I cannot recommend this book enough. A fabulous debut. It kept me interested all the way through. A modern yet gripping read with many twists and turns. I don't want to give too much away so I suggest you read it.

The only thing that spoils it is that it needs a good proof read-some mistakes and Americanisation spellings in it-but it doesn't spoil the content of the book.

The Rumour is a clever story of how damaging gossip can be. Joanna has moved from London to a small town and while trying to make friends gossips about a neighbour. The accusation that a child killer is living among the community, runs away with itself as rumours often do. The author illustrates the difficulties of the life of the killer whose crime dates back many years while Joanna discovers the truth is closer to home than she might like. Although I sympathised with her, karma also reaches out.

I enjoyed the pace of The Rumour and I'm sure the book will be very popular with readers when it is published later this year. Hopefully it will go a little way to stop some dangerous gossip mongering! Thanks to NetGalley and RandomHouseUK/Transworld for the opportunity to read and review Lesley Kara's excellent debut.

The story instantly drew me in with the easy, chatty, writing style. The setting of a small seaside town, and the characters, were all well portrayed, and the premise is highly original. There were enough red herrings and plot twists to keep me reading late into the night - just when I thought I'd got things sorted, and knew which character was the 'killer' I started suspecting someone else. Not your usual whodunnit! The fact that it features a bookclub is a bonus and I plan to suggest it when it's my turn to host the book club to which I belong. I look forward to reading more from Lesley Kara.

I am much earlier reading this book than intended before it’s release date.
But I’ve been anxious to read it. I love debut novels and discovering new authors I can follow.

I can honestly say I’ll be following Lesley Kara for her next book as this book was so good.
I became very invested with each character and without giving much away, I was so intensely motivated with questions of my own.

For example, how would I feel if I was the rumour?
I have and still am part of a rumour that was being spread. It’s not nice. In my case I can stick it out, the truth comes out in the end.

But what if you exacerbated that rumour adding more coal to the fire?

Sometimes a person just can’t help talking and guessing and passing on information that isn’t correct......yes, a rumour.
Those rumours have consequences, domino effects on loved ones.

The intensity of the storyline in this debut book (yes debut) had me hook line and sinker.
If I wasn’t reading it I was telling my hubby about it.
He said it would make a good drama or movie.
I think he’s right.

When I like a book, I like a book, when I love a book, I can’t stop talking about it.

May the Rumour continue (in the nicest possible way) when you get your hands on this.

For a debit novel, this was a very clever, original storyline that was impossible to second guess.

If I'm being honest, I'd say that it was quite a slow start, but once the pace picked up, it has me totally absorbed.

So many rumours, so many possible answers. I really enjoyed this book - clever to keep you guessing right to the very lasts sentence in the book!

Joanna, a single mum newly moved back to her home town, a sleepy seaside resort, is struggling to make friends. When she overhears people talking about a possible child killer in their midst, she accidentally fans the flames by dropping in a snippet of information. But are the rumours true and if so, is the killer much closer to home than anyone could imagine?

This novel bounced along with an energetic voice that grabbed me from the start. It had good pacing and reveals and lots of intriguing red herrings. Although I spotted the twist coming, it was well handled and I really enjoyed the very end in particular.

This was a good, entertaining read with characters that jumped off the page. It sounds odd to say i found a novel with this premise enjoyable but Kara's depictions of school gate politics and small town gossips were right on the nose and there was an admirable streak of black humour in this novel.

I would like to thanks both NetGalley and Random House Uk for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Rumour by Lesley Kara in exchange for my honest unbiased review.

I had never heard of this author and was surprised that this was her first book. I found that the storyline dragged you into the plot- From the very first sentence, you find yourself needing to know more.
Throughout the book, I did find myself asking questions about the plot and could I myself be as forgiving (can a leopard change their spots)

Looking forward to be reading more booms from this author.

Absolutely brilliant! One of the best psychological thrillers I have read for quite a while, and a debut to boot. I loved the suspense of a rumour started by accident building up to something much more sinister, and the cast of potentials is quite vast in this small seaside town.

Highly recommended!

This book has an amazing plot full of twists and turns and will keep you guessing right till the end. Could not put it down I had to know who Sally was. This book starts with a rumour and a family wanting to fit in to a small town. who is Sally and could she possibly be living in Flinstead under a new identity. I can’t say much more without giving something away but definitely read this book

I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Rumour’ by Lesley Kara and it is her debut novel so I will be looking out for more from this author. Joanna is a single mum to Alfie, although she has a relationship of sorts with his father, Michael. She returns to a small seaside village to live near her mother to escape London and her son’s bullying at school.

Joanna is trying to fit in with the local mothers to ensure Alfie gets invited to parties and other events and as a consequence inadvertently helps spread a rumour that a convicted child killer (who was only a child when she killed) has been given a new identity and now lives in the village. Although there is no proof that this is the case it is soon accepted as fact and all women of a certain age are considered to be the possible killer.

The story addresses the issue of whether criminals can ever be rehabilitated and if victims of crime are treated with the respect they deserve. Who has the better quality of life? Is forgiveness possible?

