I gotta get this funny bit outa the way: someone needs to let the editor fixing this up to be set in the states that 1)we're really more coffee people over here 2)we don't typically own a kettle lmaooooo
Anywho, this had me in it's claws for most of it's gnashing. I successfully guessed at one aspect, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless.

This was only okay for me. I thought the pacing was a little slow (though the opening was engaging -- it started strong and then slowly petered out), and I just didn't connect with any of the characters (especially not Joanna, which was a problem, seeing as she's the narrator). I thought the mystery itself was fairly intriguing, but there's another place where the pacing minimized the tension. It simply took too long to get to the point, in my opinion.

I finally skipped to the end, and the fact that I was able to easily pick up the story thread illustrated how many extraneous details there were...so I didn't love it or hate it; it's simply 'meh.'

I love mysteries and I especially love a good writer's deft hand at tossing in red herrings but it bugs me when the mystery is solved completely out of the blue. The old, "the butler did it" solution but there was no butler in the whole book! The answer to the burning question throughout the novel, "Who is the criminal, all grown up and hidden away in a small town?"was very...unconvincing. Not only did the answer surprise me, it also made me go, "Huh?" I saw no hints at it anywhere, ever. The reveal was a major letdown after a really great chase.

While I wasn't crazy about the resolution of this novel, I would definitely read this writer's work again. This was absolutely page-turning and I couldn't wait to read it. Just not the best ending.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review.

What is the rumor? It is something that was started by Joanna, a sort-of single mom. Joanna, trying to fit in as a newbie in a small seaside town, speculates that a child-killer has moved into town under a new identity. The child-killer was 10 years old when she killed a 5-year-old boy with a knife. Now a grown-up, Joanna and the town become obsessed with finding out who the child-killer is so they can run her out of town, at a minimum.

There is not much to the plot in this book. You are introduced to a lot of characters, but there is not much action involving them until fairly late in the book. The characters are nor particularly compelling.

Just an average book. Good, clear writing with a little bit of suspense. But mediocre plot and characters.

This story was fairly interesting. The main character was over the top when it came to her son,but the premise of the story was very interesting. It made me keep reading to the end.

Joanna hears a rumor that famous killer, a woman who killed a small boy when she herself was a child, might now be living in her town under a new identity. When she tries to improve her own social status by passing along this juicy tidbit, she quickly finds that she is complicit when the rumor spins out of control and that innocent people are targeted by angry neighbors. Complicating matters are her journalist boyfriend, who is eager to investigate and write a book about the murderer, and the need to protect her young son from harm when it appears that someone evil--maybe the killer--blames her for spreading gossip. There is the expected thriller-novel suspense of wondering whether the rumor is true, which of Joanna's neighbors the killer might be, and whether harm might really come to Joanna's son. Beyond that, though, this book is disturbing in that it illustrates how quickly a community can turn on one of its members, and how a rumor can quickly take on a life of its own and destroy innocent people. It's the worst of social media brought to real life. The suspense is well done, Joanna has enough imperfections to make her real, and the ending is simultaneously satisfying and dark.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC.

2.5 stars rounded up. The title, the description, the cover drew me in from the start. But a lot of the luster was lost in the unnecessary descriptors. Some of the thoughts that were narrated were irrelevant, and frankly a little juvenile, and this made it a little difficult for me to read. I wanted to like where this story was going but I didn’t find myself enjoying it.

This was a brilliant book with killer twists that keep you guessing till the end .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Kept me guessing til the end! A twist that I definitely didn’t see coming. Sally McGowan made a fateful mistake when she was a child but she has been paying for it for many years, even after being released from prison. Joanna has moved back to her hometown for a better life for her and her son Alfie plus she is able to be close to her mother who helps her out immensely with Alfie. When Joanna overhears a rumor that their may be a killer living in her small town, she can’t help but pass it on. As a result, she seems to be targeted by someone who doesn’t want the rumor to go any further. As Joanna gets more paranoid for her and her son’s safety, she finds herself trying to figure out who is Sally McGowan, now under an assumed name and who is truly her friend in this small town.

The Rumor was one of the best mysteries I have read in a long time. It started at the first page and continued til the last one. There were many twists in the plot that just kept you going and not wanting to stop until you finished.
I understand this is the first novel by this author.
I will be looking forward to reading more of her work!

This book had a twist I was not expecting! Even though I was annoyed with Joanna for spreading the "so-called" rumor. I was sure I knew who the real culprit was. Turns out I was wrong. I recommend this book if you like mystery and suspense. A compelling read! I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What a ride! This book had me on the edge of my seat. Intense with twists and turns. I ended up staying up all night reading! Im looking forward in reading more from Lesley Kara.

In the book The Rumor by Lesley Kara, Jo wants her son to make friends in his new school, Thinking that getting friendly with other mothers is the solution, Jo resorts to the schoolgirl tactic of gossiping.
Is it pssoible that a convicted murderess is living under an assumed name in their town? Ironically,Jo with learn the consequences of rumor mongering. This book has a slow start and Jo is not someone who is interesting, but the story evolves with each turn of the page. The rumor begins to gain momentum as more people speculate who the killer could be.

Throughout the book, the reader gets a peak into the killer’s mind. The killer begins to feel anxious. Discovery will destroy the new life she has built for herself and her loved ones.The Rumor uses red herrings effectively. Each time the reader thinks of a solution, a new clue surfaces. The story has many twists and turns keeping the reader guessing right up until the last page. I was given a free advanced copy of this book. I am voluntarily writing my unbiased review.

Review:The Rumor by Lesley Kara and reviewing for Netgalley. A 10 year old little girl kills a little boy and is put into protective custody. Now years later she has grown up and has a new identity and is back in town but who is she now and will she do it again? Good story. It had a slow start but later many twists and turns. ⭐⭐⭐⭐Four Stars.

A thrilling mystery that kept me guessing until the end. This story is based on something that could so easily happen to any of us and therefore I found myself wondering what I’d do if I ever did find myself in the sameness pls r as these characters.
Sure, most of us won’t ever start a rumor that ruins someone’s life or safety, but we’ve all gossiped and caused someone pain. This story just takes it up a notch or two. It’s an easy read, the kind that makes it so smooth to burn through. You’ll wish you wrote it yourself and you’ll be jealous of just how effortless Kara makes the whole thing seem....even though we all know it’s anything but!

Again, I am quite surprised by a debut author. I found the beginning of the story and the “rumor” going around to be a little off-putting. It just didn’t captivate me. I thought that there were a lot of unnecessary characters, but most of them made their way back to claim their place in the book near the end.

There were at least 2 or three fairly large twists in this book that I didn’t see coming. I love being caught by surprise in a book and loved the fact that I didn’t see them coming. Overall, I give this book a solid 4 stars and I would definitely be interested in reading something from this author in the future.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

The setting, the premise, and the characters are all positives for this book. I so wanted to love this book, but it is only a "like" for me. It is a mystery, and the way it plays out is well done. The main character Joanna becomes a bit of a busy-body and her inner dialogue is tedious at times. Was I surprised at the conclusion? Yes, but not enough to warrant the move from "like" to "love". I did skim a few paragraphs because of the amount of details included that were not necessarily needed to move the story along.

Would I read another book by this author? Yes, I will definitely give another book by the author a try.

Oh, My Goodness! I cannot believe this an author's first book! I do not like children, murder mysteries, thrillers, whatever genre they prefer to use! This story is a constant, Who is she? Is it so and so, what is she doing here, will she hurt my son, how did she get out of prison? It sounds like you and me! Yes! However, I see nothing wrong with the questions; it is accusing all and sundry with accusations! You will genuinely ride an up and down emotional roller coaster! The ending is a shocker; I am still beside myself! How could it end like this? I am still freaking out over it! It can't mean, what I think it means, can it? Please don't spoil this ride, by looking at the last page! It is so worth it! I love Michael, and Joanne, their son Alfie! They need their own series! My heart is still pounding! Unbelievable!
I highly recommend! Thank you Netgalley!
carolintallahassee.com

Joanna wants to weasel her way into the popular crowd of moms at her son's new school and she knows just how to do it. She heard a rumor that a woman who committed a murder and was released from prison years ago is now living in their town under an assumed name. The other mothers start to point fingers at each other, jumping on the gossip that has now spread throughout their community. Can anyone be trusted?

“A lie will go round the world while truth is pulling its boots on.” C. H. Spurgeon, Gems from Spurgeon (1859)

In "The Rumor" by Lesley Kara, a mother "accidentally" starts a rumor about a notorious killer who committed a brutal crime against a child in hopes of fitting in with the other parents so that her child can make some friends. What begins as an innocent way to assimilate into the town leads Joanna into a frightening search for the truth.

I breezed through this book. I thought it was a good read that held my interest and I particularly enjoyed the characters and the pacing. The reveal of the notorious killer caught me off-guard, which isn't always easy to do! (I read so many thrillers).