***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE RUMOR by Lesley Kara in exchange for my honest review.***

5 THRILLING STARS

Wow! Lesley Kara’s debut was a a home run, touchdown and every sports metaphor you can imagine rolled up into one. I’ve been let down by boring, predictable thrillers of late, but not by Kara. I couldn’t put THE RUMOR down and never anticipated most of the twists and turns.

Jo is such a great character. In the beginning, she uses social capital that a rumor that a child killer from half a century ago lives in their small New Jersey town. When she hears the responses of vengeance from other mothers, she immediately regrets her decision. Soon people in the town decide a shop owner is the former ten-year-old girl who killed the little boy 50 years ago. Michael, her son’s father and on and off lover, uses his journalistic resources to determine, yes, the former killer lives in town and no, she isn’t Sonia.

Kara does a wonderful job making so many people possible suspects, the overly friendly older woman, the prickly homeowner selling her house, the shopkeeper, a few of the book club members. I was positive I knew the answer and blown away by my wrong assumption.

I couldn’t put THE RUMOR down. The pace was fast and heart thumping over the last 25%. Kara doesn’t stop until the very last sentence.

Mystery, Thriller and Women’s lit lovers will enjoy THE RUMOR.

#TheRumor #LeslieKara

The Rumor is about what happens when rumors spread and what happens when secrets are kept for decades. In this book, nothing is as it seems, but sometimes everything is what it seems.

This book is full of red herrings and false leads. I found it completely implausible and very lame. I would not recommend it.

I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley.

I enjoyed The Rumor by Lesley Kara and would definitely read her next novel. The novel takes place in a sleepy little town where a woman named Jo and her son Alfie has recently moved. Jo innocently shares a rumor that she has heard about a famous child killer living in the town also. Jo shares this rumor in order to make friends with the women at her children's school. In her quest to find out if the murderer is still in town she finds herself the target of who she thinks is the child killer. Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

This a gripping and entertaining read.
The plot is engaging and moves swiftly. Although at some points I had to suspend my disbelief, but hey this is fiction and some imagination adds to the fun.

I still could relate to the main character and her desire as any mother to do the best for her child.
Also the theme of how rumors could wreck havoc is very relatable, and I really did like that ending!

Thanks Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was a good story,, a fast read and each chapter kept me engaged. I do feel certain parts of the story was a bit far fetched but it was definitely work of an imagination. I could easily relate to jo being a devoted mother and try to give her son the best life, and how easy rumors can start and get out of hand. Oh and that ending 😯😉

I started reading the Rumor expecting a twisty ride but had I had no idea how twisting it would be. I was totally blindsided. If you are looking for a fast paced thriller full of surprises this is it. I highly recommend it.

I wasn't impressed with this book. I got very annoyed that Michal's skin color kept coming up. There were also too many holes in the story and they story seemed to veer off course with things that were not necessary.
It just wasn't for me.

This book will keep you riveted from page one to the end and you cannot miss a page! What a totally awesome and unexpected ending! Great read for the summer.

This book was amazing! It had a well-developed plot, strong characters, suspense and drama. I am anticipating the next book from this author.

Thank you in advance for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was excruciating to get through. I found the story very tedious with too many characters who had nothing to do with the story and a whole lot of unnecessary details that led no where. Also, why was Michaels skin color constantly being mentioned? Anyway, the three main twists in the book I saw coming from a mile away. The ending was also unrealistic and once finished with the book I found that there were a lot of holes in the plot. I had high hopes for this one but it did not live up to the hype for me.
I want to thank netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Tuner is a fantastic thriller that will keep you flipping the pages till early morning hours. Fabulous writing and characters.

3.5 rounded up to 4

I was looking forward to this one because I really enjoy domestic drama/thrillers and I'm happy to report that The Rumor was a solid and entertaining debut book!

It follows (kind of) single mother Joanna returns to the seaside town of Flinstead with her young son Alfie for a fresh start/to be closer to her own mother. (I say “kind of” single mother because Alfie’s father is still in the picture, although they are technically not together in a traditional way.)

The rumor that Joanna accidentally helps spread is that a notorious child killer has been released with a new identity and could be living in their small town.

Lesley Kara does a great job at making everyone seem suspicious and there are plenty of plot twists, red herrings, and high anxiety moments. My main gripe was that the book moved way too slow at some points and there was a lot of plot filler.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Joanna (Jo) lives in a cozy seaside town, a single mother raising her son with occasional visits and babysitting help from her mother, who lives nearby, and sometime visits from her son's father. One day, the title rumor crosses Jo's path: a notorious criminal, someone who murdered a child 50 years ago as a juvenile and was released with a new identity, is supposedly living IN THEIR TOWN. Who could it be, the mothers in the schoolyard buzz, while pulling their children a little closer to them. Jo brings up the rumor a few times, and obsesses over the case a bit. As strange things begin to happen to Jo, she begins to get creeped out by her solitary lifestyle. Is someone watching her? What lengths will someone go to to get Jo to stop talking about the rumor?

