This book gave me chills the whole time I read it. It has a really creepy vibe. The writing is good. That being said, I’m not sure why it was taken from the English version and spun to take place in America. The language, slang and amount of tea kettles don’t speak to America. If you read British authors like I do you will notice this pretty quickly. It doesn’t take away from the story but it is a small nitpick.

The characters were aplenty. Some of them I lost a bit along the way but found that they weren’t really important in the end game (never mentioned again). I liked the narrator and felt for her upon seeing her son ostracized. Did she go about things the wrong way? Yes, but haven’t we all done things we’re not proud of, spread or listened to gossip?

Did I expect the big twist? Yes, after a while I started to think it but there are so many little twists and red herrings that I wasn’t completely sure. The last reveal was excellent, breathtaking. This was a quick read, highly entertaining and I would recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy in exchange for a review.

The Rumor by Lesley Kara

Pub date: June 18,2019
Ballentine Books
Genre: fiction, mystery
Rating: 4/5

I received a digital copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Random House in exchange for an unbiased review.

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes—Mark Twain.

A cautionary tale of how rumors can develop a life of their own. Similarly, it explores how easily people can be misinterpreted and judged. Do people deserve to protect their privacy and life events? It seems that everyone is subject to interrogation for being too quiet and isolated or being a boisterous busybody!

“He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.”—Friedrich Nietzsche

Joanna Critchley, a real estate agent moved back to her hometown of Flintstead with her young son Alfie. She lives closer to her mother and hopes that her son will escape bullying and find some friends. She feels partly responsible as she has been reluctant to engage with the other mothers. She never married Alfie’s father, Michael Lewis, who is still very involved in their lives. She fears they don’t blend into the neighborhood being a single mom raising a mixed race child.

In an attempt to socialize with the other mothers at drop off at Perrydale Elementary, she questions a rumor repeated by Cathy who does not hesitate to express her option. Thus, the rumor becomes topic amongst the mom’s group who eventually embrace Joanna when they believe she has information regarding the rumor. She reluctantly accepts an invitation to join their Babysitting Circle in attempts to help Alfie’s social situation. The group consisting of Debbie Barton,Teri Monkton, Karen from book club, Fatima and her “neighbor and honorary mother” Kay.

Apparently, a woman named Sally McGowen, who served time for stabbing five-year-old Robbie Harris to death when she was ten-years-old, has relocated to their quiet seaside community. It was a sensational news story back in 1969 and she seemed to remain off the grid until reporters tracked her down six years following her release in 1981. The resurrection of this story ignited the interest of the town who are trying to uncover the truth of the rumor she may be living among them. It also stirs controversy regarding whether people who commit heinous crimes and if they are capable of reform.

At the urging of her mother, Jo joined a neighborhood book club where her circle of acquaintances widens. At the fourth meeting she struggles observing persistent questioning of the the newest member. She feels like people are allowed a live life without broadcasting it to the whole town. In Liz Blackthorne’s dining room,
with Maddie, Jenny, Barbara and Karen, Joanna interjects with the rumor she had heard at school much to the surprise of everyone. She succeeded in changing the conversation but soon regrets sharing this with women she barely knew.

The story did get a bit confusing for me to keep track of the many characters involved with Joanna and how she knew them. The story maintains mystery and raises questions as it unfolds and people become paranoid about whether a killer is living in Flintstead. Many question why her identity should matter and others are eager to condemn raising suspicion and unrest in the quiet town. The truth is that we don’t have any control over other people and what they perceive their truth to be. Often, the people pointing their fingers at others are merely trying to distract attention from themselves.

That ending was a punch to the gut. I love when a book makes me rethink everything I thought I knew. Quick read. Interesting plot and seriously the ending had me a little sick to my stomach in a good way. Great beach read that will keep you glued to your beach chair!

How I love a good rumor! This is very telephone game-ish. I really enjoyed this and took me down memory lane with the theme. Loved this book! Such a great thriller! And love the cover art!

For a debut novel, this was good writing. There were a few parts that felt kind of slow, but I pushed through & glad that I did. This book sure has truth to it. One small rumor in a small town can spread like wildfire!
I look forward to seeing more from Lesley Kara!

This was a solid suspense read, with some nice twists in the middle that kept my attention and a stand out third act. As I approached the mid-point I was afraid there wasn't enough to sustain it, but then it delivered some pleasant surprises. Overall A+ read if you like cozy coastal settings and true crime underpinings to your suspense novels.

