The Rule by David Jackson

The Rule by David Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 336

Publisher -

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

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.

Daniel will be twenty-three next week. And he 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. They know that 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.


My Review

Daniel is a gentle giant, early twenties and a big guy, a child in a mans body who has no idea of his own strength. As a result his mum and dad have made The Rule, Daniel must never break it because people get hurt when he does. When Daniel accidentally kills a man his parents do what any good parent does, they remove all traces of the crime but can you ever truly remove all traces of a crime?

Aw bless Daniel, he is just a sweet vulnerable adult who is sadly a target and his parents will always try and protect him, who wouldn't. They live in a not too good part of town and sadly with Daniel's vulnerability and size he is a beacon for trouble, that is his innocent inability to be anything other than truthful.

The book splits between the officer investigating and trying to get over her own personal tragedy but also a target, from those on the other side of the law and a potential scapegoat in her workplace.

The opening chapter is a belter and I think will stay with me for a while. The book, whilst being a crime/investigation/coping with the aftermath type it also looks at the personal side and after affects of the characters traumas, a huge central theme. Daniel from the murder and how it affects his parents, Hannah the officer who has trauma from a work event, a personal loss and so much emotion from it all.

Daniel is a wee soul, he has learning difficulties, he is vulnerable and such a sweet gentle giant I think how Jackson brought everything to play, the interactions of the characters and I don't think bonds is the right word but how they impacted upon each other. One incident can have life altering reach and this is the case for pretty much every character in the book. The characters personal journey(s) - all very different - and how they develop, evolve and cope with things thrust upon them that you really struggle to imagine. I will never look at a toilet brush quite the same way again that is for sure, boak.

I was hooked and wanted to see where it would play out. I think his books are standalones but I would quite like to see more from Hannah, she is quite a layered character. 4/5 for me - it has action, murder, shady dodgy folk, actions and consequences and prompts the old what would you do if it was you or yours, one incident changing your life as you know it. I have another of Jackson's on my tbrm so looking forward to that.

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