Lesley Kara has managed to write a town that could be in any country (well, any country that's not landlocked, since the sea is referenced often). Her characters could be people all of us know: the mother who worries about her child not making friends, the gossipy neighbors, the town scapegoats. With historic newspaper articles interspersed to remind the reader of the horror of the crime committed, Jo's tension is palpable in the telling. With an early mention of the town's population being full of retirees, the number of suspects is practically limitless. It is a book that may make parents look a little harder at the people they know- the case is reminiscent of Jamie Bulger, whose juvenile killers were also released from detention with new identities. One continues to commit crimes and is basically no secret as to who he is, while the other has essentially vanished into society. How well do you know your neighbors? Even if you live in a family compound, Kara will make you feel like you don't know them at all.

I loved this book. I began reading it one night and finished it the next. Joanna finds herself in the midst of a mystery that she wishes she hadn't learned about or mentioned to anyone. Solving it begins to consume her and she finds herself googling a person's name when she isn't busy. This opens up a big can of worms that turns out even uglier because the answer ends up being far too close to home.

A well-written thriller that focuses on complicated (or false) friendships and family situations, with multiple generations trying to learn how to fit into society while maintaining one's own messy uniqueness. The plot is so twisty that I almost got whiplash, but I found this book more entertaining and believable than many of the "shocking secrets" books I have read. Perfect summer reading.

Have you ever accidentally said something that you did not intend people to take seriously, however next thing you know it’s all that they seem to talk or care about? Well that’s exactly what happens in this fast paced, satisfying thriller.

Joanna Critchley is a transplant real estate broker who has found herself in a little town called Flinstead. She and her son Alfie moved to be closer to her mother, who has resided in the town for many years. After hearing a rumor at the school amount the gossipy morning drop off mothers, Jo quickly begins to fixate on what she heard, “ Sally McGowan, the child killer is living in this town, under a new identity and has been for years”.
This author does a magnificent job of introducing different characters and revealing just enough about them to make the reader question their true identity. With every turn of the page, another mysterious situation arises and Joanna must try and figure out the truth for the sake of her own sanity. Filled with smoke and mirrors, this story sends the reader on their own private detective hunt as they try and identify just who Sally McGowan may or may not be.
Bravo to Lesley Kara for her brilliant first novel. Can’t wait to read more from her!

Kept me guessing until the end! I would be sure I had it figured out and then I would change my mind. Love books that keep you guessing!

WOW. Just wow. This was something else!!
I wish I had read the author's original version which sounds like it was set in London. I think that would have been even better! This one felt a bit awkward in places, but seriously still loved the story!!
I mean...we've all done it. We've all passed along a rumor we had no business passing along. We did it to be in with the cool kids, or to sound more 'in the know' than we truly were...or any number of other ridiculous reasons. Typically, it's never really hurt anyone...right?!? BUT, this one spirals quickly out of control and in the most interest way!
This one keeps you turning the pages and second guessing everything.
Actual Stars: 4.25

This was a terrific mystery! Fast paced, interesting premise and characters- all the great ingredients for a winner!!!

A single mother dropping her son off at school overhears the other mothers discussing a rumor. Having recently moved back to her hometown with her son because of bullying at his last school, Joanna has not taken the time to make friends with the other mothers. The rumor is that an infamous murderer who killed a little boy when she was only ten decades earlier may be living in their very own town under an assumed name. While the other mothers are outraged, Joanna plays devil's advocate and implies that embarking on a witch hunt isn't a good idea.

Later, at her book group she tries to save another woman from the unwanted personal questioning of another by changing the subject. She asks if anyone else has heard the rumor. Joanna immediately regrets spreading the rumor, but can't help herself from Googling everything she can find on Sally McGowan. She even mentions it to her son's father who is a freelance journalist and he is intrigued and wants to write a book about Sally-let her tell her side of the story.

Joanna starts mentally comparing the faces of all the women she encounters to that of the sullen ten-year old during her trial. She tries to dismiss it because everything has gotten out of hand when she is the go-to person for scoops on Sally. Things turn dark when Sally McGowan starts following her on Twitter and posting cautionary quotes about the spreading of rumors. When her son becomes the target of a frightening prank, her paranoia knows no bounds, but no one seems to take it seriously.

I liked this book. The setting was in the United States, but it was obvious in subtle ways that the author is British. Since so many books in this genre are being written by British authors these days, it didn't bother me but others might find the little things jarring. Joanna's son is named Alfie which isn't very common in the US and an odd turn of phrase here and there as well as everyone's propensity to put on a kettle for tea whenever company arrives all screamed British to me.

It did seem like this town was mostly populated by white ladies in their late fifties since every woman Joanna encountered could have been Sally. I think there were three male characters and one of them was the husband of one of the other mothers who disappeared into another room whenever the mommies and kids were around.

I kind of guessed who Sally was about half-way through but discarded that notion as another character started acting kind of shady. Then another one looked kind of suspicious and then another, so that when Sally was truly revealed, it was a bit of a surprise.