I wouldn't call this a thriller, perhaps more of an historical crime novel. It's hard to say how accurately the WWII times were described, but the author's knowledge of Boston and its neighborhoods was pretty clear. I wasn't too taken with either of the main characters, but the plot was interesting enough to keep me involved. Well-written, and recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being given freely.

Thank you to St. Martin's for the ARC for this book. I need to state up front that this was a DNF for me. This was due more to issues with me than with the book. The plot was much heavier than I anticipated it being, and with *waves hands* everything going on in the world/my own life right now I need lighter fare in my reading. I was enjoying the book, but also felt that it might not have the ending I was hoping for. So, I did what I used to do when I was a teenager & skipped to the last chapter to see how everything ended. Without revealing any spoilers, I knew immediately that I would not be satisfied by that ending no matter what happened in the rest of the book. I mulled over whether or not I should continue reading for several days, and finally decided that it was not the right move at this point in time for me to finish it (entirely a me issue). I stopped reading about halfway through the book.

I love cozy mysteries & even consider books by Charles Todd to be cozy, but this book was not what I consider a cozy mystery. The term "thriller" should have clued me in, but based on the description of the book given I thought it would be up my alley. With a different ending it might have been. This is a book I might circle back to at a later time when the world/my life aren't such a mess!

I have been trying new genres and this isn’t my usual stuff but I will read anything by this author if this book is something to go on. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this from beginning to end.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

historical-fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, FBI, espionage, organized-crime, journalist, Boston, 1943, gossip, bias****

The FBI agent is a hound, and the young journalist is better at investigative work than he is. The plot moved along in fits and starts but not really because of the side plots. The information was good and the ugly side of stateside life well portrayed, but I just couldn't get properly engaged. Maybe the next one will be more to my taste.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is a voluntary review for a complimentary ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and the author/publisher.

I looked forward to this book being set in Boston, and about an FBI agent and a young journalist trying to determine what’s happening with regard to antisemitic activity. The FBI agent wasn’t very llikeable, but the journalist was a good strong female character. The story moved slow and had a lot of side plots which served to mire things down. This was definitely a different WWII story.

I liked this one in that it was a different take on WWII fiction set in Boston. I fel it was the right combination of historical fiction and intrigue and mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me review the book

The Rumor Clinic is Anne's dream job as a reporter. She learns of rumors in Boston area and researches them to their source in order to dispel mis-information and keep the city safe from harm as America is drawn into WW 2 & Nazi/Hitlerite attitudes grow.

Childhood friend Devon Mulvey is an FBI agent assigned to do background checks on those applying to work at munitions and tank building businesses to prevent saboteurs.

The times were full of corruption & discrimination. It is encouraging how far we have come in accepting one-another and our differences now.

Anne Lemire, a journalist at the Rumor Clinic, proposes covering a pressing issue in her own neighborhood that deeply affects her younger brother: senseless attacks on Jews by a group of Irish boys. Although her pitch is rejected, Anne remains resolute in her determination to bring attention to this issue.

Mullen adeptly depicts Anne as a formidable female lead in the backdrop of World War II. Her relentless pursuit of truth is fueled by determination and an unwavering independence. In contrast, Devon's internal struggles and inclination to push the boundaries add a captivating dimension to their dynamic. These character types draw us closer to them and make that story feel more authentic.

In crafting a gripping narrative within the 1940s Boston setting, the author delivers a suspenseful ride that most will find hard to put down.

In Thomas Mullen’s latest novel, The Rumor Game, Anne Lemire is trying to establish herself as a serious journalist in the Boston area during WWII, but her editor only deems the rumor mill column in the paper. Then she stumbles across Jews being assaulted and beat up by a gang of teenage boys and young adult men of Irish descent. No one knows who they are, just that one has a crescent shaped scar on his cheek. Anne, determined to get to the truth of who it is and stop it from continuing discovers not only the assaults, but counterfeiting ration coupons and anti Semite propaganda being handed out on a casual basis.

