is. This book is a thriller but as said it will have you laughing at times too.

This was really good. It was a quick and easy to read thriller that educates you in how quickly peoples lives can change - all because one split second. I loved the characters and was rooting for them all the way through - I was desperate for a happy ending?! I will definitely be reading more by this author ❤

The Rule by David Jackson is an absolute fire cracker, fast paced with exceptionally well written characters and a healthy dose of dark humour.

I've read David Jackson’s previous book The Resident and absolutely loved it so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read a copy of his latest release.

The Rule is a dark and twisted tale about a family living in a block of twelve-storey high flats. Sometimes lurking in the foyer they’d be a gang of youths wearing hoodies, drinking cheap booze and smoking roll ups, they weren’t even residents. The area, especially inside the lift would reak of urine.

Daniel Timpson loves his comic books and his superhero Adam-9, he even carries a briefcase like Adam-9. He's great at drawing pictures and is physically very strong. Next week will be Daniel’s birthday and he's hoping for his favourite ‘Colin the Caterpillar’ cake. Daniel is 22 years old with the mind of a child!

Scott and Gemma are good parents they love Daniel with all their heart and when there’s an accidental death in the lift at their apartment building because Daniel broke the Rule they’ll do absolutely anything in their power to protect their child. As one terrible decision leads to another they get deeper and deeper into a shocking situation spiralling out of control.

DI Hannah Washington is given the case to solve but lately she’s wondering whether she’s on the right career path. Hannah’s determined to find the killer while chasing away her own personal demons.

Loved the characters so much! Highly recommended, this author is a fabulous and wicked storyteller you won’t want to put this one down, it flows so incredibly fast.

"The Rule was that Daniel should avoid physical contact with others as much as possible. It was a tough decree to enforce, but it was the safest option."

Twenty-two-year-old Daniel has the mind of a child but the body of an exceptionally strong man. Because of that, he lives by The Rule. But during a chance encounter on his way home one afternoon, Daniel breaks The Rule in order to protect his beloved father, Scott and accidentally kills Joey Cobb, a local drug-dealer. Panic takes over, and Scott goes to extraordinary lengths to protect his vulnerable son. But when Joey’s body is found, chaos ensues as the clues draw the police and, more dangerous characters, closer to discovering the truth...

This is a story about family, love, and the lengths a parent will go to in order to protect their child. Daniel is a great character. I really liked him and it is impossible not to feel affection for him. When we meet him he is excited about enjoying chippy chips and his favourite cake for his upcoming twenty-third birthday and loves to escape into his favourite comic books. He is a gentle young man who has no idea of his own strength, which is why his parents created The Rule. Daniel is also very close to his father, Scott, and their bond is a real driving force in the story as it is at the heart of the actions of both men on the night of the accident.

There is a duality that runs through the characters, a theme of them being both incredibly strong and deeply vulnerable, albeit in different ways. For instance, Daniel is a gentle giant, physically strong but also vulnerable because of his learning difficulty, while Hannah is a strong and determined woman struggling with a heartbreaking personal tragedy that seeps into all facets of her life. I really liked this contrast and how the author explored it in each of the narrators. But it all felt a bit one-dimensional. I think this was partly because there were so many narrators and that if the author had focused on fewer of them then I could have felt that depth, connection and investment that was missing.

A readable thriller filled with some intriguing characters and unexpected twists, The Rule is great for anyone looking for a quick read.

I really enjoyed The Resident by David Jackson so I was really excited to read this ARC copy.

Daniel is twenty three years old and must follow The Rule at all times. If he doesn't people get hurt. Now Daniel has broken The Rule and a man is dead. How far are his family wiling to go to protect him? Will the police find out the truth and if they do what will this mean for Daniel and his family? Twists and turns galore that had me gripped from the start.

The Rule was a definite 5 star read for me. I was hooked from page one and read this in two sittings. David Jackson has done it again.

I enjoyed David Jackson's previous novel, The Resident, so much that I didn't even read the blurb before picking up a copy of The Rule. This meant that my introduction to Daniel evoked such feelings of protection and affection that I could completely understand everything that his dad did for him.

I absolutely adored Daniel from the start; he's so genuine, caring and enthusiastic but it broke my heart in two that he has to follow The Rule. The Rule is there for a very good reason and it's clear that his parents love him dearly, so they're only doing it to protect him. When actions outside of their control results in Daniel breaking The Rule, a chain of events is set in motion that mean the Timpson family will never be the same again.

Oh this book is really good. I experienced a wealth of emotions, predominantly relating to Daniel but I also really felt for Daniel's parents Scott and Gemma. Scott will go to any lengths to protect his son but I don't think he could have ever expected to go this far. When the police start investigating a murder, the Timpson family need to keep their cool but Gemma is a quivering wreck and Daniel is as honest as the day is long so I was constantly on the edge of my seat just waiting for someone to say the wrong thing.

With an added layer of police procedural, I really enjoyed reading about DI Hannah Washington. Hannah has a heartbreaking backstory but she is one tough cookie and when it looks like she is being thrown under the bus by her superiors, she is not going down without a fight. I also enjoyed the various interactions with career criminal Barrington Daley and some of his lines had me laughing out loud.

Brilliantly written and wonderfully plotted, The Rule is a fast-paced, gripping thriller (and a little bit of a horror as there is some wilful damage to books). It's filled with so much tension and suspense that it's impossible to put down and I couldn't read it fast enough to find out what would happen next. It's another awesome page-turner from David Jackson and I loved it!

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.