Real Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

The Rumor Game is an interesting historical thriller set in Boston during WWII, featuring a female reporter who works to stop the spread of disinformation with a column in her local paper and male FBI agent who’s assignment is supposed to be preventing sabotage of industries vital to the war effort in and around Boston (the town being a vital port city). On the surface, the only thing the two seem to have in common is a hatred of Nazis. War makes for strange bedfellows, though, and soon it proves that these two have a lot of connections, both personally and professionally.

The Rumor Game has a great story, but my great issue is that it doesn’t ever seem to come together cohesively. It’s all over the place, narratively. There are a lot of threads to pull on, and not all of them are pulled on equally. Some are left dangling for too long and when Mullen comes back to them it’s been so long that it feels almost confusing. Some threads are resolved a little too neatly, or not in a satisfactory manner for the amount of outrage they elicited for the characters in the story (who deserved better). At times it also felt like Mullen may have been having his own characters act stupider than they were being otherwise written, because their ignorance regarding certain matters beggared belief.

It’s a cool story with great atmosphere but there’s a lot missing from it. If it had a tighter plot I would’ve loved it a lot more.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Crime Fiction/Crime Thriller/Historical Fiction/Political Thriller/Thriller

The Rumor Game, by Thomas Mullen, set in Boston in 1942, is an exciting murder mystery within a historical fiction novel. The main characters are strong and their roles and descriptions are well written. Devon Mulvey, an Irishman, is a hard-nosed FBI agent called in to investigate anti-war crimes. His sideline is chasing skirts. Anne Lemire is a young reporter, whose newspaper column “The Rumor Clinic,” investigates high interest rumors circulating in the city.

This story covers a number social issues of the era: Growing mob activity, antisemitism, abortion, the role of women, and troubles within the Catholic church, all of which were rampant in Boston at the time. This is an action-packed and fast moving read.

Set in Boston during WWII, The Rumor Game combines historical and crime fiction with a bit of romance, exploring how rumor can be used as propaganda by feeding paranoia and reinforcing cultural stereotypes. Anne Lemire is a newspaper reporter responsible for a column called the Rumor Clinic. for which she investigates rumors to find out how they started and if they have any basis in truth. Devon Mulvey is a rare Irish Catholic FBI Special Agent, tasked mostly with background checks and investigating possible cases of industrial sabotage, or the murder of a munitions factory worker. Anne and Devon meet and end up working together on a case/story/mystery that may be bigger than either imagined. The tensions of the time bring some darkness to the plot and influence much about the main characters' lives. Anne and Devon are complex and likeable, as is the story itself.

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen is a dual-perspective noir historical fiction thriller set in Boston during WWII. The repercussions of war were felt in America, especially blatant anti-Jewish sentiment. Jews got treated worse than second-class citizens.

Anne is a reporter who writes Rumor Clinic but is unsatisfied with its gossipy and frivolous tone. She wants more, such as human interest. Antisemitism is rife, sadly. When espionage and murder happen she is thrown together with FBI and Irish Catholic Devon Mulvey who make an unlikely but successful team. They are worlds apart in ways but have a sense of justice in common. Devon finds married women at home while their husbands are at war irresistible and is no stranger to one-night stands. He sometimes wonders whether he's fathered children.

The writing is gorgeous, the historical details are beautifully rich and the premise is promising. However, though slow burns are usually my thing, there was something amiss with the pacing here. It just wasn't quite enough to feed my mind at the right intervals. Devon is an unlikable character which is fine but his chasing married women is irritating. The noir slant isn't my cup of tea so it may be a situation of "it's not you, it's me".

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel.

A reporter and an FBI agent unsuspectedly team-up to solve a local murder involving the mafia, a corrupt police force and an anti-semite group. Set in Boston in 1943, a community is being ripped apart with rumors that the jews are to blame for WWII. Attacks are rampant against adults and children and the propaganda is spurring an uprising against the jewish businesses.

This historical fiction novel gave me perspective of the racial hatred during the war. The messaging was interwoven seamlessly through the mystery and romance. Once can't help draw parallels between now and this books story.

