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Special Agent Constant Marlowe
The Rule of Threes
Constant Marlowe follows a serial killer deep into the dark heart of a small town in this riveting novella by Jeffery Deaver, the New York Times bestselling author of The Broken Doll collection and the Colter Shaw series.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe is tasked with taking over the investigation of an obsessed serial killer trolling the small town of Clark Valley in the quiet—and eerie—plains of the Midwest. Two female victims in quick succession, the same brutal MO, and every indication that victim number three is only days away. Also in the killer’s scope is Constant herself. When she interviews a local family who may be potential witnesses, she leads the devil to their doorstep, throwing their lives into chaos. Constant will do anything to protect them, but it won’t be easy. Because nothing in Clark Valley is quite what it seems.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe is tasked with taking over the investigation of an obsessed serial killer trolling the small town of Clark Valley in the quiet—and eerie—plains of the Midwest. Two female victims in quick succession, the same brutal MO, and every indication that victim number three is only days away. Also in the killer’s scope is Constant herself. When she interviews a local family who may be potential witnesses, she leads the devil to their doorstep, throwing their lives into chaos. Constant will do anything to protect them, but it won’t be easy. Because nothing in Clark Valley is quite what it seems.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2024
8113 people are currently reading
2579 people want to read
About the author
Jeffery Deaver
500 books11.7k followers#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He's received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 618 reviews
February 3, 2024
Plot- 3.5 stars though it definitely gets stretchy. Plenty of twists.
BUT
Writing 2.5 oh boy what a laborious style with extraneous detail that sucks the life out of plot. Why in the name of whatever does he keep referring to the central character Constant Marlowe as Constant Marlowe pretty much every time she’s mentioned. Yes, got it her name is CONSTANT MARLOWE.
My rule of three - I’ve read three books by this author now and he ain’t for me. I’m done. Fully accepting I’m an outlier as he’s very popular 🤷♀️
Amazon Prime First Read -February 2024.
BUT
Writing 2.5 oh boy what a laborious style with extraneous detail that sucks the life out of plot. Why in the name of whatever does he keep referring to the central character Constant Marlowe as Constant Marlowe pretty much every time she’s mentioned. Yes, got it her name is CONSTANT MARLOWE.
My rule of three - I’ve read three books by this author now and he ain’t for me. I’m done. Fully accepting I’m an outlier as he’s very popular 🤷♀️
Amazon Prime First Read -February 2024.
March 4, 2024
After reading all 4 short stories from The Broken Dolls Series, I am happy to meet again in this book Special Agent Constant Marlowe who impressed me in the past.
She is arriving in the small town of Clark Valley to help investigate and catch a serial killer who is killing and raping young women.
There is a family of potential witnesses who could see something or not, but they seem in danger and Constant is very protective of them.
The book was very interesting and had a very unusual ending.
Some things were not going as smoothly as in other Jeffery Deaver's books and this lowered my rating only to 4 stars.
She is arriving in the small town of Clark Valley to help investigate and catch a serial killer who is killing and raping young women.
There is a family of potential witnesses who could see something or not, but they seem in danger and Constant is very protective of them.
The book was very interesting and had a very unusual ending.
Some things were not going as smoothly as in other Jeffery Deaver's books and this lowered my rating only to 4 stars.
February 23, 2025
Enticing!
Agent Constant Marlowe is a great detective. She has a great sense of intuition as well as detective skills.
Her detective skills have her on the path of BRK, a brutal serial killer. She is also an excellent detective who can make the BRK into a real piece of work.
Agent Marlowe is working hard to get the job done with the best possible outcome for the victims.
She is working with her partner, Zo Eventide, to find the BRK killer and put him out of business.
This story has a maze of potential endings that spread throughout the last 30% of the story. Just when you think the story has ended one way, it changes up and turns another way.
Around and around it goes.
Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
Agent Constant Marlowe is a great detective. She has a great sense of intuition as well as detective skills.
Her detective skills have her on the path of BRK, a brutal serial killer. She is also an excellent detective who can make the BRK into a real piece of work.
Agent Marlowe is working hard to get the job done with the best possible outcome for the victims.
She is working with her partner, Zo Eventide, to find the BRK killer and put him out of business.
This story has a maze of potential endings that spread throughout the last 30% of the story. Just when you think the story has ended one way, it changes up and turns another way.
Around and around it goes.
Four stars. ✨✨✨✨
February 25, 2024
Bait and Switch, but Write Your Own Ending
Review of the Amazon First Reads Kindle eBook edition (February 1, 2024), released in advance of the official publication by Amazon Original Stories in eBook format & by Audible Originals in audio format (March 1, 2024)
I am usually disappointed with the Amazon First Reads, but by choosing a veteran like Jeffery Deaver this month I thought I could expect a reasonably competent outing. And I'll admit that I was fooled by the setup and when the reveal came at about the 2/3rds mark it came out of left field for me.
Illinois Department of Criminal Investigation special agent Constant (not Constance!) Marlowe comes to a small town to investigate a possible serial killer whose second victim has been discovered. In another POV there is a mysterious character who appears to be psychologically obsessed with the number 3. Mystery person appears to be stalking possible witnesses in the town and then Constant as well.
Meanwhile there is a native treaty settlement afoot which may end up redrawing the local boundaries and a local white supremacist group is possibly working to undermine the situation. Soon Constant and her local Deputy ally face personal attacks and assaults. Is it because of the murderer or the racists?
Even with several of the characters straight out of central casting, i.e. the ultra-competent outsider, the cranky local sheriff, the loyal ally, the creepy stalker, the small town racists, etc. Jeffery Deaver managed to pull off several twists which I had not expected. So not so bad for an Amazon First Read this time.
The reader will have to write their own ending as otherwise there is a significant final development which is left unresolved. This might be due to a planned sequel, which is not otherwise mentioned. An Unsatisfactory Ending Alert™ is required ahead of time so that you will be prepared.
Trivia and Links
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
Review of the Amazon First Reads Kindle eBook edition (February 1, 2024), released in advance of the official publication by Amazon Original Stories in eBook format & by Audible Originals in audio format (March 1, 2024)
He slings the backpack over his shoulder and walks to the door. Three deep breaths. Then outside into the damp end-of-summer day, in which there is nothing to do . . . . . . but get to work and end a life.
I am usually disappointed with the Amazon First Reads, but by choosing a veteran like Jeffery Deaver this month I thought I could expect a reasonably competent outing. And I'll admit that I was fooled by the setup and when the reveal came at about the 2/3rds mark it came out of left field for me.
Illinois Department of Criminal Investigation special agent Constant (not Constance!) Marlowe comes to a small town to investigate a possible serial killer whose second victim has been discovered. In another POV there is a mysterious character who appears to be psychologically obsessed with the number 3. Mystery person appears to be stalking possible witnesses in the town and then Constant as well.
Meanwhile there is a native treaty settlement afoot which may end up redrawing the local boundaries and a local white supremacist group is possibly working to undermine the situation. Soon Constant and her local Deputy ally face personal attacks and assaults. Is it because of the murderer or the racists?
Even with several of the characters straight out of central casting, i.e. the ultra-competent outsider, the cranky local sheriff, the loyal ally, the creepy stalker, the small town racists, etc. Jeffery Deaver managed to pull off several twists which I had not expected. So not so bad for an Amazon First Read this time.
The reader will have to write their own ending as otherwise there is a significant final development which is left unresolved. This might be due to a planned sequel, which is not otherwise mentioned. An Unsatisfactory Ending Alert™ is required ahead of time so that you will be prepared.
Trivia and Links
Amazon Prime First Reads advance reading copies (ARCs) are available to Amazon Prime subscribers. They offer advance reads of books in Kindle eBook format one month before the date of official release. The current month's selection is available here (Link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
February 10, 2024
Huh?
I actually have no idea what I just read. Maybe I’m not smart enough for this book but I didn’t understand it at all.
I actually have no idea what I just read. Maybe I’m not smart enough for this book but I didn’t understand it at all.
September 14, 2025
When I chose this one, I expected a short novella with plenty of twists—a story I could finish and enjoy in an evening. I discovered that although described as a "novella", it was almost book-length, but by the time I discovered this, I was hooked by Jeffrey Deaver's usual plot stratagems and ended up taking two days to read it.
