But the more Hannah learns, the less her mother’s story seems to withstand scrutiny.

The narrative alternates between Hannah’s present-day exploits and entries from her mother’s journal, which she discovered at the age of fourteen the latter-which spurred Hannah’s eventual involvement in the Innocence Project-chronicles Laura’s star-crossed summer romance with a wealthy collegiate (during which Hannah was conceived) and the circumstances surrounding his death. With the raising of questions and shifting of loyalties, one thing becomes markedly clear: Hannah isn’t the only one with secrets to protect. Consequently, subtle doubts begin to undermine Hannah’s presumption of Dandridge’s guilt (not to mention the wisdom of her master plan).

Reinvestigating the case together-the rape and murder of Sarah Fitzhugh, eleven years prior-with the benefit of hindsight allows for new perspectives and possibilities that conflict with the official version of events. It’s manipulation pure and simple-but what’s her motive?Īs Hannah’s involvement in Dandridge’s defense deepens, so does an unexpected sense of camaraderie with the other law students, Sean and Camilla. And while everybody else is working tirelessly to exonerate the client, Hannah’s primary goal is to sabotage his chance at freedom. Despite being a newbie, Hannah manages to secure a position on his team when one of the student members is conveniently called away for a job interview. There, she hopes to join the school’s esteemed Innocence Project program, which is currently representing convicted killer Michael Dandridge. This May, she unleashes her first full-length standalone, The Murder Rule, which is in development as a major television series at FX.Īs the book opens, third-year law student, Hannah Rokeby, is in the midst of transferring from Orono, Maine-where she lives with her alcohol-dependent mother, Laura-to the University of Virginia. This body of work has earned her multiple accolades including a Ned Kelly Award, Davitt Awards, a Barry Award, and an International Thriller Writers Award. A #1 internationally bestselling author, Dervla-a former lawyer born in Ireland who now makes her home in Australia-has written three novels in the Cormac Reilly series ( The Ruin, The Scholar, and The Good Turn) as well as the Audible Original novella, The Sisters. American readers may not be familiar with the name Dervla McTiernan-but that’s about to change.

The marlow murders book