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The Rule of Three
That’s the one.
That’s the girl who’s going to die.
I didn’t believe in the Rule of Three. Not at first.
It was just one of those urban myths you hear about all the time.
A story my boyfriend told me about a girl cursed by the number three.
A girl whose parents had killed themselves after her sibling had died in an accident.
Which meant that she was doomed to die too because that’s the Rule of Three.
Bad things always happen in threes, they say, and they are right.
Because it’s happening again.
But this time the curse is coming for me.
And worst of all?
It’s coming for you, too.
That’s the girl who’s going to die.
I didn’t believe in the Rule of Three. Not at first.
It was just one of those urban myths you hear about all the time.
A story my boyfriend told me about a girl cursed by the number three.
A girl whose parents had killed themselves after her sibling had died in an accident.
Which meant that she was doomed to die too because that’s the Rule of Three.
Bad things always happen in threes, they say, and they are right.
Because it’s happening again.
But this time the curse is coming for me.
And worst of all?
It’s coming for you, too.
432 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2024
172 people are currently reading
10010 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 520 reviews
July 18, 2024
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Bad things always happen in threes, they say, and they are right.
Okay, I gotta say it, this book was awful. It was really slow going and not in a good way. It was slow going in a confusing and boring way. I liked the premise and that's why I requested it plus I love a good horror tale, especially when murder is afoot. But to me, the writing style felt very young adult. I don't mind YA when it's done well but the characters in this one were irritating. It wasn't easy to feel any sympathy for them. The plotlines jumped around too much for me to get a connection.
There are three storylines in the book and not one of them felt authentic so it was difficult to get absorbed into their tales of woe. They were all so dumb even for young characters. If you like young adult horror tales like those in the 80s and 90s with teenagers doing remarkably stupid things this may be the book for you. I know these types of books and movies have a cult following but I just felt frustrated. The book didn't work for me on a multitude of levels and the ending was unsatisfying but I do see there being a niche for this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
Bad things always happen in threes, they say, and they are right.
Okay, I gotta say it, this book was awful. It was really slow going and not in a good way. It was slow going in a confusing and boring way. I liked the premise and that's why I requested it plus I love a good horror tale, especially when murder is afoot. But to me, the writing style felt very young adult. I don't mind YA when it's done well but the characters in this one were irritating. It wasn't easy to feel any sympathy for them. The plotlines jumped around too much for me to get a connection.
There are three storylines in the book and not one of them felt authentic so it was difficult to get absorbed into their tales of woe. They were all so dumb even for young characters. If you like young adult horror tales like those in the 80s and 90s with teenagers doing remarkably stupid things this may be the book for you. I know these types of books and movies have a cult following but I just felt frustrated. The book didn't work for me on a multitude of levels and the ending was unsatisfying but I do see there being a niche for this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
June 9, 2023
3.5 rounded down
Bad things happen in threes. Urban legend or the truth? Amy is a tortured soul, who wouldn’t be in her shoes as her sister is killed and then her parents die together - is she next? The story is told in three narratives over twenty years by Amy, Ila and Eve.
I think the premise of this horror/thriller is a really good one though initially it’s very confusing and slow with the storytelling going round and round the houses. However, I guess if we found ourselves in this unenviable situation then this is quite possibly what our own thoughts would do. The three narratives are a good contrast to each other and the deeper you get into the novel there’s an escalating uneasy and unsettled vibe with all three characters becoming increasingly paranoid. At times it’s very creepy, you almost want to look over your own shoulder yet conversely there’s a sense of unreality. Amy and Eve’s perspectives work the best for me, Ila’s is less convincing and there’s something very yukky in her narrative. It’s in Eves story that the twists come and some of those are very good. The ending appears to be unresolved which is pretty freaky!
On the whole, it doesn’t entirely deliver on its promise for me although it is undoubtedly different which is a plus.
It deals with some difficult themes such as suicide, drug addiction and mental health issues.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Bad things happen in threes. Urban legend or the truth? Amy is a tortured soul, who wouldn’t be in her shoes as her sister is killed and then her parents die together - is she next? The story is told in three narratives over twenty years by Amy, Ila and Eve.
I think the premise of this horror/thriller is a really good one though initially it’s very confusing and slow with the storytelling going round and round the houses. However, I guess if we found ourselves in this unenviable situation then this is quite possibly what our own thoughts would do. The three narratives are a good contrast to each other and the deeper you get into the novel there’s an escalating uneasy and unsettled vibe with all three characters becoming increasingly paranoid. At times it’s very creepy, you almost want to look over your own shoulder yet conversely there’s a sense of unreality. Amy and Eve’s perspectives work the best for me, Ila’s is less convincing and there’s something very yukky in her narrative. It’s in Eves story that the twists come and some of those are very good. The ending appears to be unresolved which is pretty freaky!
On the whole, it doesn’t entirely deliver on its promise for me although it is undoubtedly different which is a plus.
It deals with some difficult themes such as suicide, drug addiction and mental health issues.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 28, 2023
This is a fascinating debut to review!
If you like the number three, check out this book! There are themes of three everywhere in this one, and I loved that, it was a very cute touch from the author! I wonder if that will run into Sam Ripley's later books? It keeps you on your toes, that's for certain. It felt a little jarring at times, but when you look at the 'rule of three', I didn't mind it! It's for the needs of the book.
