An excellent historical thriller that kept me on the edge and turning pages. Well researched, vivid historical backgrouns, solid plot, fleshed out characters
A fast paced and action packed story I recommend.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I would like to thank Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advance copy of The Rumor Game, a stand-alone thriller set in Boston in 1943.

Anne Lemire is a journalist with a column debunking some of the tall tales surrounding the war effort. Devon Mulvey is a Catholic FBI Agent investigating anti war activity. They meet while he’s investigating the murder of a Jewish war worker and she’s investigating Nazi propaganda and antisemitism and decide to team up.

I enjoyed The Rumor Game, which has a strong sense of the era and a slow burning plot, although I was saddened to see that nothing has changed in the past 80 years as many of the talking points are still alive in present day right wing politics.

The novel is slow in its buildup with a series of seemingly unrelated events, a murder, a theft and a lot of antisemitism. They all come together eventually into a cohesive whole, but the joy in the novel comes from the background and the character of Anne Lemire. This is a substantial novel with enough tension to give it grit and a well conceived plot that feels credible (I only discovered in the afterword that it draws on historical events given some poetic licence). I found the zeitgeist of hate well enough drawn to make me uneasy. I like the way it slowly builds a story, taking into account some characters’ need to protect themselves by lying or refusing to disclose certain facts.

The novel is mostly told from Anne and Devon’s points of view and what a contrast. She is the left wing firebrand with a keen sense of social justice and a need to expose the truth. He, on the other hand, has a more ambiguous relationship with the truth and morality. When the case comes close to his home, she rejects his choices, but he was offered a terrible quandary I’m not sure how many of us would have chosen differently.

The Rumor Game is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

I really enjoyed this author's Darktown Trilogy and also Blindspots, so I was very excited to get my hands on this, his latest standalone. Set in Boston during World War II, we follow reporter Anne Lemire who writes "The Rumor Clinic" a column dedicated to exposing and debunking rumours spread by the enemy to fool and obfuscate the war effort and also to spread panic, fear, and confusion. But she also has her eye on the bigger prize and, when we first meet her, it appears that it might just have fallen into her lap.
We also meet FBI Special Agent Devon Mulvey, a bit of an outcast in the firm due to his religion. He's a bit of a player but also a reasonably good cop.
They both know each other quite well, but their worlds collide when Anne's investigation into Nazi propaganda leaflets - the printing and distribution thereof, intersects with Devon's investigation into the death of a Factory worker. Leading the two of them into very dangerous territory indeed.
This is a crackingly well researched historical novel. Weaving facts about the time into a both interesting and intriguing fictional story.
I took to Anne right from the start. Her grit and determination grabbed me from the off and I soon fell for her charms. Devon took a little more getting to know but that is reflected in his personality. He isn't as open a book as Anne but he has different qualities, which I will leave you to discover for yourself.
The story is both interesting and intriguing. And completely credible to boot. And when it forces Anne and Devon together, with the dubious history they already share, it all really kicks off.
Being too young and not American, I can't speak for the accuracy of all the historical stuff contained herein, that's for others to do. Suffice to say that, what I do recognise, I recognise as accurate and, knowing the author from past books, I believe the rest is too.
All in all, another winner from an author now firmly cemented on my watch list. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This was my first time reading a historical fiction novel about WW2 that was set outside Europe. The story Mullen built allowed him to touch on the really interesting dynamics between the different ethnic groups living in New England at the time, I had never stopped to consider the effect the war had on European immigrants and descendents living in the US at the time. This theme was by far my favorite part of the book.

So why the 3 stars? Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. Something about them felt distant and impersonal. I wanted to know what happened next, but also didn't really care what happened next, if that makes sense?

Thomas Mullen has shown his ability to deliver engaging crime-genre driven historical fiction in the trilogy which started with 2017’s Darktown. Set in Atlanta in the late 1940s, that series focussed on the first Black policemen in the city as they navigated the city’s racial divide. His new book, The Rumor Game, has some similar themes, but in this case Mullen is exploring racial tensions in Boston during the Second World War.
The Rumor Game opens in Boston in 1943. America has joined the War, plenty of young men have enlisted and gone off to fight and all industry has been turned to support the war effort. But many are unhappy and a burgeoning American fascist movement is keen to see America pull out of the war in Europe. The rhetoric is firing up the local Irish to beat up Jews. So that when a Jewish worker from the local munitions factory is found murdered, it is thought to be because he was in the wrong part of town. But a missing case of weapons piques the interest of agent Devon Mulvey of the FBI. At the same time Jewish reporter Anne Lemire is keen to expose the violence in the community and in the process comes into the crosshairs of the local fascists and the police.
The Rumor Game is historical fiction with plenty to say not only about America at the time but also shining a light on America today. Sectarianism, the rise of nationalist-fuelled antisemitism, the rhetoric that then blames the victims, police collusion and corruption and a Government which is happy for the ends to justify the means. But The Rumor Game is not weighed down by issues, particularly in its focus on plucky reporter Lemire and noir-shaded detective Mulvey. Through these characters and the pressure that is brought to bear on them Mullen manages to build a fair amount of tension.
In The Rumor Game, Mullen effectively uses both crime fiction and journalism fiction tropes to take readers into a time and place. But he also manages to shine some light into some dark places using the tribulations of his engaging main characters and a fast moving plot.