Thank you, Minotaur Books

Reporter Anne Lemire writes the Rumor Clinic, a newspaper column that disproves the many harmful rumors floating around town. 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 weekends preventing industrial sabotage and he spends his evenings 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 is a powerful thriller by Thomas Mullen. There are alternate points of view by Anne and Devon. There are plenty of twists and turns that had me reading to a satisfying ending. I am now looking forward to the next novel by Thomas Mullen. If you like books about history, then you would love this book.

Set in Boston during WWII, The Rumor Game is a historical thriller covering what is going on stateside while the war rages on across Europe. Anne Lemire is a reporter who writes the Rumor Clinic, a newspaper article that disproves the rumors floating around town. During her time covering the trivial rumors, Anne comes across a story that is bigger than what she’s worked on before and hopefully her big break. As she works on proving her story about Nazi propaganda to be true, Anne’s investigation intersects with Devon Muvey’s FBI investigation. together, the two are led down a path that could lead to uncovering espionage, dangerous crime and local fascism. This book takes the reader on an interesting journey rooted in the history of WWII and what was going on in the United States at this time.

When I picked this book up, I didn’t have any high expectations, but I was immediately pulled into this story and couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed the way that Anne and Devon’s investigations were separate, but intersected in a way that pulled them together. This story was well written, easy to follow and build in a historical setting that was easily believable. I liked Anne and Devin’s characters and believe they worked well together. I’ve read a few WWII thrillers, but nothing set in the US and I enjoyed this new setting and the connection to the war. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am glad I got the chance to read it!

A World War II era novel set in Boston brings a column reporter and an FBI agent together in a historical thriller in a city plagued by suspicion and tension. Mullen once again penned a story that will open your eyes and touch your heart with true to life characters in this raw telling of prejudice and anti-war racism.
Anne Lemire’s column The Rumor Clinic tries to debunk rumors spreading throughout the community – some absurd but none the less harmful. Yet as she is always searching for more meaningful stories, she begins investigating rumors of Nazi propaganda and intimidation that has begun circulating around the town.
Agent Devon Mulvey, is the outcast as an Irish Catholic within the Boston FBI agency in a unit which investigates and prevents wartime sabotage activities. While investigating the murder of a Jewish immigrant munition worker, Mulvey’s gut tells him there’s more to it than just a robbery gone to far.
Anne and Devon’s investigations have their paths cross as they uncover plots spurred by hatred, isolationism and greed.
As with Darktown, which featured the racism faced by the first black police officers in Atlanta, Mullen addresses anti-semitism in Boston during WWII and once again captures the darkest sides of humanity. Despite the time period, this novel unfortunately feels timeless with the racism that still exists today.

Boston in 1943; Pearl Harbour was bombed, and the USA was in readiness to enter WW2. The city is in turmoil with its isolationists and warmongers. There is a broad division of wealth and poverty. Neighbourhoods consist of people of various backgrounds, with suspicion and tension among groups. This is a study of corruption, organized crime and bigotry.

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen is an appropriate title for this investigative story and mystery. It is well-researched and based on historical incidents from the time. Rumours abound and are widely circulated, and the plot focuses on attempts to disprove or quench the harmful stories. The rumours include silly local gossip and deliberately placed stories by groups intending to undermine authority, disrupt the war effort, and spread discord. Neo-Nazis and Communist sympathizers, and spies are targeting those with opposing beliefs.

Pro-fascist propaganda blames Jews for causing the War and benefiting financially from it. The lives of the Jewish population have become more restrictive and dangerous. Irish Catholics are regarded as low-class and lazy. Italians are considered to be gangsters, and indeed, some are taking control of the docks, factories and trade unions. I thought the story was often slow-paced and lacking momentum, and I failed to engage with the characters and plot. As a Canadian, our troops had already been fighting in WW2 so I think it would be more interesting to Americans.