There is sinister goings on, and some readers may need to pay attention to the trigger warnings.
This is a promising start to Sam Ripley's writing career.
If you like the number three, check out this book! There are themes of three everywhere in this one, and I loved that, it was a very cute touch from the author! I wonder if that will run into Sam Ripley's later books? It keeps you on your toes, that's for certain. It felt a little jarring at times, but when you look at the 'rule of three', I didn't mind it! It's for the needs of the book.
There is sinister goings on, and some readers may need to pay attention to the trigger warnings.
This is a promising start to Sam Ripley's writing career.
August 24, 2024
Bad luck/things come/happen in threes.... Ever hear that? Every say that? It's a superstition/belief that has been around for ages. In The Rule of Three, there is a notebook with the writings of three young women/victims who all feared the urban myths/curse of rule of three. The book does give each victim’s POV through the journals.
So, this book was a bit of a slow burn, and slow burns do not work very well for me. Plus, I had a hard time connecting to this book. This book does touch on many subjects which may be triggers for some such as suicide, loss, grief, etc.
The writing was well done, and things do come together in the end, but this book just didn't work for me. We can't love them all. Please read other reviews as well to determine if this book is for you.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
So, this book was a bit of a slow burn, and slow burns do not work very well for me. Plus, I had a hard time connecting to this book. This book does touch on many subjects which may be triggers for some such as suicide, loss, grief, etc.
The writing was well done, and things do come together in the end, but this book just didn't work for me. We can't love them all. Please read other reviews as well to determine if this book is for you.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
August 10, 2024
Good grief. Can I have that like 3 hours of my life back?
July 8, 2023
Well-written and interesting debut but slow-paced.
☆☆☆.5
This debut digs deep into the rule of three. I’ve heard people mention it throughout my life. I’ve referred to it myself but I’ve never put any deep thought into it.
The three narrators (there’s that number again) put A LOT of thought into it. They are obsessed with it.
This ominous cover and the blurb were too hard to pass up. While the book is interesting and it’s well-written, it’s over 400 pages and the pacing is not fast enough. It could be trimmed down a bit. I think it would make a wonderfully eerie movie but I had a hard time staying focused while reading. The number three will stay with me for a while!
Thank you to the publisher and author for this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
☆☆☆.5
This debut digs deep into the rule of three. I’ve heard people mention it throughout my life. I’ve referred to it myself but I’ve never put any deep thought into it.
The three narrators (there’s that number again) put A LOT of thought into it. They are obsessed with it.
This ominous cover and the blurb were too hard to pass up. While the book is interesting and it’s well-written, it’s over 400 pages and the pacing is not fast enough. It could be trimmed down a bit. I think it would make a wonderfully eerie movie but I had a hard time staying focused while reading. The number three will stay with me for a while!
Thank you to the publisher and author for this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 5, 2024
Ugh this book. I honestly wanted to throw my iPad just so I could be done with it. Do bad things happen in threes or is it just that our senses are more aware once one happens?
The author tried to take the theory and present it from the various POV but it got lost in the shuffle. There was too many irrelevant details. Characters that were interchangeable and uninteresting. It was long and boring and by the end Ijust wanted it to end. Had I not been buddy reading it I would have DNF. There was nothing to drive the plot. There was nothing compelling about the story. It was drivel. Plain and simple. Pointless.
Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
The author tried to take the theory and present it from the various POV but it got lost in the shuffle. There was too many irrelevant details. Characters that were interchangeable and uninteresting. It was long and boring and by the end Ijust wanted it to end. Had I not been buddy reading it I would have DNF. There was nothing to drive the plot. There was nothing compelling about the story. It was drivel. Plain and simple. Pointless.
Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
July 30, 2024
3.75 stars
I got an ARC ladies and gentlemen! So special thanks to Atria books for sending this to me.
I read The Rule of Three in one sitting, so suffice to say it’s pretty engaging. It was well-paced with some interesting twists. It’s told from the POV of three women as they try to uncover the mysteries surrounding a series of deaths, a phenomenon called “the rule of three.”
I’ve been more and more interested in mystery-thrillers lately so I’m glad I got the chance to read this early.
I got an ARC ladies and gentlemen! So special thanks to Atria books for sending this to me.
I read The Rule of Three in one sitting, so suffice to say it’s pretty engaging. It was well-paced with some interesting twists. It’s told from the POV of three women as they try to uncover the mysteries surrounding a series of deaths, a phenomenon called “the rule of three.”
I’ve been more and more interested in mystery-thrillers lately so I’m glad I got the chance to read this early.
March 12, 2024
Eerst geloofde ik niet in De Regel van Drie. Niet meteen. Het was gewoon een verhaal waar iedereen het over had. Een gerucht dat mijn vriend had gehoord over een meisje genaamd Amy. Zij was geobsedeerd geraakt door het getal drie.
Ze was een jonge student met een leven vol ongeluk: haar ouders hadden zelfmoord gepleegd nadat haar zus was omgekomen bij een ongeval. Amy was ervan overtuigd dat dit betekende dat zij óók gedoemd was te sterven. Want volgens De Regel van Drie volgen drie tragedies elkaar altijd op.