Thomas Mullen's latest well researched, atmospheric historical fiction focuses on Boston during WW2, and a US that has joined the war after the attack on Pearl Harbour. However, there are groups who are unhappy, fascist elements, brutal, violent, and intent on doing whatever it takes to have American troops withdrawn, and targeting Jewish communities. They are not on the margins, are well organised, ruthless, powerful and involve parts of the establishment willing to deploy disinformation, intimidation, fear, lies and worse in an effort to achieve their aims. Ferociously determined journalist from a French Canadian background, the half Jewish 24 year old Anne Lemire writes the Rumor Clinic, a newspaper column for The Star, under Larry Barnett, the editor.

This has Anne chase down damaging rumors, such as WAAC women being guilty of loose morals, corrupting brave young soldiers at army bases, printing the sources and perpetrators of those responsible for spreading lies. She chafes at the limitations of her role as she is prevented from addressing serious issues, but refuses to bow to obstacles. Anne tries to get to the bottom of the Nazi propoganda and the regular targeting of Jewish communities and businesses, her young brother, Sammy, is one of many who is badly beaten, she has a brick thrown through her windscreen, and the police ignore all reports. Well dressed charismatic FBI agent, Devon Mulvey, chases married women, apying on clerics, whilst hunting down efforts to sabotage the war effort.

As he investigates the murder of a munitions factory worker, he and Anne become involved, they have a past history, but it is a fractious relationship, under stress from the lack of trust between them. This is compulsive and fascinating historical fiction, a loose blend of fact and fiction, that carries contemporary echoes with the widespread disinformation and divisions that riddle today's America. This will appeal to those who are interested in the themes and in this period of history. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I’m a huge Thomas Mullen fan, a supremely talented author, The Rumor Gamev something a bit different yet carries Mullens extremely ‘wordy’ style and shows huge levels of research and detail.

It’s a slow moving tale of Boston, USA, just as WW2 is kicking off, and tells the story of a reporter, a cop with sex addiction and of the various factions in the city

With spying, sabotage and much more,, there is much to like from this atmospheric, dark and moody thriller, yet the characters just felt a bit flat for me.

Nevertheless another fine read from an outstanding author.

The Rumor Game is set in Boston in the USA during the Second World War and in addition to a very good main storyline it details some of the thoughts and challenges the Americans faced.

The book’s main characters are reporter Anne Lemire and FBI Agent Devon Mulvey who despite being opposites end up working together on a joint investigation.

The writing is good and engaging and whilst the ending felt a little bit rushed overall the book was an enjoyable read.

The Rumor Game is the latest historical thriller from the author of the excellent Darktown trilogy,Thoma Mullen.

Set in Boston during the early years of WW2 the tale reveals the dark side of wartime America,riven with Nazi sympathisers and anti-semitism.
Reporter Ann Lemire ,tired of writing a small column debunking disinformation and rumors , wants to break into serious journalism and write the big story of blatant Nazi propaganda circulating in Boston but is held back by the attitudes of the day towards her gender. Tired of being fobbed off,not least by the police,Ann decides to investigate further on her own.
Special Agent Devon Mulvey of the FBI's investigations into industrial sabotage and a potentially linked murder bring him and Ann into the same orbit and a somewhat stormy partnership.

This is a fascinating tale,being based on true events,the will be an eye-opener to many , Wartime Boston appears to almost be at war with itself as racial frictions turn into violence,blatant racism affects wartime work and many strongly object to America getting involved in a "European war" at all. There are also some very strange alliances.

The book is part love story,which occasionally slowed the narrative a bit more than I'd have liked. Otherwise it's a great read as Ann and Devon find themselves not knowing who they can trust,not least amongst the ranks of the police , as they get involved in things very dangerous people don't want them to get involved in. It's all the better for being based on true historical events that many will learn of for the first time.

An excellent read,highly recommended.

The Rumor Game by Thomas Mullen is a really good read. Set in Boston in the 1940's it tells of the prejudice and seedy world of America in that period. The two main protagonists are well drawn characters who both have their own quirks. What binds them together is their overwhelming need for justice.

After the murder of a Jewish immigrant in catholic Boston, local journalist Anne is investigating a seedy nazi sympathetic group who are spreading racial hatred among the catholic communities. On top of this she suspects that the local mob is taking over the unions. Devon, an FBI agent is investigating the murder along with vetting people for the government. They're thrown together to solve what's really happening.

