What do you think?
Rate this book
Three Reasons for Revenge
Not yet published
Expected 4 Jun 26From the internationally bestselling author of THE MURDER RULE comes a new compelling story of gripping suspense – pre-order now!
Someone’s been watching. Someone’s been waiting.
Alexis Turner walks into the police station to report an assault. By the end of the day, she is nowhere to be found.
Soon after she disappears, three identical packages arrive at three very different a respected psychologist's home, a socialite's mansion, and a struggling single father's run-down apartment. Inside, each gift is perfectly tailored to its recipient — and each will tear apart the life of its intended victim.
Detective Sergeant Judith Lee is smart and experienced, but this is no ordinary case. Someone with intimate knowledge of their targets is orchestrating these attacks. Someone who knows exactly how to hurt each victim where they're most vulnerable. And she’s convinced that somehow, it connects back to Alexis Turner.
As she races to uncover the connection between four seemingly unrelated people, Judith discovers she's no longer just investigating the game – she's being forced to play.
Someone’s been watching. Someone’s been waiting.
Alexis Turner walks into the police station to report an assault. By the end of the day, she is nowhere to be found.
Soon after she disappears, three identical packages arrive at three very different a respected psychologist's home, a socialite's mansion, and a struggling single father's run-down apartment. Inside, each gift is perfectly tailored to its recipient — and each will tear apart the life of its intended victim.
Detective Sergeant Judith Lee is smart and experienced, but this is no ordinary case. Someone with intimate knowledge of their targets is orchestrating these attacks. Someone who knows exactly how to hurt each victim where they're most vulnerable. And she’s convinced that somehow, it connects back to Alexis Turner.
As she races to uncover the connection between four seemingly unrelated people, Judith discovers she's no longer just investigating the game – she's being forced to play.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 4, 2026
7 people are currently reading
579 people want to read
About the author
Dervla McTiernan
14 books5,328 followersNumber one internationally bestselling author Dervla McTiernan is the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of six novels, including the much-loved Cormac Reilly series and two number 1 bestselling standalone thrillers, The Murder Rule and What Happened to Nina?, both New York Times Best Thrillers of the Year and both currently in development for screen adaptation. Dervla is also the author of four novellas, and her audio novella, The Sisters, was a four-week number one bestseller in the United States. Before turning her hand to writing, Dervla spent twelve years working as a lawyer in her home country of Ireland. Following the global financial crisis, she relocated to Western Australia where she now lives with her husband, two children and too many pets.
**CLICK ON DERVLA'S WEBSITE LINK ABOVE TO SIGN UP FOR DIRECT EMAILS FROM DERVLA WITH BOOK NEWS AND CHAT**
**CLICK ON DERVLA'S WEBSITE LINK ABOVE TO SIGN UP FOR DIRECT EMAILS FROM DERVLA WITH BOOK NEWS AND CHAT**
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an absolutely stunning, heart-pounding page-turner featuring the worst kind of evil perpetrator — the kind that lingers in your mind long after you close the book and can genuinely haunt your dreams. I devoured it in just three sittings! Honestly, it could have been even faster, but some chapters hit me so hard emotionally that I had to pause and recover. One particular death made me gasp — I actually screamed. That’s how deeply it affected me.
I don’t think I can ever say no to another Judith Lee novel again. Even though the author is best known for the DI Cormac Reilly series (which I shamefully haven’t read yet!), I immediately added it to my TBR. My TBR, by the way, is expanding at such an alarming rate that I might need a support group. Who needs Ozempic when your bookshelf is swelling daily with irresistible new titles? One book a day is simply not fast enough anymore — I need to invent new ways to read more hours in a day!
I previously read What Happened to Nina?, the author’s brilliant standalone that instantly made her an auto-buy author for me. So of course, I jumped at the chance to read this one as soon as possible. And I loved it — even though parts of it are deeply triggering and traumatic. This is not an easy read emotionally, but it is an unforgettable one.
I was immediately hooked by the concept and the fast-paced mystery as it unfolded. The tension builds steadily, and the stakes feel terrifyingly real. I will say I slightly preferred the first half — it had me completely captivated. In Elsa’s storyline, there were moments with extended influencer/fashion/money-making dialogue that slowed the momentum for me personally, and I found myself thinking, “Okay, let’s get back to the core mystery.” But thankfully, the final act more than made up for it. The explosive action, the dramatic revelations, and the powerful ending were executed perfectly. The payoff was absolutely worth it.