There are two major misdirections in this story, one I liked and one I felt was a bit underhanded. Neither can I describe in further detail without adding a spoiler. I should have read Monnie's review before I started reading; he laid it out in a nutshell, and so I don't need to. ( Monnie's review )
The only thing I would add is that I didn't empathize at all with any of the characters, and especially found Constant Marlowe, the main protagonist, to be unlikeable, so I doubt that I'll read any more books in the Constant Marlowe series. But, the usual Deaver twists and turns did hook me, and kept me reading until the end.
There are two major misdirections in this story, one I liked and one I felt was a bit underhanded. Neither can I describe in further detail without adding a spoiler. I should have read Monnie's review before I started reading; he laid it out in a nutshell, and so I don't need to. ( Monnie's review )
The only thing I would add is that I didn't empathize at all with any of the characters, and especially found Constant Marlowe, the main protagonist, to be unlikeable, so I doubt that I'll read any more books in the Constant Marlowe series. But, the usual Deaver twists and turns did hook me, and kept me reading until the end.
November 18, 2025
For a novella, this is actually quite long. I liked the main character—she’s not weak, and she knows how to put everyone in their place.
Did I like it? It was an OK crime thriller with twists and turns along the way. Nothing is what it seems, and just when you think you’ve figured out who the killer is, you’re wrong, because you were probably looking in all the obvious places.
Overall, Deaver is still one of the greatest.
Did I like it? It was an OK crime thriller with twists and turns along the way. Nothing is what it seems, and just when you think you’ve figured out who the killer is, you’re wrong, because you were probably looking in all the obvious places.
Overall, Deaver is still one of the greatest.
April 21, 2024
4.5★s
The Rule Of Threes is a novella by best-selling American author, Jeffery Deaver. Having completed her current case earlier than expected, Agent Constant Marlowe, an itinerant investigator for the Department of Criminal Investigations for the state of Illinois, heads, on her own initiative, to the town of Clark Valley in Bowen County. Constant has caught wind of what’s being dubbed the BRK, a particularly violent, cold and calculating serial killer.
There are two victims so far, in the space of three days, but trace evidence is scant, and witnesses thin on the ground. The Sheriff initially seems uninterested in talking to her, so she teams up with Deputy Zo Eventide to examine the scene and talk to potential witnesses.
But it seems that some in Clark Valley are unhappy with her presence: Constant manages to hold her own against a pair of thugs in an alley; she’s unconvinced that their apparent beef is her association with the Native American deputy, but she is disturbed by a shooter before she can find out who really sent them.
Constant believes the BRK will strike again soon, and tries to keep those witnesses who are possibly unaware of what they might have seen, safe, but she and Eventide are then targeted by a poorly-informed neo-Nazi angry about a mooted land treaty, barely surviving a road rage incident. Even as trace evidence points to a certain person, further investigation leads them to wonder if they are dealing with more than one perpetrator…
The Bowen County Sheriff’s Office boasts a pair of deputies so in tune they form a very competent whole; a Native American deputy who is seriously underestimated by the Sheriff, and a Sheriff who personally does all his own CSI. Constant also has the capable assistance of her sometime lover, prosecutor Evan Quill, for classified information.
Deaver tells the story via multiple narrators, some of whose narrative might be misleading; there are red herrings and diversions that keep the reader guessing until the massive twist reveals all.
Constant is certainly an interesting protagonist: a talented boxer, a very independent, resourceful and intelligent officer, her dialogue with one stupid villain provides humour, while her unorthodox approach to extracting information will have many cheering her on. Apparently, more of her can be found in Deaver’s Broken Doll collection. A small dose of Deaver at his best.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories
The Rule Of Threes is a novella by best-selling American author, Jeffery Deaver. Having completed her current case earlier than expected, Agent Constant Marlowe, an itinerant investigator for the Department of Criminal Investigations for the state of Illinois, heads, on her own initiative, to the town of Clark Valley in Bowen County. Constant has caught wind of what’s being dubbed the BRK, a particularly violent, cold and calculating serial killer.
There are two victims so far, in the space of three days, but trace evidence is scant, and witnesses thin on the ground. The Sheriff initially seems uninterested in talking to her, so she teams up with Deputy Zo Eventide to examine the scene and talk to potential witnesses.
But it seems that some in Clark Valley are unhappy with her presence: Constant manages to hold her own against a pair of thugs in an alley; she’s unconvinced that their apparent beef is her association with the Native American deputy, but she is disturbed by a shooter before she can find out who really sent them.