Also looking into some riffraff and what the problems are leading to is Irish Catholic FBI agent, Devon, who feels his off hours are being there for lonely wives whose husbands are serving overseas. His job has him doing background checks on suspicious activities, which lead him to find a murdered dock warehouse worker who is Jewish. As he follows the clues to what happened, he reconnects with his former neighbor, Anne, not realizing they are connected not only by the old neighborhood, but by what they are trying to solve. When the investigation starts hitting too close to home, Devon finds himself torn between doing the right thing and protecting his loved ones.

Mullen‘s portrayal of a strong female protagonist during WWII who displays a fierceness and independence in discovering the truth comes across clearly. Devon is conflicted, but also a wild card who doesn’t always want to play by the rules, which is an issue to those he works with. The mix of the two in their scenes together is explosive and keeps you immersed in 1940s Boston. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book is set for publication on February 27, 2024.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #therumorgame #thomasmullen #stmartinspress

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen is a gripping historical thriller that brilliantly blends crime, mystery, and American history.

Anne and Devon are the lead characters. They are both trying to uncover antisemitism. Unfortunately, a lot existed to find. Anne is not exactly doing what she is supposed to be doing, which is writing columns to debunk rumors. She pushes boundaries. It is suspenseful, keeps you turning pages. I would have enjoyed it more had there been less profanity. I read a copy courtesy of Net Galley.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC. This historical narrative was well written, but I found it difficult to engage. I felt myself skimming pages a few times.
WWII fans may enjoy this book.

I am a big fan of historical fiction with a good plot and some mystery to it. This book did deliver all and had me reading about Boston during WW11. I must say that I was enlightened and learned about the strife, racism , and crime that was happening all the while WW11 was full blown. I found that most interesting and so very disheartening. All and all I enjoyed the book. The characters did not really grab me but I certainly was engaged enough to finish the book.

n 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. Also, the ending might not be some readers' favorite, but I really liked it. No spoilers, but I thought it felt true to the time period.

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.

The Rumor Game is a fascinating and compelling novel depicting political attitudes and situations occurring in Boston in the days and months following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Although the novel is not actually historical fiction, events and other happenings depicted did occur. This reader found the parallels to our current situation, including the 1/6/2021 insurrection, astounding. The characters are clearly defined and descriptions of family situations appear to be both accurate and astonishing, as well as descriptions of conflicts between the Irish and the Jews. The writing is excellent and I particularly liked the description of a typewriter where “the consonants and vowels flew off.”
This book is highly recommended for ALL readers - not just those interested in mysteries and thrillers. I thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Anne newest lead takes her into many dangerous situations. Devon's new case is similar to Anne,'s and they try to work together to find out the truth in this nightmare. I liked this book.

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen takes us to Boston 1943. Anne Lemire writes a column for the paper to dispel war time rumors. She wants more. A very gutsy reporter who begins by investigating attacks on Jewish men. She meets FBI agent Devon Mulvay who is investigating a murdered worker who is involved with missing rifles from the factory. Which leads to finding corruption, anti-semitism, romance, and family involvement.

This started out with a slow build up but definitely got more interesting. A different perspective of the war as to what went on for those who were not fighting. A good read. Thank you NetGallery and St Martins Press for letting me review this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book.
I liked the historical narrative and thought that was well written. I liked the characters Anne and Devon, although I thought Anne could be a little ridged. I really enjoyed reading the book and then it just ended, it felt unfinished. I was really disappointed.

Thomas Mullen has written books on a wide variety of topics and settings and this is another completely different and satisfying tale.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: The tense and combustible Boston suburbs, 1943
Characters: Two main protagonists, Special Agent Devon Mulvey and newspaper reporter Anne Lemire along with a huge supporting cast of Boston police, Catholic clergy, factory workers, and members of the Jewish community
Overview: Mulvey’s FBI assignment is to prevent industrial sabotage in wartime and Lemire’s job is to prevent and disprove rampant rumors flying around the city in wartime. Needless to say, their lives intersect in parallel plot lines and they develop a love/hate relationship that carries throughout the story, taking them to organized crime, corrupt law officials, racism and an overall sinister master plan. The attention to detail is excellent and the historical atmosphere is well-developed and captivating.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: Additionally, there is much to like about this book – in particular, chapter titles, which are always helpful and interesting, and a resolution to the story that is not traditional nor stereotypical.
Thanx to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.