How far would you go to achieve the goal of your dreams?
All Nicholas Burr wants to do is traditionally publish a mystery novel. Sure, he’s had some success as a ghost writer for a young adult series, but that’s not the same. It’s not even close. Camille, his long-suffering wife, has had enough. She’s tired of being the bread winner. Tired of listening to him prattle on about his next project. Tired of…him. Nicholas Burr is desperate. Would he do something rash? Something unexpected? Something so outrageous it would get everyone’s attention? Yet if there’s one thing he knows, it’s that he must follow the rules. 
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"Rules of Desperation" won the Silver
Award from The Bookfest in the Mystery--Thriller category for 2024.
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What Readers Are Saying!
Another Winner From Mark Love
Rules of Desperation, Mark Love’s latest novel, is a wonderful addition to his already-impressive body of work. Like all great thriller writers, Love keeps the ground shifting under the reader constantly as unexpected twists and turns force us to reevaluate what we think we know throughout the book (following Rule #3: Misdirection is good). Love masterfully combines elements of many different genres—the book is part love story, part murder mystery, part police procedural, part courtroom drama, part domestic tragedy—into an immensely enjoyable read. Complex characters ranging from ex-cons to bank managers populate the book and bounce crazily off of each other under Love’s sure narrative control. Rules of Desperation is one of those rare books that is hard to put down and hard to forget about afterwards. A must-read for fans of fast-moving, quality fiction.
~Donald Levin, PhD; Author of The Martin Preuss Mysteries, Savage City, The Arsenal of Deceit, and The Ghosts of Detroit
Rules of Desperation, Mark Love’s latest novel, is a wonderful addition to his already-impressive body of work. Like all great thriller writers, Love keeps the ground shifting under the reader constantly as unexpected twists and turns force us to reevaluate what we think we know throughout the book (following Rule #3: Misdirection is good). Love masterfully combines elements of many different genres—the book is part love story, part murder mystery, part police procedural, part courtroom drama, part domestic tragedy—into an immensely enjoyable read. Complex characters ranging from ex-cons to bank managers populate the book and bounce crazily off of each other under Love’s sure narrative control. Rules of Desperation is one of those rare books that is hard to put down and hard to forget about afterwards. A must-read for fans of fast-moving, quality fiction.
~Donald Levin, PhD; Author of The Martin Preuss Mysteries, Savage City, The Arsenal of Deceit, and The Ghosts of Detroit
Great murderous plot!
Great read! Love takes the reader on so many twists and turns with the plot. Just when you think you know who murdered Camille, he takes you down a different plot twist! He had my attention all the way to the very end! I typically do not read mysteries, but so glad I read this one. I highly recommend reading Love’s latest release!
~Adele Garcia
Great read! Love takes the reader on so many twists and turns with the plot. Just when you think you know who murdered Camille, he takes you down a different plot twist! He had my attention all the way to the very end! I typically do not read mysteries, but so glad I read this one. I highly recommend reading Love’s latest release!
~Adele Garcia
A mystery that has elements of pulp fiction and hard-boiled mystery
Desperate to get his mystery book published, Nicholas takes matters into his own hands with disastrous consequences. Rules of Desperation is a mystery that has elements of pulp fiction and hard-boiled mystery. The premise is well-conceived while the narration yanks the reader into the mystery. The characters are not likable but very realistic. Writers will relate to Nicholas and his yearning to get published. If you’re a fan of Mickey Spillane and pulp fiction with morally gray characters, you’ll love Rules of Desperation.
The narration is the cornerstone to this mystery, a vehicle to propel the story. Every scene is detailed as is the investigation. What really happened is unveiled slowly through the narration of the various characters. What really happened isn’t revealed until the very end.
The characters are another reason to love Rules of Desperation. Nicholas is a man desperate to get his mystery published. Is he the murderer or is it just a coincidence his wife is murdered? Is his mind warped or is it just his imagination? Mark Love creates an intriguing morally gray hero. Nicholas is not a strong main character but is your average guy with an annoying demoralizing wife. Did I connect with him? No, but I couldn’t look away. It was like watching a car wreck. I just had to see what happened next.
The rest of the characters are realistic and well-written. Each character is not easy to peg down but intriguing none the less. The detectives on the case are well-written and their detecting is classic Mark Love.
The plot unfolds at a good pace with false clues, dead ends, and many suspects to weed through. The writing is part pulp fiction, part homage to Stephen King. Rules of Desperation is an original little mystery, unlike anything I’ve read before.
~N.N. Light
Desperate to get his mystery book published, Nicholas takes matters into his own hands with disastrous consequences. Rules of Desperation is a mystery that has elements of pulp fiction and hard-boiled mystery. The premise is well-conceived while the narration yanks the reader into the mystery. The characters are not likable but very realistic. Writers will relate to Nicholas and his yearning to get published. If you’re a fan of Mickey Spillane and pulp fiction with morally gray characters, you’ll love Rules of Desperation.
The narration is the cornerstone to this mystery, a vehicle to propel the story. Every scene is detailed as is the investigation. What really happened is unveiled slowly through the narration of the various characters. What really happened isn’t revealed until the very end.
The characters are another reason to love Rules of Desperation. Nicholas is a man desperate to get his mystery published. Is he the murderer or is it just a coincidence his wife is murdered? Is his mind warped or is it just his imagination? Mark Love creates an intriguing morally gray hero. Nicholas is not a strong main character but is your average guy with an annoying demoralizing wife. Did I connect with him? No, but I couldn’t look away. It was like watching a car wreck. I just had to see what happened next.
The rest of the characters are realistic and well-written. Each character is not easy to peg down but intriguing none the less. The detectives on the case are well-written and their detecting is classic Mark Love.
The plot unfolds at a good pace with false clues, dead ends, and many suspects to weed through. The writing is part pulp fiction, part homage to Stephen King. Rules of Desperation is an original little mystery, unlike anything I’ve read before.
~N.N. Light
Must Read!
Rules of Desperation by Mark Love is a creative story full of unexpected twists. A unique story line that will keep you guessing till the last page. I read this book in one weekend because I couldn’t put it down and I had to know what happened. What truly sets Love apart as a writer is his ability to hook the reader from the first sentence.
I highly recommend this book if you love a good mystery! Also, check out Love’s other books too!
~Mike
Rules of Desperation by Mark Love is a creative story full of unexpected twists. A unique story line that will keep you guessing till the last page. I read this book in one weekend because I couldn’t put it down and I had to know what happened. What truly sets Love apart as a writer is his ability to hook the reader from the first sentence.
I highly recommend this book if you love a good mystery! Also, check out Love’s other books too!
~Mike