But I will say that while I really enjoyed the book, I wish I could compare it to the UK (original) edition. The acknowledgments thank the US publishing team for helping the author adapt it for the US market and I have so many questions:
Was the book originally set in the UK?
Was it set a few years ago?

OK those are my only two questions lol. Because I did have some issues where I kept being pulled out of the book because of how painfully obvious it was that a British person wrote it. I honestly wish it weren't set in the US because it just felt so so so British. There are phrases that come out of characters' mouths that completely took me out of the story--things an American would never say, colloquialisms. (I believe one that jumped out at me was "putting the kettle on")

And there's a point where the 34-year-old allegedly American MC and her partner (assumed to be the same age) remark they remember the media coverage of a child killer and artwork done about her, and I was so confused. I had to look up if it was a real person. And it is: a British case that an average American Millennial WOULD NOT KNOW or remember. I am 35--same ballpark as the protagonist, and I'm media/pop culture/art savvy (and morbid enough that I love learning about serial murderers and other killers, including when I was a literal teenager) and it was not something I heard "as a teenager." I looked up the painting--it came out in 1995, when I was 12--so the MC and her partner acting like it was total normal pop culture knowledge when they were "teens"? Took me out of the book. And remember back in 1995 we didn't have widely available Internet or social media--a hyper localized UK story like that wouldn't have and clearly did not travel across the pond to me, an American pre-teen the same age as the protagonist who allegedly is from the same country as me. Honestly I could have forgiven the colloquialisms, but this kind of broke me. As a reader, I hate when an author is clearly older than her characters and inserts their own pop culture knowledge into the head of a character who couldn't possibly have it. (this happens in YA a lot)

I would have happily read the same book but set in the UK--would have worked just fine, if not better? If it WAS going to be set in the US, the colloquialisms (things like putting the tea on, etc., nipping out for things) should have been changed, and the Myra art thing better contextualized.

BUT, still a 4-star read. Love the third act--the book lands incredibly well. I can see suspense readers really loving it.

This was a very good read. I did not figure out who the childhood killer was. Each character plays a part in this book. Some more than others. The writing flowed and the suspense factor is there. Good read. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

This book was really, really good! I loved the interweaving of the characters’ points of views and how even the hints of who the mystery person was really still kept you guessing. Loved it!!!

I feel this one had a lot of potential but had way too many red herrings. It was hard to follow at times and ultimately very predictable.

I really was loving this book until the end. The story was fascinating and it really shows you the havoc one rumor can wreak on a small town and it’s inhabitants. However, the end was so completely unbelievable that it ruined the book for me.

Loved the sound of this book!!

This definitely caught my attention by the cover and the title!

Single mother Joanna shares a rumour at her child's school...desperate to fit in with the other moms. I don't think she knew what she was getting herself into... let's just say you can never go back.

This initially started out with a bang but I caught myself rolling my eyes and it just sort of became painful to read after awhile. I was skimming and it just became so repetitive after awhile my goodness.

There were so many characters and unnecessary information at the beginning to middle that I was just getting super confused! I also saw all of the twists playing out wayyyy before the story was revealed.

Characterization was weak and just not enough umph to the story in my opinion. I was super disappointed and unfortunately this a thriller that did not deliver at all.

This book had SO much potential but was lacking in so many areas.

I didn't overall enjoy this one and would give this a 2.5 stars.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 6/18/19
Published to Goodreads: 3/27/19

Great debut novel by Lesley Kara. The Rumor is well written, an engrossing psychological thriller.
As the title suggests, a rumor starts in a small town, with single mom Joanna doing her best to fit in. Who would think a little neighborhood gossip would have such consequences?
Not giving too much away, because the story wouldn’t have as much impact if I go through the plo! But The Rumor was an enjoyable ride!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased opinion.

Joanna Critchley has just moved, and is eager to make new friends. Overhearing a rumor that a woman who killed a child when she herself was just a child may well be living in her new town, she gossips to the other mothers at the school to fit in. It works. The women are quite interested in this tidbit, and invite Joanna to their book club and babysitting group. Soon, Joanna and the women begin to suspect other women in the town. When Joanna begins receiving threatening messages regarding her son Alfie, she knows she must put a stop to these rumors by finding out once and for all who the suspected child killer is. But her search for the truth leads her down a very dark and dangerous path, one that could get her and her loved ones killed.