It's amazing to look back and see how openly antisemitic lots in the US were in the 40's. Most didn't want to support the war in Europe and at the time there were lots who were openly fascist in their views. In some ways looking at the Trump era, this hasn't changed that much I guess.

I really enjoyed the story and the two main characters. Anne was fiercely independent whilst for all Devons womanising, there was something decent underneath the surface. My first Thomas Mullen book. A nice addition to the library.

The Rumor Game is an interesting historical thriller set in WW2 Boston. An Irish American FBI agent joins forces with a female reporter following the murder of a factory worker and the theft of munitions. Wartime Boston is well described as is the melting pot of ethnicities and political unrest. I thought the ending was a little rushed but the fluid storytelling kept me hooked til the end. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was a very interesting story about resistance to the second world war by some people in the Boston Area. of America. There were some good characters and imaginative descriptions of the surroundings and people of the time. Unexpected conclusion.

Great novel set in a time when a lot of Americans were vehemently and openly anti Semetic and it really does open your eyes to what could have been.
Thoroughly enjoyed the story weaved in this world of turmoil during the early days of America"s inevitable joining of the Allies in their fight against fascism.
Being British I have only really looked at this period as the time when the Allies stopped defending to going on the offensive. I hadn't truly understood the depths of anti war feeling that there was during this time in the US.
This is captured perfectly in the novel which deals with the relationship between a Jewish female reporter and an Irish Catholic FBI agent .
Thoroughly enjoyed the story but a little bit disappointed at the end.

This historical fiction set in 1942 US while the war was escalating in Germany cleverly tries to detail out the various biases at play.

Anne Lemire runs a column called “Rumor clinic” where she tracks down the source of rumors and exposes false propaganda and misinformation that might impact the war effort. As a Jewish family in a charged neighborhood she starts putting together a piece on anti-Semitic hate crimes and police corruption.

On the other hand Devon, an Irish FBI agent from an established family is tracking a murder of German jew at the ammunitions factory. There is a missing crate of rifles and a lot of big wigs trying to block the investigation.

When their paths cross with a bit of shared history, the story exposes multiple layers of bias in the society. There is one subtext of Jews vs Christians, one of Reds vs capitals and another of blacks and immigrants. There is organized misinformation and hate mongering with an objective to prevent war.

Based on true events in Boston, the book is written like a taut thriller. The only complaint is the ease of tracking complex plots by just asking or staking out. Maybe the character arcs of the protagonists was still partially developed.

Still a very engaging read. Also my last read of 2023.

Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Book group for the ARC of the book. The book will hit the stands in Feb 2024.

Thomas Mullen is a consummate storyteller. He can also write excellent historical detective stories and excellent dystopian detective stories. His latest book is the former, taking place in Boston during the Second World War. The background of the novel is centred around the anti-semitism sentiment that existed in the USA during this period, a subject little known or discussed nowadays. There is also anti war, anti British elements and what the FBI involvement was in supporting the war effort. And some brilliant plot twists that had me spinning.
Another excellent Thomas Mullen novel for my bookshelf. Sadly it means I have a wait to his next book. The Rumor Game is highly recommended reading.

I cannot remember what drew me to this book. Perhaps it was the Boston setting and timing of just after Pearl Harbour when the US was genuinely divided between those supporting isolationism I.e. staying out of these European skirmishes and those who recognized the global threat posed by Hitler’s Nazi regime. Whatever, I was glad I picked it up because it is a riveting tale about life for the Jewish minority in an area where Catholics and Italians form the power base. The former by controlling the Police department and the Trade Unions and the latter through organized crime.
Into this maelstrom we find our two protagonists, Annie Lemire a young ambitious writer at the local newspaper whose Irish Father left when she was young and she was brought up by her Jewish Mother. Annie slowly uncovers a high level plot to target the Jewish community and generate civil unrest which the instigators hope would escalate to the national stage and cause the government to rethink its determination to send young GI ‘s over to support their European allies in their fight against fascism. Devon Mulvey is an FBI agent investigating the murder of a Jewish worker at a local arms factory. Him and Annie have a chance encounter and realize they grew up in the same neighborhood though he was from a prominent Irish family so their experiences of the time were worlds apart. The book unfolds with these two storylines and the attraction between these young people from different sides of the tracks.
I found the book hard to put down. The characters are strongly developed and it is easy to see thing from both their perspectives so it grabs your interest. They both have in built biases and tribal allegiances but also a determination for truth and justice so there is tension everywhere!
This is my first read of this Author but it won’t be the last. He has a gift for story telling and an ability to transport you to the center of each scene. I would strongly recommend this book to all readers, there really is something for everyone!
Many thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for providing access to this book

This is a complete departure from his normal genre but Thomas Mullen has scored a home run with this tense and atmospheric thriller of spying, sabotage, theft murder and antisemitism in Second World War Boston which is beautifully depicted.

I loved the emerging relationship between the two protagonists and how the flat gradually unfolded.

The writing was of the highest quality and this was a book to savour.