Niemand gelooft zoiets natuurlijk. Maar het ergste van alles is dat ze echt is overleden.
Mijn vriend zei lachend: ‘Ila, slechte dingen gebeuren altijd in drieën,’ en hij heeft gelijk. Want deze keer komt De Regel van Drie achter mij aan, ook al doe ik er alles aan om het te voorkomen. En het ergste van alles? Als je dit leest, ben jij de volgende.
Voor @boekerij mocht ik dit verhaal al vooruit lezen en ik was hier ontzettend benieuwd naar!
'De regel van drie' is opgedeeld in verschillende delen. Elk deel wordt vanuit een ander personage verteld en zo begin je eerst met Amy. Dit deel vond ik ook meteen het meest duistere en mysterieuze van allemaal. Je leest over de zelfdoding van haar ouders, het dodelijk ongeluk van haar zus en uiteindelijk haar eigen angsten. Ze gelooft namelijk in 'De regel van drie' en ze weet zeker dat zij ook snel zal sterven.
Vervolgens maak je een sprongetje in de tijd en lees je over personages Ila en Eve. Zij zijn geïnteresseerd in de vreemde zaak van Amy en raken ook steeds meer betrokken bij 'De regel van drie'.
Ik kan hier niet teveel over vertellen vanwege de spoilers, maar dit is best een duister verhaal. Wel moet ik eerlijk toegeven dat het verhaal voor mij supergoed begon, maar daarna helaas toch wat afzwakte.
Het tempo neemt namelijk wat af en dan duurt het een hele tijd voordat er weer wat dingen gebeuren. Toch is de ontwikkeling wel heel interessant en ook de schrijfstijl beviel mij enorm goed!
Uiteindelijk ben ik een halve ster gezakt in mijn beoordeling, maar het was zeker leuk om eens gelezen te hebben!
Ik wil @boekerij heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
Ze was een jonge student met een leven vol ongeluk: haar ouders hadden zelfmoord gepleegd nadat haar zus was omgekomen bij een ongeval. Amy was ervan overtuigd dat dit betekende dat zij óók gedoemd was te sterven. Want volgens De Regel van Drie volgen drie tragedies elkaar altijd op.
Niemand gelooft zoiets natuurlijk. Maar het ergste van alles is dat ze echt is overleden.
Mijn vriend zei lachend: ‘Ila, slechte dingen gebeuren altijd in drieën,’ en hij heeft gelijk. Want deze keer komt De Regel van Drie achter mij aan, ook al doe ik er alles aan om het te voorkomen. En het ergste van alles? Als je dit leest, ben jij de volgende.
Voor @boekerij mocht ik dit verhaal al vooruit lezen en ik was hier ontzettend benieuwd naar!
'De regel van drie' is opgedeeld in verschillende delen. Elk deel wordt vanuit een ander personage verteld en zo begin je eerst met Amy. Dit deel vond ik ook meteen het meest duistere en mysterieuze van allemaal. Je leest over de zelfdoding van haar ouders, het dodelijk ongeluk van haar zus en uiteindelijk haar eigen angsten. Ze gelooft namelijk in 'De regel van drie' en ze weet zeker dat zij ook snel zal sterven.
Vervolgens maak je een sprongetje in de tijd en lees je over personages Ila en Eve. Zij zijn geïnteresseerd in de vreemde zaak van Amy en raken ook steeds meer betrokken bij 'De regel van drie'.
Ik kan hier niet teveel over vertellen vanwege de spoilers, maar dit is best een duister verhaal. Wel moet ik eerlijk toegeven dat het verhaal voor mij supergoed begon, maar daarna helaas toch wat afzwakte.
Het tempo neemt namelijk wat af en dan duurt het een hele tijd voordat er weer wat dingen gebeuren. Toch is de ontwikkeling wel heel interessant en ook de schrijfstijl beviel mij enorm goed!
Uiteindelijk ben ik een halve ster gezakt in mijn beoordeling, maar het was zeker leuk om eens gelezen te hebben!
Ik wil @boekerij heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
June 9, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for the review copy in return of an Honest review.
I started this book last month and ended it today. Only because nothing was able to catch my attention. Story, characters and writing nothing worked. I literally had to force myself to read it. Not my cup of tea. So boring. I tried really hard but no it didn't work.
I started this book last month and ended it today. Only because nothing was able to catch my attention. Story, characters and writing nothing worked. I literally had to force myself to read it. Not my cup of tea. So boring. I tried really hard but no it didn't work.
May 17, 2024
They say bad things always come in threes.
I received a gifted copy of this book - many thanks to the publisher.
By the end of chapter one you’ll be hooked to this story. I love the way in which this story was told. It was like the protagonist was speaking to us directly. Okay, so she was. I haven’t come across too many books that are written this way. I loved it.
I received a gifted copy of this book - many thanks to the publisher.
By the end of chapter one you’ll be hooked to this story. I love the way in which this story was told. It was like the protagonist was speaking to us directly. Okay, so she was. I haven’t come across too many books that are written this way. I loved it.
August 14, 2024
Was it just me, or did this book seem really disjointed?
It comes from journals of three different people and there didn't seem to be a lot of cohesion... It was a real shame because I could see some real talent in the writing but something wasn't working with this book.