Cleverly plotted and showing how easy it is for rumours to be believed as reality I couldn't put the book down. It has a brilliant ending I found this to be an exceptional read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, Transworld Publishers, Bantam Press and Lesley Kara for my ARC in return for my honest review.

Great Read. Highly recommended.

Rumours have a habit of spreading like wildfire- at least, that’s the premise behind this novel. This is what happens when Jo hears the rumour that a well-known child killer, who murdered when she herself was a child (with more than a striking resemblance to Mary Bell), is living in her sleepy seaside town. Before she knows it, she’s accidentally spread the gossip herself and the whispers have spread quickly, sweeping up everyone within their path – with potentially dangerous results as Jo and her family come under threat. As it becomes clear that someone knows Jo’s behind the spreading of the secret and targets those she loves, she must begin to solve the riddle: is there truth in what she’s said? Is there a killer in her town? And is she within the sight of a murderer?
This is a pacy and well-written thriller that reminded me more than once of the Point Horror novels I devoured as a teenager (and this is a Good Thing!) I actually mooted on Twitter whether the popularity of this type of novel is spurred by those who grew up on those books- it’d make sense, right?
I’ve read loads of thrillers lately and this is one of my favourites. I was genuinely shocked by the outcome, which also felt tangible and I was unable to properly pin down what was truth and what was gossip, which made the whole thing feel satisfying once I’d finished reading. It’s a story with a strong cast- and some weird characters, too- and is a must read for anyone who’s ever accidentally repeated something they shouldn’t.

'The Rumour' is one of those books you have to read and then eagerly press on your friends, random strangers, frankly anyone who will listen.
It is a timely and cautious reminder, without being preachy, of the power of a careless sentence and the havoc it can reek.

Joanna, letting agent and single mum to Alfie, has moved to a small seaside village where her mother lives, in order to create a fresh start for her son who had been bullied at his previous school.
Reconnecting with her mother, downsizing from city life and giving themselves time to grow as a family all seem like a wonderful life move.
However, a careless remark at a book club has unforeseen consequences for a woman who , despite knowing better, was eager to fit in and make friends as well as encourage friendships for her son.

The rumour of the title is that a convicted child killer (herself a child at the time) has been moved to a small seaside town not too different from this one, under a new identity. Her last one had been exposed in the name of social justice and as a result she had been given a new identity and moved on.

There is no firm evidence that this is even the town but that doesn't stop a careless sentence suddenly becoming fact and suddenly every woman of a certain age becomes a potential suspect....

Without becoming overly moral or preachy, 'The Rumour' does bring up the point of what is quality of life who deserves it and can criminals ever, truly, be rehabilitated. Are the criminals being treated better than the victims of the crime and whose names are remembered , decades after the crime has been committed? Is lifelong incarceration the answer or is it possible to live peacefully in a community without the risk that they would ever do anything like this again?

I absolutely loved this book, it had me thinking on both sides of the question, does anyone ever really deserve a second chance after they, as a child, killed another? And when does the sense of outrage and social justice stop becoming a fuel that burns a person out?

This was a fantastic and well written story that keeps the momentum to the very last page.
Many thanks to Bantam Books and Netgalley for letting me read this in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book overall, I liked the way this author writes and she draws you into the storyline.

I wouldn't say this is the best book I have read but will definitely read more from this author.

Based on my comments I can recommend this book to anyone who likes a good thrilling read.

I really liked this book! It was full of tense moments and the story seemed to flow very naturally! The characters were believable and I enjoyed reading it a lot.

A casual comment. There's a killer among us. That's all it takes. She stabbed little Robbie Harris. To change a life -She's living under a new name. For ever. She's reformed. So they say . . . Joanna is going to regret the day she ever said a word.’

I loved this! One of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. Twists and turns you really don’t see coming. A dramatic but plausible story that everyone can relate to. Kara shows how easy a rumour can spread and just how much of an effect it can have in a community – and how terribly cruel people can be to others, without knowing anything about them. A really impressive debut. I will look forward to reading the next one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

Brilliant book. Kept me guessing and I did not see what was coming. Would recommend for all ages to read great ending

I hugely enjoyed this book, best twist I've read since Clare Mackintosh. Really believable characters and a relatable story. Highly Recommended

Woke up at 6am to finish this book had no clue where the final twist was going to take the storyline lots of side stories to give some depth and detail and views from both sides and how quickly those opinions can change. Great book not read this author before but will certainly look out for more books in the future

A superb read. The story is very well written and although it starts slow, it really does pick up quite quickly.

A serviceable psychological thriller with a readable, engaging style. I didn't guess the twist and it knocked me for six, but the earlier chapters in particular got very bogged down with minor details from Joanna's life. Little things so banal I thought they must be part of a bigger picture—her young son eating alone at lunchtime at school, her boss's wife being suspicious of her, the babysitting group and the book club's many, many characters, most never mentioned again—had nothing to do with the final reveal, in the end. But it was entertaining enough and pulled me along.