Twisty thriller that seems like it's about one thing, but has so many layers. The main character is well fleshed out, with an interesting story being in witness protection. Overall, a good read.

A well-written, entertaining suspense novel that keeps you guessing! This is easily one that you'll want to devour in one sitting!

A fine thriller. The cover is ok could be a little more descriptive as it both looks and feels like ive read this before. Thank you Harper for the ARC for my honest review.

An absolute must read thriller! So many twists and turns that you don’t see coming! I’m so happy I was able to receive a copy of this!

I found this to be a slow burn mystery where secrets, suspicions, and rumors abound when a child goes missing. Unfortunately, I really didn’t like the characters and it was frustrating getting through the story.

3 for neutral, was unable to access my netgalley account for months, until today. Because of this, I was unable to see which books I needed to read. I apologize for the inconvenience and hopefully will not have any more issues in future.

Little Rumours is about a small town in the County of Devon told from the point of view of Kelly, a woman in an identity protection program related to her ex-husband's infamous and sociopathic crimes. She has a son, Joe, who is eleven. Naomi is native to the town and don't you forget it! Her son Sean is Joe's best friend. Kelly doesn't want friends, which is a good thing when it comes to Naomi, who will not let some incomer into her circle. In fact, she is considering forbidding Sean from playing with Joe. None of US like Naomi. Aleema, a Muslim woman who is married to a local man, Noah, eels like a fish out of water. They moved to the village from a larger city to care for her mother-in-law, Mary who suffered a stroke. Although Mary now seems fine, Noah is reluctant to go back "home." Their daughter is Mia. As with Kelly, people are less than welcoming to Aleema. Mia forms the third best friend with Joe and Sean. They are all in the sixth form at the local school and are inseparable.

As with any thriller, it's hard to say much about Little Rumours without inadvertently putting in spoilers. So with my usual, "a bad thing happens," the dynamics among these women and others in the town shift in dramatic ways because of the bad thing that happened. Suspicion of the incomers (we'd call them outsiders) and small mindedness lead to rather horrible behavior and all the while, the bad thing continues unsolved, poisoning the village. Pearce is a great plotter, giving us lots of information to conclude who did it and why. We know some things for sure, but the behaviors of the characters can cause us to doubt the for sure information, with good reason. Who is the woman in the red coat? This is a fast-paced, entertaining, sad, fairly scary but not a way in the deep end thriller where I have to stop reading for a few hours to calm down. In face, it's fair to say I couldn't put it down. I got a great picture of the language and culture of a village in Devon with a fun glossary of unfamiliar words up front in the book. . While there are cops and family members and friends and eleven year olds trying to solve the "bad thing that happened," and every single character is stressed out through the roof, the resolution is both surprising -- and not. I can highly recommend this one!

On the surface this is a book about a missing child, however when you peel back the layers it's so much more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy. This was a pretty good book. It was a quick read with a good storyline. And the characters weren’t all horrible. It’s the first I’ve read by this author and already added her other book to my tbr. Definitely recommend.

Well written and easy to read. Hard to put it down to go to bed. Once you start this book you have to keep reading!

This book went above and beyond my expectations! I was so excited to read this one and it was amazing! Kelly is the wife of a serial killer. No one believes that she had no knowledge of the killings so her and her son, Joe, go into witness protection. A little girl, Mia, goes missing, and she's friend of her son's. All of a sudden she's under suspicion again. Is her son like her ex husband? Or did someone find out who they were?

I love the multiple povs. I love the raw triggers and how you can feel the emotions. I felt like I guessed The Who dunnit oretty easily because I read so many thrillers but I liked this book a lot! I look forward to reading more from pierce !

I’m ready to read Little Rumours again. It was satisfying and impossible to put down. A relentless page turner that had me on the edge of my seat. Multiple points of view add to the suspense. Follow the breadcrumbs and don’t forget to buddy read with a fellow booklover.

Highly recommend this psychological thriller by Bryony Pearce.

This one kept me on my toes and though I did guess the ending pretty early on, I was impressed with the way the author made me question what I thought I knew. I would definitely recommend this to thriller lovers.

I’m a sucker for thrillers and this one exceeded my expectations 110%. What a suspenseful ride this took me on. Absolutely loved it

My first read from Byrony and it was a good read. 3 mothers with stories and secrets that lead to child coming up missing. Reading through each characters perspective and all the twists made for a good read!

Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm normally not a big British crime fan but really enjoyed this one! Great character development. Unique storyline. Pays appropriate respect to mental illness. Didn't see the ending coming.

Little Rumours by Bryony Pearce 🎈

Thank you @netgalley & @harpercollins360 for the eARC! Little Rumours releases June 21!

In a small town, three mothers drop off their kids at school. Naomi has lived there her whole life. Aleema has lived there for 3 years, but is still struggling to fit in. And Kelly is an outsider who is new to the town. By the end of the day, one of their kids will be missing. Rumors, secrets, and lies come to light as they search for the missing child.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ; this book was so twisty and an amazing page turner! I was engaged from the first chapter and it left me guessing all the way until the end! I couldn’t read this book fast enough! I definitely recommend for anyone who enjoyed big little lies! ⭐️ and can’t wait to read more by this author!

Intriguing, Suspenseful, but Predictable

Little Rumours is a dramatic thriller by Bryony Pearce. The story is told in three different perspectives, all mother's from the small quiet town of Exton Cross. Kelly and her son Joe recently moved to Exton Cross due to being placed in the witness protection program. Kelly avoids friendships, drinks heavily, and is disliked by the locals. Aleema moved to Exton Cross 3 years ago to help take care of her mother in law. Aleema doesn't quite fit the mold because she is Muslim. Naomi has lived in Exton Cross her whole life and knows everything about everybody. They all have their flaws and don't get along.
The children of these women become close friends, but one day one of them goes missing. One of the things I appreciated about this book was the representation of a Muslim woman. Aleema's character was the most genuine and likeable. However, there are parts of this book that are very cringe such as unnecessary focus on a 10 yr old child's sexuality, Kelly and Naomi's unlikable personalities, and the predictable and unrealistic nature of the story. From the beginning, it was clear who the book wants you to suspect, but too many obvious signs proving otherwise are presented. The writing provided some intensity and kept the story interesting, but there are so many parts that were uncomfortable in a bad way. This wasn't the pick for me, but readers who like multiple povs and thrillers with small town drama might enjoy this.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three mothers take their children to school, and watch them from inside of the gate. Naomi knows everyone and is involved in PTA, church, and neighborhood events; she has lived in Exton Cross for her whole life. Aleema has come in recent years with her husband to be closer to an ailing mother-in-law. She has yet to make a friend, and knows people whisper about her Pakistani Muslim heritage behind her back. Kelly is the newest mom in this trio, and Aleema, being an “outsider” herself, has tried to be her friend, but Kelly want no part of anyone’s friendship, and largely ignores everyone. Their three children, Leon, Mia, and Joe, respectively, are all in Year Six, the best of friends, and always together, three peas in a pod. By the end of the day, one of their children will be missing, and aspersion will be cast on another.

This is an intense, compelling psychological thriller, with plenty of twists, turns, questions, and gut punches. The cast of characters is a colorful, vibrant, somewhat xenophobic group of gossipy, nosy neighbors and business owners, looking to “spill a little tea” with and about each other. Its prose is intelligent, vibrant, and interesting, and the glossary in the front with terms and definitions throughout the book that the reader may not be familiar with in the beginning pages is most appreciated. I highly recommend this incredible novel to all fans of the psychological thriller genre with a trigger warning for murder, abuse, loss, and an attempted suicide.

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Avon/Harper Collins Publisher, and Bryony Pearce for the ability to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.