I loved the premise of the book and it was pretty dark and it wasn't well paced either.
I so wanted to love this book but it missed the mark a tad for me!
3 stars
It comes from journals of three different people and there didn't seem to be a lot of cohesion... It was a real shame because I could see some real talent in the writing but something wasn't working with this book.
I loved the premise of the book and it was pretty dark and it wasn't well paced either.
I so wanted to love this book but it missed the mark a tad for me!
3 stars
August 5, 2024
I got 40% into this one and had to DNF. I think it was something with the writing style, it just felt all over the place. I couldn’t connect with any of the MCs and I didn’t like how the POV switched. This book wasn’t for me, unfortunately.
Read
May 13, 2024DNF @ 30%
July 17, 2024
Couldn’t make it further than 50%. Very predictable…
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 20, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐,5
Amy dopo varie vicissitudini che hanno colpito gravemente la sua famiglia, si convince di essere la prossima vittima della “Regola del tre”.
Colpita da paranoia profonda escogita una maniera per sfuggire a quella che ritiene essere una vera e propria dannazione, credendo anche di poter fornire un valido aiuto alle possibili future vittime.
E scrive un diario, una sorta di guida per i posteri.
✍️Questo libro è un thriller pazzesco che martella in testa finché non si arriva alla conclusione, la quale ovviamente termina con un bel colpo di scena.
Una narrazione veloce che ho trovato geniale sia per la trama corposa e intricata, che per la suspense che lascia col fiato sospeso in piu di un’occasione.
Tutto ruota intorno a un mistero centrale e credetemi, più volte vi troverete sul punto di aver compreso, ma subito dopo metterete tutto in discussione, questo perché l’autore è veramente bravo a confondere le idee e portare il lettore proprio dove lui vuole.
Leggere il libro e scoprirete dove
*Ringrazio la Casa Editrice per la collaborazione e la copia cartacea
Amy dopo varie vicissitudini che hanno colpito gravemente la sua famiglia, si convince di essere la prossima vittima della “Regola del tre”.
Colpita da paranoia profonda escogita una maniera per sfuggire a quella che ritiene essere una vera e propria dannazione, credendo anche di poter fornire un valido aiuto alle possibili future vittime.
E scrive un diario, una sorta di guida per i posteri.
✍️Questo libro è un thriller pazzesco che martella in testa finché non si arriva alla conclusione, la quale ovviamente termina con un bel colpo di scena.
Una narrazione veloce che ho trovato geniale sia per la trama corposa e intricata, che per la suspense che lascia col fiato sospeso in piu di un’occasione.
Tutto ruota intorno a un mistero centrale e credetemi, più volte vi troverete sul punto di aver compreso, ma subito dopo metterete tutto in discussione, questo perché l’autore è veramente bravo a confondere le idee e portare il lettore proprio dove lui vuole.
Leggere il libro e scoprirete dove
*Ringrazio la Casa Editrice per la collaborazione e la copia cartacea
November 27, 2025
A solid three star read. It was thrilling when the story progressed but the end was quite disappointing to me. I think there would have been more possibilities regarding this concept of the rule of three. And in the middle of the book I had already the person who is responsible in mind, but I had my fair share of fun and excitement with this book. A fast paced read as well, so perfect for anyone who likes to avoid long descriptions (sometimes we all need such a book, right?)
Read
August 22, 2024Dnfing on page 134. The plot is just not interesting enough for me and I feel like the flow of the writing feels jumbled. Definitely reads more YA than expected.
Thank you to Atria for a copy to read and review!
Thank you to Atria for a copy to read and review!
May 7, 2024
Amazing book. Still in shock by the ending. Takes a while to pick up but once it does you can’t put it down.
July 28, 2024
*3.5 stars.
Urban myth:
DON'T FORGET THE RULE OF THREE
IT'S COMING FOR YOU
LIKE IT CAME FOR ME
I almost dropped this book at 20%. It seemed like it was meant for a different, younger audience. I didn't care for Amy, the first victim, whose journal is presented. She admits she's not quite sane, has been suicidal and is often whacked out on drugs. Her family has died and she's scared to death the rule of three is coming for her. But then her journal ends abruptly (Wait!? What happened to Amy?!) and I arrived at Part Two and started reading another victim's journal, that of Ila, an older college student who hears about the curse from friends and decides to learn more. Again her journal ends abruptly and we move on to Eve who is convinced there is a serial killer at work...
The farther I got into the novel, the more I realized the many threads were tying together and I began to appreciate how cleverly the author was plotting this creepy, suspenseful thriller. So do give it a chance and see if it draws you in like it did me.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Urban myth:
DON'T FORGET THE RULE OF THREE
IT'S COMING FOR YOU
LIKE IT CAME FOR ME
I almost dropped this book at 20%. It seemed like it was meant for a different, younger audience. I didn't care for Amy, the first victim, whose journal is presented. She admits she's not quite sane, has been suicidal and is often whacked out on drugs. Her family has died and she's scared to death the rule of three is coming for her. But then her journal ends abruptly (Wait!? What happened to Amy?!) and I arrived at Part Two and started reading another victim's journal, that of Ila, an older college student who hears about the curse from friends and decides to learn more. Again her journal ends abruptly and we move on to Eve who is convinced there is a serial killer at work...
