Title: The Rumour
Author: Lesley Kara
Publisher: Transworld
[Synopsis]
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.
[My Review]
The Rumour is a solid, intriguing and fun debut which I really enjoyed!
The characters are likable and convincing, and though parts of the novel are fairly slow, I never found myself bored or losing interest – I really wanted to know what was going to happen to every character, and who might not be quite as they seem, so I got through it really quickly. Joanna and Alfie are really likable characters, and although one of the unexpected twists felt to me just a little too far-fetched, I still hugely enjoyed the story in general. It kept me speculating throughout (I certainly didn’t guess correctly), and created a truly intense atmosphere; I could really imagine this kind of harmful gossip and speculation spreading like wildfire through a small town or village. The book highlights how this kind of gossip and accusation can ruin lives, as well as focussing on how revenge and grief affects people so many decades later.
The Rumour is an punchy and fun read as the chapters are short, the pace is quick and the plot is really fun (although a tough subject matter at times). I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking out for future releases from Lesley Kara.
[Rating: 4/5]
Many thanks to Transworld for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
The Rumour will be released on 27 December. Pre-order here.
I really enjoyed this as well!
Small town gossip at its worst, for sure. 😀