Lesley KaraBesprekingen
Auteur van The Rumor
Besprekingen
The premise is certainly interesting. One child kills another child- and now years later, a rumor begins circulating that the killer, now living under an assumed name, has now moved to a small town- one that sounds remarkably like theirs. Joanna gets caught up in the gossip only as a way of fitting into the community_ but soon she comes to regret it when a new follower on Twitter begins tweeting ominous literary quotes warning against the spreading of rumors. Is Joanna simply guilt ridden over spreading rumors or could there really be a murderer in their midst?
After reading ‘The Dare’ several years ago, a few people suggested I give this one a try. Now, nearly four years later, I’m finally getting around to reading it. The story did hold my attention, though Joanna could get a little too carried away at times, and I had suspicions early on about how things were going to turn out.
Once I got to the seventy percent mark, though, I found myself souring on the story just a bit, due to the introduction of unnecessary situations that didn’t really fit with the characterization, or add anything noteworthy to the story, which was annoying- on top of realizing that my initial impressions were indeed correct. But there was still thirty percent of the book left to read, giving me hope that something really big might be coming- so I continued on- but only with a minimum of cautious optimism.
In the end, I didn’t experience anything, all that earth shattering. There were some tense moments, but it teetered on overkill. The conclusion, while probably meant to leave one feeling a bit of a chill – was unnecessarily ambiguous- leaving the reader to decipher the closing narrative on their own.
At the end of the day, I can’t say I was entirely impressed. It was one of those books that I could take or leave. Because I usually straddle the fence in these situations, I’ll go ahead and leave a three-star rating- but that might be a bit on the generous side in this case.
*Sporadic strong language and sexual content.
Deze bespreking was geschreven voorLibraryThing lid Weggevers.
Joanna's little seaside town has always been like every other small town: quiet, sleepy, and filled with gossip. Joanna thought she would never return to Flinstead, but she does not regret moving back for her young son. Trying to start a new life is hard enough, but doing so in your small hometown as a single parent is challenging. When Joanna hears a rumor that one of the women in their town may be an accused child murderer, she thinks it is all gossip. However, a series of events leads Joanna to think that this piece of gossip may just be more than a rumor. When Joanna does a little investigating, she discovers that one of the local shop owners fits the description of the murderer. As she becomes more obsessed with finding the truth, she digs too deep and finds that she not only might have found the murderer, but that she is now the one being hunted...as is her young son.This was a very good book! I read it in just a few days! Thank you Ballantine Books and Librarything for the advanced readers copy!
Sometimes rumors can get out of hand. After all, everyone has to put their own spin on it. Joanna's innocent rumor she'd started took on a life of it's own. Eventually, everyone she knows becomes suspect.
I honestly didn't expect a story about rumors to be as interesting as this novel was. It was jaw droppingly suspenseful and left me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I absolutely loved it and look forward to more writings from this author.
I honestly didn't expect a story about rumors to be as interesting as this novel was. It was jaw droppingly suspenseful and left me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I absolutely loved it and look forward to more writings from this author.
Thank You Ballantine Books for the NetGalley approval!
I was patiently waiting with my fingers and toes crossed!
So dang pumped to read The Dare!
Honestly, I don’t remember why I wanted to read this one, but I had been looking to read more mysteries and thrillers this year. I also really liked the idea of secrets coming back to bite you. This wasn’t quite the thriller I had expected, but it was still a quick read, meaning it had me flying through the pages just to find out exactly who to trust!
The Characters: Misleading
Since the story is told in first person, we really only get to know Astrid since she’s the one telling the story. Everyone else is told through her eyes and with her lens coloring their characterization. It was fascinating to see how she saw them and how she thought of them as well as how they reacted to her. It was interesting to see her mum’s concern for her even when Astrid just wanted to brush her off, Rosie’s intense focus on her that came off as creepy, and Helen’s sympathies as she was also going through a difficult time.
I think I enjoyed reading about how Astrid viewed the people around her more than I did getting to know Astrid. Honestly, she didn’t seem too interesting to me. I understood she was going through a difficult time recovering from her addiction, so of course much of her internal life was going to focus on that, but it also felt a bit much. She felt entirely too fragile no matter how strong she tried to appear to be, and far too trusting. It turned out to be handy for the story, but it didn’t leave me with an overly positive view of her.
What I did find fascinating were the other characters. Since we only get them from how Astrid sees them, getting to know them was a bit misleading. The only depth to them was what she gave to them, so it colors the way the reader sees them. It’s also easy, though, to see through some of them as Astrid gets to know them better, and often infuriating when Astrid fails to see what I see. It did, though, add a layer of tension and suspense, especially towards the end when it really became thrilling.
The Setting: A Quiet, Seaside Town
I adore mysteries that are set in places that seem a little sinister, a little stark. The place in real life could be perfectly charming and bright and sunny, but something about it being gray and foreboding in a mystery and thriller just makes it so magical. Or terrifying.
Most of this book takes place in the little seaside town of Flinstead. It seems quite charming when the reader is first introduced to it, a lovely place to visit in the summer. The sea is right there and there are plenty of quaint little shops.
As the story moved along, it took on a sinister edge. There’s the fog rolling in, the rain coming down. Overall, there was a lovely atmosphere that was just perfect for a mystery and thriller. It all felt a little gray in my head, but in a good way. I like that color feeling when I read a psychological thriller. I really liked that we got to see it from Astrid’s perspective and that it seemed to grow darker and scarier as the story progressed.
This setting was simply perfect for the story. A quiet seaside down with the fog and the rain. It added a dark layer. But there were also moments of bright sunshine and warm weather. It felt a little crazy that the weather changed so quickly, but I suppose that happens quite a bit in the UK. Or so I’ve read. Anyways, this was a charming, terrifying place, but I really liked how everyone knew everyone and everyone’s business. I really felt like I was walking along with Astrid.
The Plot: Women’s Fiction Plus a Thrilling Mystery
This book is listed as being both a Mystery and Thriller and as Women’s Fiction. I thought it was a little odd, but, while reading, I could definitely see how it goes both ways. The one thing that frustrated me was that they went together, but didn’t necessarily mesh well together.
Reading most of this book made me think I was reading Women’s Fiction. You have a broken women looking to get a new lease on life, or to escape her secrets and heavy past. There’s the love interest who just sweeps her away, but it’s mostly about her and how she is learning to live life differently. In this case, we have Astrid, an alcoholic trying hard to recover and who now lives back with her mum. She’s trying to get back on her feet and stumbles into the handsome Josh. Their relationship escalates quickly, but most of the story is focused on Astrid’s struggles with alcohol and her developing friendship with Helen, also an alcoholic.
Woven throughout this Women’s Fiction book is some tension and a bit of mystery. It’s mostly psychological as Astrid keeps getting the feeling she’s being watched and followed. Then strange things start to occur, threatening both her and her mum. But most of it felt like it was all in her head and not terribly frightening. As a recovering alcoholic who admits to having had multiple black outs, it made it easy for me as a reader to dismiss much of her paranoia as being the effects of recovery and uncertainty about her past. And then the thrilling part really started to pick up during the last 15% of the book. The last 15%. I had almost forgotten this was also supposed to be a Mystery and Thriller. Well, that last 15% had thriller written all over it! I couldn’t read through those pages fast enough.
There’s a heavy theme of alcoholism in this book. It seemed that if a character wasn’t a recovering alcoholic, they had strong feelings about it. So much of the story was taken up with Astrid’s thoughts and longing for alcohol. Sometimes I felt like I had lost sight of the story because there were chunks of Astrid fantasizing about alcohol or describing what it felt like to be faced with it. I know that struggle is real and difficult, but it did feel like half of the book was just talking about it.
All in all, this book actually moved at a really good pace. I liked the slips and slides Astrid made, as well as the progress she could be proud of. It never felt like it happened by magic and, clearly, she still has a lot of work in front of her by the end of the book. I also felt her and Josh’s relationship moved a bit too fast, but it felt like a fun summer romance with the potential of being something more, and I really loved how the book ended in that aspect. Resolving the mystery part felt a little rushed as it seemed to be mostly confined to the last quarter of the book, but I think it also made it more thrilling as there were fewer pages to confine it to.
Overall: An Interesting Mix
Overall, I found this to be an interesting mix of Women’s Fiction and Mystery and Thriller. I don’t feel it meshed as well as it could have. But I did appreciate that the story felt like it was unfolding mostly organically. At least, it was driven by a woman who wasn’t completely stable, which made it interesting. The characters weren’t as interesting as I would have liked, but I did enjoy the suspense they added to the story. I did love the setting. It felt charming and sinister at the same time.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Ballantine Books, for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Liz continues to move forward trying to the pain her past behind. Her protective parents have always worried and looked out for her. Liz has epilepsy which has been under control for the past two years. She starts to feel hopeful about her future especially since moving in with her fiancé Ross, a 30 year old doctor.
