My first thought when I finished this book was, “ Is this a series because I’m going to need some closure?”

This mystery was strongly grounded in history, and I felt it had a solid and well-researched background. The mystery was well done and I didn’t guess all of the murder mystery details well into the book. I also liked the main characters, reporter Anne and FBI S/A Mulvey. Because of this, I wanted some sort of resolution for this couple.

I especially appreciated the epilogue, which laid out which parts of the story were based on historical fact. I know it’s historical fiction, but I appreciate the author providing this type of background.

The world is at war, Pearl Harbor has been attacked, and the U.S. is taking up arms. In Boston, Devon Mulvey is an Irish Catholic FBI agent bored with his usual assignment of doing background checks. When a man is found murdered in an alley, he eagerly begins investigating. Anne Lemire was raised Catholic and had even gone through Confirmation before finding out her family is actually Jewish. She’s an investigator of a different sort. She’s a journalist writing a column called, “The Rumor Clinic.” She tackles rumors circulating throughout the community and investigates them to find out the truth.
The author has done a masterful job of taking actual people and events from history and making a compelling story. It’s highly relevant to what is going on in the world today. It’s about anti-Semitism and pro-fascist groups operating in the U.S. It’s about how women were treated and the prejudice they endured. It’s a great story. The only disappointment for me was the ending. I found it unsatisfying. I wanted to know more about the two main characters and what happened to them. 4.5 stars

This was an intriguing book that dealt with aspects of the second world war here in America that I hadn't often thought about. Set in Boston in 1942, it follows FBI agent Devon Mulvey and reporter Anne Lemire.

Devon investigates industrial espionage, and anti-USA sentiment, trying to uncover fascist groups. He is Irish Catholic and as such always slightly on the outside of his group of coworkers. Anne is desperate to become a serious investigative journalist in a time when women were not welcome in that world, and has managed a take a step up from the usual women's reporting to work on a column called the Rumor Clinic, where she investigates and disproves rumors that damage the war effort.

While trying to track down the publication of Nazi propaganda, she crosses path with Devon, who is investigating a murder. Slowly they begin to work together, each trying to determine whether they can trust the other. Anne is from a Jewish background, and there are a lot of antisemitic feelings in the city at this time. Her brother may be involved in some activities he shouldn't be involved in, and Devon's family may also be involved with groups that they shouldn't be involved with, so both have a lot to lose.

The book painted a very gritty view of Boston at the time, with all the different factions, from the mob, the unions, the Nazi sympathizers, and the fascist groups all trying to take hold during a time of rationing and austerity. It didn't surprise me to discover that the book was based on real events and people, and the author did an excellent job of immersing us in that world.

I loved Anne's strong, independent character. While very intelligent I also found her very naive about how the work that she did may affect her family and herself. I felt that this was probably quite realistic for a woman at that time. Devon was a very likeable but flawed character.

I enjoyed the writing in the book, I felt it was very well done. I look forward to reading more by this author.

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen is a World War II historical mystery thriller set in Boston Massachusetts during 1943. I have read a lot of World War II novels but it was refreshing to read one that takes place on our own shores. Mr. Mullen does an excellent job of re-creating life during the war on the east coast of the United States. The historical details that are described creates an atmosphere that is essential to the plot. Every action and reaction the main characters undertake reflect Boston at that time.

The mystery portion of the novel explores the use of disinformation and the power to control the masses. The two main characters are very interesting. Anne Lemire is a reporter writing a column for the local newspaper called the Rumor Clinic. In this column she tries to dispel rumors that are circulating throughout Boston and beyond. She is battling a ton of disinformation, salacious rumors, gossip and anti-semetic assaults. Unfortunately her editor does not think her ideas are newsworthy. The second character is Devon Mulvey who is an FBI agent working in the Boston field office. His main task is preventing industrial sabotage in the factories that are aiding the war effort. Agent Mulvey is investigating a fatal stabbing of an employee of the Northeast Munitions factory.

Their separate investigations lead them to meet and converge. They wind up investigating dangerous connections which involve domestic espionage, subversion and organized crime.

Mr. Mullen does an excellent job creating his characters. There is a depth to both of the main characters that make the story believable. His settings are well written and you can easily picture downtown Boston with its factories and poor neighborhoods. The action is a bit slow at the beginning but picks up toward the last third of the book.

I would like to thank Mr. Mullen, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Book and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen is a highly recommended historical mystery set in Boston during WWII. It is 1943 and reporter Anne Lemire is investigating disinformation while FBI agent Devon Muvey is preventing industrial sabotage.

Annie Lemire writes the newspaper column The Rumor Clinic. In it she debunks various seditious rumors, gossip, and disinformation running rampant around town. Although her editor isn't interested in the story, Anne is also investigating antisemitic assaults on teens by Irish gangs and printed propaganda being spread around the city. Special FBI Agent Devon Mulvey is investigating national security concerns including the fatal stabbing of an employee of Northeast Munitions, Abraham Wolff. Their investigations lead them to meet each other. It turns out they knew each other as children. More importantly, their investigations actually converge and careen toward dangerous connections to organized crime, espionage, and domestic subversion.

Mullen's does an excellent job capturing the historical details and atmosphere in the setting, which is essential to the plot. All the actions the characters undertake and all the areas of Boston they encounter reflect the city and the times in which they live. This is a mystery that also explores the use of disinformation and power to control the people enmeshed in the struggle for domination. Although the action does move at a slower pace through much of the beginning of the novel, the last quarter mark a gripping turn and a heart-stopping pace.

The narrative is consistently interesting throughout the novel. There are several mysteries and questions that need to be answered and it is the search for all the answers through the investigations undertaken by Anne and Devon that will hold your attention even when the pace feels slow. The interest is in seeing the intersection of the two complicated investigations and anticipating the merging of them. The romance between Anne and Devon is secondary to the action and intrigue they are embroiled in investigating. Thanks to Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

In 1942 Boston, World War II has left its mark. Most of the men are off fighting, rationing is in full swing, and as the war rages on, anti-Semitism at home rages with it. Due to his job with the FBI, Agent Devon Mulvey hasn't been sent off to fight, instead remaining at home surrounded by his large Irish Catholic family. It was always Devon's father's ambition to see his son join the FBI, but despite all that, Devon still doesn't seem quite fulfilled.

Anne Lemire isn't feeling very fulfilled herself. One of the few female reporters for the Star, she writes a column called The Rumor Clinic, dispelling wartime misinformation. However, while Anne wants to explore the nasty anti-Semitic rumors that are swirling, her male boss would much prefer if she wrote silly fluff pieces - so, she'll just have to write her own stories behind his back, if she really wants to get the truth out there.

When Devon and his partner are called to investigate the murder of a Jewish factory worker, they discover that the dead man has a drawing of a swastika in his pocket, hinting he may have been targeted due to his religion. Devon's investigation leads him to Anne, his old childhood acquaintance, and the story she's been investigating about anti-Jewish propaganda. Realizing there may be a link between their investigations, the two of them work together to find out the truth. The truth, however, just might come at a grave personal cost...

I found this World War II thriller to be very well-researched, without being too info-dumpy, and it tackled a lot of themes that are - sadly - still incredibly relevant to modern society. There is an author's note at the end explaining some of Thomas Mullen's inspiration for the work.

I liked Anne as a main character, and though she was - like many good intrepid mystery-thriller heroines - a bit reckless at times, I admired her determination, courage, and commitment to truth. As for Devon, I did not get on with him quite as much. In his very first scene, we learn that Devon is...let's say, a bit of a Lothario, and though he does question some of his life choices later on in the narrative, I got off on the wrong foot with him. I just couldn't get over how icky some of his internal monologue made me feel at the beginning.

I did think there were some good reveals and twists in this book, and if the premise sounds interesting to you, I would encourage you to read it. My 3-star rating is due both to not getting on with one of the main characters, as I mentioned, and my entirely subjective reading preferences.

I liked the idea of it and the different aspects of the murder...like is it a regular, war related, religion. There could have been so many suspects and motives.

I just thought the pacing was kinda slow and I tended to wander some. It didn't keep me interested all the time.

I read a lot of WWII fiction so it is great when I find a different story. The Rumor Game is a murder mystery set during WWII in the U.S. - Boston to be exact. It features a female reporter and an FBI agent.

I haven't read a lot of U.S. homefront stories so it is nice to see what was happening in the U.S. at the time. I've learned that anti-semitism and fascism were rampant. This book focuses on these issues.

I enjoyed the characters and while this reads like a stand-alone, I wouldn't mind a sequel just to continue to follow the lives of the characters.

The female reporter, Anne, was raised Catholic but when her father dies she discovers that her mother is Jewish. She doesn't feel that she really fits into either world now. She is determined to fight injustice and uncover the truth. She writes a column called The Rumor Clinic where she debunks war-related misinformation. Her latest rumor hits a little too close to home and is much more dangerous than anything else she's covered.

Devon is an Irish-American Catholic FBI agent. As he is considered an existential war worker (he investigates possible cases of industrial espionage), he won't be joining up but that still weighs heavy on him as his brothers-in-law have enlisted. Irish-American Catholics are still looked down on during this period and he is one of the few in the FBI. He doesn't feel like he fits in either the community he grew up in or the FBI.

I knew Anne's and Devon's paths would cross and I anxiously waited for it to happen. I knew that there was something deeper to their cases and I couldn't wait to see what direction the plot would take. I wasn't expecting the chemistry between Anne and Devon. They work really well together.

The murder mystery is complicated, with a number of twists and turns. There are so many socio-political aspects at play in this plot that you aren't sure if this is just a random stabbing or if there is something more nefarious at play.

It was a book that I wanted to sit down and read big chunks of at a time. When I finished it though, I was kind of sad as it was over. I want to know what happens next for Anne and Devon.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Thursday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/02/the-rumor-game-by-thomas-mullen-review.html

An aspiring young woman reporter in Boston during World War II, whose name is Anne, attempts to expose antisemitism and a domestic fascist plot in World War II Boston. Anne crosses paths when an FBI agent, whose name is Devon, investigating a murder linked to espionage at a weapons plant. The novel’s characters have personalities that are complex, although messy. This heightens the suspense in the plot by always putting the reader on the edge of a concern that the characters will not defeat the villains. The Rumor Game is an exquisitely crafted story. Its plot comes together in a calibrated fashion, but the message, if one thinks a message is necessary, is clouded by moral ambivalence.

Review by Mark Zvonkovic, author of A Lion In The Grass

I have been a fan of Thomas Mullen's since first reading Darktown and Lightning Men. His latest book, The Rumor Game is a historical mystery which is set in Boston during WWII that is atmospheric, well-researched and tackles large social issues.

The strength of this story is in its historical perspective and atmosphere -- the warring factions, the high-running emotions and tensions of the time. Inspired by true events, this is a story about corruption, rampant anti-Semitism, fascism, domestic terrorism, sexism and disinformation about Jewish Bostonians which lead to violence in the streets.

Where the book faltered for me was its characters and pacing. I loved the idea of reporter Anne Lemire and FBI agent Devon Mulvey, who are both outsiders in their fields, but the execution of their characters fell flat with a forced feel to their bond and a superfluous romance. The very large secondary cast and slow pace added to a muddled feel and despite brief bits of tension, the story was too slowly paced to be suspenseful and I found myself skimming pages.

I continue to be a fan of Mullen's and regularly recommend his Darktown series and while I loved the atmosphere and appreciated learning a new perspective of the impact of WWII and how it affected people on this side of the Atlantic, the suspense fell a little short for me in this book.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Minotaur and St. Martin's Press for the complimentary advanced copy of this book which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

THE RUMOR GAME is set in Boston during World War II. Annie Lemire writes The Rumor Clinic which debunks the many harmful rumors floating around town. Most are just gossip mixed with fear and ignorance. Annie is tired of chasing rumors and wants to tackle something bigger. When she begins looking into attacks on Jews by Irish toughs, she doesn't get much support from her editor.

Special Agent Devon Mulvey is one of the few Irish Catholics with the FBI. He's dealing with internal prejudice which hampers his investigation into the murder of a Jewish man who worked at a munitions plant. His brief is to look into preventing industrial sabotage which means that he can't interest his partner or anyone else in the FBI about the murder.

Devon and Annie grew up in the same Boston neighborhood but lost track of each other over the years. When they meet again over the same murder case, they are coming from wildly different points of view. Annie learned she was half-Jewish when her father died. Ostracism forced her family to move out of the area. Devon's family moved out too when his father made enough money.

Now they find their investigations uncovering things neither of them want to learn which alter their viewpoints about events. Devon doesn't want to acknowledge that his father and cousins could be part of a plot to force the US not to take the fight to Europe. Nor does he want to acknowledge that the campaign against local Jews is being orchestrated by those same relatives. Annie isn't sure who to trust, but knows that it isn't the Boston Police and maybe it isn't Devon.

This was an engaging thriller about a piece of the activities on the Home Front that I hadn't heard about before. I enjoyed the story and the characters.

This is a story filled with hate, prejudice, and bigotry and the fight to overcome evil. A plucky, tenacious newspaper columnist in Boston, and the local lothario, who is a Special Agent with the FBI, work together to solve a murder and the mystery surrounding unexplained events occurring around them. They run across gangsters, crooked cops, shifty businesses, and devious plots.

The context of the storyline felt shadowy and sinister. However, even though it was interesting at times, and well written, I wasn't drawn in and the narrative did not hold my concentration or interest. Hopefully, this novel will appeal to other readers more.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

Devon was an agent of the FBI, to root out any attempts to sabotage the war effort.

Anne writes for The Rumor Clinic, she writes about Rosie Riveters’ and the safety issues.

Unfortunately, I did not engage with the story.

Thank you Thomas Mullen, Minotaur books, and NetGally for reading the ARC.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this advanced copy! I’m not usually someone who reads historical fiction. It’s not a genre that interests me. But I was so excited to try this one since there was a mystery element added in.


My favorite way to read this was to use a transatlantic accent in my mind. I know it wasn’t super accurate but the fast accent made me smile and feel excited about the story.

Anne and Devon, the two main characters felt well thought out and deeply constructed. They both had strong motivations for wanting to solve the mystery.

One of the biggest assets from the author was his ability to firmly and successfully root the readers in his settings. I felt like I was in Boston and felt the harshness of the anti Jewish mood.

The premise of this novel is intriguing with two dissimilar characters in New York City who find themselves allies in a case where corruption mixes with attacks against Jewish citizens. Anne Lemire writes a newspaper column in attempts to calm citizens about wild rumors flying around in the early days of WWII. Devon Mulvey is a ladies' man who uses his FBI status to hit up on married women but finds a murder that is tied to corruption with missing military rifles. The pair combine information to try to settle violence against Jewish people in the city but is the rifle robbery somehow connected? There's lots of potential here but the ending limps to the finish line with a resolution that's a bit strained.

The realism of this story sent shivers down my spine. I had no idea of the degree of anti-Semitism or isolationism rampant after Pearl Harbor. This is an illuminating story with great characters and a very twisty plot.

Did not finish @20%

This was just so boring for me; I absolutely could not make myself read anymore of this. I am disappointed as I was looking forward to a new good historical mystery; unfortunately, this was not for me.

While I am grateful to have received this audiobook ARC, unfortunately, this narrator just didn't work for me and between this and the boring writing, I just had to give up on this book. I am very disappointed.

I was asked by the publisher to read/review this book and I thank St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC. I also thank NetGalley, Thomas Mullen, Megan Tusing - Narrator, and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book just did not work for me. Mullen obviously did a great job researching his subject - Boston during WWII, when anti-semitism was rife and various plots abounded. However, the characters were flat and unlikable, and when you've got a tough subject - some of the things said and done to American Jews in this time is horrendous - you've got to have strong characters worth rooting for. Anne, a journalist who tracks down rumors and attempts to discredit them, just never came to life off the page. Devon, an FBI agent, is just awful, actively seeking out married women whose husbands are overseas for one-night stands, and overall just a character I did not enjoy reading about. I did get a good sense of the tensions and issues in Boston of the day, so if you're interested in those elements you might have better luck with this book than I did. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for a digital review copy.

Thomas Mullen you have a new fan.

The Rumor Game is a read I highly recommend.

The Rumor Game is a well written story that is both historical fiction and mystery that had me hooked from the first chapter.

Its 1943 in Boston and we meet reporter Annie Lemire who is doing her utmost to dispel rumors that have the ability to blow up.

FBI agent Devon Mulvey is investigating the murder of an immigrant worker .

Annie and Devon's paths cross and together they are racing against the clock as they go up against the Mafia, unions and anti Semites.

The tension is palpable with twists and turns that kept me reading into the late night.

Please take time to read the author's notes as they add so much to the book.

This is my first by not my last Thomas Mullen book and I am off to add a few of his books to my TBR pile.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the privilege to read and review The Rumor Games.

WWII historical fiction with a mystery element.

Dual POV - one side being told from a journalist who disproves rumors going around (some silly, minor issues and some big issues about war/community crime). The other side is told by an FBI agent who gets finds himself in several sticky situations in his family life, relationships, and work life.

There’s several mysteries in this book that keep you interested in the story, however I would say it is a slower paced read.

I did really enjoy the story line and how well it depicted various aspects of how the war effected communities and families.

If you enjoy historical fiction, I think this would definitely be up your alley.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!