Anne Lemire is a tenacious reporter and writes for the Rumor Clinic in a local newspaper. She investigates the ridiculous local rumours assigned by the paper. These include loose morals among the WAACs, seducing young military men, and an illegal abortion clinic on site. Sailors are turning green after the Pearl Harbour bombing and the enemy poisoning the local lobsters. Anne was raised Catholic but later learned she is half Jewish. She worked diligently to trace such rumours back to their origins and disprove them. After her younger brother is attacked for the second time by Irish youths and a brick is thrown through her car windshield, she wants to expose the anti-Semitic propaganda behind these attacks. Her newspaper disapproves, so she will now write these articles independently. She discovers a warehouse where printing presses are turning out racist flyers and bogus ration stamps and owned by an influential, bigoted organization. A friend who was in her car has vanished.

Devon Mulvey is one of the earliest Irish Catholics accepted into the FBI. He is from a large, prejudiced family. His colleagues in the FBI don't trust him, and local police are uncooperative with his efforts. He is in charge of the security for the munitions factory and also interviews priests spouting pro-Nazi claims during their services. A Jewish worker from the factory has been found murdered with a swastika symbol placed in his pocket. A carton load of rifles has been stolen from the factory. Is there a connection? Where do the stolen rifles end up? Devon's personal life is disturbing. He has one-night stands with numerous wives of deployed military and thinks he is doing them a favour.

Devon's investigations connect with Anne's. They were once school and neighbourhood friends and are feeling an attraction. Do they trust each other enough to work together? Devon has been warned by authorities to ignore any connection with Italian gangsters. Local police may be corrupt, ignoring any hate crimes and minimizing dangers.

This informative and thought-provoking historical novel has lessons regarding the many conspiracy stories today. With the internet, they spread wider, more quickly and become more deeply entrenched. Beware!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley that should appeal to anyone interested in the history leading to American troops entering the War and public reaction. The date of publication is February 27th.

I hated being so disappointed. The book just dragged on and on. I am very interested in the time and the topic. We are practically falling into a reconstruction. Yet, this story was just boring. Nothing really happened, What a safe way to address all of this.

The Rumor Game is a dual POV story set in Boston during WWII. Anne Lemire is a reporter and Devon Mulvey is an FBI agent and they both find themselves up against racism, prejudice, and anti-war sentiments who's paths cross in this historical mystery.

The setting of this book was so well laid out. Having never been to Boston, I felt like I could see the streets, it's inhabitants, and I felt like I understood the political mindset of the players. Mullen really brought the time and place to life! I liked the characters as well. While they could at times be frustrating in their choices, they felt very consistent. Anne is a character who sees the world in black and white. Sometimes she dives into the grey but for the most part things are right or wrong and I found that frustrating at times. Devon has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. You root for them both though and they felt very real to me.

While this was written in 3rd person, coming from either Anne or Devon's perspectives, there were times where the narrator switched to an all knowing outsider. Those asides took me out of the story. They mystery was an intricate weave of characters, crimes, and connections and while it all came together in the end, there was almost too much happening, and too many red herrings that I found myself trying to go back to review the details we were already given. We know from the very start that Devon is enchanted by beautiful women but the way that him and Anne met on the street felt lazy to me. There were so many possibilities for their paths to cross and that really stuck out to me as out of place. And while this was not a romance novel, I found the ending to be unsatisfying. The actual mystery is solved, but it felt like Anne and Devon didn't get closure for themselves as a pair or as individuals.

Overall I did find this to be an entertaining read and I was surprised at how something set 80 years ago could be so timely. This book deals heavily with antisemitism, anti-war sentiments, racism, and violence.

Set in Boston just as America enters WWII. There are two main characters: Anne Lemire, a journalist who writes a weekly column called the Rumor Clinic for the Star--her job is to chase down stupid stories and disprove them. And Devon Mulvey, a young FBI agent whose job currently is to provide security for a war munitions plant. He and his partner Lou are called to the scene of the murder of one of the plant's employees. Could it have been because he was Jewish? There seems to be an awful lot of anti-semitism in that mostly Irish area of Boston as America is drawn into the war in Europe.

This story opened my eyes to the level of racial hatred which existed even here in America during that historic period. The plot which combines mystery and a bit of romance allows the author to deliver an important message. One can't help but draw certain parallels to modern times and the racism that still exists unfortunately.