Since settling into her new home with Ross she is careful to watch her stress and nutrition. Sometimes it becomes difficult when she still feels haunted by the death of her best friend, Alice when they were 13 years old. There were many accusations as Liz was with Alice on the tracks when she was killed by a train. Because Liz experienced a seizure she never witnessed the terrible accident. Life had been difficult especially with Alice’s older sister Katherine determined to prove Liz was responsible.
Just when Liz begins to settle down, Ross suggest they have a housewarming party. Liz doesn’t know many people so she tries to fit in Ross’ surgery colleagues. Liz is shocked to come face to face with the woman who traumatized her after Alice’s death. Katherine appears at the party since she became a nurse and is now working with Ross.
Since I don’t believe in dropping spoilers, I can say no more except things become twisted. Even though I had a sense of the unraveling it was enjoyable to read. Of course, there are always the secrets not considered which just add to the complexity of the story.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Random House and NetGalley. This review is my voluntary and unbiased opinion.
Thanks to the author, Bantam Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
The back story builds via alternating timelines, revealing some surprises. This is a suspenseful, psychological thriller that is a fast read, because you won’t want to put it down. I read it in a day.
Alice died and Lizzie is unable to explain how it happened despite being with her at the time. Lizzie is an epileptic and the seizure she suffered has taken away her memory but she fiercely believes that she would not have done anything to harm Alice. Alice was her best friend, her protector. Everyone questions what happened, fingers are pointed, rumors are spread and Lizzie becomes a pariah. Her young life becomes a living nightmare.
Twelve years later Lizzie has survived and is living with and to be married to a great guy. He is a doctor and knows all about her epilepsy but nothing about that day and what happened to Alice. As Lizzie tries to navigate daily life and figure out what career path to follow small, disconcerting events happen which throw her off balance. This is where the story, despite its slow cadence, picks up and throttles down. The stress, the fear, the incomprehension radiates off each page. Kara has done a masterful job of setting the tone and laying down the clues and creating a well written thriller.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a copy.
Lizzie has no memory of what happened in the moments before Alice died, she only knows that it must have been a tragic accident. But as she tries to cope with her grief, she is shocked to find herself alienated from Alice’s friends and relatives. They are convinced she somehow had a part to play in her friend’s death.
Twelve years later, unpacking boxes in the new home she shares with her fiancé, Lizzie is horrified to find traumatic memories and paranoia suddenly surfacing. Is the trauma of the accident finally catching up with her, or could someone be trying to threaten her new-found happiness?
This was such a twisted psychological thriller! The premise is intriguing but the book itself is even better.
Right from the first page I was hooked till the end. The plot is very well written and narrated in such a way that it alternates very smoothly between the past and the present, slowly creating a suspenseful environment.
There are so many secrets, lies and betrayals involved that it’s difficult to trust anyone. It makes you wonder which version is the truth and increases your interest in the plot.
The end was another shocking twist but it was also the most satisfying conclusion that I could ask for.
Overall, an excellent read!
Thank You NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for this ARC!
*Trigger warning: This story discusses drug and alcohol abuse and related sequela of this lifestyle including the lasting physical and psychological effects. The struggles with success and failures at becoming sober.
In London, Hilary “Astrid” Phelps is a 32 years old who was a rebellious teen who left home at 17 to escape the restraints of living the norm. She meets Simon at a bar and they begin a whirlwind relationship which included drug and alcohol abuse. Eventually, they separate and reunite until it drastically ends with him taking his own life.
Hilary changed her name to Astrid back when she was a teen because it meant “divine strength” which was the antithesis of everything from which she was running. It’s when she wakes up in a hospital with her mother by her side that she decides to start over. She moves in with her mother in her childhood town of Flinstead-by-Sea which was the last place she ever wanted to be. Her mother provides her with the “tough love” to remain sober after she is discharged from Rehab. Amongst the conditions for her living situation is that Astrid continue to attend regular AA meetings.
It’s at AA where she encounters a variety of characters with their own life stories and reasons which led them to AA. At the meetings Astrid is hesitant to reveal much of her story and is leery of the other members. Rosie is a member who has poor boundaries and always offering unsolicited advice. She works at a charity thrift store and currently homeless. Astrid begins to build a friendship with Helen another member of the group who avoids Rosie whenever she can. Similarly, Rosie cautions Astrid about Helen’s history and tendencies for relapse.
