This was a bit of a wild ride. I LOVE Anna and her take-no-shit and go-get-'em spirit, even though she gets into some scary & tight spots because of that spiritedness! The parallels to today's anti-Semitism and anti-anything not-white are quite terrifying to me. We really have not come that far and this book highlights that. This was my 1st book by Thomas Mullen but will not be my last!

Story set in Boston diring WWII. Anne Lemire writes a weekly column called the Rumor Clinic
that details the real story behind rumors. Anti-Semitic pamphlets being distributed have resulted
in Jews being attacked. Ann's investigation into uncovering who is behind the pamphlets leads to
crossing paths with FBI agent Devon Mulvey. Devon is investigating the murder of a munitions
plant worker. Is it because the worker was Jewish or is it industrial sabotage? The police, politicians, clerics
and the Mafia are all in the mix of misinformation. When Anne and Devon become targets, who can they
trust?
#TheRumorGame #NetGalley

Historical fiction meets mystery, fast paced and twisty throughout. The mention of Civil Air Patrol made my day! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

Historical fiction set in Boston during World War II. Anne Lemire writes a gossip column that debunks mostly war time rumors not realizing at first how dangerous that can become. She involves herself in a story that surrounds a murder and other crimes and the real danger begins. Devon Mulvey from a neighborhood family is an FBI agent assigned to the Boston area. These childhood acquaintances re-meet and Devon agrees to aid Anne as she embroils herself in peril. Fighting corruption and prejudice while the political climate is taut these two take their stand.
Highly entertaining work during a difficult time in US history. Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books.

Anne Lemire writes the Rumor Clinic, a newspaper column that disproves the many harmful rumors floating around town, some of them spread by Axis spies and others just gossip mixed with fear and ignorance. Tired of chasing silly rumors about Rosie Riveters' safety on the job, she wants to write about something bigger.

Special Agent Devon Mulvey spends his weekdays preventing industrial sabotage and his Sundays spying on clerics with suspect loyalties while wooing the many lonely women whose husbands are off at war.

When Anne’s story about Nazi propaganda intersects with Devon’s investigation into the death of a factory worker, the two are led down a dangerous trail of espionage, organized crime, and domestic fascism.

This historical fiction novel takes on a subject I previously knew nothing of. It's easy to imagine rumors flying around at a time like that, but I never knew there was active attempts at disproving them. I enjoyed following Anne along as she worked to uncover the truth. Devon's story is more familiar but interesting as well.

It takes some time for the stories come together. At times I wished for a faster pace because there is a lot of detail to get through. There is an overall fun voice to the narration that I think readers will enjoy.

The Rumor Game is set in the racially divided neighborhoods of Boston in 1943. War fever, isolationist fervor, racial and religious hatred create a potent stew. The two main characters, a journalist and an FBI agent find their jobs and their personal lives entwined in dangerous and threatening ways.

The tension from this atmosphere is very well done. Neither the characters nor the reader know who they can trust. Mullen reminds us that racial hatred is a long-standing theme in American society, and that today's political nationalism and isolationism is nothing new.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Minotaur Books, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I think I am over the WWII historical fiction that seems to have taken over the genre. I did like that this is set in the U.S. (more specifically, Massachusetts), because I think a lot of Americans think we were all in agreement about the war. And I did get the feeling that Anne was a more grown-up Nancy Drew in her sleuthing as a reporter. Devon was just okay. I liked the fact that the book showed the prejudices against Catholics and Jews. And let's not forget the way women were treated during that era.

I considered giving up at around 40% because the beginning of the book was just so overwritten and could have been much tighter, but I persevered. It ended up being a good book for me, but not great.

In 1943 Boston Anne Lemire is a reporter whose column debunks rumors and misinformation. Her editor prefers lighter columns, like disproving that women with perms could have their heads explode if working in the munitions factory. Anne would prefer to write something with more substance. She has been looking into the antisemitic propaganda that has been appearing, blaming the war on the Jews. There have been a number of attacks against Jewish residents, including her brother Sam. Devon Mulvey is an FBI agent responsible for preventing industrial sabotage at the munitions factory. When one of the workers is murdered, it leads to the discovery of missing rifles. Ann stumbles upon a plot to use counterfeit ration cards to discredit the Jewish community when she traces the propaganda to a warehouse. Her investigation crosss over into Devon’s and they have a common goal, but neither is in a position to share everything that they know.

Devon is a ladies’ man. He knew Anne as children and when he encounters her again there is an instant attraction. She is different from the other women he has met and he feels a respect for her. While he is working for the FBI, his father and other family members freely express their antisemitism and are working against America’s involvement in the war. Anne has been dealing with the attacks in her community and the indifference of the police, making it difficult to trust Devon. Thomas Mullen’s excellent historical fiction is atmospheric and you can feel Anne’s frustration as she deals with the corruption, the rationing and the community’s fear. This is a book that is highly recommended. I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur for providing this book for my review.

