An original angle on a WWII story that's set within the United States and puts domestic fascism and racism on the spot in an era that doesn't usually get called out for it.
Chalk it up to Mullen being too good a writer in making it feel like I was reading a non-fiction account. I would have liked for Anne and Devon to get some more low-key or low-pressure moments to add more of a storytelling feeling and balance out all the negativeness of the story. As it was, even moments that weren't directly about people being awful ended up being about how awful people are.
I really wish I'd liked it more because the writing is top-notch, yet all the awful things people were doing to those they saw as different and beneath them are sadly still hitting too close to home with what we're living today for it to make an enjoyable reading experience. Maybe it's a case of it being the wrong moment for the right book, but I really struggled with finishing what is frankly a very depressing story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the, frankly, disturbing read!

This was a wonderful slice of historical fiction set in the Boston area during early WWII. I was drawn in by the description and that fact that it was set in my hometown and I enjoyed every minute of this book. It is well-written, fast paced, well drawn characters, the ending isn’t the obligatory neat & tidy fiction ending which I like as real-life isn’t like that. I felt that I was getting a good grasp of the major issues of the time and place such as Jewish anti-Semitism in Boston related to the war, racism, unions, mob control on the docks, the role of the government, isolationism, women’s role, what some fringe groups thought at the time. The author did some intense research and those volumes were listed at the and the book was loosely based based on a female journalist in that time frame but this is fiction and not that person’s biography.

#therumorgame #netgalley

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen

Journalist Anne Lemire has taken it under her wing to squash any rumors that could hurt her readers. She writes The Rumor Clinic column for the Boston Star newspaper. Her path eventually crosses with that of FBI detective Devon Mulvey. Their rekindled friendship sets off to solve a mystery.

This pleasant story takes place in Boston, Massachusetts during WWII. Certain questionable behaviors are being investigated by the FBI, which is on high alert, and the local police may be involved. It’s a delicate balance and crimes may have been committed. Anne feels obligated to write the truth.

This book would appeal to readers who like a good chase to solve a mystery, and I will round up a 3.5 star review to 4 stars. I hesitate only because I feel the story could have ended sooner. I received a copy of this title from the publisher St Martin’s Press via Net Galley. Opinions expressed here are completely my own.

3.75/5⭐️

This thriller set in WW2 Boston centers around Reporter Anne Lemire and FBI special agent Devon Mulvey as they are brought together to investigate murder, organized crime, espionage and domestic fascism.

While the story’s plot and writing were fine, and there were twists and turns, I just wasn’t bowled over. I wanted to connect more with the characters, and I actually had some issues with Devon’s character. Also a bit of an abrupt ending.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing the free early arc of The Rumor Game for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

***ARC received from Minotaur Books and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

Devon is the stereotypical sleep around agent but this becomes less of his character the further the book goes thankfully. He also struggles with the idea of being stateside while so many are at war. I wish the book had focused a little more on that for him as it added interesting depth to his character. Yes there are stateside war related issues that he was handling but with family members off to war it weighs on him.

I did like Anne more than Devon, she is a spunky reporter who believes that she is better than just addressing rumors but as a woman she is trapped by the time. I loved her dynamic with her friends and family

One thing I really liked that as a history fiction book it took a dark look at the time after Pearl Harbor but before the allies landed in Europe. It’s a hard reminder than not only was antisemitism alive and strong in the us but that there were many, particularly those in positions of authority that were sympathetic to the Nazi cause. They agreed with Hitler and what they were doing and I think even if they knew the full realities of what was happening im Germany they may still have supported the cause. That is when the book is at its strongest, navigating the complexities of what was happening at home while a war was raging overseas. It also hints at the fact that WWII really isn’t that far after WWI or the great war, there is the conflict of an older generation that remembers what happened when the world went to war. Many lost loved one and live to see more loved ones die.

The beginning of the book tended to drag for me a little bit. While its setting up the main plot points it didn’t really add much and it meanders around adding things that felt like they weren’t needed. Or there were things that didn’t really add to the story. Its mostly at the beginning of the book but it doesn’t really help getting into the book. It really does pick up about the mid way point when Anne and Devon’s paths cross and their stories intermix when they realize they are chasing the same story just from different directions. For an ending it was good but I was more intereted in the book it was setting up.

Anne runs a column called “The Rumor Clinic” where she disproves the many rumors and misinformation about the war. She would really like to work on something bigger but she knows her chances are small as she is a female. There was a lot I learned about the war at that time. There is a lot of action and twists and turns.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dangerous rumors!

