A fictional World War Two story focuses on what life is like for those living in America. I liked reading a different perspective from the war. While the book isn't focused on the war itself, more on the people left behind. A good read for readers of this era.

2.5 stars rounded up-The Rumor Game is a historical novel set in Boston during WWII. While the US military is fighting Hitler overseas, the Jews of Boston are under attack. Beatings and even a stabbing have the FBI and a female reporter on the trail of anti-semetics. The story displays the racism that happened even in the USA during the war. I found this story slow and felt it would be better condensed down. I am sure it has its crowd but I found it just so-so. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

A very good mystery that takes place in Boston at the start of World War II. A pushy female reporter and a reluctant FBI agent try to uncover who is harassing the local Jewish population, stumble upon a murder and some stolen army rifles. For history buffs this book is very interesting about the goings on inBoston at that time and the mystery and writing are very good.

Oppression against Jews and criminal leaders taking Hitler-supportive actions are the topics of the day in The Rumor Game. Described as a thriller, for me the tale winds too slowly and is too long to create much thrill. Author Thomas Mullen writes well and I will be glad to read his next effort.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Rumor Game is a crime novel set against the backdrop of World War II. The main characters are Anne, a newspaper reporter who writes a column on rumors, and Devon Mulvey, who's an FBI agent investigating a murder. The plot moves rather slowly, and a lot of attention is giving to the culture at the time, propaganda about Nazis, the treatment of Jews, Catholics, women. Therefore, I really think World War II buffs would particularly enjoy The Rumor Game. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anne Lemire is a journalist working for the Rumor Clinic, a smaller newspaper column that disapproves of harmful (usually outrageous) rumors. Tired of the same, silly leads, Anne pitches writing about an issue that has been going on in her own neighborhood. One that has affected her younger brother: Jews are being beaten up for no reason by a gang of Irish boys. This pitch gets shot down, but Anne is determined to make her voice heard.

Devon Mulvey is an FBI agent working a murder case of Abraham Wolff. He keeps hitting dead ends and starts getting annoyed as how nothing is making sense with this case. His partner, Lou, is the most obnoxious rule-follower as well.

When Anne and Devon's paths cross, they figure they can both help each other. But will this cause more harm than good?

I would probably rate this a 3.5 actually (but that isn't allowed on this platform). I did enjoy reading this book a lot. I found the whole investigation to be exciting and the ending to be surprising. I didn't expect the suspect to be the suspect. I also liked how Anne's family was a mix of Christian and Jewish. I thought this was a nice added twist/point of view.

My only complaints about this book are that I thought it dragged on a bit more than necessary. While every chapter did include the investigation, a lot of the chapters didn't seem very meaningful. I also thought the character development could have been a little more fleshed out to make the book stronger.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about WWII.

3.5/5 (rounded up to 4). It took me a few chapters to get into this novel, but the characters were relatable and well written. The story was also engaging, but I was disappointed by the (lack of) ending. I like the author’s writing style, but the story felt unfinished.

While a work of fiction, the story is representative of the isolationist mindset prevalent in certain segments of society during WWII, as well as the prejudicial and discriminatory attitudes and practices prevalent then. Dealing with and trying to stop misinformation was an important and difficult task. Those themes are also relevant today, with increased isolationist rhetoric and with disinformation or allegations of disinformation being a source of tension among opposing parties.

I liked the various ways the author had the different subplots tie together Annie and Devon, sometimes in obvious ways and sometimes unexpected/surprising ways.

The author deals with moral ambiguity in this story. Multiple individuals and government agencies are willing to overlook or ignore inappropriate or illegal behavior by other individuals or groups, even when that means certain groups will be harmed, so long as the individuals or groups can provide information or assistance that is deemed necessary or valuable. There are also multiple characters, including the main characters, who are willing to engage in morally questionable behavior when they perceive it serves a greater purpose.

In a time of war, one man’s patriotism is another man’s sedition.

Thomas Mullen’s latest novel, The Rumor Game, takes us back to WWII-era Boston, where war-related rumors are flying. Both journalist Anne Lemire and FBI agent Devon Mulvey are tasked with finding out the truth behind these rumors. When a munitions worker is found dead in an alley with a swastika on a napkin in his pocket, Jewish neighborhoods begin suffering violent attacks, and Pro-Nazi leaflets start circulating throughout the city, Anne and Devon form a risky partnership to uncover the truth behind the biggest rumor of all- a rumor people are strangely reluctant to talk about.

There were many things about this book that I enjoyed and a few that I didn’t. The author had the right idea about his two main characters, but I found them to be, as my teenager would say, “so extra”. Anne’s earnestness, seriousness, and passion for her cause was admirable, but overdone to the point of making her rigid and irritatingly angst-filled. Devon was supposed to be taking unnecessary risks in his personal life and career because he felt guilty for taking a job with the FBI rather than joining the military after Pearl Harbor. Instead, he came off as arrogant, shallow, and slightly unstable.

If the author struggled with his main characters, and an over-populated cast of side characters, he was much more successful with the plot. It stayed interesting, it kept my attention the whole time, and despite being more complicated than it needed to be, it mostly made sense.

I give this historical suspense novel 3 ½ stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, but is tired of the same old WWII novel.

June 1943 - Reporter Anne Lemire writes the Rumor Clinic, a newspaper column that disproves the many harmful rumors floating around town. . Devon Mulvey a Catholic FBI agent spends his time off duty preventing sabotage and checking up on the cleric adding rumors through their Sunday slermons.to what is happening around town.
Ann and Devon meet up and start working on some rumors about propaganda being handed out to customers of various businesses and start an investigation of an immigrant factory worker being killed. It is something I was not aware that were going on in the US – groups being against the Jewish population, and fascism in the US being around. Their combined efforts lead them on trail of espionage, and organized crime.
Interesting story about the War. A war story and what was happening here before the US entered into the War.. Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read this good story

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen is a book set in WW11. The story is told by two characters, Annie, is a reporter who writes a column that debunks rumors and FBI agent Devon, who investigates Nazi sympathizer.
When an immigrate worker is murdered Devons investigations ties into Annie’s story about propaganda being handed out.
The story and writing are good. I really connected with Annie – not so much with Devon.
They work together to help solve the murder and find out who is behind the propaganda –
The book was well researched, and I felt I was in Boston 1943 -- I am not sure it was for me – but if you like WW11 historical fiction and mystery the book is for you.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

As war rages in Europe, reporter Anne Lemire writes a column called the Rumor Clinic for the Star, a Boston newspaper. In her column, she seeks to debunk the lies in wartime rumors and, in their place, provide the truth for her readers. But she longs to write something bigger, something she sees as more important.

FBI Agent Devon Mulvey, an agent with a tendency to imbibe a bit too much, struggles to find purpose in his work. Granted, the work of the federal agents is important; he simply isn’t certain it is important enough to keep him from enlisting.

But wartime tensions are high on the streets of Boston and Mulvey finds himself investigating the murder of Abraham Wolff, an employee of Northeast Munitions, a factory making rifles for the war effort. Soon it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.

Who killed Abe Wolff . . . and why? Was he a victim of anti-Jewish sentiment? Did it have something to do with the crate of rifles missing from Northeast Munitions? Could the New Patriot League or the Christian Legion be involved?

=========

Told alternately from the viewpoints of the two main protagonists, the unfolding story is rich in detail and historical fact. The history is spot-on, from the Civil Air Patrol thwarting submarine attacks by patrolling the waters off the Atlantic coast in their small, single-engine aircraft to the prejudicial, heinous attacks leveled against Jewish citizens [including Anne’s seventeen-year-old brother, Sammy] by execrable gangs.

The strong sense of time and place, well-defined characters, and an intriguing mystery all work together to pull the reader into the telling of the tale from the outset. Unexpected revelations and some unforeseen plot twists keep readers guessing; the attitudes and fears felt by Anne and Devon are realistic as are the prejudicial attitudes of other characters.

The enthralling story, with its undercurrent of unsettledness, thanks to the war, keeps readers turning pages as fast as possible, leading to a denouement that may be an unexpected surprise.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#TheRumorGame #NetGalley

This is the first ever Thomas Mullen book I have read. Due to the subject matter, which I was not aware of at the time Net Galley offered me an ARC, I felt closer to the subject matter.
Anne Lemire, originally believing she was catholic and raised that way living in one of the Irish strongholds of Boston during WW2, graduates a prestigious New England University to become a reporter at a local paper known as “The Star”. Her Column entitled “The Rumor Clinic” was to debunk myths about anything occurring during the WW2 era in Boston. She later learns she really is Jewish and is subjected to all prejudices of Boston especially from the Irish immigrants and their descendants. One of her stories deals with a group that wants us not to enter the war and conspires to prove it was the Jews who wanted us to enter WWII.
Of course, she falls for a second or third generation Irish guy, Devon Mulvey, Harvard educated, but more liberal than the rest of thehis family.
This story could have happened in any city of America at the time and even now. Often revealing how the United States despite what it stands for was very unwelcoming to immigrants-whether Irish or Jewish, white, or African American, Vietnamese, Pakistani etc..
The author’s comments at end are very prescient. Thank You to Net Galley for providing this most enjoyable read for a fair and caring review.

The Rumor Game is set in Boston during WWII and explores what was going on with Americans as many were divided about the U.S. becoming involved with the war. This novel is told from two different points of view. One is that of an FBI agent and the other of an idealistic young journalist who wants to stop the antisemitic and other hateful rumors targeting marginalized groups. The story revolved around Anne and Devon trying to discover what was really going on in Boston as pamphlets and then ultimately a murder begins to show some serious crime is happening and the local cops are doing nothing about it.

This book had some good moments but ultimately wasn't for me. I did like Anne, who was a strong female character but Devon, the FBI agent was a little off putting to me. I wanted more connection between these two characters. This book was well written and did move along but it felt like more of a true crime novel than a thriller. The author did include an author's note which told what events were true and what was not. I always appreciate this in a historical fiction book. Overall not a bad book but for those who love crime novels.

Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing Group for this ARC.

"The Rumor Game" by Thomas Mullen presents a historical mystery centered around the covert organizations active in Boston during World War II. The author's extensive research truly impressed me, shedding light on the prejudices prevalent in Boston during that era. While the wealth of information provided valuable insights, I personally found the writing to be verbose and challenging to engage with, leading me to skim through several chapters.

I'd like to express my gratitude to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for affording me the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sadly it's not a book for me. After several attempts to get into it, I've given up. It just did not catch my attention.

Thomas Mullen delivers a riveting and atmospheric historical crime thriller with "The Rumor Game." Set against the backdrop of World War II-era Boston, this novel masterfully captures the tension and unease of a city divided by wartime suspicions and fascist elements. With compelling characters, intricate plotting, and a richly detailed historical setting, Mullen crafts a story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

In June 1943, as the war rages on, reporter Anne Lemire finds herself at the heart of a web of rumors, misinformation, and fear that grips the city. Writing the Rumor Clinic column, Anne works tirelessly to debunk harmful rumors circulating in the community—some spawned by Axis forces, others by mere gossip and ignorance. However, Anne's hunger for a more significant story pushes her to uncover the truth behind Nazi propaganda disseminated by local businesses, leading her to a dangerous path of espionage and conspiracy.

Special Agent Devon Mulvey of the FBI, a devout Catholic navigating his own complexities, is tasked with preventing wartime sabotage and investigating suspicious activities. When Anne's investigation into Nazi propaganda intersects with Devon's probe into the death of an immigrant factory worker, the two are drawn into a web of organized crime, domestic fascism, and espionage. As they navigate this treacherous landscape, their personal histories become intertwined, and the boundaries between friend and foe blur.

Mullen's meticulous attention to historical detail immerses readers in the wartime atmosphere of Boston, creating a palpable sense of time and place. The characters, from the determined and sharp-witted Anne to the complex and conflicted Devon, come alive on the pages, their struggles and motivations driving the narrative forward.

"The Rumor Game" masterfully weaves a narrative that explores the intersections of fear, loyalty, and deception. Mullen skillfully navigates the complex threads of espionage and intrigue, leading to revelations that challenge the characters' perceptions and reveal deeper layers of conspiracy. The novel's pacing is relentless, propelling readers through a maze of twists and turns that culminate in a thrilling and satisfying conclusion.

In "The Rumor Game," Thomas Mullen delivers an engrossing historical crime thriller that captures the essence of a city in turmoil and the individuals determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. With its gripping narrative, multidimensional characters, and evocative historical backdrop, this novel is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, espionage, and suspenseful storytelling.

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed both the female and male main characters and their growth throughout the book. While it's historical fiction, I learned a lot about things happening in the time of World War II that I didn't know about. I enjoyed the plot of the book and was surprised throughout.

“The Rumor Game” by Thomas Mullen is a historical mystery about the subversive groups that operated in Boston during WWll. The amount of research that was done by the author was quite amazing and it allowed me to lean an awful lot about the prejudices that existed in Boston at that time. However, I found the book wordy, and difficult to read so I found myself skimming many of the chapters.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s press and the author for allowing me to review this book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I felt both pleased and honored to receive a copy of Thomas Mullen's The Rumor Game in return for a review, as I have followed this author's novels for years. Perhaps somewhat predictably, on my part, as I am such a fan of police procedurals as well as novels that remind us that the sins of the past must be reexamined to keep us from repeating them, Mullen's Darktown series is my favorite (he could have written dozens in this captivating series, I would still like up to buy a copy at every release date.

However, even with my adoration of mysteries and crime novels, Mr. Mullen's sheer genius when it comes to delicately opening our hearts and our minds, as when we read his novels they are the closest thing to true-life accounts that fiction can ever be. We fall in love a little with Mullen's characters, and it is the same with the wonderfully brash female reporter in this novel, who pushes herself to be heroic, although she worries deeply when she sees her own personality traits and dedication reflected in her little brother.

I have loved Thomas Mullen's creations for ages, it is as though he gives us a special window to witness past historical events or formative times, you feel like an invisible family member of the main characters in Mullen's novels. He is a very special author who, due to his skill in weaving a magical historical time that we feel so much a part of, his novels will always hold a place in my heart.

In the Rumor Game, Mullen's turns his very talented attention to the sins and nonsensical hatred, cruelty, judgement and prejudice surrounding World War II. Unfortunately, although we would prefer to imagine that the inequality of this time was restricted to Germany and Hitler's vile legacy, much to our shame, the United States and US citizens (as in EVERY shamefully prejudicial and hate-filled time) hated those who appeared or seemed to be "other" or "different" at least on the surface.

A beautiful novel and as usual, this talent author (without overtly doing so) reminds us of our countries past sins, while crafting an extremely captivating story, guaranteed to pull you in, you are so close to "there" when you read Mullen's novels, and this wonderful offering, about a few individualized who were quietly heroic, almost - is a gift that Mullen's deserves to feel proud to give us.


Until next time (my I do go ON, although this author deserves kudos for DAYS). Well, just set aside this clumsy "love letter to this author's talent" and as soon as it is on the shelves pick up a copy of The Rumor Game!