The Rumour by Lesley Kara
Published: 27/12/2018 by Bantam Press
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Swathi’s Rating: 5/5
Verdict: Deeply engrossing, and beguiling plot that keeps you deducing till the very end.
Plot:
A casual comment.
There’s a killer among us.
That’s all it takes.
She stabbed little Robbie Harris.
To change a life –
She’s living under a new name.
For ever.
She’s reformed. So they say . . .
Joanna is going to regret the day she ever said a word.
When single mum Joanna hears a rumour at the school gates, she never intends to pass it on. But one casual comment leads to another and now there’s 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 years old when she stabbed little Robbie Harris to death forty-eight years ago – no photos of her exist since her release as a young woman.
So who is the supposedly reformed killer who now lives among them? How dangerous can one rumour become? And how far will Joanna go to protect her loved ones from harm, when she realizes what it is she’s unleashed?
Editorial Reviews:
‘Everyone is going to be talking about The Rumour. An intriguing premise, a creeping sense of dread, and a twist you won’t see coming!’ Shari Lapena, bestselling author of The Couple Next Door.
‘In this chilling tale of paranoia, suspicion and accusation, Lesley Kara keeps you guessing until the final page.’ Paula Hawkins, No.1 bestselling author of The Girl on the Train and Into the Water
‘A great debut with a slyly clever premise and a rollercoaster ride to the very last sentence.’ Fiona Barton, bestselling author of The Widow and The Child
Author Bio:
Lesley Kara is an alumna of the Faber Academy ‘Writing a Novel’ course. She lives on the North Essex coast. Her first novel is The Rumour. Who Did You Tell? is her second novel.
Follow her on Twitter @LesleyKara
Swathi’s Review:
This book gave me so many good memories and left me with a Book hangover even after a week of reading it. When I say good memories, you may wonder what the story has to offer to make it such a memorable read. I tell you this – the book has an aura around it, and everything about the story will make you feel refreshing! This includes the gorgeous writing of Lesley, who I cannot believe to be doing her debut in this novel! The story is set in a beautiful English small town named Flinstead, whose descriptions left me in a dreamland!
The protagonist of the story Joana is a single mom, whose partner Michael is a Idris Elba look alike Journalist and they put up a lovely chemistry – a very attractive modern day relationship bringing up a child together! Jo is an independent women and a realtor. She is overprotective of her child Alfie, especially when she finds out he is being bullied for his mixed race. She would go to any extent to keep her child safe and comfortable in his new school and make new friends.
A rumour spreads through the small town like a deadly virus, which Jo had no intention of spreading, but then lets it out to make friends with the other moms in the school. Slowly, people are talking about it and pin pointing each other and crashing storefronts! There is chaos in the town and people suspecting each other – suddenly there is no one to trust! Anyone who matches the age bar is a suspect and it’s terrifying to know that the place she grew up is now so alien and dangerous. Is someone watching her? Is Alfie in danger? Oh, what a mistake it was to start a silly rumour! Poor Jo, I feel for her.
Like Jo, I wanted to know who it was -the child killer! I tried speculating her new friends, with the help of Jo’s POV, but Lesley had something better planned for her readers! Oh, the final chapters – I was turning pages rapidly of a book I never wanted to end. Beautifully structured and written meticulously, The Rumour is undoubtedly one of the best novels of this year. Can’t believe it’s her debut, but I am sure I will be reading more of her books as soon she writes them!
Huge thanks to Alison from Transworld books, Bantam Press for the copy. The Rumour begins 27 December 2017, and I can’t wait for you all to pick and spread the word!
All opinions are honest and they are my own.
