Kudos to anyone who was able to figure out the final twists!

Lesley Kara’s writing was entertaining...especially for a debut. It was fairly fast-paced and I look forward to reading her next book.

What causes people to spread gossip? Do they believe what they’re saying...or are they simply trying to fit in? Do they consider the harm they might cause? Or is it just too tempting to gather like piranhas at feeding time?

Excerpts:

”A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes—Mark Twain”

Jo decides to leave the city and return to her hometown with her young son—Alfie. They have a cottage around the corner from Jo’s mother and close to Alfie’s school. But Jo and Alfie find it hard to fit in, so Jo joins some other mothers in a gossip session to try to connect with them. She swore she wouldn’t be one of “those mothers” when she moved back to Flinstead, but she wants to help Alfie make friends.

The rumor is...that a notorious killer, that committed a brutal crime as a child, relocated to Flinstead decades ago under a new identity. After Jo makes a comment to her book club, the rumor spreads like wildfire and it doesn’t take long before it gets out of control. I started out really liking Jo, but she was becoming irritating towards the end.

With a large cast of characters, I had a hard time keeping track of them all. I did have some suspects narrowed down, but was shocked to find out the identity of the killer.

I found the bits about witness protection very interesting. I’ve never thought about everything that was involved in the process of changing identities. Not only are you leaving your old life, friends and family behind, but you are responsible for “learning” your new life. I can imagine how it takes a toll on your mental health.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!

My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️’s (rounding down to 3)
Published: June 18th 2019 by Ballantine Books
Pages: 336
Recommend: Yes

Excerpts:

”Rumors are like seeds, scattered on the wind. There’s no telling where they’ll land, but land they will. Settling in cracks and crevices, the roots take hold. The seeds sprout. It doesn’t matter if they’re true or false. The more times they’re spoken, the faster and stronger they grow. Like weeds, waving in the air.”

This was a nice mystery, with good suspense and a few twists and gripping moments. There were things that felt too far fetched and the ending was not really the best but it was an okay book. Good for a summer reading.

This is the best book I've read in a long time. Really keeps you guessing until the very last sentence.

Looking at the ratings and reviews, I didn’t have much hope for this book.... boy was I proved wrong!! I absolutely loved it! Started it on holiday and I was absolutely hooked from the first page. 10/10 would recommend.