Fascinating story built around the Nazi groups, fascist groups, and other anti Jewish groups in Boston during World War II, including the Christian Front organization.
Told through the eyes of Jewish journalist Anne Lemire and FBI agent Devon Mulvey.
“ Anne wrote for the Rumor Clinic, the weekly Star column she’d managed to create for herself after weeks of persistent calls and a few connections. The idea behind the Rumor Clinic was to identify and disprove the many harmful rumors floating around town, some of them spread by deliberate Axis propaganda to weaken resolve and others just random bits of hearsay mixed with fear, ignorance, and bigotry.”
Incidents are building, fuelled by rumour, and subsequent resentment from blue collar workers about Jews and African Americans supposedly taking their jobs in a munitions factory (untrue.) This, together with the anti semitism of certain Catholic priests, the same sentiments amongst many of Boston police force, and the increased mugging of young Jewish people walking home, weaves a dark tale.
Anne wants to expose fascists and corrupt organizations. Dangerous! Devon is investigating a sudden death. Their paths connect.
Feelings of helplessness, the entanglement of family relationships, of trying to bring untruths to the public awareness—a public that mostly didn’t want to know, pervade.
Challenging and enlightening. Disproving falsehoods and exposing rumors is not easy.

A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Real Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

The Rumor Game is an interesting historical thriller set in Boston during WWII, featuring a female reporter who works to stop the spread of disinformation with a column in her local paper and male FBI agent who’s assignment is supposed to be preventing sabotage of industries vital to the war effort in and around Boston (the town being a vital port city). On the surface, the only thing the two seem to have in common is a hatred of Nazis. War makes for strange bedfellows, though, and soon it proves that these two have a lot of connections, both personally and professionally.

The Rumor Game has a great story, but my great issue is that it doesn’t ever seem to come together cohesively. It’s all over the place, narratively. There are a lot of threads to pull on, and not all of them are pulled on equally. Some are left dangling for too long and when Mullen comes back to them it’s been so long that it feels almost confusing. Some threads are resolved a little too neatly, or not in a satisfactory manner for the amount of outrage they elicited for the characters in the story (who deserved better). At times it also felt like Mullen may have been having his own characters act stupider than they were being otherwise written, because their ignorance regarding certain matters beggared belief.

It’s a cool story with great atmosphere but there’s a lot missing from it. If it had a tighter plot I would’ve loved it a lot more.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Crime Fiction/Crime Thriller/Historical Fiction/Political Thriller/Thriller

The Rumor Game, by Thomas Mullen, set in Boston in 1942, is an exciting murder mystery within a historical fiction novel. The main characters are strong and their roles and descriptions are well written. Devon Mulvey, an Irishman, is a hard-nosed FBI agent called in to investigate anti-war crimes. His sideline is chasing skirts. Anne Lemire is a young reporter, whose newspaper column “The Rumor Clinic,” investigates high interest rumors circulating in the city.

This story covers a number social issues of the era: Growing mob activity, antisemitism, abortion, the role of women, and troubles within the Catholic church, all of which were rampant in Boston at the time. This is an action-packed and fast moving read.

Set in Boston during WWII, The Rumor Game combines historical and crime fiction with a bit of romance, exploring how rumor can be used as propaganda by feeding paranoia and reinforcing cultural stereotypes. Anne Lemire is a newspaper reporter responsible for a column called the Rumor Clinic. for which she investigates rumors to find out how they started and if they have any basis in truth. Devon Mulvey is a rare Irish Catholic FBI Special Agent, tasked mostly with background checks and investigating possible cases of industrial sabotage, or the murder of a munitions factory worker. Anne and Devon meet and end up working together on a case/story/mystery that may be bigger than either imagined. The tensions of the time bring some darkness to the plot and influence much about the main characters' lives. Anne and Devon are complex and likeable, as is the story itself.

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen is a dual-perspective noir historical fiction thriller set in Boston during WWII. The repercussions of war were felt in America, especially blatant anti-Jewish sentiment. Jews got treated worse than second-class citizens.

Anne is a reporter who writes Rumor Clinic but is unsatisfied with its gossipy and frivolous tone. She wants more, such as human interest. Antisemitism is rife, sadly. When espionage and murder happen she is thrown together with FBI and Irish Catholic Devon Mulvey who make an unlikely but successful team. They are worlds apart in ways but have a sense of justice in common. Devon finds married women at home while their husbands are at war irresistible and is no stranger to one-night stands. He sometimes wonders whether he's fathered children.

The writing is gorgeous, the historical details are beautifully rich and the premise is promising. However, though slow burns are usually my thing, there was something amiss with the pacing here. It just wasn't quite enough to feed my mind at the right intervals. Devon is an unlikable character which is fine but his chasing married women is irritating. The noir slant isn't my cup of tea so it may be a situation of "it's not you, it's me".

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel.

A reporter and an FBI agent unsuspectedly team-up to solve a local murder involving the mafia, a corrupt police force and an anti-semite group. Set in Boston in 1943, a community is being ripped apart with rumors that the jews are to blame for WWII. Attacks are rampant against adults and children and the propaganda is spurring an uprising against the jewish businesses.

This historical fiction novel gave me perspective of the racial hatred during the war. The messaging was interwoven seamlessly through the mystery and romance. Once can't help draw parallels between now and this books story.

Thank you, Minotaur Books

Reporter Anne Lemire writes the Rumor Clinic, a newspaper column that disproves the many harmful rumors floating around town. Tired of chasing silly rumors about Rosie Riveters safety on the job, she wants to write about something bigger. Special Agent Devon Mulvey spends his weekends preventing industrial sabotage and he spends his evenings wooing the many lonely women whose husbands are off at war. When Anne's story about Nazi propaganda intersects with Devon's investigation into the death of a factory worker, the two are led down a dangerous trail of espionage, organized crime, and domestic fascism. This is a powerful thriller by Thomas Mullen. There are alternate points of view by Anne and Devon. There are plenty of twists and turns that had me reading to a satisfying ending. I am now looking forward to the next novel by Thomas Mullen. If you like books about history, then you would love this book.

Set in Boston during WWII, The Rumor Game is a historical thriller covering what is going on stateside while the war rages on across Europe. Anne Lemire is a reporter who writes the Rumor Clinic, a newspaper article that disproves the rumors floating around town. During her time covering the trivial rumors, Anne comes across a story that is bigger than what she’s worked on before and hopefully her big break. As she works on proving her story about Nazi propaganda to be true, Anne’s investigation intersects with Devon Muvey’s FBI investigation. together, the two are led down a path that could lead to uncovering espionage, dangerous crime and local fascism. This book takes the reader on an interesting journey rooted in the history of WWII and what was going on in the United States at this time.

When I picked this book up, I didn’t have any high expectations, but I was immediately pulled into this story and couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the way that Anne and Devon’s investigations were separate, but intersected in a way that pulled them together. This story was well written, easy to follow and build in a historical setting that was easily believable. I liked Anne and Devin’s characters and believe they worked well together. I’ve read a few WWII thrillers, but nothing set in the US and I enjoyed this new setting and the connection to the war. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am glad I got the chance to read it!

A World War II era novel set in Boston brings a column reporter and an FBI agent together in a historical thriller in a city plagued by suspicion and tension. Mullen once again penned a story that will open your eyes and touch your heart with true to life characters in this raw telling of prejudice and anti-war racism.
Anne Lemire’s column The Rumor Clinic tries to debunk rumors spreading throughout the community – some absurd but none the less harmful. Yet as she is always searching for more meaningful stories, she begins investigating rumors of Nazi propaganda and intimidation that has begun circulating around the town.
Agent Devon Mulvey, is the outcast as an Irish Catholic within the Boston FBI agency in a unit which investigates and prevents wartime sabotage activities. While investigating the murder of a Jewish immigrant munition worker, Mulvey’s gut tells him there’s more to it than just a robbery gone to far.
Anne and Devon’s investigations have their paths cross as they uncover plots spurred by hatred, isolationism and greed.
As with Darktown, which featured the racism faced by the first black police officers in Atlanta, Mullen addresses anti-semitism in Boston during WWII and once again captures the darkest sides of humanity. Despite the time period, this novel unfortunately feels timeless with the racism that still exists today.

Boston in 1943; Pearl Harbour was bombed, and the USA was in readiness to enter WW2. The city is in turmoil with its isolationists and warmongers. There is a broad division of wealth and poverty. Neighbourhoods consist of people of various backgrounds, with suspicion and tension among groups. This is a study of corruption, organized crime and bigotry.

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen is an appropriate title for this investigative story and mystery. It is well-researched and based on historical incidents from the time. Rumours abound and are widely circulated, and the plot focuses on attempts to disprove or quench the harmful stories. The rumours include silly local gossip and deliberately placed stories by groups intending to undermine authority, disrupt the war effort, and spread discord. Neo-Nazis and Communist sympathizers, and spies are targeting those with opposing beliefs.

Pro-fascist propaganda blames Jews for causing the War and benefiting financially from it. The lives of the Jewish population have become more restrictive and dangerous. Irish Catholics are regarded as low-class and lazy. Italians are considered to be gangsters, and indeed, some are taking control of the docks, factories and trade unions. I thought the story was often slow-paced and lacking momentum, and I failed to engage with the characters and plot. As a Canadian, our troops had already been fighting in WW2 so I think it would be more interesting to Americans.

