The Gossip: An addictive psychological thriller from bestseller Rona Halsall for 2026

Nia – a young widow with a little boy – has just moved house. Breathing in the fresh air from her new doorstep in the pretty rural village, she has to believe it’s the new start she’s looking for.

At first, it seems perfect. Until a vicious – and untrue – rumour starts about her, and spreads like wildfire. And before Nia knows it, her dream of a new beginning has taken a terrible turn.

She needs to find out who the gossip came from, before everything goes wrong.

The truth is that everyone in this village has their secrets. Including Nia herself. And at least one person will kill to keep theirs...

‘Grips tightly and won’t let go... An intricate web full of twists and turns that left me gasping... Addictive and pulse-pounding!’ Saskia Sarginson, author

‘Wow! This one held me in its grip right until the very end. What a fantastic thriller!’ Diana Wilkinson, author

‘A compulsive, dark, and emotionally gripping thriller, that's brilliantly crafted. I literally couldn’t stop reading it.’ LH Stacey, author

‘If you enjoyedThe Rumour,you will LOVE The Gossip by Rona Halsall! A delicious web of secrets, rumours, and gossip. Twisty, unpredictable and utterly addictive. It kept me guessing to the very end!’ Ruby Speechley, author

‘I didn’t want to put it down. Full of twists, turns and suspense... it held me in its grip right to the end. And what an ending! I love all of Rona’s books but she’s surpassed herself with this one. Brilliant.’ Karen King, author

‘Y’all, this neighborhood thriller starts sweet as iced tea and ends like a Southern storm tearing the shutters off... Sharp, addictive, and proof that small talk can burn your whole life down.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘WOW what another brilliant book by one of my favourite authors Rona Halsall... Full of twists... I was totally hooked.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Utterly enthralling! Rona Halsall has delivered an absolutely breathtaking thriller that I just couldn't put down.... A whirlwind of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it twists. It’s a terrifying look at the dark side of village life... I am obsessed with this book!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Delivers exactly what a psychological thriller should. It hooks you from the first page...The tension never drops... A single lie. A whisper. A community turning against you. It feels frighteningly possible. The twists land hard.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A heart-pounding, twisted small village thriller where gossip is the air they breathe! There is nothing more exciting—or toxic—than a setting where everyone knows everyone, backstabbing happens at full speed, and you can’t trustanyone... Brilliant.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