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The Third Rule: Death by Chance Kindle Edition

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,191 ratings

If they brought back the death penalty for serious crime, would you support it? Would you still support it if they charged the wrong man?
"I always root for the underdog and was willing him to succeed as the story approached its exciting climax."
Crime Scene Investigator Jack Riley was a hero for bringing down an armed robber.

Four years later, against a backdrop of riots opposed to the new and brutal death penalty known as The Rules, Jack is shattered when his son is killed in a hit and run.

Fuelled by desperation, Jack embarks on a mission to find his son's killer and in a display of his former brilliance, unravels a much darker truth. But when he exposes it, the government declare him a Rule Three violator – wanted for murder. He becomes the target of a relentless government assassin and a detective who enjoys executing criminals whether they’re innocent or not.

Now Jack is running for his life, determined to avenge his son, expose the truth, and stay alive. Can he do it before justice catches him?

What people say about The Third Rule

  • A gripping and moving masterpiece
  • This was one of those books that I couldn't put down
  • My kindle came with me everywhere so I could catch another chapter or even paragraph
  • Superb
  • Frighteningly realistic
  • This is a chilling and all too realistic vision of the British Legal system as could worryingly happen in today's haphazard political climate
  • Andrew Barrett has become one of my favourite authors
  • An excellent read. One of those books you can’t put down
  • TV DRAMA, PLEASE. NOW!
  • It’s been a long while since I finished a book, and then sat there for a few minutes reflecting on the story I’ve just read.
  • It’s an intense and complex story with some big themes, such as the return of the death penalty into the justice system and how power corrupts, coupled with personal tragedy and rivalries. But at its heart is a story of how one man triumphs over trauma and the demons that haunt him to fight the corruption that threatens to destroy him. He’s not alone in his fight, and there’s a price to pay for standing up to those who want to silence him.

Also available by Andrew Barrett:

The Pain of Strangers – CSI Eddie Collins 1

Black by Rose – CSI Eddie Collins 2

Sword of Damocles - CSI Eddie Collins 3

Ledston Luck - CSI Eddie Collins 4

The Death of Jessica Ripley - CSI Eddie Collins 5

This Side of Death - CSI Eddie Collins 6

The Lift – a CSI Eddie Collins Short Story

The Note – a CSI Eddie Collins Novella

The Lock – a CSI Eddie Collins Novella

The Crew – a CSI Eddie Collins Novella

A Long Time Dead – SOCO Roger Conniston 1

Stealing Elgar – SOCO Roger Conniston 2

No More Tears – SOCO Roger Conniston 3

The CSI Eddie Collins boxset - Books 1 - 3

The CSI Eddie Collins boxset - Books 4 - 6

Short and Curlies - (featuring the latest short story, Eye Contact) The CSI Eddie Collins Novellas

The End of Lies – If Lies Could Kill: a standalone psychological thriller

The Third Rule – a standalone forensic crime thriller featuring CSI Jack Riley

Product description

About the Author

I write crime thrillers, and have done since 1996, about the same time I became a CSI here in Yorkshire. All of my books are set in or around our biggest city of Leeds. Sometimes I go wandering into the countryside and drag its beauty screaming into the pages of one of my books where it collides with the ugliness of death. I don’t write formulaic crime fiction; each one is hand-crafted and home-grown to give you a unique flavour of what CSIs encounter in real life. Every book is rich with forensic insight but that insight never drowns the story; it’s there to enhance your enjoyment only. My thrillers live inside the police domain; they have detectives and uniformed officers, but they predominantly feature CSIs (or SOCOs as we used to be known). Come and live with us as we go about our sometimes unenviable tasks, and listen to the language we speak, see the things we see, and experience the emotions we feel. So pull on your nitrile gloves and your face mask, get comfy, and read on. Find out more about me at www.andrew-barrett.co.uk where you can sign up for my newsletter and get free books.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BJM3RI0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Ink Foundry; 4th edition (20 Feb. 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 572 pages
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,191 ratings

About the author

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Andrew Barrett
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Andrew Barrett is not your average crime writer. He's also a CSI from Yorkshire who knows how to make dead bodies talk. Since 1996, he has written nail-biting novels featuring SOCO Roger Conniston and CSI Eddie Collins, two experts in crime scene investigation who face danger and drama on a daily basis. His newest recruit in the fight against crime is DS Regan Carter, another protagonist who's not afraid to meet the enemy head on.

Barrett's books offer a gritty, authentic glimpse into the twisted minds of criminals and the brave detectives who hunt them. With suspenseful plots, surprising twists, and a touch of dark humour, his stories will keep you engrossed until the final page.

Ready for a thrilling ride? Dive into Andrew's world of crime, where danger lurks around every corner. Visit his website to subscribe to his newsletter, claim your free starter library, and prepare to be captivated.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
1,191 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book gripping from start to finish. They praise the plot as interesting and well-written, with many twists and turns that keep them hooked. The writing quality is praised as smooth and skillfully done. Readers love the characters and their gradual introduction. They describe the pacing as fast and exciting, with cleverly intertwined storylines that all come together. Overall, customers find the book entertaining and gripping from start to end.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

56 customers mention ‘Plot’47 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the book's plot. They find it engaging with many twists and turns that keep them hooked from start to finish. The premise is thought-provoking, and the storyline is well-written. Readers appreciate the use of CSI procedures and terminology that enhance the narrative.

"...is taken and analysed, or discussed, come across as genuine and believable...." Read more

"...Rather difficult book to rate, gripping and very well written, very clever, but overlong, a marathon of a book, that sometimes was a struggle, that..." Read more

"...The story is so well written it takes you along at a rapid pace with different individual stories all coming together at the end...." Read more

"...This is a novel about political ruthlessness and corruption, of the apparently bad, who are really good, against the apparently good, who turn out..." Read more

45 customers mention ‘Readability’45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They say it keeps their attention throughout, making them feel included in the storyline. Readers also mention it would make a good TV series.

"...So compelling. I struggled to put it down, and when the chance arose I just couldn’t wait to pick it up again...." Read more

"...and memory, I never lost the thread as the book kept my attention well throughout...." Read more

"...But it is an excellent read and I still highly recommend it...." Read more

"This compelling and well written book combines three novels into a one-book trilogy about Eddie Collins, a Scenes of Crime Officer (CSI in USA)...." Read more

27 customers mention ‘Writing quality’21 positive6 negative

Customers find the writing quality good. They say it's well-written and engaging. The plot is complex and interesting, with well-developed characters that seem realistic. Readers describe the book as a challenging read, but it's worth it.

"...There’s no glamorisation of the task here, but a genuine sense of realism that puts the reader into the mind of the officer performing that..." Read more

"...Rather difficult book to rate, gripping and very well written, very clever, but overlong, a marathon of a book, that sometimes was a struggle, that..." Read more

"...and get to know many different characters and they are all very well fleshed out and individual and thus, easy for me to distinguish, connect to and..." Read more

"...The story is so well written it takes you along at a rapid pace with different individual stories all coming together at the end...." Read more

22 customers mention ‘Character development’17 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the book's character development. They find the gradual introduction of characters to be effective, with their personalities ringing true. The dialogue, thoughts, and plot strands are well-written, and the author seamlessly moves between dramatic and bloody action sequences.

"...Excellent writing and gradual introduction of character put them squarely in my mind...." Read more

"...all in one, lots of multiple story lines and plots lots of characters to remember and keep up with, lots of excitement, action and tension and a..." Read more

"...We meet and get to know many different characters and they are all very well fleshed out and individual and thus, easy for me to distinguish,..." Read more

"...Even the characters just didn't appeal to me and reading of grown men getting so drunk that they weren't capable of controlling their own bodily..." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Pacing’10 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's pacing fast and exciting. They say the story is well-written, with cleverly intertwined plot strands that keep readers gripped throughout.

"...to this story and the climax is certainly exciting and pulse rate accelerating...." Read more

"...As usual the book is very well written, fast paced, exciting and obviously as the author is a SOCO the details of procedures are spot on...." Read more

"...Took me two weeks to read, one due to size of book, but also periods where I had to urgently fly to away due to family issues, which I believe..." Read more

"...What keeps you reading is the strength of the story. It moves with great pace, even if at any time, at least one of the characters will have wet..." Read more

11 customers mention ‘Excitement’11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They describe it as an interesting, challenging read with a thrilling climax.

"...lines and plots lots of characters to remember and keep up with, lots of excitement, action and tension and a slow burning plot that builds to a..." Read more

"...There are twists and turns aplenty to this story and the climax is certainly exciting and pulse rate accelerating...." Read more

"...As usual the book is very well written, fast paced, exciting and obviously as the author is a SOCO the details of procedures are spot on...." Read more

"...It’s an intense and complex story with some big themes, such as the return of the death penalty into the justice system and how power corrupts,..." Read more

8 customers mention ‘Grip’8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's grip. They find it engaging from start to finish and say it's worth sticking with. While some find it a long read, they say it won't disappoint.

"...Rather difficult book to rate, gripping and very well written, very clever, but overlong, a marathon of a book, that sometimes was a struggle, that..." Read more

"...Some of this is truly gripping, as swift capital punishment is an easy way to dispose of those who cross the powerful...." Read more

"...If you enjoy Crime Thrillers you will love his books. Gripping from start to finish...." Read more

"...It is a long book but well worth persevering for. I found myself feeing very sorry for Eddie and then wanting to give him a good slap too!..." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Length’0 positive5 negative

Customers find the book too long and boring. They say it takes a while to come together and almost give up before the end. The premise is fine, but they get bored with the long-winded characters.