I received an arc of this novel through the St Martin Press Influencer Group via Net Galley. Many thanks for the opportunity. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

I was intrigued by the description of this book. I was interested in reading about life in the U.S. during WWII, particularly in Boston which I’ve always liked. The mystery element also made this sound entertaining. However, I found it difficult to get through. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing which is top notch, but the story seemed to plod along slowly. There were twists and turns which made me hopeful that the story was building but then it would just slow down. I also didn’t love the characters. Anna seemed to be channeling Nancy Drew with her risky escapades and investigative work. I did learn a lot about anti semitism and corruption in Boston at the time, but it wasn’t enough to make me love this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thomas Mullen tells the tale of 1940s Boston and Cambridge in his latest historical thriller where American anti-semitism and nationalism set the tone during WWII. Like his novel, Darktown, set in 1940’s Atlanta which featured the first black police officers in the city and the racism they endured, in The Rumor Game, Mullen takes on anti-semitism in New England during the war, especially by the Irish. Mullen has proven himself as a writer with impeccable research and accurate portraits of that period in American history.

The story revolves around Anne, a Jewish reporter who writes a column debunking rumors of a wartime nature, and Mulvey, an Irish FBI agent who knew each other as kids and reunite to try and solve the murder of a Jewish munitions worker. Surprisingly, some Americans were so Anti-Semitic that they sabotaged the American war effort under the guise of Christian Nationalism. The level of isolationist sentiment and violent response is quite reminiscent of what is happening in the US today.

The two protagonists of the novel uncover plots and murders revolving around Nazis, hatred and extremists which should not surprise us today, given how history does seem to repeat itself. The Rumor Game is a remarkable historical tale of political and police corruption, one we all should read to better understand current affairs. And it is a captivating story in its own right. My rating 4 of 5.

This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. The Rumor Game will be published on February 27, 2024.

Interesting historical fiction that centers on a little explored aspect of the WWII Homefront-antisemitism, fascism, and isolationism. Anne, a reporter, and Devon, an FBI SA, alternately tell this story set in seething Boston in 1942. In some ways (regrettably actually) it's a bit of a second chance romance between the two, who have known one another for years even as Devon has worked his way through a slew of women. The best parts of this are the mystery-who killed the factory worker and who is promoting the false information-and the atmospherics. Both Anne and Devon are outsiders in their profession but what makes them different elsewhere makes them a stronger team. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't miss the author's notes. Here's hoping we see another outing for these two.

(rounded up from 4.5)

Thomas Mullen has a way of writing that pulls you into a story quickly. I loved his Blind Spots and I loved The Rumor Game too, which was a very different kind of story.

The Rumor Game takes place over a short period of time in the wartime summer of 1943 in Boston - and specifically in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood. The main female character is Anne Lemire, who writes a column for the fictional newspaper, The Boston Star, in which she debunks various rumors, some of which sound ridiculous but were believed by a large number of people. And then there are the hurtful rumors, mainly focusing on the Jews of Boston, accusing them of all sorts of things - blaming them for the US being in the war at all, and then profiting from it, for example. The publisher’s blurb didn’t prepare me for how much the story centered on antisemitism. This was a major subplot of the story and it resonated with me, especially given the recent rise in antisemitism that we are experiencing in 2024. In addition to that, Mullen explores how much isolationism and fascist sympathy there still was in that area (and in other parts of the US, of course, but this book looks mainly at Boston). I didn’t realize that there was still so much isolationist sentiment in 1943. I found that fascinating and disturbing.

The other main character is Devon Mulvey, an FBI agent who is working to prevent sabotage of the local wartime industrial efforts. He is one of the very few Irish Catholic FBI agents. Lemire, on the other hand, is the product of the marriage of a French Canadian Catholic man and an Eastern European Jewish woman, the latter identity not being revealed until Anne was in her teens. Because of that identity becoming known, her family was then shunned in parts of Dorchester. Her younger brother Sammy has been beaten up by local thugs because of his identity - and he’s not the only one.

All of this was eye-opening to me. My husband grew up in another similarly ethnic part of Boston, but his mother grew up in Dorchester and reading this story made me wish so much that she was still alive so I could talk to her about her experiences at that time!

