| A Novel by Lesley Kara |
This is the debut novel by Lesley Kara. The Rumour is a Sunday Times bestseller and 2019’s bestselling print crime and thriller debut.
The story follows, Jo Critchley, a young mother, who has given up a well-paid job in London to move back home to a small seaside town, after her son, Alfie, suffered bullying at school. Waiting at the school gate, she hears a rumour that a child killer is living in the town. She scoffs at the rumour but later, in an attempt to blend in with other Mums and establish links she repeats the tale. Despite wishing she could retract; she reprises the rumour to Alfie’s Dad who is an investigative journalist and his curiosity is piqued. After that the rumour gains credence and momentum builds as we are presented with a series of possible suspects and a catastrophic chain of events and a killer twist.
I loved the concept, but I found it annoyingly bland reading. The chapters are very short and nothing of consequence happens until three quarters of the way into the novel. There is too much exposition and I was a little insulted that conversations between characters, which perfectly depicted, situations, emotions and plot were then explained by the author in the thoughts of the main character. Does she really need to explain what Twitter is or indeed a groynes when she’s walking on the beach, isn’t that what Google and dictionaries are for?
Despite my irritation with style I found the issues raised thought provoking. There is a sense of outrage when a child is murdered and if that murder is committed by a child it seems far worse than if it was committed by an adult. It’s almost as if such acts committed so early in life indicate a much higher degree of evil that stands no chance of rehabilitation. I am reminded of child murderers Jon Venables and Robert Thompson and their treatment in the press and continued public interest.
Lesley Kara cleverly explores the difficulties of someone with this dreadful secret trying to assimilate into a community. The psychological strain of continual fear of exposure and vigilante reprisals often fuelled by sensationalist press. She gently investigates the experience from both camps of victims and perpetrators in a sensitive way that keeps your mind questioning your assumptions and reactions long after the book is returned to the shelf.
I enjoyed the social commentary on human nature and the domino effect a slip of the tongue which ignites a rumour can cause. It also illustrates very well, life in a small community, the excruciating process of settling in to one and the changing parameters of relationship and parenting.
This is one of those books that I would certainly advise that you borrow from the library.
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. She lives on the North Essex coast.