The farther I got into the novel, the more I realized the many threads were tying together and I began to appreciate how cleverly the author was plotting this creepy, suspenseful thriller. So do give it a chance and see if it draws you in like it did me.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
September 22, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
The Rule of Three
By Sam Ripley
Thank you so much partner @atriabooks #atriapartner for the gifted copy!
About the book 👇🏽
That’s the one. That’s the girl who’s going to die.
I didn’t believe in the Rule of Three. Not at first. It was just one of those urban myths you hear about all the time. A story my boyfriend told me about a girl cursed by the number three. A girl whose parents had killed themselves after her sibling had died in an accident. Which meant that she was doomed to die too because that’s the Rule of Three.
Bad things always happen in threes, they say, and they are right. Because it’s happening again.
But this time the curse is coming for me. And worst of all?
It’s coming for you, too.
🩸 My thoughts:
Holy Hell this book will keep you on your toes! It’s wildly engaging, darker than I anticipated, and will keep you guessing all the way through. It’s a fun and interesting prose and really had the opportunity to be a a huge hit. Unfortunately for me, something about the writing and the story didn’t feel cohesive and ending up taking a bit longer for me to get through. It’s an entertaining read though and I loved the mystery throughout this story… I just wanted more. There’s a really good chance this is just a me problem though so take my opinion with a grain of salt 🧂. The Rule of Three is out now!
Happy reading 📖 🩸
The Rule of Three
By Sam Ripley
Thank you so much partner @atriabooks #atriapartner for the gifted copy!
About the book 👇🏽
That’s the one. That’s the girl who’s going to die.
I didn’t believe in the Rule of Three. Not at first. It was just one of those urban myths you hear about all the time. A story my boyfriend told me about a girl cursed by the number three. A girl whose parents had killed themselves after her sibling had died in an accident. Which meant that she was doomed to die too because that’s the Rule of Three.
Bad things always happen in threes, they say, and they are right. Because it’s happening again.
But this time the curse is coming for me. And worst of all?
It’s coming for you, too.
🩸 My thoughts:
Holy Hell this book will keep you on your toes! It’s wildly engaging, darker than I anticipated, and will keep you guessing all the way through. It’s a fun and interesting prose and really had the opportunity to be a a huge hit. Unfortunately for me, something about the writing and the story didn’t feel cohesive and ending up taking a bit longer for me to get through. It’s an entertaining read though and I loved the mystery throughout this story… I just wanted more. There’s a really good chance this is just a me problem though so take my opinion with a grain of salt 🧂. The Rule of Three is out now!
Happy reading 📖 🩸
July 5, 2023
Imagine you know you are going to die, what would you do? This book takes you on a journey with three young women each one knows they are going to die and their time is running out as they struggle to fight the odds. This thriller is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat as the suspense builds.
This is an unusual read that was a little difficult to get into. You are introduced to each character in turn and the first young woman was not my favourite. The author eases you into a suspense-filled tale and before to log you discover you are completely engrossed and unable to walk away.
When Ila hears an urban legend on campus, she does not pay much attention. The story is about a student whose parents committed suicide after her sister died in a car accident – and then she died as well. Because bad things always happen in threes – that’s the rule of three. When Ila notices similarities to her own life, she is driven to prove that it’s just a story. However, when she finds out that Amy was real and that there is truth to her story, Ila is determined not to be next.
I struggled to get into this book. The first character, Amy, annoyed me. I understood her grief at losing her entire family, but her drugged thoughts did not always make sense and keeping up with her story was not easy. I found her extremely frustrating. If you can make it through the first part of this book you will soon find yourself in for a treat. Believe me, it does get better. When you are introduced to Ila, the pieces of Amy’s puzzle start falling into place and by the time Eve makes an appearance you will not want to walk away.
This is a book that demands patience from the reader. At times I was tempted to give up on it. I found myself stuck in a young woman's mind who was constantly on drugs both legal and illegal and consumed by grief. This made for a rather depressing start to the story. Amy’s regular attempts at taking her own life did not make this part of the story easy to read. However, as I kept reading, I understood the importance of this part of the story. If you are tempted to give up, please keep reading. Despite is difficult start of this story you will be rewarded if you keep going.
The Rule of Three turned out to be a clever look at the power an urban legend can have in our lives. Is it just a story? Most legends start with some truth after all. I am happy that I did not give up on this book, if I did, I would have missed out on the fantastic second part of this story. When you reach for this book, you can expect to find yourself completely engrossed and unable to walk away as the suspense builds.
If you are a patient read, then you will love the reward this book delivers. However, be warned that the first part of this story is rather depressing and will most like leave you feeling a little down.
https://featzreviews.com/the-rule-of-...
This is an unusual read that was a little difficult to get into. You are introduced to each character in turn and the first young woman was not my favourite. The author eases you into a suspense-filled tale and before to log you discover you are completely engrossed and unable to walk away.
When Ila hears an urban legend on campus, she does not pay much attention. The story is about a student whose parents committed suicide after her sister died in a car accident – and then she died as well. Because bad things always happen in threes – that’s the rule of three. When Ila notices similarities to her own life, she is driven to prove that it’s just a story. However, when she finds out that Amy was real and that there is truth to her story, Ila is determined not to be next.