Now, let me tell you a bit about the story:
Everything begins when young Alexis Turner walks into a police station to report that she has been sexually assaulted by a psychologist highly recommended by her college friend. She bravely shares a detailed account of what happened. DI Judith Lee is already entangled in a separate case involving a corrupt cop whose powerful father is doing everything possible to protect his son’s reputation — while simultaneously trying to destroy Judith’s. Assault cases are not typically Judith’s responsibility, but she makes an exception. Ten years earlier, another woman reported being assaulted by a man with the same name — and Judith has never forgotten that failure. This time, she is determined to make things right.
Meanwhile, Robert Walker — a famous psychologist married to a well-known TV anchor — receives a mysterious package containing a cryptic note and a video recording of one of his private séances. The atmosphere grows darker. Secrets begin to surface.
Judith is determined to bring him to justice. But when she tries to reconnect with Alexis, she discovers that Alexis has vanished into thin air. Was Alexis ever her real name? Soon, two other people receive similar packages: Jack Miller, a single father and insurance adjuster, and his close friend Elsa Anderson, a work-from-home mother of two. Then a bloody tragedy ties them all together.
Who is targeting them? What is the connection? And why does it feel like someone is also targeting Judith herself, pulling her into a dangerous and deeply personal cat-and-mouse game?
To survive — and to win — Judith must confront her own dark past and face one of the most chilling adversaries she has ever encountered. This is a battle of intellect, endurance, and emotional strength — and the final confrontation is both satisfying and deeply unsettling.
Overall, this was a gripping, stunning, emotionally intense read. Judith Lee is one of the most layered and complex characters I’ve encountered recently, and I am absolutely looking forward to reading more of her investigations.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a digital copy of this unputdownable thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.
This one will stay with me for a long time.
medium.com
instagram
facebook
twitter
I don’t think I can ever say no to another Judith Lee novel again. Even though the author is best known for the DI Cormac Reilly series (which I shamefully haven’t read yet!), I immediately added it to my TBR. My TBR, by the way, is expanding at such an alarming rate that I might need a support group. Who needs Ozempic when your bookshelf is swelling daily with irresistible new titles? One book a day is simply not fast enough anymore — I need to invent new ways to read more hours in a day!
I previously read What Happened to Nina?, the author’s brilliant standalone that instantly made her an auto-buy author for me. So of course, I jumped at the chance to read this one as soon as possible. And I loved it — even though parts of it are deeply triggering and traumatic. This is not an easy read emotionally, but it is an unforgettable one.
I was immediately hooked by the concept and the fast-paced mystery as it unfolded. The tension builds steadily, and the stakes feel terrifyingly real. I will say I slightly preferred the first half — it had me completely captivated. In Elsa’s storyline, there were moments with extended influencer/fashion/money-making dialogue that slowed the momentum for me personally, and I found myself thinking, “Okay, let’s get back to the core mystery.” But thankfully, the final act more than made up for it. The explosive action, the dramatic revelations, and the powerful ending were executed perfectly. The payoff was absolutely worth it.
Now, let me tell you a bit about the story:
Everything begins when young Alexis Turner walks into a police station to report that she has been sexually assaulted by a psychologist highly recommended by her college friend. She bravely shares a detailed account of what happened. DI Judith Lee is already entangled in a separate case involving a corrupt cop whose powerful father is doing everything possible to protect his son’s reputation — while simultaneously trying to destroy Judith’s. Assault cases are not typically Judith’s responsibility, but she makes an exception. Ten years earlier, another woman reported being assaulted by a man with the same name — and Judith has never forgotten that failure. This time, she is determined to make things right.
Meanwhile, Robert Walker — a famous psychologist married to a well-known TV anchor — receives a mysterious package containing a cryptic note and a video recording of one of his private séances. The atmosphere grows darker. Secrets begin to surface.
Judith is determined to bring him to justice. But when she tries to reconnect with Alexis, she discovers that Alexis has vanished into thin air. Was Alexis ever her real name? Soon, two other people receive similar packages: Jack Miller, a single father and insurance adjuster, and his close friend Elsa Anderson, a work-from-home mother of two. Then a bloody tragedy ties them all together.
Who is targeting them? What is the connection? And why does it feel like someone is also targeting Judith herself, pulling her into a dangerous and deeply personal cat-and-mouse game?
