The Rumour by Lesley Kara

The Rumour

by Lesley Kara

__________

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?
__________

'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

Reviewed by zooloo1983 on

4 of 5 stars

Share
I must be one of the last people to read this book! I bought it when it came out with all the hype of the blog tours and then life passed me by. Then I rented the audiobook from the library and could finally settle down and start the adventure.

Well, I had a few false starts, I couldn’t get into the audio at first, which was odd because I like the narrator, Clare Corbett. My brain just wouldn’t engage at first but once it did click we were off on the tangled web of lies.

A rumour is just Chinese whispers and these things can do last damage, so the premise for this I found fascinating. Something so small can do the most damage, it can destroy someone especially when its a rumour as big as this one.

I knew something was up when I followed the book through and I guessed how it would end. I think if I hadn’t read so many books lately where there is a final sucker punch I would have been more surprised. Instead, I felt a little flat reading it.

The entire story is enthralling, however, mainly because you know that what happens in these pages could and does actually happen. We have seen it in our lifetime, what we don’t see is the other side. Here, Kara takes us down a path to sympathise with the “murderer” to see what a mistake things were. I mean don’t get me wrong, I don’t condone what has happened but by showing us the wholesome character first definitely makes you have that sympathy and somewhat protectiveness over them, which is crazy.

I enjoyed The Rumour, I was intrigued by the spiralling rumour, the impact it had on everyone’s lives in the sleepy village and I waited for the explosive reveal. However, do not come into this book thinking you have a break necking speed of a book, because you don’t. You have a slow burner, which is thought-provoking and it made me question everyone. I am not even ashamed of some of the people I cast my eye over.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 12 October, 2020: Finished reading
  • 12 October, 2020: Reviewed