This was a quick read, and very engrossing. It definitely kept me guessing.

I really enjoyed this book! Characters were fully developed and the story kept my interest the entire time. I didn't know "who did it" until the end and loved the last two pages with the mama's little secret! I was very entertained!

Wow. There are very few books that keep me guessing until the very last page. Lesley Kara manages to shock the reader time and again in this thriller.
Joanna passes on an innocent rumor she overheard to deflect from another woman in her book club. Before she knows it it’s take on legs and spread, as rumors tend to do. But this particular rumor leads to the unraveling of this quiet, seaside town and leaves everyone suspicious of everyone else.
Highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.
The opinions expressed below are solely my own.

The Rumor will make you think twice before you think to spread one! You never know how it could bite you in the ass!

A solid 3 - 3..5 star rating for a solid mystery. The book was a little slow at first, it took me time to be convinced that I should care about our heroine, Joanne, her beau, Michael and their son, little Alfie. The characters were introduced without much interest at first, but the book picked up when the mystery started to unravel. I appreciated the use of red herrings and the wide field of suspects. The author did not shy away from voicing Jo's suspicions, and no stone was left unturned - except one. I enjoyed the twist but found the ending a bit outlandish - *spoilers ahead* - that Sally would have ended up living in the same town as the niece of the boy she killed at age 10. And that the boy's cancer-ridden sister would move and try to exact her revenge. The very end of the book does question whether Sally was living the life she deserved - or did she get away with it all?

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. All I can say is wow, wow, wow followed by another wow! This book is a thriller that does not disappoint. Throughout the story I was trying to figure out "who done it". The author does a great job giving you just enough information so you think you've figured everything out to only turn things upside down and drag you down another path. The ending, holy cow, don't even get me started about the ending of the book! I sat for hours on a lazy Sunday finishing this book while I had a hundred other things I should have been doing. I not only highly recommend this book, I recommend taking your phone off hook and telling your family and friend you won't be available for the rest of the day.

'Rumors are like seeds, scattered on the wind. There's no telling where they'll land, but land they will. Setting in cracks, and crevices, the roots take hold. The seed sprout. It doesn't matte if they're true or false. The more times they're spoken, the faster and stronger they grow. Like weeds, waving in the air."

Joanna is just trying to fit in with the other Moms at her son's new school, when she repeats a rumor that she has heard....that a notorious killer, is living under a new identity, in their small seaside town.

Who is Sally McGown?

Everyone becomes obsessed in figuring out who she could be...all women in the correct age range, or with the correct initials, becomes a "suspect".

Joanna shares the 'rumor with her son's father, Michael, an investigative reporter, and the two scour the internet for old stories, and videos about Sally. He wants to flush her out and offer her a chance to tell her 'version of the truth, in the form of a book. The two have no idea about what they have started when they share this rumor.

"One casual remark. One whispered secret. That's all it takes to set the wheels in motion and change the course of a life. Once, some poor woman they thought was me was driven out of her home. She lost her job, her reputation, her peace of mind. Ended up throwing herself in front of a high speed train."


Inspired by a sensational true crime story, this debut novel had an interesting premise, and an ENGAGING writing style...…..but, it had a few flaws as well....

There were too many characters, for starters. I thought I needed to make a flow chart in the beginning to keep them all straight. Come to find out, some had no real purpose in the story other than (for example) to be part of a book club meeting that Joanna attends one time, and they never appear in the story again, and since they were moms of Alfie's classmates, they were not even the right age to be viable "suspects".

The main characters were not well developed either.

Nor was Michael's investigation into the case.

The sensational ending, did not really work for me either, though to be fair, since I am not familiar with the actual event, perhaps that IS similar to how it all played out?

I think that if the author had written this as woman's fiction, instead of as a thriller, it would've worked much better. Exploring further the ramifications of how a crime committed as a child, a fresh start, and then a rumor exposing your past, makes you have to start over again, was the strong part of the story...not the "thriller" part.

I guessed who Sally McGown was pretty early on, so I was not surprised.

3.5 stars rounded down....



I would like to thank Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and the author for the digital ARC I was provided in exchange for a candid review! This was a version edited for an American audience from the original book published in the U.K.-available in the U.S on June 18th, 2019!

An unputtdownable and captivating read! If this is what she writes for her debut novel I can't wait to see what comes next! I devoured this one. I know many readers are going to go crazy for it too. Highly recommended!