When Jane casually shares a rumour at the school gates, there’s no going back. Rumour has it that a notorious child killer has rebuilt her life and is living under an assumed identity in their small coastal town.
Sally was just ten when she stabbed Robbie to death. More than 45 years have since passed and no photos of her exist since her release as a young woman. So who is the supposedly reformed killer living amongst them? Suspicions develop and chatter becomes deadly. How far will Jane go to protect her loved ones, when she realises what she has unleashed?
Lesley Kara’s gripping debut novel is chillingly fresh and expertly explores how unsubstantiated rumours can wreck lives. If you ever wondered what happens to child killers like ten year old Jon Venables and Robert Thompson who murdered UK toddler James Bulger, this book sheds light.
The Rumour portrays the uneasy relationship between the media, the victim’s family and the offender. It shows how far children, often victims themselves can be held responsible for their crimes and whether rehabilitation is ever possible. Lesley threads articles and news stories throughout the novel, inviting opinion on these themes. A must read for fans of thrilling page turners with a twist you won’t see coming – highly recommended!
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy Random House, RRP $37.00