This was a slow burner yet deep and riveting book with an original and topical theme running through it. Below the surface of a sleepy and safe Devon town we are met with racism, details about an infamous serial killer and an insight into the lives of those who have lived there all their lives alongside incomers and those returning. Each and every excellent character has a story to tell and as a crisis occurs we, the reader, are ableto delve into the lives of not only the adults but their offspring too who carry a huge amount of input too. Bryon has written a cracking novel with scenes that may make you cringe, or shake your head in disbelief at the same time as being scared of the final outcome. Excellent from beginning to end.

I loved this book. Possibly one of the best if not the best I’ve read this year. Warning: Do not start reading this if you have things to do or need an early night. It’s a page turner. A book that you can’t stop thinking about and can’t wait to get back to reading it.
I want to thank the author & Netgalley for giving me an advanced copy. Believe me that I never give high ratings if they don’t deserve it!

Loved this book. I was gripped from the very start. A real page turner. All the main characters have been emotionally scarred by different losses and are all doing what they 'think is right. But little rumours have big consequences.......

Really good, I finished it in 3 days! Definitely one for reading on a cold rainy day, snuggled up with hot chocolate.

This was decent. I kept reading because I wanted to know who the culprit was and in the end I was totally surprised, I had no idea. But it's pretty unoriginal, nothing particularly unique here and nothing very gripping. I struggled to get into it and then never connected with any of the characters.

This is your typical thriller. I love multiple POV’s so I did enjoy that. I found it hard to connect with the characters though, but the writing and story were fast paced and engaging. 3.5 stars!

This was a decent read, though I found that didn’t like or connect with any of the characters. 3 mothers in the same small town who aren’t friends but their kids are. When one goes missing, there are suspicions abound and secrets revealed. The book is told in alternating perspectives between the 3 women, which is a style I enjoy.

The mystery itself was good and I found myself racing through chapters to see what happened. When all was said and done, I wasn’t super surprised at who the culprit was but there were a couple twists. The whole theme of the book is around what mothers will do to protect their kids, and I mostly got it, but I did feel that some of what happened was a bit stereotypical.

All in all, pretty good book but didn’t stand out all that much for me in a crowded missing kid genre. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't stop reading this book, I found the small Devon village setting gripping as were the characters, despite me taking a strong dislike to a few of them. This story tackles some important social subjects.

A wonderful thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat all night until you’re finished. The author creates suspense so flawless with characters you thought you could trust, it really takes you for a loop. Who can be trusted, who’s hiding something? Excellent read!

This is definitely my type of book, damaged characters and family trauma!
I felt so sorry for Kelly and poor wee Joe, the things that boy has been through in his short life! Naomi was one of these women trying to keep the facade of the perfect family and community alive, however, she really was a bit of a bitch and the way everyone called her Nomes really got on my nerves.
The story had plenty of twists and the agony and terror of a missing child was very well written. I did feel there were a couple of loose ends that could have been tied up and I wasn't keen on the overuse of the local dialect but that is purely a personal thing.
Very enjoyable and I would read more from this author.

Kelly and her son Joe have been living under an assumed identify since Joe discovered his father was a psychopathic serial killer. Mia’s family are the only Muslim family in the area. Leon is Joe and Mia’s best friend. Together the friends try to navigate their somewhat difficult lives, until the day Moa goes missing. Now the whole town needs to pull together, but the devastating situation brings out the worst in too many people.

Little Rumours was an addictive mystery thriller that packed a lot of themes and information into one book. Kelly and Joe’s struggles with hiding their identity, Joes post traumatic stress from what he witnessed his father doing, abusive relationships, social media mob mentality, difficulties fitting in due to religious beliefs, parent heartbreak when a child goes missing and more. The sheer terror felt my Mia’s parents could be felt coming off the page and I was absolutely riveted for most of the story.  Watching the secrets and gossip unravel was incredibly interesting and although I guessed the ‘who’ part way through (but not the motive), it was still very enjoyable getting there!

If you love dark twisty thrillers, I’d recommend checking this one out!

Thank you for an advanced copy of this book.
Little rumours is the first book I have read from this author, it follows the story of 3 mothers and their children who are all friends. One day one of the children goes missing, one of the mothers and son is holding a deep secret which brings suspicions towards them regarding the missing child.
I’ve never been a huge fan of books told from multiple perspectives but this wasn’t too hard to follow.
The story was okay, it didn’t massively grip me but it wasn’t a bad story line.
I didn’t really suspect the culprit so it was good at keeping me wondering. Overall a 3 star read.
Thank you

An enjoyable, twisty and fast paced thriller with three narrators with distinct voices.

I enjoyed this and it touched on a lot of themes especially bias and how we make assumptions about people.

These themes managed to be conveyed in the midst of a storyline about a missing child which was engaging with a satisfying conclusion.

Really enjoyed reading this book.

What an absolute belter of a story, I was hooked from the start.

Bryony has absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one, I was invited to read Little Rumours after reviewing Raising Hell (an also amazing YA Comedy Horror) earlier this year, and I am not at all disappointed. Suspense, Mystery, Intrigue and also plenty of red herrings.

Little Rumours revolves around the lives of three women, Aleema, Naomi and Kelly. Three parents living in a small Devon Village, everyone knows everyone, and outsiders (Grockles) are not welcome, they are seen as invaders. Naomi has lived there her entire life and never left, she is the queen bee of the PTA and she decides who stays and who goes. We do not like Naomi much, think mean girls, but the adult version. Aleema moved to the Village to help care for her husbands mother following a stroke, she is a practicing Muslim and feels extremely isolated as a person of colour. Kelly is a newcomer and no one really knows anything about her or Joe her son, they are very mysterious. The thing that ties these women together are their families, their Children Mia, Joe and Leon are all best friends at school.

That is until Mia goes missing and Joe becomes prime suspect number one, due to his past history and the fact he was the last person to see Mia alive. Cue the PTA brigade casting aspersions and pointing the finger, without a shred of evidence.

This is a story of unfair assumptions, unconscious and conscious bias and also abuse, emotional and physical abuse, racial abuse and isolation.

I read this book cover to cover in 24 hours.

I’m not sure I read the same book as everyone else did because I had a very hard time getting interested in this book at all. The book is told in 3 story lines and I found myself starting over several times and skimming a lot of the book so maybe it’s just “me”. None of the characters were “clicking” with me either. I received a complimentary copy of this book and all opinions are completely my own.

Gripping from the very start I couldn’t read this book fast enough. Fast paced and with no idea where it was going it kept me reading. A great unexpected twist.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

There are many good books about Islam and Muslims but this book did
not do the justice. Aleema's story was a bit forced and shallow.
Migrating to a completely different country will always be a struggle if a
person prefers to preserve his/her culture and tradition. certain characters didn’t develop which led to a superficial aftertaste of the book. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to give my feedback

I absolutely loved this! What a fantastic plot, beautifully written, intertwining the relationships between the characters in such an ingenious and realistic way.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story of three moms and three POVs in a small town — one with a deep dark secret (and worried about a “limb of Satan”), one a deeply entrenched local (you’re still an “incomer” after 30 odd years here), and one a religious outsider (with a mother-in-law from hell treating her like a servant). We meet all three and then realize that one of their children, who are eleven year old best friends, is missing.

I really enjoyed how this twisty, fast-paced tale unfolded — totally unlike most missing child plots, which are usually told from the perspective of the police. The mothers of the children slowly reveal their own faults (drinking, pettiness, unfounded suspicion), but there’s no obvious suspect, no obvious reason why the child is missing initially, and there’s ensuing the frustration that would be expected from a real missing children’s case. I was enthralled until the end. Much appreciation for the inclusion of the Devon slang — crowfart? 4 stars. Thanks to AvonBooks and NetGalley for the ARC.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Nathan and Noah, brothers, have the green eyes in this book.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO it’s spring and spring things (Christmas roses, snowdrops, crocus) are blooming; the author did actually know that the pollen from lilies stains. But a garden/“mysterious wood” in this narrative was once filled with dead bodies.

Little Rumours
by Bryony Pearce
Description
Three mothers. Three secrets. One missing child.
In a small town, three mothers wave goodbye to their children at the school gates.

Naomi has lived Exton Cross since she was born, and she knows everything there is to know about everyone.

Aleema hates it here. It’s been three years and she’s yet to make a single friend. And she’s sure the other mums whisper about her behind her back.

Kelly is an outsider. New to the town, she arrives with nothing but her son – and a dark secret.

By the end of the school day, one of their children will be missing. And rumours will swirl that one of them knows why…


This book was amazing in suspense. I just could not in a year figure out who did this. Rumors can cause insanity.I read this book without a stop.GREAT writing. The ending just made me feel it all. Shocking.

Little Rumours by Bryony Pearce is a thriller set in a small town. Kelly and her son move to town to escape their past, her husband being the infamous serial killer. Trying to lay low and keep their distance in town, they are shot into the spotlight when a local girl goes missing and Kelly's past is revealed. But what really happened?

I really enjoyed this book, the small town prejudices and racism and the willingness to believe the worst of everyone. I enjoyed the insight into Aleema's life and how her religion was difficult in this town and also how people in the village are so quick to blame, ostracize and judge those different from them.

Recommended for anyone who loves thrillers.