Wow! This was quite the story. - based on a rumour casually given out at the school gate. Joanna has recently moved back to her home town and wants to be accepted in the school mum/book club crowd so lights the fire under this bit of scandal. Be careful what you say - the consequences can be huge... The story runs away then with lots of wonderful suspects, accusations flying everywhere and a clever twist. This was a fast paced, well written, original story. I loved it.

Joanna and her young son Alfie move to Flinstead, to move out of London, to be near Joanna's mother. For a better life for Alfie.

Joanna is the new mum at the school gate, she needs to make friends. So she mentions something that she has heard.....

There is a child killer living in Flinstead.

How does Joanna know? It is only a rumour?

Isn't it?

Then why is she suddenly being followed by someone on Twitter that seems to be adding truth to this rumour?

Joanna's almost off the cuff remark, sets a chain of events that makes everyone doubt everyone else.

But is the rumour true?

This book asks lots of questions:

Can a child killer become a reformed adult? Who is really the victim, when the killer released can be given a whole new life and protected? Does the public need to know where these criminals are? What if you are wrongly accused of being that killer? How does that affect a town, a person? So many questions - but does the book have the answers or do we as readers make our own conclusions.

This is an interesting debut novel and difficult to write a review of, because you could perhaps give something away, start a rumour about a possible plot line and outcome and then the books is ruined for all.

It has twists and turns and emotions running right through it, that you can feel yourself caught up in the gossip, though I confess I made the correct assumption but still I had to see what happened, I wanted those various questions answered  - right up to the final line........

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Lucy Banks
@LucyBanksWriter
No worries I hope you had a nice day xx
Sep 19, 2018, 9:38 AM
Hi Lucy this is my latest no rush whenever you have time.
Our House Louise Candlish
4.5 out of 5.

Waterstones Book of the Month this book was everywhere on social media, so I thought I would give it a go.
The story starts with Fi returning to her exclusive house in London and finds that there is a new couple moving in and they are convinced that they have bought it legally from Fi and husband Bram.
Fi and her husband are separated but living together for the sake of the children, Fi has been away for the weekend with a new man and comes home to find out that her husband and her children Harry and Leo are nowhere to be seen and her home sold.
The book then is written from the point of view of Fiona who is retelling her story to a crime podcast and Bram who is writing his story from his exile.
I liked how the book was set out and how it was recounted from Bram’s side, which uncovers adultery, deceit, death and blackmail and violence which has meant Bram feels that he has no alternative but to run away from his family for good.
I felt sorry for Bram as he isn’t really a bad person he just loses his way and ends up on a path of self-destruction although at the time he doesn’t realise it.
The book takes a dramatic turn with Fi uncovering the depths of Bram’s action and also how she has been deceived on many levels.
I found it quite sad It was cleverly written and really kept me guessing all the way through and the ending is shocking.
If you love a fast-paced thriller you will love this.
Sep 23, 2018, 2:02 PM
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Sep 23, 2018, 2:04 PM
Lucy Banks
Cool! I’ll do my best to get this one up tomorrow xxx
Sep 23, 2018, 5:19 PM
Great no problem whenever you get to it. Xx
Sep 23, 2018, 5:33 PM
Lucy Banks
Hi Karen - the review's now up!
Sep 24, 2018, 9:06 AM
Thank you :)
Sep 24, 2018, 9:09 AM
Hi Lucy Really struggled to write this one without giving away the ending.
The Rumour Lesley Kara 5 stars
This is a review of a book that is out in December. I received a copy from NetGalley in return for a fair review.

The book begins with a huddle of mums picking up their children in a school playground. Joanna is a new parent at the school and overhears the group discussing that there is possibly a woman called Sally McGowan who killed a child when she was a child herself now living in Flinstead under a new identity.
Joanna and her son Alfie have moved back to Flinstead a small seaside town, where Joanna grew up. Alfie is struggling to fit in with the other children.
So to try to fit in Joanna tells her book group about the rumour she has heard in the playground and this begins a series of events that changes the lives of some of the residents of this small town forever.
Joanna ‘s partner is a journalist and becomes interested in the story of Sally McGowan and Joanna finds herself becoming more drawn into the rumour.
It’s a great debut novel and I loved the way the book leads the reader down one path but then would go off in a completely different direction.
I felt the premise of the story was very realistic and it was very believable how small rumours can grow into having a huge impact on many different groups of people, some with devastating results.
The author kept me guessing all the way through the book and had a great twist at the end. I would say it is one of the best thrillers I have read this year.

Brilliant. This is a superb debut novel. I am sitting in shock with chills down my spine. The characters are really good and believable. There are so many twists and surprises in the plot. This is a very well written page turner. It is amazing what a rumour can lead to. I would definitely recommend this book. I hope Lesley Kara keeps writing.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I cannot recommend this book enough. A fabulous debut. It kept me interested all the way through. A modern yet gripping read with many twists and turns. I don't want to give too much away so I suggest you read it.

The only thing that spoils it is that it needs a good proof read-some mistakes and Americanisation spellings in it-but it doesn't spoil the content of the book.

The Rumour is a clever story of how damaging gossip can be. Joanna has moved from London to a small town and while trying to make friends gossips about a neighbour. The accusation that a child killer is living among the community, runs away with itself as rumours often do. The author illustrates the difficulties of the life of the killer whose crime dates back many years while Joanna discovers the truth is closer to home than she might like. Although I sympathised with her, karma also reaches out.

I enjoyed the pace of The Rumour and I'm sure the book will be very popular with readers when it is published later this year. Hopefully it will go a little way to stop some dangerous gossip mongering! Thanks to NetGalley and RandomHouseUK/Transworld for the opportunity to read and review Lesley Kara's excellent debut.

The story instantly drew me in with the easy, chatty, writing style. The setting of a small seaside town, and the characters, were all well portrayed, and the premise is highly original. There were enough red herrings and plot twists to keep me reading late into the night - just when I thought I'd got things sorted, and knew which character was the 'killer' I started suspecting someone else. Not your usual whodunnit! The fact that it features a bookclub is a bonus and I plan to suggest it when it's my turn to host the book club to which I belong. I look forward to reading more from Lesley Kara.

I am much earlier reading this book than intended before it’s release date.
But I’ve been anxious to read it. I love debut novels and discovering new authors I can follow.

I can honestly say I’ll be following Lesley Kara for her next book as this book was so good.
I became very invested with each character and without giving much away, I was so intensely motivated with questions of my own.

For example, how would I feel if I was the rumour?
I have and still am part of a rumour that was being spread. It’s not nice. In my case I can stick it out, the truth comes out in the end.

But what if you exacerbated that rumour adding more coal to the fire?

Sometimes a person just can’t help talking and guessing and passing on information that isn’t correct......yes, a rumour.
Those rumours have consequences, domino effects on loved ones.

The intensity of the storyline in this debut book (yes debut) had me hook line and sinker.
If I wasn’t reading it I was telling my hubby about it.
He said it would make a good drama or movie.
I think he’s right.

When I like a book, I like a book, when I love a book, I can’t stop talking about it.

May the Rumour continue (in the nicest possible way) when you get your hands on this.

For a debit novel, this was a very clever, original storyline that was impossible to second guess.

If I'm being honest, I'd say that it was quite a slow start, but once the pace picked up, it has me totally absorbed.

So many rumours, so many possible answers. I really enjoyed this book - clever to keep you guessing right to the very lasts sentence in the book!

Joanna, a single mum newly moved back to her home town, a sleepy seaside resort, is struggling to make friends. When she overhears people talking about a possible child killer in their midst, she accidentally fans the flames by dropping in a snippet of information. But are the rumours true and if so, is the killer much closer to home than anyone could imagine?

This novel bounced along with an energetic voice that grabbed me from the start. It had good pacing and reveals and lots of intriguing red herrings. Although I spotted the twist coming, it was well handled and I really enjoyed the very end in particular.

This was a good, entertaining read with characters that jumped off the page. It sounds odd to say i found a novel with this premise enjoyable but Kara's depictions of school gate politics and small town gossips were right on the nose and there was an admirable streak of black humour in this novel.

I would like to thanks both NetGalley and Random House Uk for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Rumour by Lesley Kara in exchange for my honest unbiased review.

I had never heard of this author and was surprised that this was her first book. I found that the storyline dragged you into the plot- From the very first sentence, you find yourself needing to know more.
Throughout the book, I did find myself asking questions about the plot and could I myself be as forgiving (can a leopard change their spots)

Looking forward to be reading more booms from this author.

Absolutely brilliant! One of the best psychological thrillers I have read for quite a while, and a debut to boot. I loved the suspense of a rumour started by accident building up to something much more sinister, and the cast of potentials is quite vast in this small seaside town.

Highly recommended!

This book has an amazing plot full of twists and turns and will keep you guessing right till the end. Could not put it down I had to know who Sally was. This book starts with a rumour and a family wanting to fit in to a small town. who is Sally and could she possibly be living in Flinstead under a new identity. I can’t say much more without giving something away but definitely read this book

I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Rumour’ by Lesley Kara and it is her debut novel so I will be looking out for more from this author. Joanna is a single mum to Alfie, although she has a relationship of sorts with his father, Michael. She returns to a small seaside village to live near her mother to escape London and her son’s bullying at school.

Joanna is trying to fit in with the local mothers to ensure Alfie gets invited to parties and other events and as a consequence inadvertently helps spread a rumour that a convicted child killer (who was only a child when she killed) has been given a new identity and now lives in the village. Although there is no proof that this is the case it is soon accepted as fact and all women of a certain age are considered to be the possible killer.

The story addresses the issue of whether criminals can ever be rehabilitated and if victims of crime are treated with the respect they deserve. Who has the better quality of life? Is forgiveness possible?

Cleverly plotted and showing how easy it is for rumours to be believed as reality I couldn't put the book down. It has a brilliant ending I found this to be an exceptional read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, Transworld Publishers, Bantam Press and Lesley Kara for my ARC in return for my honest review.

Great Read. Highly recommended.

Rumours have a habit of spreading like wildfire- at least, that’s the premise behind this novel. This is what happens when Jo hears the rumour that a well-known child killer, who murdered when she herself was a child (with more than a striking resemblance to Mary Bell), is living in her sleepy seaside town. Before she knows it, she’s accidentally spread the gossip herself and the whispers have spread quickly, sweeping up everyone within their path – with potentially dangerous results as Jo and her family come under threat. As it becomes clear that someone knows Jo’s behind the spreading of the secret and targets those she loves, she must begin to solve the riddle: is there truth in what she’s said? Is there a killer in her town? And is she within the sight of a murderer?
This is a pacy and well-written thriller that reminded me more than once of the Point Horror novels I devoured as a teenager (and this is a Good Thing!) I actually mooted on Twitter whether the popularity of this type of novel is spurred by those who grew up on those books- it’d make sense, right?
I’ve read loads of thrillers lately and this is one of my favourites. I was genuinely shocked by the outcome, which also felt tangible and I was unable to properly pin down what was truth and what was gossip, which made the whole thing feel satisfying once I’d finished reading. It’s a story with a strong cast- and some weird characters, too- and is a must read for anyone who’s ever accidentally repeated something they shouldn’t.

'The Rumour' is one of those books you have to read and then eagerly press on your friends, random strangers, frankly anyone who will listen.
It is a timely and cautious reminder, without being preachy, of the power of a careless sentence and the havoc it can reek.

Joanna, letting agent and single mum to Alfie, has moved to a small seaside village where her mother lives, in order to create a fresh start for her son who had been bullied at his previous school.
Reconnecting with her mother, downsizing from city life and giving themselves time to grow as a family all seem like a wonderful life move.
However, a careless remark at a book club has unforeseen consequences for a woman who , despite knowing better, was eager to fit in and make friends as well as encourage friendships for her son.

The rumour of the title is that a convicted child killer (herself a child at the time) has been moved to a small seaside town not too different from this one, under a new identity. Her last one had been exposed in the name of social justice and as a result she had been given a new identity and moved on.

There is no firm evidence that this is even the town but that doesn't stop a careless sentence suddenly becoming fact and suddenly every woman of a certain age becomes a potential suspect....

Without becoming overly moral or preachy, 'The Rumour' does bring up the point of what is quality of life who deserves it and can criminals ever, truly, be rehabilitated. Are the criminals being treated better than the victims of the crime and whose names are remembered , decades after the crime has been committed? Is lifelong incarceration the answer or is it possible to live peacefully in a community without the risk that they would ever do anything like this again?

I absolutely loved this book, it had me thinking on both sides of the question, does anyone ever really deserve a second chance after they, as a child, killed another? And when does the sense of outrage and social justice stop becoming a fuel that burns a person out?

This was a fantastic and well written story that keeps the momentum to the very last page.
Many thanks to Bantam Books and Netgalley for letting me read this in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book overall, I liked the way this author writes and she draws you into the storyline.

I wouldn't say this is the best book I have read but will definitely read more from this author.

Based on my comments I can recommend this book to anyone who likes a good thrilling read.

I really liked this book! It was full of tense moments and the story seemed to flow very naturally! The characters were believable and I enjoyed reading it a lot.

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.’

I loved this! One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. Twists and turns you really don’t see coming. A dramatic but plausible story that everyone can relate to. Kara shows how easy a rumour can spread and just how much of an effect it can have in a community – and how terribly cruel people can be to others, without knowing anything about them. A really impressive debut. I will look forward to reading the next one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant book. Kept me guessing and I did not see what was coming. Would recommend for all ages to read great ending