Constant believes the BRK will strike again soon, and tries to keep those witnesses who are possibly unaware of what they might have seen, safe, but she and Eventide are then targeted by a poorly-informed neo-Nazi angry about a mooted land treaty, barely surviving a road rage incident. Even as trace evidence points to a certain person, further investigation leads them to wonder if they are dealing with more than one perpetrator…
The Bowen County Sheriff’s Office boasts a pair of deputies so in tune they form a very competent whole; a Native American deputy who is seriously underestimated by the Sheriff, and a Sheriff who personally does all his own CSI. Constant also has the capable assistance of her sometime lover, prosecutor Evan Quill, for classified information.
Deaver tells the story via multiple narrators, some of whose narrative might be misleading; there are red herrings and diversions that keep the reader guessing until the massive twist reveals all.
Constant is certainly an interesting protagonist: a talented boxer, a very independent, resourceful and intelligent officer, her dialogue with one stupid villain provides humour, while her unorthodox approach to extracting information will have many cheering her on. Apparently, more of her can be found in Deaver’s Broken Doll collection. A small dose of Deaver at his best.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories
February 11, 2024
This was my first Jeffery Deaver book and it will be my last. Absolutely ridiculous plot, so far-fetched as to be laughable. And his writing style I found jarring and difficult to follow, often needing to re-read sentences several times to try and understand the gist.
NOT recommended!
NOT recommended!
March 19, 2024
A thrilling ride
Jeffrey Deaver is a great writer of thrilling stories and this one was no disappointment.
Sometimes things aren't what they seem and people aren't what they appear to be. Such is the case in this Novella . Special Agent Constance Marlow and her on the edge technique is a great character in this series.
In a small town she follows a serial killer. But who is it. The ending is a shocking surprise and serial killer lovers will want to read until the final word.
Jeffrey Deaver is a great writer of thrilling stories and this one was no disappointment.
Sometimes things aren't what they seem and people aren't what they appear to be. Such is the case in this Novella . Special Agent Constance Marlow and her on the edge technique is a great character in this series.
In a small town she follows a serial killer. But who is it. The ending is a shocking surprise and serial killer lovers will want to read until the final word.
April 15, 2024
Although I've been aware of Jeffery Deaver's work for decades, I've never gotten around to reading one of his novels so, when Amazon offered his latest (251-page) novella 'The Rule Of Threes' for free, I decided to give it a try.
'The Rule Of Threes' was entertaining in a magic-trick kind of way. My first impression was that it was a conventional but well-done clever cop versus cunning serial killer story with both the cop and the killer being distinctive enough to keep the story fresh. The storytelling valued pace over detail but the dialogue worked well, the action scenes were exciting, the peaceful small-town setting amplified the impact of the violence and the level of tension kept rising.
Towards the middle, I started to realise that this wasn't the conventional story I thought it was going to be. The main investigator wasn't the out-of-towner-who-fearlessly-follows-the-evidence type I'd thought she was. The more I learned about her, the more dangerous and unpredictable she seemed to be. The Sherrif, who'd initially seemed like a central casting version of a grumpy disillusioned middle-aged wannabe-cowboy bully Sherif turned out to the someone quite different. Then something started to feel off about the obsessed-with-things-that-come-in-threes killer and I wondered how Jeffery Deaver was going to pull everything together in such a short time.
Then came the big twist. A twist so big that it almost felt like a cheat. I found myself going "How was I supposed to see that coming?" Then I accepted that this wasn't a book where I was being invited to solve the mystery before the detective did, this was a rollercoaster ride thriller that I had to surrender control to and enjoy the ride. The momentum of the story pushed me forward and dropped me through twist after twist to an ending that I thought was very satisfactory.
'The Rule Of Threes' was entertaining and has left me with an appetite for some more Jeffery Deaver. I think I'll try his most recent books first.
'The Rule Of Threes' was entertaining in a magic-trick kind of way. My first impression was that it was a conventional but well-done clever cop versus cunning serial killer story with both the cop and the killer being distinctive enough to keep the story fresh. The storytelling valued pace over detail but the dialogue worked well, the action scenes were exciting, the peaceful small-town setting amplified the impact of the violence and the level of tension kept rising.
