This was great read and even better and tighter now it's reduced to one story rather than 3 separate volumes.

I loved reading about Eddie in The Note. In the Third Rule we learn more about Eddie and his past.

** spoilers to follow**

The rules were put in place to deter crime but all they have done is corrupt. Three crimes, executed. Commit murder, execution. While this seems good in theory, what happens when an innocent man is given a “rule three”.

Christian isn't a bad man. He isn’t a great one either but he’s no murderer. When he gets picked up on a rule three for the murder of his girlfriend the police just want to wrap the case up. After all who cares if some thief goes down for the murder of his junkie girlfriend?

Then we have Eddie. Good guy, decent crime scene investigator, major alcoholic. After a horrific event he spirals even more downhill.

But wait! The two events are tied together! When Eddie gets his own rule three warrant can he prove his innocence and still save another innocent man?

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I've had this book for years, I still haven't, unfortunately, got to it, so this is a placeholder review to reduce my shelf for my own sanity, but will replace this if I ever get to the book

This book is set in the future England, but the way things are currently going in the world, I don't think it will be long before we catch up to this reality!! Recommended.

Full review to come.
I deeply apologize, but life is a handful lately and I'm using all my free time to read, not review. I hope everybody understands.

Having read stories from Andrew Barrett previously, I was looking forward to starting a new series with him.

He did not let me down. His characters are well written and grow on the reader, there is a realism to the SOCO work that his background provides and the tale itself has a good pace and "grabability" to it.

Thoroughly recommended.

What would you do if you were innocent of a crime but found guilty and sent to 'the slaughter house'? The government in England has developed infallible rules, but they lied. Even Eddie Collins a CSI member is on the government list for a shooting, he has to stay one step ahead of them and try to prove his innocence. They are catching up with him.....can Eddie get the government to change it's mind? You will need to read this gripping story to find out.

I read this book last year when Andy had self-published and I am glad that Bloodhound haven't changed much, if any, of the story line.

This is the first book in the brilliant Eddie Collins series, which introduces us to our damaged hero in a world similar to our own but different enough to make the story really intriguing.

The Third Rule in the title revolves around the Government's new law, which is similar to the three strike rule, in that if you commit three crimes instead of going to prison you are given a death sentence.

Even though this is a long book at over 600 pages it didn't drag too much. Although the way we are taken through the crime scene in so much detail could probably have been edited and shortened it didn't detract from the story and in places made it better as you can tell from these scenes that Andy is a CSI himself and loves the work.

As the story evolves we get to know more about Eddie and his troubled past, which has made him the way he is and the bad place he is in, being an alcoholic and not really wanting to be alive any more, until the interesting case hits his lap and he is left fighting against a corrupt government who have put things in place to convict him of a very serious crime.  This crime puts him straight on the Third Rule meaning he is fighting for his life and to avoid the death penalty.  This part of the story adds an extra level of threat and urgency to the feel of the book.

The start of the book can be quite confusing as we are introduced to a wide range of characters all at once, but this soon settles down and becomes a nice easy police procedural story with a twist.

Overall it is a brilliant read, which leads nicely onto the rest of the series.

Andrew Barrett is an exciting new author for me he has written a fast paced thriller which had me enthralled.
The story is based around forensic evidence with Eddie Collins a CSI forensics expert as the lead character. His sidekick Mick Lyndon a veteran journalist with the local paper.
Capital punishment is reintroduced in Britain by the newly appointed Justice Minister with relaxed laws around how much evidence is needed to convict. Known colloquially as The Rules it's mantra is " if you want to kill serious crime, you have to kill serious criminals".
This book has it all excitement, corruption, tragedy, domestic issues, alliegence and if course murders.
Can't wait for the next adventure with Eddie Collins.

I would like to thank the Netagelley website and the CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform editions for this partnership.

I was immediately attracted by the blanket, we see inside an abandoned house I would say and by the catchphrase: "Do you have a secret that could save your life?"