There’s a murder of a Jewish munitions worker that Devon winds up investigating and of course his path and Anne’s path cross. There are mob ties, racism (including discrimination in hiring at the munitions plant) and plots to create chaos in the city.

I moved back and forth between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Megan Tusing. She did a great job with both the female and male voices and the various accents.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Mullen’s new novel takes place in Boston, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. With the US set to join the war effort, anti-Semitism is at an all time high as fearful citizens look for a scapegoat to blame for America’s ground offensive in Europe. Anne, a reporter for a Boston newspaper, is trying to root out and eliminate the source of hate-speech propaganda against the Jewish population while Devon, an FBI agent, is looking to track down a stolen shipment of rifles from a wartime munitions plant. Are the two cases connected?

I’m a big fan of Thomas Mullen’s Darktown trilogy and was lucky enough to meet the man at Bouchercon a few years back, albeit briefly. When I saw his newest novel up for grabs on Netgalley, I jumped at the chance. That said, a few years ago, I had hit my limit on books surrounding the Second World War and needed an extended break. Given that this one takes place in Boston, I figured that was far enough removed from the horrors of the front lines and concentration camps for me to re-enter the era.

A population scarred by the tremendous loss suffered from the first World War is reluctant to send their best and brightest to fight in Europe again. Rather than find an enemy in Germany, the rage is directed at the victim as anti-Semitism rises in the community. That’s not to say it’s less heartbreaking than some of the books I’ve read in the past, but it’s an easier read that some of the heavier experiences I’ve had in the last few years.

As I read on, I was happy to see that THE RUMOR GAME is at its heart a detective novel with the struggles and strains of the war effort as a backdrop. The twists and turns throughout the story had me intensely focused on who knew what and when, who was involved, and how this would shake out for Devon and Anne.

THE RUMOR GAME is a strong mid-20th century era whodunnit featuring good old fashioned “boots on the ground” detective work on the part of the two leads. Given that I cut my teeth as a reader on mystery novels, it was nice to revisit the genre with such a solid outing on the part of an experienced author.

Master storyteller Thomas Mullen returns following Blind Spots and his Darktown trilogy (loved)— Darktown, Lightning Men, and Midnight Atlanta with his latest, THE RUMOR GAME— A riveting crime novel set in Boston during WWII—A perfect blending of crime, mystery, and American history.

Some of Mullen's previous books are set in Atlanta, where he currently resides, tackling racial injustices. THE RUMOR GAME is set in Boston, where he has family roots, with another riveting novel based on several pro-Nazi, anti-Semitic organizations that existed in the US after the country entered WWII.

Many members were arrested in 1940 by the FBI for hoarding weapons (some stolen from the National Guard Armory) and plotting to assassinate Jewish politicians. (Facist and Communist groups). Also, the distribution of anti-Semitic hate sheets contributes to hostile and violent environments.

The novel features and alternates between two main characters: Anne and Devon.

Anne Lemire, Jewish and raised Catholic, is an anti-fascist activist and reporter who writes for the Rumor Clinic but is tired of writing unimportant stories and wants to dig deeper into more in-depth topics. Her job currently is chasing down harmful war rumors.

She learned over the years through her reporting that there were different kinds of mistruths. Some are born of ignorance and lack of understanding of the world. Some were harmless, more mistakes than lies, until they were repeated often enough to convince a critical mass of people, in which case they became dangerous. Some lies were well-camouflaged, and some were obvious. The good news for her was that with each falsehood, there was the reward of chasing down and disproving. She loved her job.

Agent Devon Mulvey, Catholic, a handsome, philandering FBI agent who is quite the charmer and sleeps with married women whose husbands are at war. (he thinks confessing will make it ok). He is a bit of an outcast. He is to prevent industrial sabotage and spy on clerics with suspect loyalties. He is investigating a case of stolen munitions that ended in murder.

Anne's teenage brother, Sammy, is beaten up by an Irish gang targeting the city's Jews, and the national security concerns surrounding the fatal stabbing of Abraham Wolff, an employee of Northeast Munitions, bring Devon onto the case along with the Boston Police Department.

Devon finds himself at odds with the whole BPD, including his cousin, another officer.