Towards the middle, I started to realise that this wasn't the conventional story I thought it was going to be. The main investigator wasn't the out-of-towner-who-fearlessly-follows-the-evidence type I'd thought she was. The more I learned about her, the more dangerous and unpredictable she seemed to be. The Sherrif, who'd initially seemed like a central casting version of a grumpy disillusioned middle-aged wannabe-cowboy bully Sherif turned out to the someone quite different. Then something started to feel off about the obsessed-with-things-that-come-in-threes killer and I wondered how Jeffery Deaver was going to pull everything together in such a short time.
Then came the big twist. A twist so big that it almost felt like a cheat. I found myself going "How was I supposed to see that coming?" Then I accepted that this wasn't a book where I was being invited to solve the mystery before the detective did, this was a rollercoaster ride thriller that I had to surrender control to and enjoy the ride. The momentum of the story pushed me forward and dropped me through twist after twist to an ending that I thought was very satisfactory.
'The Rule Of Threes' was entertaining and has left me with an appetite for some more Jeffery Deaver. I think I'll try his most recent books first.
March 3, 2024
The Rule of Threes is a novella about a woman who is hunting a serial killer in rural Illinois. There are a few different perspectives that we follow.
I liked this book! It is a novella but it is close to 300 pages so I would consider it a long novella. There were a lot of twists throughout this one. While some of the twists seemed very unlikely, I was surprised by them and I had a good time reading it. We see a lot of the police procedural as well which is interesting to me but I could see some people not liking that. I liked the characters as well. It was fun to read a book set in the state that I live.
This was like a crime show in tv. It was probably unrealistic in parts but I did have a fun time reading it and some of the twists were pretty shocking.
Thanks so much to netgalley and Amazon for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I liked this book! It is a novella but it is close to 300 pages so I would consider it a long novella. There were a lot of twists throughout this one. While some of the twists seemed very unlikely, I was surprised by them and I had a good time reading it. We see a lot of the police procedural as well which is interesting to me but I could see some people not liking that. I liked the characters as well. It was fun to read a book set in the state that I live.
This was like a crime show in tv. It was probably unrealistic in parts but I did have a fun time reading it and some of the twists were pretty shocking.
Thanks so much to netgalley and Amazon for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
February 10, 2024
Started out fine. Writing style ok, but once you pass the halfway mark, not only do you have an unreliable narrator situation, but later get the biggest bunch of ridiculous junk just thrown out there. And the ending was a non ending. Not good.
February 12, 2024
Not a novella, at 260 pages it's maybe a short novel, but still felt a bit too long. The basic trope is the serial killer vs cop cat-and-mouse thriller. I'd say it's your middling quality airplane or beach read with a complement of cardboard characters. Something to pass the time but immediately forget once you're done. Throw in a bit of woke blather and the obligatory hate group reference and there you go. I got bored at 40%, jumped to 80% to finish up the story and thought the twist was okay, but it didn't end satisfactorily - the cat and mouse evidently have another book coming up to chase each other in. 2.5 stars.
October 10, 2025
Jeffrey Deaver has always interested me with his short stories, though I have never tackled a full-length novel by the author. After recently reading a collection of Deaver short stories, I discovered one of the characters has their own branch-off short series, a novel and novella to date. Department of Criminal Investigation Special Agent Constant Marlowe has been busy since being a part of the Broken Doll investigation. She is sent to help a small Illinois community with a serial killer investigation. After two young victims are killed in close succession, the third appears to be only days away. Working alongside an independent deputy, Marlowe begins exploring some potential witness statements. This puts chum in the water and leads the killer to a family's doorstep, only to create additional chaos in Clark Valley. Someone lurking in the shadows has a plan, though their addiction to things being in groups of three makes them stand out like a sore thumb. As Constant Marlowe soon learns, nothing is quite as it seems in this town and no one is to be completely trusted. Deaver intrigues me with this piece and has me eager to read the novella that follows.
I have always found Jeffery Deaver to be a great storyteller, able to handle the progression of a story and captivate the reader. Deaver lays the groundwork from the outset and keeps the tension high from thereon in. As the story gains momentum, the reader finds themselves caught in a web and needing to know how things will resolve themselves. There is no time to breathe, as things get addictive before long.
Characters work well to keep the reader hooked. Constant Marlowe intrigued me in the short story collection Deaver created earlier and I was pleased to find more with her in the protagonist's chair. Others help complement the mysterious aspects of this book and left me needing more, though I am sure only some will return in the novella. All those who appear in this piece create their own pathways and provide the reader something that helps direct them through the larger story.
