Did not finish @20%

This was just so boring for me; I absolutely could not make myself read anymore of this. I am disappointed as I was looking forward to a new good historical mystery; unfortunately, this was not for me.

While I am grateful to have received this audiobook ARC, unfortunately, this narrator just didn't work for me and between this and the boring writing, I just had to give up on this book. I am very disappointed.

I was asked by the publisher to read/review this book and I thank St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC. I also thank NetGalley, Thomas Mullen, Megan Tusing - Narrator, and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WWII historical fiction with a mystery element. The narrator did a fantastic job of keeping listeners attention and making the story truly come alive.

Dual POV - one side being told from a journalist who disproves rumors going around (some silly, minor issues and some big issues about war/community crime). The other side is told by an FBI agent who gets finds himself in several sticky situations in his family life, relationships, and work life.

There’s several mysteries in this book that keep you interested in the story, however I would say it is a slower paced read.

I did really enjoy the story line and how well it depicted various aspects of how the war effected communities and families.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I think this would definitely be up your alley.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Love the WWII setting. The Boston backdrop, the cops, FBI and intrigue. A great read/listen that kept my attention to the end.

In THE RUMOR GAME an FBI agent and a rumor killing reporter try to solve a local mystery involving the mafia, unions, and lots of anti-Semites. All of which is taking place in the city of Boston in 1943.

Being from Massachusetts, I am almost always interested in stories taking place in my state. Thomas Mullen reeled me in as a reader some years ago with his stories about the black police force in Atlanta. I was interested to see how Boston was portrayed.

The answer is-not good. Boston has a very long history and a lot of it is not great as far as racism is concerned. Boston had problems with just about every immigrant group. Even though I'm from the western part of the state, I am sometimes ashamed thinking about the things that went on in that city. Plus, and maybe I'm just ignorant, but I never knew about the anti-Semitism until now. People were blaming the Jews back then for roping us into the war. Attacks on Jewish people rose like crazy during that time? Sound familiar? It should. If we don't learn our history we are doomed to repeat it. There are a lot of parallels to today in this story and that makes me afraid.

The writing here is excellent, because...hey, it's Thomas Mullen. The plot meandered a bit, but that introduced us to more compelling characters, and exposed us to more of what was going on in the city. The pacing was fair and the mystery a good one, but somehow this narrative did not connect all the way with me. I didn't care all that much for any of the characters-there was no defined good guy-versus bad guy showdown, and it seems to me that there really were no good guys at all. Maybe that's the case in real life too?

I listened to the audio version of this tale, brilliantly narrated by Megan Tusing. I had previously never heard of her, and now I've listened to two of her audios in one month. She's an excellent narrator and she brought this tale to life.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, just not as much as I expected. It's full of twists and turns, has several memorable characters and it takes a look at an ugly history, which in turn, give us a look at what is going on today, and what might sprout from it. In this way, it's also a disturbing tale.

Recommended, especially to fans of historical fiction!

*Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced eaudio copy of The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen.

This is a great historical fiction novel with grit and suspense that tells a different WWII story than we are used to reading. In the nonfiction world, with books like Prequel by Rachel Maddow, we are seeing more reporting done about what America was like during WWII with the Isolationists that didn't think America needed to be involved in the war, and groups of people, often following religious leaders, that were attacking the "others" in their community taking nods from Nazi Germany. The Rumor Game took these parts of America in WWII that I don't think we like to think about and made it into a heck of a historical fiction novel. Even if you think you're tired of reading about WWII, you will enjoy this.

Very much noir feel - language, time period and Boston during WWII. I loved Anne and Devon - characters, humor and interaction. This and the plot did a great job holding my interest. The narration did an amazing job holding my attention.
Anne uncovers antisemitism literature being distributed. As does Devon. With the common ground of uncovering and stopping the distribution, they team up to find answers.
I loved the glimpse into the American racism - not just against the innocent Asian Americans, but also Jews and Germans. History classes rarely touch on this topic - I loved learning more about our country's struggle and long history with racism, classism, etc. Well written and great plot.

I absolutely loved the audiobook, “The Rumor Game”, Narrated by Megan Tusing. I did particularly enjoy the way author, Thomas Mullen, paced this suspenseful mystery/historical fiction/romance, The book follows 1943 Bostonian journalist Anne Lemire, as her job is to find rumors, which are usually Nazi Axis propaganda and stupid rumors. She is to report the facts to dispute the rumors. The allies have flushed the citizens of southern Italy out of the country Which left them to travel then traveled to the US to start a new life; the mafia among them to establish strongholds to start taking control of the shipping docks, factories and small businesses and police The Irish have been established here a short time so the two are set to clash. The Irish have taken roles such as the local police. This is where the mafia start paying the cops to look the other way on the violence. A factory worker is found dead in an alley. The FBI takes an interest, and their agent Devin Mulvey is assigned to the case which crosses paths with Anne’s story of Jews being beaten up on their way home from work or synagogue, Anne’s brother being one. The two had gone to school together. Anne is deemed a Nazi/Red sympathizer so Devin is to not have contact with her. However a slight romance begins. SPOILER! The relationship implodes on both of them. OK. . . So there are definitely bittersweet, suspenseful moments to be found. I definitely recommend this book for it is about a part of our history I wasn’t aware of which I am seeing similaritie to life today. Special thanks to the following for allowing me to review this audiobook early. I freely gave my own honest opinions.
#NetGalley,
#Macmillan Audio
##ThomasMullin
#Rumors
Publication Date: February 27, 2024

I do so like the Darktown series by this author, but The Rumor Game doesn’t have the same magic for me. I also didn’t care for the narration.

