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Jeffery Deaver
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The Rule of Threes: A Novella (Special Agent Constant Marlowe) Kindle Edition

by Jeffery Deaver (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 12,741 ratings

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.

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  1. Part of series
    Special Agent Constant Marlowe
  2. Print length
    261 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Amazon Original Stories
  5. Publication date
    March 1, 2024
  6. File size
    9.5 MB
  7. Page Flip
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  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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From the Publisher

the rule of threes

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Special Agent Constant Marlowe is far more comfortable in the shadows, but the spotlight’s on her in this twisty novella. I first met this unstoppable character in the serial collection The Broken Doll, going rogue on a personal revenge mission, and I was thrilled when author Jeff Deaver told me that he thought she needed a standalone case of her own.

When Constant is called in to take over a serial killer investigation in the small Midwestern town of Clark Valley, she expects suspicion from the locals. But nothing prepares her for the swamp she’s about to step into. In Clark Valley, history runs very close to the surface—and it bubbles up when you least expect it. As the countdown to the next murder begins, it’s all Constant can do to keep her head above water.

—Kjersti Egerdahl, Editor

About the Author

Jeffery Deaver is the New York Times bestselling author of forty-seven novels, including most recently The Watchmaker’s Hand, Hunting Time, and The Midnight Lock, as well as ninety short stories, including The Broken Doll collection featuring Constant Marlowe. His books are sold in 150 countries; have been translated into twenty-five languages; and have received or been short-listed for dozens of awards, including the Edgar, Anthony, and Shamus.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CHCTW4TW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Original Stories (March 1, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 9.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 261 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 12,741 ratings

About the author

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Jeffery Deaver

Jeffery Deaver

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Jeffery Deaver is an international number-one bestselling author. His novels have appeared on bestseller lists around the world. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into over twenty-five languages. He has served two terms as president of Mystery Writers of America, and was recently named a Grand Master of MWA, whose ranks include Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Mary Higgins Clark and Walter Mosely.

The author of over forty novels, three collections of short stories and a nonfiction law book, and a lyricist of a country-western album, he’s received or been shortlisted for dozens of awards. His "The Bodies Left Behind" was named Novel of the Year by the International Thriller Writers association, and his Lincoln Rhyme thriller "The Broken Window" and a stand-alone, "Edge," were also nominated for that prize. "The Garden of Beasts" won the Steel Dagger from the Crime Writers Association in England. He’s also been nominated for eight Edgar Awards by the MWA.

Deaver has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, the Strand Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Raymond Chandler Lifetime Achievement Award in Italy.

His book "A Maiden’s Grave" was made into an HBO movie starring James Garner and Marlee Matlin, and his novel "The Bone Collector" was a feature release from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Lifetime aired an adaptation of his "The Devil’s Teardrop." NBC television recently aired the nine-episode prime-time series, "Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector."

You can find out more about Jeffery on his website www.jefferydeaver.com, Facebook page facebook.com/JefferyDeaver, and follow him on Twitter @JefferyDeaver.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
12,741 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's twists and turns, with one noting it's better than most mysteries, and find it an enjoyable page-turner that holds their attention throughout. The character development receives positive feedback, with one review highlighting the strong female detective protagonist, while the pacing is fast and engaging. The writing style receives mixed reactions, with some finding it thoughtfully written while others consider it a terrible read.

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213 customers mention "Twists and turns"163 positive50 negative

Customers enjoy the book's twists and turns, describing it as a murder mystery with unexpected plot developments, with one customer noting it has more twists than a roller coaster.

"...She tough and no nonsense. This book had a good twist for the end, then another thrown in." Read more

"Oh my gosh! This story had me filled from beginning to end. Excellent twist and turns with characters. Very good book." Read more

"Jeffery Deaver delivered a great murder mystery with plot twists you don't see coming. And the detective is was a truly unique character...." Read more

"Surprise ending, but took almost too long to get there. Lots of red herrings. An enjoyable read, especially with the last minute twists and turns." Read more

121 customers mention "Readability"121 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an enjoyable page turner that keeps readers engaged.

"I always like reading about Constant. She tough and no nonsense. This book had a good twist for the end, then another thrown in." Read more

"...Excellent twist and turns with characters. Very good book." Read more

"...that I've read, I expected a more coherent story from a famous, best-selling author...." Read more

"...Lots of red herrings. An enjoyable read, especially with the last minute twists and turns." Read more

74 customers mention "Character development"64 positive10 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them interesting and strong, with one customer specifically praising the compelling female detective.

"...The story flowed fairly well and the characters were interesting enough, but at first, before Deaver pulled it together a bit with the unexpected..." Read more

"...And the detective is was a truly unique character. This is one of the best mysteries I've read!" Read more

"...I did enjoy the main character, Constant Marlowe, who is a strong and persistent fighter for the justice system...." Read more

"...more predictable than usual but they are there, along with a cast of nasty characters...." Read more

25 customers mention "Pacing"20 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a fast read.

"...A quick, enjoyable read for this rainy day spent at home." Read more

"...You’ll get a feel for his writing style, plot pacing & character development so you can decide if you’re interesting in reading more of Deaver’s work." Read more

"...Not fast paced but a steady pace without getting boring or too slow. An enjoyable read; I’ll be picking up with the next book in the series." Read more

"...The ending was a surprise. The author kept you guessing. Quick read that I would recommend if you like crime dramas." Read more

15 customers mention "Interest"12 positive3 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one review noting how it draws readers into each scene, while another mentions how it pulls you right along from start to finish.