Anne Lemire is a tenacious reporter and writes for the Rumor Clinic in a local newspaper. She investigates the ridiculous local rumours assigned by the paper. These include loose morals among the WAACs, seducing young military men, and an illegal abortion clinic on site. Sailors are turning green after the Pearl Harbour bombing and the enemy poisoning the local lobsters. Anne was raised Catholic but later learned she is half Jewish. She worked diligently to trace such rumours back to their origins and disprove them. After her younger brother is attacked for the second time by Irish youths and a brick is thrown through her car windshield, she wants to expose the anti-Semitic propaganda behind these attacks. Her newspaper disapproves, so she will now write these articles independently. She discovers a warehouse where printing presses are turning out racist flyers and bogus ration stamps and owned by an influential, bigoted organization. A friend who was in her car has vanished.

Devon Mulvey is one of the earliest Irish Catholics accepted into the FBI. He is from a large, prejudiced family. His colleagues in the FBI don't trust him, and local police are uncooperative with his efforts. He is in charge of the security for the munitions factory and also interviews priests spouting pro-Nazi claims during their services. A Jewish worker from the factory has been found murdered with a swastika symbol placed in his pocket. A carton load of rifles has been stolen from the factory. Is there a connection? Where do the stolen rifles end up? Devon's personal life is disturbing. He has one-night stands with numerous wives of deployed military and thinks he is doing them a favour.

Devon's investigations connect with Anne's. They were once school and neighbourhood friends and are feeling an attraction. Do they trust each other enough to work together? Devon has been warned by authorities to ignore any connection with Italian gangsters. Local police may be corrupt, ignoring any hate crimes and minimizing dangers.

This informative and thought-provoking historical novel has lessons regarding the many conspiracy stories today. With the internet, they spread wider, more quickly and become more deeply entrenched. Beware!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley that should appeal to anyone interested in the history leading to American troops entering the War and public reaction. The date of publication is February 27th.

I hated being so disappointed. The book just dragged on and on. I am very interested in the time and the topic. We are practically falling into a reconstruction. Yet, this story was just boring. Nothing really happened, What a safe way to address all of this.

The Rumor Game is a dual POV story set in Boston during WWII. Anne Lemire is a reporter and Devon Mulvey is an FBI agent and they both find themselves up against racism, prejudice, and anti-war sentiments who's paths cross in this historical mystery.

The setting of this book was so well laid out. Having never been to Boston, I felt like I could see the streets, it's inhabitants, and I felt like I understood the political mindset of the players. Mullen really brought the time and place to life! I liked the characters as well. While they could at times be frustrating in their choices, they felt very consistent. Anne is a character who sees the world in black and white. Sometimes she dives into the grey but for the most part things are right or wrong and I found that frustrating at times. Devon has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. You root for them both though and they felt very real to me.

While this was written in 3rd person, coming from either Anne or Devon's perspectives, there were times where the narrator switched to an all knowing outsider. Those asides took me out of the story. They mystery was an intricate weave of characters, crimes, and connections and while it all came together in the end, there was almost too much happening, and too many red herrings that I found myself trying to go back to review the details we were already given. We know from the very start that Devon is enchanted by beautiful women but the way that him and Anne met on the street felt lazy to me. There were so many possibilities for their paths to cross and that really stuck out to me as out of place. And while this was not a romance novel, I found the ending to be unsatisfying. The actual mystery is solved, but it felt like Anne and Devon didn't get closure for themselves as a pair or as individuals.

Overall I did find this to be an entertaining read and I was surprised at how something set 80 years ago could be so timely. This book deals heavily with antisemitism, anti-war sentiments, racism, and violence.

Set in Boston just as America enters WWII. There are two main characters: Anne Lemire, a journalist who writes a weekly column called the Rumor Clinic for the Star--her job is to chase down stupid stories and disprove them. And Devon Mulvey, a young FBI agent whose job currently is to provide security for a war munitions plant. He and his partner Lou are called to the scene of the murder of one of the plant's employees. Could it have been because he was Jewish? There seems to be an awful lot of anti-semitism in that mostly Irish area of Boston as America is drawn into the war in Europe.

This story opened my eyes to the level of racial hatred which existed even here in America during that historic period. The plot which combines mystery and a bit of romance allows the author to deliver an important message. One can't help but draw certain parallels to modern times and the racism that still exists unfortunately.

I received an arc of this novel through the St Martin Press Influencer Group via Net Galley. Many thanks for the opportunity. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

I was intrigued by the description of this book. I was interested in reading about life in the U.S. during WWII, particularly in Boston which I’ve always liked. The mystery element also made this sound entertaining. However, I found it difficult to get through. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing which is top notch, but the story seemed to plod along slowly. There were twists and turns which made me hopeful that the story was building but then it would just slow down. I also didn’t love the characters. Anna seemed to be channeling Nancy Drew with her risky escapades and investigative work. I did learn a lot about anti semitism and corruption in Boston at the time, but it wasn’t enough to make me love this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.