Joanna has moved back to her small hometown to get her young son, Alfie, away from bullies. Desperate to make Alfie's new life happier, she tries to befriend the local moms at a book group, where she lets slip a rumor that a child murderer from 1969 has taken up residence in their small town. As the rumor mill spreads the word, the fallout is quick and brutal, and Joanna's at the heart of it. The more she tries to fix things, the worse things seem to become: she and Alfie have found their way into someone's sights.

The Rumor is SUCH a good thriller, with plot twists and big reveals up until the very last page. I was committed from the first page. Lesley Kara takes the power of a rumor and weaves a gripping tale of revenge with it, complete with smart characters and a plot that works with our social media- and reality TV-obsessed society.