Although they caution in AA to avoid relationships after rehab, Astrid chats with Josh who was surfing where she likes to walk the beach. He asks her to meet for coffee which she accepts since it seems casual and she doesn’t need to disclose her alcoholism. Of course, her mother’s friend Pam seems to notice everything in their small town and reports back to her mother about this man. Astrid reassures her mother that she has no plans to venture off her path of sobriety.
Since Astrid returned home she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched and followed. The paranoia remains as she is still trying to make sense of life as a sober person. Blackouts and hallucinations were some experiences which continue to plague her memory. Additionally, she carries the emotional burden of feeling responsible for Simon’s death.
Eventually, Astrid discovers that someone was following her which leads to a confrontation regarding her past decisions. With clarification regarding past events, Astrid attempts to understand its implications for her future. Not wanting to disclose her alcoholic past with Josh, she resorts to trusting Rosie and Helen from AA who have seemed to be supportive.
Consequently, secrets and lies always have a way of surfacing when least expected. Astrid’s biggest secret she thought died with Simon which raises the question, “Who did you tell?” It seems that the past is again back to disrupt whatever peace she may have found. How does Astrid cope during all this pressure and revelations? Can past mistakes be forgiven or amended? Is it possible to ever leave the past behind?
Joanna Critchley moved back to her hometown of Flintstead with her young son to be near her mother and to make a fresh start. But it’s slow going. When it looks like Alfie is going to be bullied again, she needs to think of something, anything, to break into the golden mommy circle so her son has access to playdates. So, she repeats a rumor she heard, about a child killer named Sally McGowan possibly living in Flintstead. In 1969 Sally McGowan was 10 when she accidentally killed five-yr-old Robbie Harris. She served her time then was given a new identity and disappeared. She was discovered once before disappearing again. Now, she may be in Joanna’s home town! Or is she?
I have to tell you, the characters in this book are pretty unlikeable. Especially Joanna. What a twat she is. No wonder she can’t make friends. Her poor son. The rumor is gripping and the mystery of whether Sally McGowan is, in fact, in Flintstead and if so, who it could be is what kept me reading the story. Otherwise I would have DNF’d and went to the next book in my TBR. All-in-all, a mediocre read.
I've recommened The Rumour of my friends.
Realistic, tense, disturbing!
Astrid is a recovering alcoholic, living with her mother, and struggling mightily to hold on to her new sobriety. She also has a heavy, dark secret hanging over her head, complicating her ability to face her demons head on.
As her memories resurface, Astrid’s past relationship with a guy named Simon begins to take shape, one centered around the pain of addiction, but also one with intense emotions attached.
It is obvious that Astrid is tormented by her past, perhaps with good reason, but apparently someone out there is determined to remind her of her misdeeds, keeping her on a perpetual tightrope as she desperately tries to move on with her life-
I nearly read this book in one sitting- not because it is fast-paced, because it’s not- but because of how deeply I was drawn into Astrid’s struggles. The heavy atmosphere and the constant feeling of foreboding kept me glued to the pages.
This is a mesmerizing and intense story, checking all the correct, traditional psychological thriller boxes. However, it was Astrid's vivid characterization, and her will to stay sober, her vulnerability, uncertainty and fear, and the possibility that she could be in danger, that gave the book an extra padding of depth - more than one normally encounters in this genre.
The drama is very engrossing, drawing the reader deeper into Astrid’s troubled world. The suspense slowly, methodically builds, to a point where it almost becomes unbearable.
I still see a multitude of newly released psychological thrillers out there, but I think the fever has finally broken and there is a slow return to normalcy for this category. However, I still started this book with only average expectations. (Keep in mind, though, that I have not read this author's debut novel- although I plan to remedy that ASAP)
However, this book exceeded my expectations, and is decidedly above average for this category. The novel is very well executed, moody, taut, and suspenseful, but has an added layer of emotional drama that compels the reader to invest, not only in the plot, but in the characters, as well.
Overall, this book is very impressive by the current PT genre standards, and I think this may be an author I’ll want to keep my eye on!
The Rumor by Lesley Kara
Pub date: June 18,2019
Ballentine Books
Genre: fiction, mystery
Rating: 4/5
I received a digital copy of this ARC from NetGalley and Ballantine in exchange for an unbiased review.