The two intersect with the joint cases. They have known one another from childhood and are not sure they can trust one another, but they wind up in a romance complicated by their family involvements. From Nazi flyers to counterfeit rations stamps, hoarding/stealing weapons, and corruption.

THE RUMOR GAME is meticulously researched, and the novel gives off a noir vibe with the time era and the smashing front cover, which draws you in. I loved Anne's character - tenacious and resourceful.

Masterfully written, the novel covers highly charged topics of prejudice, hatred, violence, and murder. The author has done his homework as usual with an extensive Author's Note, the inspiration behind the novel, and essential resources for further reading—an ideal book club pick.

This is the 6th book I have read by the author, and I thoroughly enjoy his writing and tackling important controversial topics of our history and how they collide with our present day. I highly recommend the author and all his books!

Mullen's inspiration (for Harold & Anne's project) ignited from a story from Arnold Beichman, 1943, "Christian Front Hoodlums Terrorize Boston Jews" in NY's PM Magazine.

He mentions some aspects of Anne's character were inspired by the Journalist Frances Sweeney, an Irish American writer who dedicated her life to exposing Fascists both before and during the war and who wrote a short-lived column debunking war rumors for the Boston Herald —until it was shut down via pressure from the Office of War Information which claimed the column did more harm than good. These stories and more will have you going down a rabbit hole to learn more!

AUDIOBOOK: I was fortunate to read the e-book and listen to the audiobook narrated by the talented and favorite Megan Tusing for an outstanding performance and listening experience. She made the characters come alive with emotion and suspense.

Thank you, St. Martins's Press, Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley, for a gifted ARC and ALC for an honest opinion. #SMPInfluencers #CoverCrush

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@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Feb 27, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
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I had a hard time deciding on a rating for The Rumor Game. As far as the story goes, I would give it 3-3.5 stars, but because it seems to be very well researched, based on some true facts and tackles head-on a sentiment in the United States during World War II that is not easy to face, I decided to give it 4 stars.

Anne is a reporter writing a newspaper column call The Rumor Game, chasing down rumors floating around in Boston. She has her sights set on bigger goals, however, and her personal history fits right into it. She was raised as a Catholic and only found out after her father’s death that her mother’s family is Jewish. She is still coming to terms with this and how the treatment of her and her family by those considered friends – and the church - changed when this became known. This in part drives her to investigate the persecution and physical violence being done to Jewish families in Boston. Devon is a G-Man, an FBI agent whose job is to try and prevent sabotage in the area and to root out spies and sympathizers. His father pushed for him to become an agent and stay out of wartime action overseas. Unfortunately, this means that Devon is viewed by many as a slacker who cunningly avoided any real action.

Anne and Devon are not very likable characters. Anne hasn’t embraced being Jewish except when it suits her. She is reckless and endangers those she enlists to help her, has a constant chip on her shoulder over not receiving the recognition she believes she deserves, and definitely is looking for more exposure and rewards. When we meet Devon he has just finished seducing yet another woman whose husband is away fighting; he’s not a very honorable man. He is clever and a bit slippery and seems to do just enough to get by. He and Anne are brought together to try to get to the bottom of the murder of an immigrant. They come together, break apart, come together . . . not sure if there will be more to this relationship or not.

As noted, this book is obviously well researched and spotlights the rampant antisemitism in play in Boston and throughout the US at the time. It also addresses espionage, organized crime and domestic fascism, but it’s slow moving and while you feel the author is trying to build suspense to – something – the story often meanders along without a clear point as its goal.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of The Rumor Game via NetGalley. It is thought-provoking and I enjoyed it, but the attention to detail becomes too much detail and often overwhelms the story; I think perhaps this would have been a better book if it had been non-fiction anecdotes focusing on how Jews were treated at that time. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for this ARC! As a Bostonian I was really interested in this setting. The book was meticulously researched, but I found the pacing slower than I normally prefer, and the characters not as engaging as I'd like. I wish the characters had crossed paths earlier in the story, which I think would have kept my interest a little bit better.

I do like Mullen's writing a lot, but overall the book was slow for me. I look forward to his next one though and still think this will have a lot of fans!