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‘The master of razor-sharp one liners. An absolute belter’ – MANDASUE HELLER
‘Brilliant. This is British crime writing at its best’ – MARK EDWARDS
‘May be his best yet’ – WILL CARVER

MY DAD SAYS BAD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN I BREAK IT…

Daniel is looking forward to his birthday. He wants pie and chips, a big chocolate cake, and a comic book starring his favourite superhero. And as long as he follows The Rule, nothing bad will happen. But Daniel has no idea that he’s about to kill a stranger.

Daniel’s parents know that their beloved and vulnerable son will be taken away. But Daniel didn’t mean to hurt anyone, he just doesn’t know his own strength. They dispose of the body. Isn’t that what any loving parent would do? But as forces on both sides of the law begin to close in on them, they realise they have no option but to finish what they started. Even if it means that others will have to die…

Because they’ll do anything to protect Daniel. Even murder.

‘Excellent as always. Grimy and heartbreaking in equal measure’ – WILL CARVER

‘A pacy, smart and darkly funny heartbreaker of a crime novel’ – SUSI HOLLIDAY

‘A stupendous piece of literary engineering’ – JENNY O’BRIEN

‘An intense and compelling read. Highly recommended’ – LISA HALL

‘David Jackson has done it again. The Rule is incredible’ – NOELLE HOLTEN

Publisher Review

A cunning demonstration of the law of unintended consequences. It is horrific, hilarious and often rather moving * The Times * The master of razor-sharp one liners, David Jackson's The Rule is an absolute belter -- Mandasue Heller, bestselling author of Brutal Brilliant. Spiralling tension, wit and heart, this is British crime writing at its best -- Mark Edwards, bestselling author of The House Guest I really enjoyed The Rule. Jackson doesn't do cosy thrillers. You've been warned -- Paul Finch, bestselling author of Strangers An intense and compelling read, that will evoke complicated emotions in every reader. Highly recommended -- Lisa Hall, author of Between Me and You Excellent as always. Grimy and heartbreaking in equal measure, peppered with Jackson's trademark wit and humour. May be his best yet -- Will Carver, bestselling author of Girl 4 Jackson is one of the finest British thriller writers... a thrilling, propulsive and ultimately heart-breaking tale of the lengths a father will go to in order to protect his family -- Martyn Waites, author of The Old Religion A pacy, smart and darkly funny heartbreaker of a crime novel -- Susi Holliday, author of The Resort David Jackson has done it again. The Rule is incredible. Creepy, emotive, dark tense and disturbing -- Noelle Holten, bestselling author of Dead Again A stupendous piece of literary engineering. When highrise tenants meet the local vicious lowlife, who knows what the outcome will be -- Jenny O'Brien, author of Fallen Angel A stomach-lurching descent into parental desperation, full of surprises from start to finish. A gasp-out-loud read after which I dare you to break The Rule... -- Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal A dark, poignant and perfectly observed page-turner, that asks how far would you go to protect the people you love? A triumph -- Victoria Selman, author of Snakes and Ladders Cleverly crafted and darkly disturbing, with some deftly written emotional moments that show just how far some will go to protect those they love -- Robert Scragg, author of What Falls Between the Cracks Another fantastic book by David Jackson. A real balls to the wall thriller, with a surprisingly emotional end. Should be a big hit -- Dan Malakin, author of The Regret A real rollercoaster. It's a brilliantly worked series of moral dilemmas that sucks in the protagonists, with twists and turns that will keep you reading till late at night. I loved it -- Guy Morpuss, author of Five Minds Jackson's writing creates a breath-taking tension... Surprises and twists are engineered with literary dexterity. The Rule is a dark, compelling book which exposes the reader to a raw brutality of both crime and poverty, grief and loss or the potential loss. I found it impossible to put down * Arbuturian *