"...4 stars for a unique and clever story. one star less as too long and took a while to come together." Read more

"...So, why 4 rather than 5 stars, well for me it was just too long, I thought that it lost its way a bit in the middle and could have been edited down..." Read more

"Another winner! Although this is a very long book I managed to zip through it in no time...." Read more

"...is a good story and shows how power can be misused but for me was very long winded I almost gave up before the end" Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 June 2015
    Firstly, let me just say, this is a brilliant book. I want to see it made into a six or eight part TV Drama. It would make for fantastic viewing.

    It’s been a long while since I finished a book, and then sat there for a few minutes reflecting on the story I’ve just read. My mind raced back to the beginning, which I found somewhat confusing at the time. That confusion perhaps came from the fact that so many threads and plot lines were being laid down. I carried on reading though, because I really liked Mr Barrett’s writing style. As I got to know the characters, and the threads of those plot lines began to makes sense, they snared me and from half way in, right up to the end of the book, they just wouldn’t let go. So compelling. I struggled to put it down, and when the chance arose I just couldn’t wait to pick it up again.

    The principle character is a Scene of Crime Officer, and so is the author. As a result, the incidences where evidence is taken and analysed, or discussed, come across as genuine and believable. There’s no glamorisation of the task here, but a genuine sense of realism that puts the reader into the mind of the officer performing that duty.

    I felt I knew all of the characters by the end of the book so well that I could hear cadence in their voices as I read their dialogue. I can’t even say why, as no mention is made of tone of voice, very little is given in regard to a person’s appearance either. Excellent writing and gradual introduction of character put them squarely in my mind. The same goes for action: just enough is given to allow the reader to picture the scene.

    I picked this book up for free on Amazon, but I will certainly be reading more of Mr Barrett’s novels, and I will gladly pay for them.

    TV DRAMA, PLEASE. NOW!
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 June 2016
    [bookcover:The Third Rule|29233105]

    Thank You to Andrew Barrett for making this book available to my whole group "A Good Thriller" on goodreads.com for our June 2016 Read a long.

    Many members are still reading this book, and it's a big book at 624 pages.

    When you're accused of murder, you'd better hide, run, or fight.
    The Third Rule is England's new infallible capital punishment. But absolute proof of guilt is no longer required, so there’s a queue at the Slaughter House doors.
    CSI Eddie Collins hasn't killed anyone, but he knows who has. That’s why he’s on the Slaughter House list, and when a government hunter tracks him down, Eddie has to fight or die.
    “If you want to kill serious crime, you have to kill serious criminals.”
    Sir George Deacon, Minster of Justice.

    This book to me consists of 3 books all in one, lots of multiple story lines and plots lots of characters to remember and keep up with, lots of excitement, action and tension and a slow burning plot that builds to a conclusion that leaves you shocked and exhausted.

    The premise is excellent and is something we've all thought about at some point - re-instatement of the death penalty, and you asked yourself "Do You Believe In The Death Penalty".

    Rather difficult book to rate, gripping and very well written, very clever, but overlong, a marathon of a book, that sometimes was a struggle, that at other times was fast and gripping.

    Took me two weeks to read, one due to size of book, but also periods where I had to urgently fly to away due to family issues, which I believe slowed the momentum for me of course not the authors fault.

    4 stars for a unique and clever story. one star less as too long and took a while to come together.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 February 2016
    I first read this when it was way longer and consisted of three separate books. I enjoyed it then although I did feel that it was rather a marathon to get through sometimes. I have since read all the other Eddie Collins Series books and enjoyed them too - I think I have a bit of a soft spot for Eddie. But when I heard that the author had edited and re-released this book I jumped at the chance to re-read (something I hardly ever do) as I was interested in seeing whether the edits would work. I am delighted to say that although I loved the original, I love the new edition even more.
    So, this is a rather convoluted story but even with my rubbish concentration and memory, I never lost the thread as the book kept my attention well throughout. We meet and get to know many different characters and they are all very well fleshed out and individual and thus, easy for me to distinguish, connect to and emote with. During the book, these individual story threads weave about each other, meeting and then diverging again. As the book goes on, the thread count decreases as they finally all come together and the overall picture we see steadily increases until eventually, we get to see it all.
    So, Eddie, a SOCO who is a bit down on his luck - not from his own doing originally but he really isn't doing himself any favours any more and is pretty much on a steep downward spiral. Then, one day, tragedy strikes him again and thus begins his personal involvement into crime and punishment - the main themes of the book. Capital punishment to be precise. Eddie, along with his equally obnoxious friend and journalist Mick, then face a race against time to unearth the corruption within the government before things go too far. Before they get themselves killed - legally or otherwise.
    This author really does know how to weave a good yarn. Yes, it's a bit convoluted at times, yes I did wonder occasionally where we were going, yes I did spend a little time trying to figure out how on earth the book was going to end but never, never was I bored or confused or lost the plot. Sometimes you just want to read an easy book to kill some time, this probably isn't the book for that. This is a book that you will probably need to invest in. Not one to be read in bits and bobs. I know it's a long book but, believe me, if you invest your time in it, you will be rewarded with a great story played out by great characters.