History tells us that the government is putting in place a severe code of capital punishment following a wave of atrocities. All this to rid England of atrocious crimes, except that it is a failure. There is Christian accused of stabbing while he is innocent and nobody listens to what he has to say.

As for Eddie after a failed suicide attempt want absolutely live and the police who is looking for him to shoot a colleague.

A book a bit too long but deserves to be known around the world. A captivating, moving scenario and a story filled with suspense and twists. Look forward to reading the next volume.

A meaty read that will feed any hunger for gritty crime literature for several days. A feast of good paced action. The first book I have read by Andrew Barrett. The first 600 + page novel I have ever read -this fact is testimony to The Third Rule being a worthy plot to keep my interest.

One of the reasons I like books of this nature/genre is that it has so many characters and getting a point of view from each. I like getting to know each character like what kind of person they are and learning a little bit about their lives and what makes them tick and getting enough of their background that it will give you an insight into what makes them do the things they do and what makes them the person they are now.


You get a little info from one character just enough to keep you hanging on and then it is on to the next character. While I am reading about one character I have another character’s info hanging out in the back of mind and I am pondering over his/her info while learning more about another character. I am trying to figure out how all these characters lives are going to connect and intertwined.


In The Third Rule the laws have changed. It is everyone’s hope that the new laws will stop some of the crimes. Our main guy Eddie Collins, CSI is separated from his wife she kicked him out because of his drinking. His days are all basically the same. He gets up goes to work does his job then comes home and has himself a few drinks then gets up and does it all over the next day.


When he loses his son in a tragic accident he turns the drinking up a notch or two. All Eddie is concerned with now is finding the person who took his son’s life and to get the justice he believes his son deserves. During his investigation Eddie finds corruption and a lot of cover ups and if he is not careful he may just find himself facing The Third Rule.


The Third Rule is a very intriguing and suspenseful read that caught my attention from the first page and didn’t let go until I had read the last page and even now it still has me in its clutches. It pulls you in and makes you feel as if the characters are real and their lives as well and has you rooting for them over and over. Even the bad characters play their roles well. This is one story I would love to see made into a movie or maybe even a TV series.


The Third Rule is for anyone who likes a good mystery or thriller. Pick up your copy today!

This is the first book that I've read by Andrew Barrett and I will definitely read the next one.
This book is gripping your attention and keeps you glued until the end.
It is a bit dystopian book that is about England in near future where government corruption is not a stranger and police cases are not always solved as it should but some people are getting third rule death sentence. In the start there are too many characters and lot to details to catch but later it is getting better and better. Main character Eddie Collins is a father that is dealing with loss of his son that makes his life very hard. He is driven apart from his wife, he is drinking a lot and only thing that is keeping him alive is his job, but when he is suspected for murdering a colleague he needs to clear his name before he gets third rule sentence.
It is a little longish book but I enjoyed it reading it...

A re-write of the book by the same name Andrew Barrett shows he continues to improve even when I considered the first book a good read.
In the beginning you have to pay a bit of extra attentions to be able to follow the different characters and not get lost between the various individuals been introduced but it does all come together nicely.
The book deals with corruption in politics and even within the police force.
Shows how easy it is to become an alcoholic after dramatic events in somebody live or as a replacement to the addiction of pain killers. To a point it almost destroys their lives completely. Yes you will shake your head in disgust as why a person can so ruin their lives with been drunk all the time but then you don't know unless you stand in their shoes.
If you are looking for a cozy mystery this book is not for you.
This is a rather a long book by today's standard but worth every page. When you realize what is going on you will not want to put it down.

I received an advance ARC copy from the author for my honest review and I purchased the original issue by the author on amazon.com.

Oh what 24 hours can do to what you think of a book!!! The Third Rule went from being brilliant, to me while eating lunch at working, getting frustrated how many times the author brings up Eddie being drunk and just shut off the kindle app on my phone. Sitting their finishing off some string cheese, when I realized that I honestly could careless about finishing this one and ferk drunk Eddie Collins. Just felt from the first 24 chapters, you have way too much repetitive writing, needless writing and feel the author didn't need to bury the two major intertwining storylines.

You could have started 'The Third Rule' with Eddie and Jilly's son Sammy's death then you have Sir George with his third rule, ultimately he gets exposed, then then killed for his evilness right before the new rule gets stopped, it would have made for a heart pounding read, throw in some twist and turns, then have Christian get shot stealing, Alice overdoses, Henry hangs himself verse facing Eddie, ends with Eddie and Jilly, getting back together and they adopt Spencer.

Excellent reading. Main character is a wreck trying to survive. This is a gritty down and dirty book. I couldn't put it down once I started it. Can't say enought good things about this book. Explains how Eddie became who he is from the beginning. Can understand his following books better.

This was an excellent police procedural style thriller about a damaged CSI from Leeds (England) which reminded me (in a good way) of the Harry Hole books, by Jo Nesbo, with political conspiracies, police corruption, nasty bad guys, set in the seedy underbelly of a grim city - but set in an alternate reality of a borderline dystopian Britain that did not feel implausible at all.

Originally three short books, this has been re-published as one complete, and therefore fairly long, novel, but this was not a problem as I was rapidly gripped. At the beginning is a link to a free short story called The Note, which is well worth a read - it was initially unclear to me whether this was set before or after the events of this book - it actually doesn’t matter as there are no significant spoilers, but for the record, The Note is set after this book. If you are hesitant about reading the full book, the novella would be a good introduction to Barrett’s writing, and Eddie’s character.

Eddie Collins had a happy life with his wife and child, and a satisfying career as a CSI with the Yorkshire police, until one night when he intervened in a mugging, and sustained an injury and loss of confidence which turned him into a raging alcoholic, cynically enabled by his journalist friend Mick. Barely hanging on to his job, mostly thanks to his colleague Ros, and estranged from his wife Jilly, he lives in a squalid flat and drinks himself to oblivion every night.

Exhausted by endlessly rising crime and the feeling that the villains have all the rights, Britain has exited the EU and elected a hard right Nationalist government who have introduced “The Rules” - the death sentence for third criminal convictions or straight off for murder, and draconian other measures to bring criminals to heel. What’s clever about this book is that initially, a lot of what they propose makes sense - it’s the implementation that becomes seriously wrong.

Henry Deacon is the spoiled middle aged son of a senior government minister, while Christian Ledger is an artist living in a squat with his junkie girlfriend. Their separate stories, and those of other random characters, take a while to intersect, but the threads are gradually weaved into a complex plot. There is a bit too much coincidence linking Eddie to different events, but I can forgive this.

Eddie is a tough protagonist to like - bitter, antagonistic and self-destructive, and exploiting the goodwill of his friends, but gradually he does actually become a hero and is determined to do his job and see right prevail. I enjoyed the scientific details of CSI procedures, which added authenticity without holding up the plot. It’s pretty grim, with a high body count, but a satisfying ending, leaving things open for the rest of the series, which I will definitely be continuing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now although this is the first book in the CSI Eddie Collins series I have read a couple of the later books already but whoa this book is where his essence is really created. Eddie Collins is a pretty mixed up bloke, seen too much in his line of work as a CSI and spent too little time with his family. A drunk, most of the time, that only feels better when he can’t remember. He is at rock bottom, as you could say where he thinks things can’t get any worse but they do. When his drinking is the cause of being an hour late picking up his 12-year-old son for his birthday outing, from his estranged wife, terrible events take what is left of the bottom out of Eddie’s already crumbling world.

Eddie Collins isn’t the easiest man to like at the start of this book but really he does grow on you as the story goes on and believe me it is a massive a story of over 600 pages but don’t let put you off. This is one of those books that you find yourself picking up every minute that you have spare to the point of you are making time to read and working round that.