Set in World War II-era Boston, this gripping novel follows the intersecting paths of determined reporter Anne Lemire and reluctant FBI agent Devon Mulvey as they navigate a city teeming with espionage and domestic fascism.

Anne's column, "The Rumor Clinic," exposes the dangerous rumors circulating in town, shedding light on Axis spies' machinations and dispelling fear and ignorance. However, she yearns to tackle weightier subjects than Rosie Riveters' safety, leading her to delve into Nazi propaganda.

Meanwhile, Devon, grappling with his own complexities as one of the few Catholics at the FBI, juggles his duty to prevent industrial sabotage with his personal pursuits. When Anne's investigation collides with Devon's probe into a factory worker's death, they're thrust into a perilous journey fraught with espionage and organized crime, unearthing their tangled pasts and threatening to engulf the city in violence.

Mullen's masterful storytelling weaves a tapestry of vibrant historical detail, enveloping readers in the atmospheric setting of wartime Boston. The narrative's timely exploration of disinformation and power resonates profoundly, offering insights that reverberate in today's world.

"The Rumor Game" is a riveting thriller that captivates from start to finish, with its intricate plot and compelling characters keeping readers on the edge of their seats. Mullen once again proves himself a formidable storyteller, delivering a thought-provoking tale that lingers long after the final page.

If you’ve never read Thomas Mullen before, I consider him best known for his historical mysteries with strong themes of prejudice, racism, hatred, corruption, and violence. His latest historical thriller, The Rumor Game, is set in Boston, Massachusetts during World War II and centers around a newspaper reporter and an FBI agent whose work intersects leading to dangerous consequences.

A well-paced story that instantly transports the reader to Boston in 1942, Mullen quickly and effectively builds the sociopolitical context for the mystery. The US has joined WWII after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Boston in the early 1940s is filled with anti-Jewish sentiment across the different communities. Tensions among different groups have escalated from unrest to fascism, brutality, violence, and targeted attacks.

Journalist Anne Lemire writes a newspaper column called the Rumor Clinic that debunks false information and rumors spreading around the city. Many of these stories gain traction quickly and lead to dangerous consequences when the information is untrue. One of the stories she is working on revolves around allegations that a doctor at Fort Gillem in Georgia is performing illegal abortions on women in the WAAC (non-combat roles in the army) impregnated by soldiers. Anne rapidly debunks allegations from sources and gathers the information she needs to correct the damaging story. Anne’s Jewish background and her political leanings prompt her to pursue a story about local gangs targeting Jewish kids.

Meanwhile Devon Mulvey is an FBI agent who engages in…extramarital activities with married women. Almost exclusively married women, and not because he targets them but because most women happen to be married after the rush of proposals before soldiers were shipped out to war. In the same way that Anne’s Jewish heritage make her an outsider in many parts of the city, Devon’s Irish-Catholic background make him an outsider within the FBI ranks. Furthermore, it leads to problems within his community because he feels guilt investigating his own people.

When Devon is called to investigate the murder of a Jewish refugee whose body was found with a swastika drawn on a cocktail napkin, he finds himself at odds with the Boston Police Department. Meanwhile Anne’s brother Sammy is attacked by an Irish gang, leading her to pursue deeper investigations into antisemitism. When Anne and Devon’s paths cross, they find themselves with a common cause in their investigations into the Christian Legion.

This is a politically charged novel which can make it heavy to read. A quick pace and interesting leading characters pull the reader into the story. The partnership (if you can call it that) between Anne and Devon is rocky. Their backgrounds prevent them from really trusting one another, despite a romantic connection between the two that seems ill-fated.

A compulsive historical thriller with a strong emphasis on prejudice and political unrest.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.

This is a surprisingly timely novel even though it takes place during World War II. It is all about hatred, antisemitism, racism, and the spread of hatred and misinformation. It raises some important questions. How far is it okay to bend the rules during wartime? Also, does family loyalty really trump all no matter the circumstances?

The book has a quite interesting but rather complicated plot with numerous characters. Accordingly, it is often hard to keep track of who is who and what exactly is going on. Most of the characters are extremely morally ambiguous even the two main characters. While Anne and Devon's tenaciousness and seeming desire to get to the truth and see justice served are admirable, their willingness to take unnecessary risks and bend the rules to suit their needs is not. However, their less admirable traits do add to the excitement of the story.

