Series: D.I. Dani Stephens #2
Published by Canelo on January 9, 2020
Genres: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural, Crime, Women Sleuths, General, Thrillers, Suspense
Pages: 259
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
The case was closed. Now everyone connected is getting killed. Let the games begin...
Henry and Caroline Redfearne’s annual ball is the hottest social event of the year.
But the fun is cut short by the discovery of their son’s body, apparently the victim of a frenzied assault. He was last seen heading off with 17-year-old Sophie Blackwood, and a blood trail seems to show that Sophie has been kidnapped.
DI Dani Stephens, still struggling after an attack by her serial killer brother, is thrown into a desperate search for a murderer who kills and keeps on killing. With Sophie still missing, and no clues in sight, she has nowhere to turn. Nowhere, that is, except her brother...
The next gripping instalment of the DI Stephens series is an unputdownable and twist-filled crime thriller, perfect for readers of Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza and LJ Ross.
I loved the first DI Dani Stephens book to the point where I was watching Sinclair’s social media waiting for the cover reveal . It should be no surprise then, that I was absolutely thrilled when offered the chance to read and review Sinclair’s latest book The Rules of Murder (thank you Canelo)! Book one really focused on Dani, her recovery and return to the force. Changing the play in this book, Sinclair launches readers straight into a grisly murder. While the POV stays primarily with Dani and the investigation, every once in a while readers peek into the killer’s mind and it never failed to disturb me. Sinclair manages to make each of the voices completely different and authentic. Ben, Dani’s brother, played a smaller role in book one but there was no mistaking his role in book two.
The mystery surrounding the murder was gripping. I even found myself gasping out loud at a particularly surprising part, startling my husband and toddler, and found myself unable to put the book down. As Dani races to catch a killer, readers feel that sense of urgency and desperation pouring out of the book.
Sinclair wrote a charmingly flawed, strong heroine that continues to push past obstacles. I’m completely invested in Dani’s story and am itching to pick up book three to find out what is going to happen with the Ben and Dani arc. Highly recommended!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