Plot points work to surprise the reader from the opening pages. As Deaver offers up multiple perspectives, the reader can see how things occur on both sides and the slow inching forward of both the killer and Constant Marlowe. There is a tension in the numerous twists, something that adds to the story and provides an exciting aspect to this piece. I am eager to see how the novella that follows will serve to bridge with this piece, or whether it is simply another installation of Constant Marlowe and her quirky nature.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for this gripping story.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I have always found Jeffery Deaver to be a great storyteller, able to handle the progression of a story and captivate the reader. Deaver lays the groundwork from the outset and keeps the tension high from thereon in. As the story gains momentum, the reader finds themselves caught in a web and needing to know how things will resolve themselves. There is no time to breathe, as things get addictive before long.
Characters work well to keep the reader hooked. Constant Marlowe intrigued me in the short story collection Deaver created earlier and I was pleased to find more with her in the protagonist's chair. Others help complement the mysterious aspects of this book and left me needing more, though I am sure only some will return in the novella. All those who appear in this piece create their own pathways and provide the reader something that helps direct them through the larger story.
Plot points work to surprise the reader from the opening pages. As Deaver offers up multiple perspectives, the reader can see how things occur on both sides and the slow inching forward of both the killer and Constant Marlowe. There is a tension in the numerous twists, something that adds to the story and provides an exciting aspect to this piece. I am eager to see how the novella that follows will serve to bridge with this piece, or whether it is simply another installation of Constant Marlowe and her quirky nature.
Kudos, Mr. Deaver, for this gripping story.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 7, 2024
The Rule of Threes by Jeffery Deaver
260-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Crime Thriller
Featuring: Colored Map of Bowman County, Illinois; September, Dates & Times, Serial Killer, Multiple POVs, Family Drama, Detectives, Racism, Broken Doll series Advertisement
Rating as a movie: R for adult content
Songs for the soundtrack: "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart [Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute]
Books Mentioned: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Joe Millard
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½📏📐3️⃣
My thoughts: 🔖Page 20 of 260 Chapter 4 - I just realized I've been spelling his name wrong, it's Jeffery and I've been writing Jeffrey trusting autocorrect. 🤦🏾♀️I recognize Constant Marlowe from the Broken Doll series. I thought over 250 pages wasn't a novella but I let it go, he spins a good tale, but it's too late for me, after 1 a.m.
🔖83 Chapter 15 - This is interesting, it seems like I'm in the data-gathering portion of the story and the real plot will be revealed later, otherwise it's classic cat & mouse.
This was a basic crime thriller with a police procedural foundation, not predictable but not mind-blowing either. It was a bit hard to follow at parts as it frequently changed POVs and used a lot of answer keys but overall it was good and would make a nice movie. I discovered he previously wrote as Jeffery Wilds Deaver.
Recommend to others: Sure. Deaver hasn't disappointed me yet.
260-page Kindle Ebook
Genre: Crime Thriller
Featuring: Colored Map of Bowman County, Illinois; September, Dates & Times, Serial Killer, Multiple POVs, Family Drama, Detectives, Racism, Broken Doll series Advertisement
Rating as a movie: R for adult content
Songs for the soundtrack: "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart [Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute]
Books Mentioned: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly by Joe Millard
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½📏📐3️⃣
My thoughts: 🔖Page 20 of 260 Chapter 4 - I just realized I've been spelling his name wrong, it's Jeffery and I've been writing Jeffrey trusting autocorrect. 🤦🏾♀️I recognize Constant Marlowe from the Broken Doll series. I thought over 250 pages wasn't a novella but I let it go, he spins a good tale, but it's too late for me, after 1 a.m.
🔖83 Chapter 15 - This is interesting, it seems like I'm in the data-gathering portion of the story and the real plot will be revealed later, otherwise it's classic cat & mouse.
This was a basic crime thriller with a police procedural foundation, not predictable but not mind-blowing either. It was a bit hard to follow at parts as it frequently changed POVs and used a lot of answer keys but overall it was good and would make a nice movie. I discovered he previously wrote as Jeffery Wilds Deaver.
Recommend to others: Sure. Deaver hasn't disappointed me yet.
April 19, 2025
It’s been awhile since I read a Jeffery Deaver book. I was an avid fan on his Kathryn Dance series so when I saw this book featured a female protagonist then I wanted to see how it compared. This author was his typical very twist self. It’s very difficult to figure out his perp and plot so it’s almost like being on an amusement park ride and you just let it take you from start to finish. For me, I prefer most reads to be a little more fair to try to figure out the perp but I’ve accepted his books for what they are. I thought it was pretty similar to a Kathryn Dance book so I now wonder why she fizzled away. I believe this is a trilogy so I will start the next one on audio soon to see what this somewhat intriguing protagonist is up to next.
March 14, 2024
Given an ending that left me bewildered, a rather unrelatable main character and a plot I'd describe as disjointed, I'm almost surprised that overall I enjoyed reading this so-called novella - the latter a description I also don't understand since it's only a few pages shorter than many of the books I read these days. But aside from all that, while it's far from my favorite book by one of my favorite authors, the "stuff" in between the covers was enticing enough to keep me flipping through the pages almost nonstop. And yep, he's still a favorite author.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe - yes, you read that first name right - comes to Illinois small-town Clark Valley to commandeer an investigation into the brutal murders of a couple of local women. Not surprisingly, I spent a quite a bit of reading time wondering who on earth would give a name like that to a child, but I never found out (apparently, there are a few earlier books that include her in which it may have been explained, but I've not read them). Also not surprisingly, the local tobacco-chewing Sheriff resents her presence - don't they always? There's a contingent of Native Americans living in the area, one of whom, Zo Eventide, works with the sheriff and, partly because she's a female with a fierce sense of justice and fairness, forms an immediate bond with Constant.
Also in the mix is a group of neo-Nazis, who mostly keep to themselves; but at the moment, they're at a standoff with the aforesaid Native Americans over ownership of a plot of land. For whatever reason, Constant finds herself in the middle of that brouhaha as well - as if she doesn't have enough to do trying to track down a killer who leaves precious few clues. At least she can hold her own physically; she's been a professional boxer, and I have to say some of the scenes in which that comes into play are satisfying.
One local family (a husband, wife, daughter and son plus an older son who mysteriously went missing) become the focus because they were in the same area of the park as one of the murders at the same time and thus may have seen things they shouldn't have (even though they say they didn't). The hope is the killer will return to eliminate the potential witnesses and the cops will nab him (or her) before that happens.
There are several surprises along the way, keeping the story moving along - right up to that ending that I still don't "get." But I do know I'll be keeping a constant lookout for the next Constant - I can't say she'd ever be my BFF, but she sure is an interesting character. Many thanks to NetGalley, via the publisher, for the opportunity to get to know her by way of a for-review copy.
Special Agent Constant Marlowe - yes, you read that first name right - comes to Illinois small-town Clark Valley to commandeer an investigation into the brutal murders of a couple of local women. Not surprisingly, I spent a quite a bit of reading time wondering who on earth would give a name like that to a child, but I never found out (apparently, there are a few earlier books that include her in which it may have been explained, but I've not read them). Also not surprisingly, the local tobacco-chewing Sheriff resents her presence - don't they always? There's a contingent of Native Americans living in the area, one of whom, Zo Eventide, works with the sheriff and, partly because she's a female with a fierce sense of justice and fairness, forms an immediate bond with Constant.
Also in the mix is a group of neo-Nazis, who mostly keep to themselves; but at the moment, they're at a standoff with the aforesaid Native Americans over ownership of a plot of land. For whatever reason, Constant finds herself in the middle of that brouhaha as well - as if she doesn't have enough to do trying to track down a killer who leaves precious few clues. At least she can hold her own physically; she's been a professional boxer, and I have to say some of the scenes in which that comes into play are satisfying.
One local family (a husband, wife, daughter and son plus an older son who mysteriously went missing) become the focus because they were in the same area of the park as one of the murders at the same time and thus may have seen things they shouldn't have (even though they say they didn't). The hope is the killer will return to eliminate the potential witnesses and the cops will nab him (or her) before that happens.
There are several surprises along the way, keeping the story moving along - right up to that ending that I still don't "get." But I do know I'll be keeping a constant lookout for the next Constant - I can't say she'd ever be my BFF, but she sure is an interesting character. Many thanks to NetGalley, via the publisher, for the opportunity to get to know her by way of a for-review copy.