A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes—Mark Twain.
A cautionary tale of how rumors can develop a life of their own. Similarly, it explores how easily people can be misinterpreted and judged. Do people deserve to protect their privacy and life events? It seems that everyone is subject to interrogation for being too quiet and isolated or being a boisterous busybody!
“He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.”—Friedrich Nietzsche
Joanna Critchley, a real estate agent moved back to her hometown of Flintstead with her young son Alfie. She lives closer to her mother and hopes that her son will escape bullying and find some friends. She feels partly responsible as she has been reluctant to engage with the other mothers. She never married Alfie’s father, Michael Lewis, who is still very involved in their lives. She fears they don’t blend into the neighborhood being a single mom raising a mixed race child.
In an attempt to socialize with the other mothers at drop off at Perrydale Elementary, she questions a rumor repeated by Cathy who does not hesitate to express her option. Thus, the rumor becomes topic amongst the mom’s group who eventually embrace Joanna when they believe she has information regarding the rumor. She reluctantly accepts an invitation to join their Babysitting Circle in attempts to help Alfie’s social situation. The group consisting of Debbie Barton,Teri Monkton, Karen from book club, Fatima and her “neighbor and honorary mother” Kay.
Apparently, a woman named Sally McGowen, who served time for stabbing five-year-old Robbie Harris to death when she was ten-years-old, has relocated to their quiet seaside community. It was a sensational news story back in 1969 and she seemed to remain off the grid until reporters tracked her down six years following her release in 1981. The resurrection of this story ignited the interest of the town who are trying to uncover the truth of the rumor she may be living among them. It also stirs controversy regarding whether people who commit heinous crimes and if they are capable of reform.
At the urging of her mother, Jo joined a neighborhood book club where her circle of acquaintances widens. At the fourth meeting she struggles observing persistent questioning of the the newest member. She feels like people are allowed a live life without broadcasting it to the whole town. In Liz Blackthorne’s dining room,
with Maddie, Jenny, Barbara and Karen, Joanna interjects with the rumor she had heard at school much to the surprise of everyone. She succeeded in changing the conversation but soon regrets sharing this with women she barely knew.
The story did get a bit confusing for me to keep track of the many characters involved with Joanna and how she knew them. The story maintains mystery and raises questions as it unfolds and people become paranoid about whether a killer is living in Flintstead. Many question why her identity should matter and others are eager to condemn raising suspicion and unrest in the quiet town. The truth is that we don’t have any control over other people and what they perceive their truth to be. Often, the people pointing their fingers at others are merely trying to distract attention from themselves.
Honestly, I don’t remember why I wanted to read this one, but I had been looking to read more mysteries and thrillers this year. I also really liked the idea of secrets coming back to bite you. This wasn’t quite the thriller I had expected, but it was still a quick read, meaning it had me flying through the pages just to find out exactly who to trust!
The Characters: Misleading
Since the story is told in first person, we really only get to know Astrid since she’s the one telling the story. Everyone else is told through her eyes and with her lens coloring their characterization. It was fascinating to see how she saw them and how she thought of them as well as how they reacted to her. It was interesting to see her mum’s concern for her even when Astrid just wanted to brush her off, Rosie’s intense focus on her that came off as creepy, and Helen’s sympathies as she was also going through a difficult time.
I think I enjoyed reading about how Astrid viewed the people around her more than I did getting to know Astrid. Honestly, she didn’t seem too interesting to me. I understood she was going through a difficult time recovering from her addiction, so of course much of her internal life was going to focus on that, but it also felt a bit much. She felt entirely too fragile no matter how strong she tried to appear to be, and far too trusting. It turned out to be handy for the story, but it didn’t leave me with an overly positive view of her.
What I did find fascinating were the other characters. Since we only get them from how Astrid sees them, getting to know them was a bit misleading. The only depth to them was what she gave to them, so it colors the way the reader sees them. It’s also easy, though, to see through some of them as Astrid gets to know them better, and often infuriating when Astrid fails to see what I see. It did, though, add a layer of tension and suspense, especially towards the end when it really became thrilling.
The Setting: A Quiet, Seaside Town
I adore mysteries that are set in places that seem a little sinister, a little stark. The place in real life could be perfectly charming and bright and sunny, but something about it being gray and foreboding in a mystery and thriller just makes it so magical. Or terrifying.
Most of this book takes place in the little seaside town of Flinstead. It seems quite charming when the reader is first introduced to it, a lovely place to visit in the summer. The sea is right there and there are plenty of quaint little shops.
As the story moved along, it took on a sinister edge. There’s the fog rolling in, the rain coming down. Overall, there was a lovely atmosphere that was just perfect for a mystery and thriller. It all felt a little gray in my head, but in a good way. I like that color feeling when I read a psychological thriller. I really liked that we got to see it from Astrid’s perspective and that it seemed to grow darker and scarier as the story progressed.
This setting was simply perfect for the story. A quiet seaside down with the fog and the rain. It added a dark layer. But there were also moments of bright sunshine and warm weather. It felt a little crazy that the weather changed so quickly, but I suppose that happens quite a bit in the UK. Or so I’ve read. Anyways, this was a charming, terrifying place, but I really liked how everyone knew everyone and everyone’s business. I really felt like I was walking along with Astrid.
The Plot: Women’s Fiction Plus a Thrilling Mystery
This book is listed as being both a Mystery and Thriller and as Women’s Fiction. I thought it was a little odd, but, while reading, I could definitely see how it goes both ways. The one thing that frustrated me was that they went together, but didn’t necessarily mesh well together.
Reading most of this book made me think I was reading Women’s Fiction. You have a broken women looking to get a new lease on life, or to escape her secrets and heavy past. There’s the love interest who just sweeps her away, but it’s mostly about her and how she is learning to live life differently. In this case, we have Astrid, an alcoholic trying hard to recover and who now lives back with her mum. She’s trying to get back on her feet and stumbles into the handsome Josh. Their relationship escalates quickly, but most of the story is focused on Astrid’s struggles with alcohol and her developing friendship with Helen, also an alcoholic.
Woven throughout this Women’s Fiction book is some tension and a bit of mystery. It’s mostly psychological as Astrid keeps getting the feeling she’s being watched and followed. Then strange things start to occur, threatening both her and her mum. But most of it felt like it was all in her head and not terribly frightening. As a recovering alcoholic who admits to having had multiple black outs, it made it easy for me as a reader to dismiss much of her paranoia as being the effects of recovery and uncertainty about her past. And then the thrilling part really started to pick up during the last 15% of the book. The last 15%. I had almost forgotten this was also supposed to be a Mystery and Thriller. Well, that last 15% had thriller written all over it! I couldn’t read through those pages fast enough.
There’s a heavy theme of alcoholism in this book. It seemed that if a character wasn’t a recovering alcoholic, they had strong feelings about it. So much of the story was taken up with Astrid’s thoughts and longing for alcohol. Sometimes I felt like I had lost sight of the story because there were chunks of Astrid fantasizing about alcohol or describing what it felt like to be faced with it. I know that struggle is real and difficult, but it did feel like half of the book was just talking about it.
All in all, this book actually moved at a really good pace. I liked the slips and slides Astrid made, as well as the progress she could be proud of. It never felt like it happened by magic and, clearly, she still has a lot of work in front of her by the end of the book. I also felt her and Josh’s relationship moved a bit too fast, but it felt like a fun summer romance with the potential of being something more, and I really loved how the book ended in that aspect. Resolving the mystery part felt a little rushed as it seemed to be mostly confined to the last quarter of the book, but I think it also made it more thrilling as there were fewer pages to confine it to.
Overall: An Interesting Mix
Overall, I found this to be an interesting mix of Women’s Fiction and Mystery and Thriller. I don’t feel it meshed as well as it could have. But I did appreciate that the story felt like it was unfolding mostly organically. At least, it was driven by a woman who wasn’t completely stable, which made it interesting. The characters weren’t as interesting as I would have liked, but I did enjoy the suspense they added to the story. I did love the setting. It felt charming and sinister at the same time.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Ballantine Books, for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Please note that I received this book for free via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
So I liked the general idea on how a rumor can catch fire and burn innocent people. However, I think Kara didn't go far enough with it. Also some of the book read as repetitive after a while with Joanna thinking everyone was the child killer Sally McGowan in hiding. And then we have the reveal (which was ridiculous by the way) and the book went downhill from there. I was disappointed since the first parts of the book were very well done.
"The Rumor" follows single mother Joanna Critchley. Joanna has returned to her hometown of Flintstead to raise her five year old son Alfie. Alfie was bullied in his previous school and Joanna is hoping that with her mother nearby that she will have more time for him. Joanna though feels like an outsider and starts gossiping in her book club meeting about a rumor she heard that day in order to feel closer to the other women. Apparently, someone believes that Sally McGowan, who killed Robbie Harris in 1969 is living in the town of Flinstead under a new identity. Sally McGowan was only 10 years old when she killed Harris, and it sounds like her childhood was the stuff of nightmares. Many people in the town of Flinstead are horrified that a killer could be living among them. Too soon suspicions turn to those around them with one woman bearing the fallout of being accused. Joanna feels guilty because she spread the first rumor and from there it grew. Soon after it seems a mysterious person is stalking Joanna, hell-bent on teaching her how much harm rumors can have.
I felt ambivalent and then disliked Joanna. She was hysterical through most of the book and I thought that her explanation for why she spread the rumor was lame. Also why she becomes obsessed with unmasking Sally McGowan felt odd. Joanna is also still into the father of her child, Michael and goes round and round about that. Frankly, Joanna's mother was the only one with common sense about spreading mixed signals to her son when she lets Michael stay over. Either you are together or not, don't mess with kids. Michael through luck (or plot) also happens to be an investigative journalist who wants to find McGowan in order to tell her story. So Joanna weirdly feels like she should be helping with his case though feels resentful that is the only reason why he seems to want to get back together to her. Joanna barely seems to be at work and runs around thinking every neighbor or woman she knows could be McGowan who she believes wants to hurt her for spreading the rumor.
The other women in this book are barely developed beyond Joanna's mother. Every kind of blended together and I think it's because every couple of pages Joanna believed someone else was secretly McGowan. It got old.
Frankly in that situation I would have minded my own business. McGowan was a ten year old girl being physically and sexually abused by her father. She says it was an accident that she stabbed Robbie Harris. She was locked up until she turned 18 and slipped away to make a new life. Why everyone in the town is suddenly wanting to find her and burn her at the stake definitely showed that people had zero sympathy for the character.
The writing read as flat to me after a while. I think Kara can definitely set a mood though. Some of my favorite scenes were when the author describes a house, a mood, a place that Joanna was at. I thought this would be a perfect Halloween read at times due to Joanna feeling claustrophobic and scared after she feels threatened. Also things get very repetitive with Joanna practically having a breakdown every five minutes.
The flow was initially very good, and we get hints in between about Sally McGowan written in another voice. However, that voice felt wrong after we get to the reveal so I don't know what that was even about in the end.
The setting of Flinstead made me think of Salem during the Salem Witch Trials. We have everyone under the sun being accused. I think it would have worked better to get the whole town in a panic and have more and more people accused. Just keeping it to this small circle of women didn't really work. And one wonders why McGowan would even be concerned since it seemed a very small chance she would be discovered. I thought it was lame how Kara tied up everything up. Talk about coincidence after coincidence.
The ending was a letdown. There's a small twist thrown in the last line of the novel, but at that point I didn't care at all about it.
She occasionally recognizes her ex-boyfriend’s scent on the air. One of his shirts is on display in the second-hand clothing store and then it’s gone. Meanwhile, there is one woman at AA who is too focused on her. Thankfully, another befriends her but with demons of her own to battle, it’s not Astrid can burden her with her fears.
Who Did You Tell? succeeds in building suspense and making me care about Astrid. It is weakened, however, by Astrid being as dumb as a rock at times. I mean, seriously, she is afraid someone is after her, wanting to harm her, so she encourages her mom to go out of town? Yeah, that’s as smart as running in high heels in the wood on a dark and foggy night.
So, yes, I was caught up in the story and I liked Astrid’s toughness and her coming back to life out of deep despondency is admirable. However, when the plot needs the character to have the self-protective instincts of a moth by a flame, then I think a bit of plot revision is in order. Certainly, there is some way to get her in jeopardy without her being a ninny.
I received an e-galley of Who Did You Tell? from the publisher through NetGalley.
Who Did You Tell? at Ballantine Books | Penguin Random House
The Rumor – also by this author
Lesley Kara author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2020/06/27/who-did-you-tell-by-lesle...
This was a fast, engrossing read with strong character development, well developed plot, and some unexpected twists.
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Suspicion, paranoia and fear all play their part in the drama that unfolds. I galloped through this book. I tend to think that with its focus on the school gate and a young mother's worries this story may appeal more to female readers. A look at those who have reviewd this book on Goodreads so far confirms this.