The Rule of Threes: A Novella (Special Agent Constant Marlowe)

4 4 out of 5 stars | 11,467 ratings

Price: 1.99

Last update: 01-10-2025


About this item



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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the rule of threes

Top reviews from the United States

Book Club Member
5.0 out of 5 stars The Mystery of a Serial Killer and an Old Treaty
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024
The work of a potential serial killer brought Agent Constant Marlowe of the Illinois State Department of Criminal Investigation to the small town of Clark Valley, where she was paired with a Native American local deputy named Zo Eventide. Local Sheriff Tremain seemed like a stereotypical small town law enforcement officer who would be indignant that an agent from the state was taking over his case, but his forensics skills were topnotch, and he and Marlowe worked well together. An early narrator of the book was Joseph Ray Whelan, a man obsessed with the number three. He engaged in stalking and compulsive thoughts and actions, leading me to wonder when he would strike next. After two women were attacked and killed, author Jeffery Deaver had me anticipating the third death. A family of possible witnesses to the second death seemed to be in danger. The investigation by Marlowe and Eventide was sidetracked by locals who were upset that a recently-resurfaced centuries-old treaty might result in major parts of Clark Valley being turned over to a local native tribe. The women were shot at and run off the road into a body of water. There was plenty of excitement to go around even before Deaver set me back on my heels with a major switcheroo. This was the first of Deaver's books that I have read, but it won't be the last.
Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Unusual Ending
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
It was a very interesting read, but the ending is very unusual. I guess it keeps the ending to the readers imagination. Overall a very interesting story.
Mighty Mujo
3.0 out of 5 stars I expected more
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024
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.
A Constant Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a very reluctant 5-Star rating.
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2024
The Rule of Threes is a gripping story - it grabs you from the first page and pulls you right along for its entirety. Not only that, the characters feel very real, and are each likable in their own way. They are drawn well enough that they could very easily be successful series characters. And the story has enough twists to be compared to a mountain road. As a personal addition to all of that, the story is set right where I lived and worked for two years, although the author or time has changed some of the geography and culture of the area since then. So why is my 5 Star rating reluctant? There was a writing style used that I found very distracting, and which pulled me out of the story. It was so distracting I almost gave up on continuing the effort to read it several times. I am glad that I didn't, but if the story and the characters had not been so good, I would have rated it a 1 or 2 because it was so distracting. But the story was good enough that I finished it, and am trying another book by Mr. Deaver to see if that is his usual writing style or just something he was trying out for this novella.
MOCedar
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Fast Read
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
A predictable straight forward novella. Would of like more twists and turns to keep me guessing. Overall a fun book to read.
Jean S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing is as it seems!
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2024
My first read from this author, and wow what a read! With The Rle of Threes, I am now officially a Jeffery Deavers fan. The book description does a great job of setting the reader up for a serial killer'scrime spree, but there is just so much more going on here.

I loved the characters, the good guys and even the bad guy's with their complexity! The FMC, Constant Marlow, is one multi-layered character. There is so much more to her back story that I want to know! Intrigued! And, Sherriff Frank Tremain is a surprise!

The twists and turns were expected to keep a great plot going, but just when I thought it was all sewn up, the author blew me away with yet a few more twists!

The writing tactic the author used, initially had me scratching my head. At times, things were a bit confusing, but in the full scope of the story, it was genius! I seriously hope this is only the beginning of a series. I love it!
AJ
4.0 out of 5 stars Jeffrey Deaver didn't disappoint...
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024
A surprise towards the end. Constant Marlowe is one bad-ass woman! Glad to see she evolving too. Need to check his other books
J. Salvatore Domino
3.0 out of 5 stars Meh. Some Good, Some Not So Good
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2024
I had high hopes for this book, but they waned quickly.

The good - A couple of good characters. The protagonist, Constant Marlowe, is a cool but typically flawed police detective. Marlowe is not only dealing with catching a current set of bad guys, but she is also dealing with her past demons.

The bad - The mix of plotlines often got blurred making me ask if they were somehow connected. It became overly complex. It was all an attempt to fashion a surprise ending.

I picked this book because it was supposed to be a novella. I like short reads. It was way long, too long. I stopped reading several times but went back hoping it would pick up. It was okay, just nothing to make me want to read more.

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