Author: Lesley Kara
Publisher: Random House UK
Year of release: 2019
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
When single mum Joanna shares a rumour at the school gates – desperate to ingratiate herself with the clique of mothers at her son’s new school – there is no going back . . .
Rumour has it that a notorious child killer is living under a new identity, in their sleepy little town of Flinstead-on-Sea.
Sally McGowan was just ten when she stabbed little Robbie Harris to death over 47 years ago – no photos of her exist since her release as a young woman.
So who is the supposedly reformed killer who now lives amongst them? How dangerous can one rumour become? And how far will Joanna go to protect her loved ones from harm, when she realises what it is she’s unleashed?
“Rumours are like seeds, scattered on the wind. There’s no telling where they’ll land, but land they will. Settling in cracks and crevices, the roots take hold. The seeds sprout. It doesn’t matter if they’re true or false. The more times they’re spoken, the faster and stronger they grow. Like beanstalks, waving in the air.”
― Lesley Kara, The Rumour
Review
The Rumour has a story that you the reader must know what happens and you need to know it right this minute! I liked that Lesley Kara gave the Killer a voice in this story, I didn’t expect this and although I didn’t like the killer or at least I hoped I wouldn’t, it gave this story that something that makes a story memorable. Thanks to the writing I was able to see myself living in this small town and although there wasn’t many supporting characters I can see myself getting on with the mothers.
I found the use of dual narrative was the hook that made this plot line stand out for this reader. I’ll admit I prefer dual perspectives when it comes to the mystery/thriller genre as I believe it can give the reader a better understanding of why the stories plot line might’ve taken the direction it did in the first place. I also think it only more to the suspense of a read like this.
When it comes to the main characters used to tell this story I found them to be somewhat plain, I felt like I was reading around them just to get to the killer, I found myself looking for a real person to attach too. However I felt that the Rumour’s biggest strength was that it keeps a reader guessing, most books promise this but few truly deliver.
As I stated above I found the characters somewhat plain this is something I disliked about the book especially the Michael and Jo relationship it didn’t add anything for me, in fact I found it pointless given the background the characters were given. I found like it was the obvious route, give me WOW! don’t make me I think I’ve been here done this.
If you’re looking for a mystery, Thriller that keeps you guessing you could look into The Rumour, I Recommend the book for older readers a trigger warning is advised.