I struggled to get into this book. The first character, Amy, annoyed me. I understood her grief at losing her entire family, but her drugged thoughts did not always make sense and keeping up with her story was not easy. I found her extremely frustrating. If you can make it through the first part of this book you will soon find yourself in for a treat. Believe me, it does get better. When you are introduced to Ila, the pieces of Amy’s puzzle start falling into place and by the time Eve makes an appearance you will not want to walk away.
This is a book that demands patience from the reader. At times I was tempted to give up on it. I found myself stuck in a young woman's mind who was constantly on drugs both legal and illegal and consumed by grief. This made for a rather depressing start to the story. Amy’s regular attempts at taking her own life did not make this part of the story easy to read. However, as I kept reading, I understood the importance of this part of the story. If you are tempted to give up, please keep reading. Despite is difficult start of this story you will be rewarded if you keep going.
The Rule of Three turned out to be a clever look at the power an urban legend can have in our lives. Is it just a story? Most legends start with some truth after all. I am happy that I did not give up on this book, if I did, I would have missed out on the fantastic second part of this story. When you reach for this book, you can expect to find yourself completely engrossed and unable to walk away as the suspense builds.
If you are a patient read, then you will love the reward this book delivers. However, be warned that the first part of this story is rather depressing and will most like leave you feeling a little down.
https://featzreviews.com/the-rule-of-...
April 14, 2025
The whole notion of seemingly unrelated tragedies somehow being connected and the main character knows that they're destined to die is a nice hook.
Delving into Urban Legends really gives the novel a real sense of paranoia and suspense.
Inkeeping with the rules, the novel follows three narrators - all who have experienced grief.
I found that Amy, Ila and Eve wasn't distinctive enough and was quite difficult to tell them apart.
Delving into Urban Legends really gives the novel a real sense of paranoia and suspense.
Inkeeping with the rules, the novel follows three narrators - all who have experienced grief.
I found that Amy, Ila and Eve wasn't distinctive enough and was quite difficult to tell them apart.
September 2, 2023
4.25 - this book was amazing overall. It was a mix of supernatural foreboding and a classic serial killer working their way round families. I loved the 3 POVs just when you thought you were getting close bam another POV😎
My only drawbacks were it was too long and the ending really dragged out. Also the ending just wasn’t clear, I’ve taken a while to write this review as I couldn’t work out whether it was supposed to be ambiguous or I just didn’t get it 😯
My only drawbacks were it was too long and the ending really dragged out. Also the ending just wasn’t clear, I’ve taken a while to write this review as I couldn’t work out whether it was supposed to be ambiguous or I just didn’t get it 😯
July 22, 2024
We’ve all heard that bad things happen in threes, like celebrity deaths. This book examines the concept in a very creative way. We have journals/writings from three women: Amy, Ila and Eve. At an unnamed university in an unnamed town, these three young women all have a connection to and fear of the “rule of three”. Though their stories are years apart, they all share a common theme…
Amy’s sister Mya died in a car accident, then her parents killed themselves together three years later. Ila’s parents died of carbon monoxide poisoning, then her brother died of a heart attack three years later. Eve’s sister killed herself, then her parents both died of heart attacks on the same night, three years later. All three girls believe that they are next, and all three are trying to crack the code of the rule before they end up third.
Saying much more (even though there IS much more!) would be heading into spoiler territory, but the book weaves the three stories, and the characters in them, together pretty seamlessly. All of them believe that their lives are in danger, all of them look to religion for help, and all of them are terrified of dying. They all also wrote down the experiences, which comes in handy. But do they all die? You’ll just have to read it to find out!
The writing in this book? Flawless. The story? It’s been done many times, though the author did put a unique spin on things. My complaints would be that this felt like a Young Adult novel, despite the characters being a bit old for that. Also, the ending was decent, but I wanted more! This could have been longer, and that’s something I rarely say. There were a couple of unanswered questions for me, and something in the format felt disjointed. Still, this is a very entertaining horror/thriller book that leaves you wondering if the rule applies to real life. 3.5 stars.
(Thank you to Atria Books, Emily Bestler Books, Sam Ripley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on August 6, 2024.)
Amy’s sister Mya died in a car accident, then her parents killed themselves together three years later. Ila’s parents died of carbon monoxide poisoning, then her brother died of a heart attack three years later. Eve’s sister killed herself, then her parents both died of heart attacks on the same night, three years later. All three girls believe that they are next, and all three are trying to crack the code of the rule before they end up third.
Saying much more (even though there IS much more!) would be heading into spoiler territory, but the book weaves the three stories, and the characters in them, together pretty seamlessly. All of them believe that their lives are in danger, all of them look to religion for help, and all of them are terrified of dying. They all also wrote down the experiences, which comes in handy. But do they all die? You’ll just have to read it to find out!
The writing in this book? Flawless. The story? It’s been done many times, though the author did put a unique spin on things. My complaints would be that this felt like a Young Adult novel, despite the characters being a bit old for that. Also, the ending was decent, but I wanted more! This could have been longer, and that’s something I rarely say. There were a couple of unanswered questions for me, and something in the format felt disjointed. Still, this is a very entertaining horror/thriller book that leaves you wondering if the rule applies to real life. 3.5 stars.