I don't do a lot of historical fiction, but this was really solid. It was an interesting sliver of WWII that isn't overdone, with of course interesting parallels to today.


Review copy provided by publisher.

2.75 stars

I really enjoy historical fiction, and a mystery/thriller element is a clear added bonus, but just could not get into this one. While the through line seemed promising, a lot of the scene setting just felt so heavy handed and, at times, repetitive. For me, the characters fell flat, and I had to encounter the worst sign of all time with an audiobook: catch myself needing to jump back repeatedly because I kept losing focus on the narrative.

While I really despise giving a less-than-positive review and the professor in me wants to give an "I love your title! Also..." kind of gentle presentation here, the reality is a little grimmer. I'll absolutely give this author another try, but this one wasn't for me, and I'm certain that if I hadn't had access to an audio version, it would have landed DNF territory.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook!

I think right off the bat, I really enjoyed the narrator, Megan Tusing and she was definitely a solid choice for this book.

The idea of historical fiction blended with mystery/thriller is always appealing to me but it is also something that seems to be very hard to do well for some reason. I did struggle with the pacing of this one as it didn't hold my interest as much as I was hoping for.

While this may not have been for me, I still think there will be a large audience that will really enjoy this!

This book and audiobook will be available for purchase on February 27th!

3.5 stars rounded up

slow paced for the type of novel it is.
the research and the setting were wonderful, but I wish it pulled me in more

Reporter Anne Lemire writes the Rumor Clinic, a newspaper column that disproves the many harmful rumors floating around town, some of them spread by Axis spies and others just gossip mixed with fear and ignorance. Tired of chasing silly rumors about Rosie Riveters' safety on the job, she wants to write about something bigger.

Special Agent Devon Mulvey, one of the few Catholics at the FBI, spends his weekdays preventing industrial sabotage and his Sundays spying on clerics with suspect loyalties—and he spends his evenings wooing the many lonely women whose husbands are off at war.

I had a hard time getting into this - partly because I am not a big fan of the narrator and partly because Agent Mulvey is not likable and I did not want to continue reading about him. The premise is interesting and I am sure there are many who will enjoy this book.

Book Title: The Rumor Game
Author: Thomas Mullen
Narrator: Megan Tusing
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Historical Fiction Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: February 27, 2024
My Rating: 3. Stars
Pages:368

Story takes place in 1943. Anne Lemire is a reporter and writes a newspaper column entitles” the Rumor Clinic”; its purpose is to disproves the many harmful rumors floating around town, some of them spread by Axis spies.

Anne meets FBI Special Agent Devon Mulvey, who spends his weekdays investigating sabotage in the local war industrial companies, any crime that might involve an anti-USA aspect and even Catholic clerics against the war effort.

The other side of Devon is he spends his Sunday evenings flattering lonely women whose husbands are off at war.
Believe it or not the two end up work together!

Not one of my fav but I know many will love it.
(Seems like a guy kind of a read- which is great as we gals have chick lit!)

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for February 27, 2024

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen
Narrated by Megan Tusing

The summer of 1942, Boston This time and place, a melting pot (not melting very well) of the wealthy down to those barely surviving, people from other countries, neighborhoods made up of Italians, Irish, and more. Some Jewish but hiding that fact due to the mounting anger by some that it is Jewish people that are getting the United States into the war. Boston is seething with anger, resentment, and corruption. With a cocky single, but into married women FBI agent and a sharp witted, beautiful journalist, once these two get together you know sparks of all kinds will fly. This story reminds me so much of old black and white movies thanks to the audiobook's narration but also the descriptions of the clothes, the expectations upon women to stay in the background doing the everyday grunt work, and the dialogue.

Reporter Anne Lemire writes the Rumor Clinic, the only job other than covering menial society news, that her newspaper will give her. Still, her boss keeps a tight rein on Anne, who wants to dive deep into important subjects that deal with corruption, organized crime, and racism. So Anne writes what he wants, reluctantly, while doing her own sleuthing and research on her own. She's already considered a radical for her outspoken views against fascist.

Irish Catholic Special Agent Devon Mulvey is assigned to the job of preventing industrial sabotage, although he also spies on clerics with suspect loyalties. Slowly it becomes clear that the things that concern Anne are connected to the things that concern Devon. Once they meet neither trusts the other despite their mutual attraction. Secrets and suppression of information abounds on both sides. This is not a match made in heaven.

The city and the people seem alive. Once again, black and white oldies come to mind, with the handsome agent and the smart and pretty reporter coming together, sparking in more ways than one. Old movies, books, and songs are mentioned and always there is the tension of wars brewing at home along with the war overseas. I appreciate the ending of the story, where we get more information about characters in this story, because I'm nosy like that and want to always know more. Megan Tusing gives the characters flavor, with distinctive accents and individual voices. Once again, her narration helped me pictures the scenes, I felt like I was watching an old favorite black and white movie thanks to Megan putting the voice to the characters.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

During World War II, Anne Lemire writes a column for her local paper about the destructive power of rumors, particularly during war time. Enter FBI agent Devon Mulvey, whose job is to sniff out spies, both in manufacturing and in the Church. During his down time he like to play Casanova to the women whose husbands are fighting the war. Anne and Devon’s paths cross when one of her stories meshes with his investigation into the suspicious death of a factory worker. Mullen brings World War II Boston to life in this story of war on the home front