    I received a free ARC of this book from TBConFB in exchange for my honest review.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Ginger S. Baldwin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tight Thriller Full of Believable "What Ifs" for the Justice System
    Reviewed in the United States on 9 October 2024
    The Third Rule is a tangled, twisted, startling tale of "law and order" - or at least some version of it. Its premise is frightening because one can see it being actual headlines without much difficulty. Most of the story has to do with a plan to overhaul the justice system in the UK by implementing "the third rule". (It's a bit like the U. S.'s 3rd strike rules for repeat offenders, only far less lenient and far more permanent.) It all sounds good on the face of it, but when unrelated bodies turn up, a bit of digging by CSI Jack Riley and a reporter find they are all actually connected by a fine thread that leads to some aspect of "the third rule", its proponents and its architect, most of whom are very high up in the government.

    But what happens when some of those in charge decide that there are rules for one set of people and another set of rules for others? The story is fast paced and well written. The characters are all people you'd recognize in a similar setting. As always, Barrett weaves several off-shoot stories together and makes them fit like a finely crafted jigsaw puzzle. I'm probably not doing it justice in this description, but believe me, it is a worthy read.
  • Walter Scott
    5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the best, and worst, of the human spirit
    Reviewed in Canada on 28 April 2017
    I have watched the usual “police procedural” TV shows, and read lots of books about CSIs. I enjoyed most of them. The high-tech science was cool, though eventually I came to realize that everything was structured to fit the 42-minute storyline and the characters were mostly two-dimensional, and the technology unrealistic.

    A TV series or a feature big-budget movie will never to justice to a character like Eddie Collins, or a writer like Andrew Barrett. The story can only live through the pages of a book.

    The characters are all a bit “edgy”. None of them are totally likeable. The plot has a dozen interwoven threads, but they come together perfectly. But there are moments of sheer terror, and if you cannot abide “graphic violence” as one review put it, there are some pretty good alternative writers out there. Andrew Barrett is a true master of this kind of thriller. He isn’t in it for the shock value. He just wants you to discover some folk who will remain in your memory for a really long time, and some images that are a lot more than merely audio and visual.

    An awesome read!
  • Todd Simpson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Story
    Reviewed in Australia on 9 July 2018
    Brilliant, I loved it. Andrew Barrett has done a wonderful job of incorporating some very interesting and diverse characters, into an intriguing and thoroughly entertaining story. I’ve read a few of his books now, and I’ve loved each one of them. The standout for me is the detail and background he puts into each of the characters. The main character Eddie Collins is a complete train wreck, but this is one of the many things that make this story such a great read.
    Eddie Collins just can’t catch a break. His world has turned into a bit of a nightmare, and it isn’t helping that he’s drinking his body weight in alcohol. It all started when he decided to be a hero and help a woman out who was being attacked. His downward spiral started at that point, and nothing had improved since. So, it was no surprise when his wife Jill kicked him out of their house, as she didn’t want their son Sam to see what his father was turning into. His only saving grace is a work colleague Ros, who continually bales him out of trouble. The English public have had enough of the rampart crime on the streets, and they are surprised when the Government come up with a radical new plan on how to tackle it. Bringing in rules one, two and three should certainly help as a deterrent to criminals. Especially considering the Third Rule means death. Overall this is an exceptional read that I thoroughly enjoyed, and It’s definitely a book worth reading.
  • Sylvia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another 5 star story from a great author
    Reviewed in Canada on 15 January 2018
    I finished this book at 4 am, I just couldn't stop reading. I had to know how it all ended.
    The characters are all so vivid and I know I will never forget them. Andrew describes scenes so well, I see the basement in the squat so clearly in my mind. I am a late starter with his novels and I am catching up and I don't want to miss any. Too graphic? Not at all. This is a story about CSI/SOCO's and what they see and deal with every day.
    The Third Rule is a very scary concept. If it was not reliant on human nature and over eager cops it might work.
    Black by Rose is next for me. Can't wait.
  • Hariata Johnson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Still reading it it's very intriguing so far a bit nasty but I need to finish it
    Reviewed in Australia on 10 September 2018
    Havent finished it yet

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