There is a pretty cool twist to this story as the crime in the UK rockets, serious measures have to be considered and so the death penalty is brought back with a three strike rule for some crimes like burglary. It’s a fool-proof system, they say. Well not quite if someone is determined to pin something on you it isn’t. There are a few story lines going on to begin with but they all tie together and become relevant as events come to a close. A real ripple effect through the classes from a young troubled girl with a drug problem and mental health issues, to a top politician.

There is every kind of character that you could imagine in this story from the arrogant and untouchable people who think they are above the law to the ones that know no-one wants to listen to them. Eddie Collins seems to be in the thick of it for the most of the story being both the hunted and the hunter. I went from not really like him to weeping for the man, well after 600 pages I had developed quite a connection with him.

A belting story. If you like me have jumped in to the series further down the line do come back to the roots. I feel I really understand Eddie Collins now. If you haven’t read any of this series then it is the perfect chance to start.

In a quite near future Britain, a new party has risen to power on a platform of stopping crime. The Rules are simple; break the law in any way, you’re on a Rule One. Three strikes… and you’re out, sent to the newly-built ‘slaughterhouses’ and put to death in a revived capital punishment law.

CSI Eddie Collins, reeling in the wake of personal tragedy, is just trying to get back to work and on with his life. Sent to examine the very car which took his son’s life in a hit-and-run by a vindictive colleague, he suddenly finds something to live for - revenge. But following the evidence, with the help of an old journalist friend, leads down a rabbit hole of corruption reaching to the very top of the government itself.

Author Andrew Barrett is a CSI himself, and it shows in the amazing attention to forensic detail in the story. There are a number of separate narratives and perspectives in the book, enough to puzzle the reader at the beginning, but slowly and surely Barrett pulls the threads of evidence together to finally reach a spectacular climax.

The story is a peculiarly British sort of dystopia; anyone who’s ever been to a council estate in the UK knows that atmosphere of hopelessness and despair, the lethargy and apathy or the residents who see no way out. Eddie Collins is a the antithesis of that despair, drinking to blot out his pain, yet also stalwartly determined to somehow carry on, outraged by the lazy attitudes of police desperate to close cases who don’t care that a Rule 3 means death, sometimes for the innocent.

I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of detailed character description; we never got a clear picture of what Eddie looked like, and his friend Ros who played such an important part was never described physically at all despite being a potential future love interest. (That said, I’d rather no description than an overly sexualised one, so maybe we’ll call that one a draw). I did find it strange that there were no cultural minority characters; everyone has a very English-sounding name and is therefore presumed to be default-white, and considering the ethnic variation found around the UK, and particularly in Yorkshire towns these days, that was an omission glaring enough to notice. It would have been interesting, for example, if Ros was black or from the Indian subcontinent, adding another layer of harassment for her to deal with, and if the artist Christian was also non-white. I find it hard to believe that a party which rose to power with such rhetoric and led by rich white men, wouldn’t have also had a strong position on illegal immigration, for example. Adding racial undertones would have added another layer of depth to the story and made the major characters much more three-dimensional.

The Third Rule is dark and gritty and at times downright depressing, but there’s also that thin thread of hope winding throughout; that yes, there are still decent people in the world who want to do the right thing, and yes, some of them are willing to go to any lengths to defend those who cannot defend themselves. I enjoyed the read despite wishing for more character depth and realistic minority representation, and therefore I’m giving it four stars.

This book is rather lengthy and I will be honest in that it is the longest book I have read for quite a while and it did take me a while to get in to the story, but I split the book over a few nights and was soon engrossed in the story.

Eddie Collins is a fantastic character, he has an excellent sense of humour and dry wit and I love that we are not given another book based solely on the various murder investigation teams, etc – whilst I do love those books, this one being based on SOCO and more the forensic aspect is a refreshing change.

I enjoyed the story and it is four stars from me for this one – I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!