"...Fast-paced storyline with descriptive writing that draws the reader into each scene. Plenty of twists to keep one guessing...." Read more

"The Rule of Threes is a gripping story - it grabs you from the first page and pulls you right along for its entirety...." Read more

"...As usually, he is able to educate, hold one’ s interest, without making one feel inept. Read all his books over the years. Never disappoints!" Read more

"...enjoyed reading Jeffery Dealer's novels before, but this book is unusually dull and convoluted...." Read more

85 customers mention "Writing style"50 positive35 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with some finding it thoughtfully and consistently well-written, while others describe it as terrible.

"I always like reading about Constant. She tough and no nonsense. This book had a good twist for the end, then another thrown in." Read more

"...The plot had several holes where I was unable to "suspend disbelief."..." Read more

"...Excellent twist and turns with characters. Very good book." Read more

"...Another great book from the master storyteller Jeffery Deaver!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Steve Howard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read with Twists
    Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I always like reading about Constant. She tough and no nonsense. This book had a good twist for the end, then another thrown in.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Daddy dearest
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Oh my gosh! This story had me filled from beginning to end. Excellent twist and turns with characters. Very good book.
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  • Mighty Mujo
    3.0 out of 5 stars I expected more
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Frankly, though this is the first book by Deaver that I've read, I expected a more coherent story from a famous, best-selling author. The plot had several holes where I was unable to "suspend disbelief." The story flowed fairly well and the characters were interesting enough, but at first, before Deaver pulled it together a bit with the unexpected plot twist, I intended to give the book only 2 stars. Then there is Chapter 9. Chapter 9 - oh my God, Chapter 9! - was such a ridiculously implausible "jumping the shark" moment that I had to put my Kindle aside for a while and consider whether the book deserved any more of my time. I eventually decided to keep reading, but only just. In the end, however, there were just too many actions in the book that were too implausible for real life, including the conspiracy of some locals to protect the psychotic murderers - just not at all realistic for a real world scenario.
    37 people found this helpful
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  • Dr. C
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent murder mystery!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Jeffery Deaver delivered a great murder mystery with plot twists you don't see coming. And the detective is was a truly unique character. This is one of the best mysteries I've read!
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  • Shari H.
    4.0 out of 5 stars A slow meandering ride
    Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Surprise ending, but took almost too long to get there. Lots of red herrings. An enjoyable read, especially with the last minute twists and turns.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Story, Quick Read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The author did a good job of painting a story of an expected killer, but the twists and turns take it in a different direction.
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  • R. K. C.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is an edge of your seat thriller that has so many twists and turns and antagonists you won’t figure out the plot until the last chapters. Another great book from the master storyteller Jeffery Deaver!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • John Jenkins
    3.0 out of 5 stars A novella?
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Most internet sources indicate that the lengths of novellas are 70 to 160 pages, whereas novels are 200 pages or longer. The Rule of Threes is a 261-page book which clearly seems to qualify as a novel, but perhaps Mr. Deaver classifies it as a novella because most of his other novels are in the neighborhood of 400 pages.

    The book is an enjoyable page turner with some clever plot twists. Mr. Deaver frequently uses incomplete sentences – primarily to reflect the train of thought of the characters. This technique mostly works but seems overdone.

    One character places significance on the number three and focuses on events occurring in series of three. There is even a reference to the Pythagorean Theorem, which defines the relationship between the lengths of the three sides of a right triangle, but the author’s definition of this mathematical rule is in error.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Tigermike Book Musings
    4.0 out of 5 stars feels somewhat undeveloped, plenty of action
    Reviewed in Australia on May 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A serial killer short story, The Rule of Threes by Jefferey Deaver (2024) is a sadly too brief thriller. Constant Marlowe is a special agent sent to a small Midwest town to solve two recent brutal murders. As she investigates, she is not aware of how closely the killer is following her, so he can get rid of any witnesses to his crimes. Constance is herself attacked twice but deals effectively with her unwanted attention from local hillbilly activists. On the short side with only 261 pages, it felt somewhat undeveloped and not so captivating a tale. Nonetheless, an average murder mystery with a three stars read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.
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  • venmar
    5.0 out of 5 stars ottimo
    Reviewed in Italy on January 30, 2025
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  • Critical
    5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific twist
    Reviewed in Canada on February 26, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting characters and storyline. Crisp writing without a lot of fill. There are multiple twists at the end that made my head spin.
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  • Richard Latham
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing is what it seems, apparently!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    If Jeffrey Deaver had an alto-ego her stage name would be Miss Direction.

    In this short story he re-introduces us to Special Agent Constant Marlowe. A compelling and unconventional law enforcement officer worthy of a whole book all to herself, if not a series as the investigator.

    That said I just found the team she heads up in Bowman County a complete delight and full of interesting characters. Initially the Sheriff feels put out that her specialist skills in hunting and capturing serial killing takes the investigation out of his hands. But in part due to his shared values, her personality and a willing team of officers not used to serious crime makes for an engaging story.

    I struggled with the first third of the novella as it seemed like a grisly case of a mounting death count with Marlowe unable to identify the perpetrator or save the next victim.

    Perhaps with a less trusted author I might of given up rather than re-reading the first few chapters again. But I have always been gratified by Deaver’s story telling and therefore resolved to read it in full in one sitting.

    I wasn’t disappointed. I was completely bemused and left wondering what was going on and the plot twists and turns like the Mississippi River. I just loved the links with Tom Sawyer and this threw me as well.

    I think the amateur detective and the knowledge gained from true-life crime documentaries was a starting point for the author here. A work of great skill and plot manipulation which should flummox the most ardent follower of this genre.

    So glad I read it finally at my third attempt and so disappointed that it finished so abruptly when I could have continued in this story for many more hours.
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  • rajasekhar kotturi
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in India on November 22, 2024
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    Good
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