The Rumor Game

Mullen’s latest work is an extraordinary historical thriller set in Boston at a politically charged time, namely America’s entry into World War Two. Meticulously researched with social commentary striated throughout the narrative, paced with short chapters - it tells a thrilling story with carefully measured pacing.

The tale is relayed from two perspectives – FBI special agent Devon Mulvey, one of the few Irish Catholics in the bureau’s ranks of investigators and Anne Lemire, a journalist who writes a newspaper column that gives this thriller its title – hence why UK publishers Little, Brown’s Abacus imprint have not reverted to the British spelling [Rumour].

Lemire is trying to expose rumour and propaganda that is spreading by right-wing groups sympathetic to the Nazi cause that oppose America’s support of Great Britain [and its allies] in defending Europe against the expansionist desires of Hitler and Nazi Germany.

While Mulvey is tasked by the Bureau to investigate industrial espionage that may or may not be occurring to undermine America’s war efforts.

Both Mulvey and Lemire had childhoods spent among Boston’s Irish Immigrant community. Their youth was mired by the loss of a parent – in the case of Mulvey it was the loss of his Mother, while for Lemire it was the loss of her Father. Both were brought up by their respective surviving parent and this casts a shadow over their lives – as does the issue of having family involved in the war effort in Europe, and so the game is afoot when their paths cross in adulthood.

A murder occurs of Abraham Wolff [a Jewish worker] from a Munitions plant, so Mulvey and his partner Lou Loomis from the FBI investigate. Meanwhile Anne Lemire is involved in investigating anti-Semitic hate crimes that the Boston Police appear to be ignoring.  Is there a rift in the ghettoes between former immigrant Irish American Catholics and the newly arrived Jewish refugees fleeing an increasingly Nazified Europe?

Mulvey and Lemire’s respective cases appear connected when a mysterious crate of rifles destined for the American war effort appears missing from the Munitions factory that the murdered Abraham Wolff worked for. Add to the mix a Far-Right lobby Group, the politics of hate and hidden family secrets and soon our two protagonists find themselves questioning each other as their allegiances [and faith] are tested.  

Religion, race and isolationist views make this historical novel reflect contemporary times as present-day America is yet again on the cusp of political change.

Highly recommended as a novel of our times channelled through the lens of the past.