If you are looking for a book that plays like an action movie, this one definitely fits the bill. However, if you are in it for the romance, you will probably be disappointed. On the whole, the story is intriguing and remains interesting throughout. but even though in the end the mystery is satisfactorily resolved, some parts of the ending are not as satisfactory.

Thank you to the author Thomas Mullen, publishers Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE RUMOR GAME. All views are mine.

Some mistruths were born of ignorance, almost innocent in their lack of understanding about the world. Some were initially harmless, more mistakes than outright lies, until they were repeated often enough to convince a critical mass of people, in which case they became dangerous. Then there were the deliberate mistruths that all but dripped with venom, sharpened like fangs ready to sink into gullible flesh. Loc.30

THE RUMOR GAME by Thomas Mullen quite surprised me, but once I adapted to concept of a *spy* game from a more harmless, or at least domestic sort, I began to appreciate what I was reading. Stylistically speaking, this book is quite good and interesting. Beyond that, this book gives a detailed perspective of immigrant life in the US at the time of WWII. Fascinating insights on domestic spy activity and the immense pressure people faced from the government due to ideological suspicion. I recommend this one for readers of WWII fiction or US historical fiction or domestic spy stories.

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 . 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑, 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒. 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑤𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑟 𝑢𝑝 ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦. 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑒’𝑑 𝑑𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑥𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑑. 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛. 𝐴𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑢𝑛. Loc.1269

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. Many WWII novels take place in Europe, or maybe the Pacific islands. I like that this book takes place in domestic, suburban US, and shows the affects fascism and tge war efforts on different kinds of Americans.

2. Some really great insights about the limitations women experience when meeting the social demands and commands of the many institutions holding authority over them.

3. I like the inclusion of union subplot. I don't come across it much and I think it's important history.

4. I adore that Mullen delivers dialogue in summary. It allows for an interesting distant and thus transparency on the narrative that is very entertaining.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. This book is so over written at the outset, a common issue: Loc.636

2. One of the main reasons I chose this book is the title, which it turns out is an ill fit.

3. I didn't enjoy repeated use of the word
"n---o"; I found it unnecessary and thus inappropriate.

4. Characters are a bit impenetrable. This could a style issue, actually.

Rating: 🪖🪖🪖 / 5 war stories
Recommend? Maybe, for fans of WWII
Finished: Feb 24 '24
Format: Digital arc, Kindle
Read this book if you like:
⏳️ historical fiction
🪖 WWII stories
👩‍✈️ women's rights and feminism
🚔 law enforcement procedurals

What a timely novel. Truly, it could've been written about this day and age, considering some extremist movements taking place in our nation. However, the story takes place in 1943, at the height of the unease about the US entering WWII. Strangely, this is one of 3 books I have read this past week that took place in the USA during or shortly after WWII, and it has been fascinating to see how the US handled rising tensions of the time - not so dissimilar to today's strategy, tbh. Although I have always assumed the US was strongly united in their views during this period in history, I learned from these novels and further research that this couldn't be further from the truth.

Mullen did a fantastic job writing this story from a dual third-person limited POV. I appreciated him throwing in the history of both the pro-fascist and the anti-semitic movements of the time through the eyes of the protagonists. It seems as though Mr. Mullen really did his homework as we take the journey with Anne, a determined reporter, and Devon, a rather licentious FBI agent in this combined historical fiction/murder mystery novel.

I loved that it took place in Boston! Having been born in MA, and later spending every summer in the area, I felt drawn to the setting and immigrant characters. Mullen's character development was very well done.

If you're looking for an enlightening read that gives readers hope that the US can pull through even the most divided and trying times (such as we find ourselves now), look no further!

So grateful to partners, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this gifted review copy.

An original angle on a WWII story that's set within the United States and puts domestic fascism and racism on the spot in an era that doesn't usually get called out for it.
Chalk it up to Mullen being too good a writer in making it feel like I was reading a non-fiction account. I would have liked for Anne and Devon to get some more low-key or low-pressure moments to add more of a storytelling feeling and balance out all the negativeness of the story. As it was, even moments that weren't directly about people being awful ended up being about how awful people are.
I really wish I'd liked it more because the writing is top-notch, yet all the awful things people were doing to those they saw as different and beneath them are sadly still hitting too close to home with what we're living today for it to make an enjoyable reading experience. Maybe it's a case of it being the wrong moment for the right book, but I really struggled with finishing what is frankly a very depressing story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the, frankly, disturbing read!

This was a wonderful slice of historical fiction set in the Boston area during early WWII. I was drawn in by the description and that fact that it was set in my hometown and I enjoyed every minute of this book. It is well-written, fast paced, well drawn characters, the ending isn’t the obligatory neat & tidy fiction ending which I like as real-life isn’t like that. I felt that I was getting a good grasp of the major issues of the time and place such as Jewish anti-Semitism in Boston related to the war, racism, unions, mob control on the docks, the role of the government, isolationism, women’s role, what some fringe groups thought at the time. The author did some intense research and those volumes were listed at the and the book was loosely based based on a female journalist in that time frame but this is fiction and not that person’s biography.

