Book Review - The Third Rule: Running Scared by Andrew Barrett

This is the second book in the author's 'The Third Rule' trilogy. I enjoyed the first book, but this sequel manages to better that excellent read into something special. For me the setting provides an interesting backdrop and motivation for the story. It's a dystopian future that unlike many such stories is scarily plausible at times.

The story follows three main threads. My favourite is the artist and his girlfriend living in a squat with their infant child. This thread is a grim view of life in this new Britain and is the grittiest of the threads. There's a revelation in here that I found quite shocking as well as heartbreaking.

Another thread follows a police scene of crimes officer that on the face of it seems like a cliche with his grief and his problems after the death of his sun. I say on the face of it, because the author carefully steers the character from being a familiar to a person with some depth. His interaction with his ex-wife and his closest friend provide some interesting scenes. There's also an element of mystery here and in one of the final scenes this character really shines.

The final thread concerns the covering up of a crime and they provide the menace that is felt throughout the book. In all cases the author excels at putting you inside the characters' heads, so you feel what they feel. I tend to prefer a minimalist approach for this introspection, but the author nails it and I was completely enthralled.

Overall this is a superb thriller that focuses on the characters and well worth checking out.

Click on image to buy from Amazon

Part Two of The Third Rule: Running Scared.

You’re still alive until you meet The Third Rule.

England. New System. New Rules. Old Corruption. While England struggles with demonstrations and riots against conveyor belt justice, artist and burglar Christian Ledger finds himself on the run from a Rule Three charge. Meanwhile CSI Eddie Collins and reporter Mick Lyndon unlock a disturbing truth that could cost them their very lives. But a relentless and corrupt government is closing in on all three of them…

“If you want to kill serious crime, you have to kill serious criminals.”
Sir George Deacon, Minster of Justice.

Click here to buy The Third Rule: Running Scared from Amazon (and it's a quality read!)