(Thank you to Atria Books, Emily Bestler Books, Sam Ripley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on August 6, 2024.)
September 3, 2024
I totally pay attention to the rule of three. Bad things happen in threes. They may not directly happen to me, but around me, which still effects me. Thankfully, none have resulted it my immediate demise. However, in this book, once you’ve made it to the third bad thing then you’re dead.
The Rule Of Three explores Urban Legends and how the change over time. Told through several narrations, each with their own three incidents, the story is packed with paranoia and the feel of the ticking clock. The first narrative, was my favorite and set the town for the book. The narrator for this story really captured a reckless girl, sucked into drugs and despair, and suicide. It was heartbreaking and well written. After that, the story narrative shifts and becomes less frightening and more about fact finding.
I always thought I was the only one to know of the rule of three. It’s interesting to hear another take on it, and to see it brought to a darker level.
The Rule Of Three explores Urban Legends and how the change over time. Told through several narrations, each with their own three incidents, the story is packed with paranoia and the feel of the ticking clock. The first narrative, was my favorite and set the town for the book. The narrator for this story really captured a reckless girl, sucked into drugs and despair, and suicide. It was heartbreaking and well written. After that, the story narrative shifts and becomes less frightening and more about fact finding.
I always thought I was the only one to know of the rule of three. It’s interesting to hear another take on it, and to see it brought to a darker level.
August 28, 2025
De regel van drie
Dus ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dus ⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 27, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 6, 2024
Bad things always happen in threes. Or so the superstition goes. But in this case, there just might be some truth to it. Three girls, who lose both of their parents and then their only sibling, three years apart. Then, the girls mysteriously die, too. Unless one of them tries to stop it. But how do you stop something that no one believes even exists?
“The Rule of Three” by Sam Ripley is a slow-burn and it took awhile for me to get invested in the plot. In fact, as the ending drew closer, I worried that the plot would not be resolved, as it seemed there was too little left of the story to tie up loose ends. Ripley was able to assuage my anxiety, however. The final third of this novel packed more of a dramatic, tense punch than the first two thirds, but the urban legend component is what kept me going through to the end. I needed to know what happened to all of the girls and their families, and find out who was behind it (if anyone at all).
The story is narrated by three protagonists (of course), Amy, Ila and Eve, who each take their turn telling their own story. These three young women, suffering immeasurable grief and loss, are all different and yet terribly alike in the worst ways, but all of them are relatively likable and easy to build a rapport with. There is a plethora of supporting characters to add to the who-dunnit suspense, but the final reveal still managed to be shocking and unexpected.
“Three” was part twist-and-turn tension and part slow simmering thriller. Ripley’s writing takes some getting used to, at least in this novel, but if you can make it through to the final few chapters, Ripley makes it worth your while.
Sam Ripley is a new author for me, but I wasn’t about to pass up a novel about urban legends come to life. “The Rule of Three” is an intriguing concept, and, I have to admit, the premise captured my attention from the jump. I enjoyed the characters and their emotional journeys through tragic grief and loss, and the novel did flow well, with each portion of the novel clearly separated and labeled by narrator. It would have been easy to give up on this novel after the first half, but it was worth pulling through.
Expected publication date: Aug. 6, 2024
Bad things always happen in threes. Or so the superstition goes. But in this case, there just might be some truth to it. Three girls, who lose both of their parents and then their only sibling, three years apart. Then, the girls mysteriously die, too. Unless one of them tries to stop it. But how do you stop something that no one believes even exists?
“The Rule of Three” by Sam Ripley is a slow-burn and it took awhile for me to get invested in the plot. In fact, as the ending drew closer, I worried that the plot would not be resolved, as it seemed there was too little left of the story to tie up loose ends. Ripley was able to assuage my anxiety, however. The final third of this novel packed more of a dramatic, tense punch than the first two thirds, but the urban legend component is what kept me going through to the end. I needed to know what happened to all of the girls and their families, and find out who was behind it (if anyone at all).
The story is narrated by three protagonists (of course), Amy, Ila and Eve, who each take their turn telling their own story. These three young women, suffering immeasurable grief and loss, are all different and yet terribly alike in the worst ways, but all of them are relatively likable and easy to build a rapport with. There is a plethora of supporting characters to add to the who-dunnit suspense, but the final reveal still managed to be shocking and unexpected.
“Three” was part twist-and-turn tension and part slow simmering thriller. Ripley’s writing takes some getting used to, at least in this novel, but if you can make it through to the final few chapters, Ripley makes it worth your while.
Sam Ripley is a new author for me, but I wasn’t about to pass up a novel about urban legends come to life. “The Rule of Three” is an intriguing concept, and, I have to admit, the premise captured my attention from the jump. I enjoyed the characters and their emotional journeys through tragic grief and loss, and the novel did flow well, with each portion of the novel clearly separated and labeled by narrator. It would have been easy to give up on this novel after the first half, but it was worth pulling through.
September 17, 2023
I am really starting to gain a great fondness for horror books that dip their feet into other genres. None more so than those books that delve into the crime or thriller genres. For me, they seem to draw me in more and slip off the page and into the world we inhabit with ease. These are the books that are far more likely to send a shiver up the back of my neck than some spectral abomination stalking the night. I suppose I need my killers to look and feel like those I've seen in many a true crime documentary or book. After all the real monsters of this world look far more like our neighbors than Jason Voorhees So after reading a little about this book, it sounded just the sort of thing to pull me in. A brilliant blend of crime and horror might just be at my fingertips waiting to be explored.
The theme of threes travels through every aspect of this novel, you cannot escape it even down to our heroes. Of which there are unsurprisingly three. Each one is here to teach us about the rule of three and how it stalks every aspect of their lives. They teach us the rules of this new urban legend because as we know urban legends all have rules we must follow. They are the promise that we might just make it out alive if only we follow them step by step. Amy is our first and most prolific of the three. She is the one who creates the world that we must walk around. And she can be shall we say a little chaotic, this is a girl who has turned to other means in which to deal with all the horrors life has thrown at her. It does mean that at first one might be wondering where it is all going. It can feel a little slow for the horror genre but if you are coming from a thriller or crime background it feels a little more like home. We need to see the pieces of the puzzle even if we can't quite work out just yet how they go together. That is what Ila and Eve are for, they are the ones who are going to help us solve all this.
This book seemed to grab me after only a couple of chapters. The author has created a Frankenstein monster of crime thriller, urban legend, and the golden age of Giallo. What this means is you are going to have to pay attention and whilst you may spend time questioning just where this book is going at times. It will all pay off in the end and even the most incidental of moments will circle back on you. I think that of all the most recent books similar to this that I have read it feels far more Thriller than horror. It allows the world to feel that much bigger as we delve into the depths of these characters' lives. It's kind of like if a director took a trilogy of films and turned it into a mini-series instead. And to me, it seems to suit Ripley's style of writing. He is great and slowly adding layers of texture and tension all the while leading us this way and that and letting you believe you know what is going on. This is one of those tales that definitely had my brain working over time as I tried to work out just what was going on.
I think The Rule Of Three is a great book just as long as you know what you are getting into. If you are expecting to find yourself in a far more conventional horror book then I think you are going to be disappointed. But there is definitely a case to be made for giving it a chance. I love trying to pull puzzles apart and work out just what is going on. And this book gives us ample opportunity to do just that.
The theme of threes travels through every aspect of this novel, you cannot escape it even down to our heroes. Of which there are unsurprisingly three. Each one is here to teach us about the rule of three and how it stalks every aspect of their lives. They teach us the rules of this new urban legend because as we know urban legends all have rules we must follow. They are the promise that we might just make it out alive if only we follow them step by step. Amy is our first and most prolific of the three. She is the one who creates the world that we must walk around. And she can be shall we say a little chaotic, this is a girl who has turned to other means in which to deal with all the horrors life has thrown at her. It does mean that at first one might be wondering where it is all going. It can feel a little slow for the horror genre but if you are coming from a thriller or crime background it feels a little more like home. We need to see the pieces of the puzzle even if we can't quite work out just yet how they go together. That is what Ila and Eve are for, they are the ones who are going to help us solve all this.
This book seemed to grab me after only a couple of chapters. The author has created a Frankenstein monster of crime thriller, urban legend, and the golden age of Giallo. What this means is you are going to have to pay attention and whilst you may spend time questioning just where this book is going at times. It will all pay off in the end and even the most incidental of moments will circle back on you. I think that of all the most recent books similar to this that I have read it feels far more Thriller than horror. It allows the world to feel that much bigger as we delve into the depths of these characters' lives. It's kind of like if a director took a trilogy of films and turned it into a mini-series instead. And to me, it seems to suit Ripley's style of writing. He is great and slowly adding layers of texture and tension all the while leading us this way and that and letting you believe you know what is going on. This is one of those tales that definitely had my brain working over time as I tried to work out just what was going on.
I think The Rule Of Three is a great book just as long as you know what you are getting into. If you are expecting to find yourself in a far more conventional horror book then I think you are going to be disappointed. But there is definitely a case to be made for giving it a chance. I love trying to pull puzzles apart and work out just what is going on. And this book gives us ample opportunity to do just that.
May 28, 2024
Disclaimer: I won this ARC in a GoodReads giveaway but that in no way influenced my review.
I felt the book started off a bit slow introducing us to Amy whose sister had died and then her parents had committed suicide together. The old story of bad things happening in threes caused Amy to worry about her fate. Next we go to the story of Ila whose family members had met a similar fate followed by the story of Eve and her family. I'd have to include spoilers to reveal more.
Were we dealing with accidents or murders or just really bad luck? The story and the twists and turns pick up as we learn more and more.
I had a question in my mind that was not answered until the very end. I guess I've read enough thrillers to have caught the one unanswered question that gets revealed in the end.
This book was also very dark and there are triggers involving suicide and self-harm.
I felt the book started off a bit slow introducing us to Amy whose sister had died and then her parents had committed suicide together. The old story of bad things happening in threes caused Amy to worry about her fate. Next we go to the story of Ila whose family members had met a similar fate followed by the story of Eve and her family. I'd have to include spoilers to reveal more.
Were we dealing with accidents or murders or just really bad luck? The story and the twists and turns pick up as we learn more and more.
I had a question in my mind that was not answered until the very end. I guess I've read enough thrillers to have caught the one unanswered question that gets revealed in the end.
This book was also very dark and there are triggers involving suicide and self-harm.
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