#therumorgame #netgalley

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen

Journalist Anne Lemire has taken it under her wing to squash any rumors that could hurt her readers. She writes The Rumor Clinic column for the Boston Star newspaper. Her path eventually crosses with that of FBI detective Devon Mulvey. Their rekindled friendship sets off to solve a mystery.

This pleasant story takes place in Boston, Massachusetts during WWII. Certain questionable behaviors are being investigated by the FBI, which is on high alert, and the local police may be involved. It’s a delicate balance and crimes may have been committed. Anne feels obligated to write the truth.

This book would appeal to readers who like a good chase to solve a mystery, and I will round up a 3.5 star review to 4 stars. I hesitate only because I feel the story could have ended sooner. I received a copy of this title from the publisher St Martin’s Press via Net Galley. Opinions expressed here are completely my own.

3.75/5⭐️

This thriller set in WW2 Boston centers around Reporter Anne Lemire and FBI special agent Devon Mulvey as they are brought together to investigate murder, organized crime, espionage and domestic fascism.

While the story’s plot and writing were fine, and there were twists and turns, I just wasn’t bowled over. I wanted to connect more with the characters, and I actually had some issues with Devon’s character. Also a bit of an abrupt ending.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing the free early arc of The Rumor Game for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

***ARC received from Minotaur Books and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

Devon is the stereotypical sleep around agent but this becomes less of his character the further the book goes thankfully. He also struggles with the idea of being stateside while so many are at war. I wish the book had focused a little more on that for him as it added interesting depth to his character. Yes there are stateside war related issues that he was handling but with family members off to war it weighs on him.

I did like Anne more than Devon, she is a spunky reporter who believes that she is better than just addressing rumors but as a woman she is trapped by the time. I loved her dynamic with her friends and family

One thing I really liked that as a history fiction book it took a dark look at the time after Pearl Harbor but before the allies landed in Europe. It’s a hard reminder than not only was antisemitism alive and strong in the us but that there were many, particularly those in positions of authority that were sympathetic to the Nazi cause. They agreed with Hitler and what they were doing and I think even if they knew the full realities of what was happening im Germany they may still have supported the cause. That is when the book is at its strongest, navigating the complexities of what was happening at home while a war was raging overseas. It also hints at the fact that WWII really isn’t that far after WWI or the great war, there is the conflict of an older generation that remembers what happened when the world went to war. Many lost loved one and live to see more loved ones die.

The beginning of the book tended to drag for me a little bit. While its setting up the main plot points it didn’t really add much and it meanders around adding things that felt like they weren’t needed. Or there were things that didn’t really add to the story. Its mostly at the beginning of the book but it doesn’t really help getting into the book. It really does pick up about the mid way point when Anne and Devon’s paths cross and their stories intermix when they realize they are chasing the same story just from different directions. For an ending it was good but I was more intereted in the book it was setting up.

Anne runs a column called “The Rumor Clinic” where she disproves the many rumors and misinformation about the war. She would really like to work on something bigger but she knows her chances are small as she is a female. There was a lot I learned about the war at that time. There is a lot of action and twists and turns.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dangerous rumors!

Fascinating story built around the Nazi groups, fascist groups, and other anti Jewish groups in Boston during World War II, including the Christian Front organization.
Told through the eyes of Jewish journalist Anne Lemire and FBI agent Devon Mulvey.
“ Anne wrote for the Rumor Clinic, the weekly Star column she’d managed to create for herself after weeks of persistent calls and a few connections. The idea behind the Rumor Clinic was to identify and disprove the many harmful rumors floating around town, some of them spread by deliberate Axis propaganda to weaken resolve and others just random bits of hearsay mixed with fear, ignorance, and bigotry.”
Incidents are building, fuelled by rumour, and subsequent resentment from blue collar workers about Jews and African Americans supposedly taking their jobs in a munitions factory (untrue.) This, together with the anti semitism of certain Catholic priests, the same sentiments amongst many of Boston police force, and the increased mugging of young Jewish people walking home, weaves a dark tale.
Anne wants to expose fascists and corrupt organizations. Dangerous! Devon is investigating a sudden death. Their paths connect.
Feelings of helplessness, the entanglement of family relationships, of trying to bring untruths to the public awareness—a public that mostly didn’t want to know, pervade.
Challenging and enlightening. Disproving falsehoods and exposing rumors is not easy.

A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)