February 5, 2024
Too many red herrings
There were so many red herrings in the novella that it required two chapters of exposition to tie the stories together. Constant is an interesting but 2-dimensional character. The real star of the novel is Sheriff Tremain. Write a series for him and I'll pre-order the first bok as soon as it drops.
4 stars because it's still better than most mysteries out there.
There were so many red herrings in the novella that it required two chapters of exposition to tie the stories together. Constant is an interesting but 2-dimensional character. The real star of the novel is Sheriff Tremain. Write a series for him and I'll pre-order the first bok as soon as it drops.
4 stars because it's still better than most mysteries out there.
July 30, 2024
Ehhh 2.5
The plot was good and there were decent twists but..
Not enough to be a solid 3. There was something about the story that made it boring for me. I thought it took too long to develop and the two “cases” didn’t really coincide with each other, although it involved the two main female characters. It was a quick read though, despite it taking so long for me to actually finish it. I’m not sure how many times I “picked the book up” (being I read it in the kindle app) but it took about 3 hours to get through.
The plot was good and there were decent twists but..
Not enough to be a solid 3. There was something about the story that made it boring for me. I thought it took too long to develop and the two “cases” didn’t really coincide with each other, although it involved the two main female characters. It was a quick read though, despite it taking so long for me to actually finish it. I’m not sure how many times I “picked the book up” (being I read it in the kindle app) but it took about 3 hours to get through.
December 22, 2024
I wanted to finish this to see if I was going to miss a twist at the end, something to make me like this book. But no. I thought this was boring, predicted the twist too early and the ending too vague without wanting me to read another book in the same timeline. The biggest ick is this writing. MY GOD. I had to reread sections over and over because i have no clue what he’s saying because the writing is so awkward
July 25, 2024
I enjoyed this book. I like the author’s style and his ability to relate secondary stories to the main storyline. Of course, it’s ending left an opening for another book, or for those with imagination creating their own. Loved his characters, especially Sheriff Tremain and Constant Marlowe. I would recommend this novella. 3.5 stars.
July 30, 2024
Once I started reading I didn't want to put it down. The ending didn't give enough closure. Must be part of a series.
March 21, 2024
After making her debut in Jeffrey Deaver's The Broken Doll series, his latest, amazing character Constant Marlowe returns in a longer novella that sees her taking on a serial killer in a small Illinois community. I really enjoyed the shorts that she previously appeared in, and the way they twisted your perception of the events. The Rule of Threes does the exact same thing but on a larger scale. I will be the first to admit that he (Deaver) got me again, as I was taking everything at face value even though he tricked me before. I gave some serious thought to starting on page one and rereading the whole thing knowing the ending. Highly recommended and here's hoping we see Constant Marlowe again soon.
Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
November 19, 2024
For as short as it is, it's still too long. The pacing is really weird, even the quick bits feel slow. The story is probably a little overly convoluted. And no characters are particularly interesting.
Having said that, it's not bad, by any means.
Having said that, it's not bad, by any means.
February 9, 2024
Constant Marlowe is hunting for a killer who has beaten and raped a young woman.
She takes over the case from the local sheriff and comes into contact with a few hostile locals.
There was something missing for me in this story as it didn’t really hold my attention.
She takes over the case from the local sheriff and comes into contact with a few hostile locals.
There was something missing for me in this story as it didn’t really hold my attention.
March 14, 2024
This is a novella based on the Constant Marlowe character. It is an interesting and quick with an unusual plot twist and an ending that definitely sets up a sequel novella or book.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.
January 27, 2025
Fast paced read and a few surprises. Liked that this book was based in the Midwest and the new character is a tough no nonsense woman similar to the Colter Shaw character but she plays for law enforcement.
August 13, 2024
Fun action short
I haven’t read anything by this author in ages, but this one was free on Prime. Well worth your time, twisty, fun mystery with interesting characters. Not sure how I feel about Constant, yet. But, she is a badass, and the boys can’t have all the muscle in this genre. Give it a read!
I haven’t read anything by this author in ages, but this one was free on Prime. Well worth your time, twisty, fun mystery with interesting characters. Not sure how I feel about Constant, yet. But, she is a badass, and the boys can’t have all the muscle in this genre. Give it a read!
March 8, 2024
This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!
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