To survive — and to win — Judith must confront her own dark past and face one of the most chilling adversaries she has ever encountered. This is a battle of intellect, endurance, and emotional strength — and the final confrontation is both satisfying and deeply unsettling.
Overall, this was a gripping, stunning, emotionally intense read. Judith Lee is one of the most layered and complex characters I’ve encountered recently, and I am absolutely looking forward to reading more of her investigations.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a digital copy of this unputdownable thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.
This one will stay with me for a long time.
medium.com
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Judith is a detective sergeant in Melbourne, and the story opens with her interviewing Alexis, a student who claims her therapist sexually assaulted her. Then the therapist is found dead, and further murders follow. There was a lot going on here: Judith was involved in the gathering of evidence against a violent and corrupt fellow officer before the timeline of the plot, and that has repercussions throughout the book. There are also sections from the perspectives of other characters, and I felt that some of these were more effective than others: Vanessa, the therapist's wife sort of faded out, and in other cases these sections mean the narrative went back in time and recapped events from the new perspective, which slowed the pace of the story.
There was a pervading sense of dread throughout ,and the plot as a whole was dark, but I found the solution to the mystery and the explanation of the perpetrator's actions to be convincing. I wish the Melbourne setting had been stronger.
Judith is a detective sergeant in Melbourne, and the story opens with her interviewing Alexis, a student who claims her therapist sexually assaulted her. Then the therapist is found dead, and further murders follow. There was a lot going on here: Judith was involved in the gathering of evidence against a violent and corrupt fellow officer before the timeline of the plot, and that has repercussions throughout the book. There are also sections from the perspectives of other characters, and I felt that some of these were more effective than others: Vanessa, the therapist's wife sort of faded out, and in other cases these sections mean the narrative went back in time and recapped events from the new perspective, which slowed the pace of the story.
There was a pervading sense of dread throughout ,and the plot as a whole was dark, but I found the solution to the mystery and the explanation of the perpetrator's actions to be convincing. I wish the Melbourne setting had been stronger.
February 14, 2026
I loved the author’s previous two novels so was absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to read Three Reasons for Revenge. It’s set in Melbourne and begins with Detective Judith Lee interviewing a student who has reported an assault by a therapist. After this introduction the novel doesn’t follow a straightforward narrative as there are various plot strands told from different points of view and so I wondered where the story was going. However it didn’t take long for me to be completely consumed by the various twists and turns of this gripping thriller and I raced through it over the course of 24 hours. This is such a clever thriller that takes the reader on a roller coaster ride, allowing you to gradually piece it together.
Excellent and highly recommended.
4.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
Excellent and highly recommended.
4.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dervla McTernan is a must read writer for me. I particularly loved the Cormac O’Reilly series so it’s great to see Dervla back in police procedural territory - this time just around the corner in Melbourne. Judith Lee is a compelling protagonist - flawed, tenacious and humane. Judith is a police detective with a tragic and complex backstory. The story is told in multiple voices and each is handled deftly. The stories of these imperfect but relatable characters build with the unfolding of the mystery. Three Reasons for Revenge is very much set in our world with its problems such as gender based violence, workplace harrassment and trauma. I hope very much this is the start of a series: I’d definitely like to hang out some more with Judith and it feels as if this world is one in which there are many more mysteries to be solved.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this one I could not put it down and read it in 2 sittings! I loved Judith as a character a strong woman would have loved this to had been a series about her. This was fast paced and really kept me on edge! The twists !! Wow the whole reason why so well thought out and executed brilliant!
The character were interesting and realistic. I liked how it all tied up at the end was an amazing thriller !!
The character were interesting and realistic. I liked how it all tied up at the end was an amazing thriller !!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was good.
It had a strong female lead with a decent amount of baggage, and a few issues, and had her be the champion of the whole book
Things slot nicely into place without too much drawing out.
Great tension and pacing, and even though you think you know what's happening, it's still got a surprise or two for you.
Very very enjoyable.
I'm not sure if I want to see more of Judith, or just be happy with this one excellent outing.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.
It had a strong female lead with a decent amount of baggage, and a few issues, and had her be the champion of the whole book
Things slot nicely into place without too much drawing out.
Great tension and pacing, and even though you think you know what's happening, it's still got a surprise or two for you.
Very very enjoyable.
I'm not sure if I want to see more of Judith, or just be happy with this one excellent outing.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews