Wow! This book took me by surprise! I totally loved it. Such a great host of mostly lovable characters with a couple that actually made me mad to read about. I was super invested in this tale. Very well written with great POVs that let this story unfold beautifully.
Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

4.5⭐️
Described as a dark twisty psychological thriller.
Three mothers, three secrets one missing child in a small village Exton Cross
Kelly has a son Joe, an incomer with a dark secret.
Naomi is a local and knows everything there is to know about everyone.
Aleema is an incomer who is married to a local, and desperately lonely.
I love the easy going writing style, I enjoyed the Devon dialect.
The characters are really well created, they feel ordinary, but fully fleshed so that you get to know them well. I engaged with the 3 main characters each having their own problems.
The emotion and angst at the missing child is very palpable, and feels very real. The tension really ramps up as the book progresses.
I was desperately trying to do my Miss Marple to see if I could find the culprit. I was right in my suspicion of who but not why.

Fav quote ‘she’s the only brown-skinned child in 50 miles’

I like the inclusion of the Devon dictionary.

I loved this book, and highly recommend it.

An Abundance Of Rumour…
Behind seemingly perfect facades, in this small town, secrets and rumours lie in abundance and perhaps the truth will out in this emotionally driven, character based suspense with a sharp edge. A cast of credible characters lead a twisting and turning plot with an underlying feeling of menace and tension. A solid and suspenseful read.

Little Rumours is a can't-put-down thriller. I read it in one sitting. The story focuses on three main characters (the three POVs) and their families, particularly their children. Unlike other recent thrillers, the main characters don't get along and rarely socialize. However, their children are best friends, and one of these children goes missing. All three of the women have experienced recent loss and are struggling with coping with that loss. The characters are well-developed and by getting to know their pasts, the reader is better able to understand their actions throughout the book. There are quite a few graphic/violent parts that could be triggering for readers (references to rape, murder, and animal cruelty). Also, while there are plenty of unexpected twists and reveals, I did think the end was a bit predictable. Overall, I would recommend Little Rumours.

This is an extremely fast paced thriller. I enjoyed the setting and characters. However the best part of this book is the compelling story. I highly recommend reading this one.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Quirky characters...mystery and intrigue...a quick read.

Little Rumours by Bryony Pearce


Three mothers. Three secrets. One missing child.
In a small town, three mothers wave goodbye to their children at the school gates.
Wow a great , read .
Three women , two fairly new to the area , begin to get to know each other via the school gate , awaiting their children.
Are we really like how we portray ourselves to the outer world ? What secrets lie beneath our facade ?
These women are about to find out in the most terrifying way.
I loved the storyline to this and the characters of Naomi ,Aleema , and Kelly , all complex in their own way.
This book gives you twists and turns in every chapter and has a great ending.

Avon Book
I can't Thank You enough for this eARC

Little Rumours by Bryony Pearce

Mini Review:
I truly enjoyed the heck outta this story!
The writing and plotting was phenomenal in every way possible.
A gripping, chilling, intense, thrilling and absorbing story that I didn’t want to put down!
Finishing the novel was exciting and surprising.
I was not expecting the contents of the Epilogue and this reflects the plot in its entirety.
The twists and turns added to the mystery that we are all trying to find answers to.
Enjoyable, twists filled story, amazing characters! What more can I ask for? Perfect!
Finished in a matter of hours!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank You again Publisher, NetGalley and Author for this ebook copy!

I was really looking forward to this one after enjoying The Girl On The Platform.

When I saw it was a 'missing child' plot I was a little hesitant, as there's been so many of them...

A small Devonshire town, a close-knit community suspicious of outsiders. The main characters are connected through their children's friendships at the village primary school.

Two of the main characters are outsiders, Aleema, the Muslim mother of Mia "the only brown-skinned child in fifty miles", and Kelly, mother of Joe, relocated due to a family involvement in a serious crime.

The characterisation is simply superb, rich and full of depth and detail, not least in their relationships with family members, friends and with the community.

The plot develops brilliantly, with growing suspicions, desperation and deterioration in various character's wellbeing and ability to think clearly. The tensions are very real and maintained and increased throughout the book.

This is one of the very best 'missing child' books I've ever read, and as a deeply emotionally involving character-driven novel I would put this on a level with some of my favourite authors in this style including Gillian McAllister, Lesley Kara and Belinda Bauer, which is about the very highest praise I can give.

Bryony Pearce is now firmly on my must read asap authors list.


Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK