Today I am so happy to feature Lesley Kara's debut thriller, The Rumour.
One casual remark. One whispered confidence. That’s all it
takes to set the wheels in motion and change the course of a life.
Imagine innocently passing on a rumour you’ve heard, a
snippet of information, a story someone told you one morning … You don’t
realise that this particular rumour isn’t just idle gossip – it is something
far more dangerous. And once it’s out there, there’s no getting it back. You’re about to regret the day you ever said
a word...
This is what happens to Joanna, single mother, part time
estate agent when she hears a rumour that a notorious child killer is living in
a safe house in her home town.
Sally McGowan was just ten years old when she stabbed little
Robbie Harris to death 47 years ago. No photos of her exist since her release
from prison as a young woman.
Joanna passes this rumour on without realising the
repercussions.
The Rumour shows how easily secrets and lies and whispers can
poison a small community. Tongues wag in the street, at the school gates, in
book clubs, at children’s birthday
parties – and whilst some people realise it needs to be stopped, others are
fanning the flames... everyone you meet sparks suspicion. This is not a
‘whodunnit’, more of a which of your neighbours is it?
My Thoughts
The impact of gossip within a small community is examined in this tense thriller which gives us a situation which most people can identify with. Desperate to fit in and not to be on the outside, a young, single mother's casual remarks and snippets of half truths are magnified and she finds their impact snowballing out of her control. Innocent people are suspected accused in this novel where you find yourself trying to decide which of the many candidates might be the one-time child killer.
There is an interesting question posed in this fast paced book as to whether children who kill can be rehabilitated as adults and should be given a second chance. There are several red herrings sprinkled in this debut novel which keeps you hooked to the end. There are twists and turns to keep your attention and the final outcome took me by surprise. Most of all I found the everyday nature of the forest fire of suspicion which Joanna unleashes to be the most memorable part.
In short: Suspicion, secrets and rumour spread through a small community.
About the Author
Lesley Kara is an alumna of the Faber Academy ‘Writing a
Novel’ course. She completed an English degree and PGCE at Greenwich
University, having previously worked as a nurse and a secretary, and then
became a lecturer and manager in Further Education. Lesley has relocated to a
small town on the North Essex coast, where she is currently working on her
second novel.
You can follow Lesley here: Twitter
Thanks to Lesley Kara, Bantam Press and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the review and a place on the tour.
Catch up with these brilliant bloggers!
Huge thanks for this blog tour support Pam x
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