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Phil M. Williams
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Rumors (Page-Turning Literary Fiction) Kindle Edition

by Phil M. Williams (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 757 ratings
See all formats and editions
A high school ruled by small-town politics.
A rural community ruled by rumors.
The truth may set them free. But are they ready for it?

The residents of West Lake are resistant to change and afraid of confrontation. They’re happy to punch in and punch out and complain about the boss man. They’re friendly to your face but spiteful behind your back. They have their farms and their football, but, underneath that small-town veneer, there’s envy and self-hatred and greed.

Principal Janet Wilcox is a modern-day Machiavelli of small-town politics, playing the school board and the community like a banjo. Coach Rick Barnett finds himself squarely in her sights when an up-and-coming quarterback challenges her son’s starting position.

Gwen Townsend’s the new teacher in town. She’s a beautiful woman with a secret. She picked the wrong place to hide from her past. Caleb Miles is her star pupil, a brilliant young writer, questioning his sexuality in a town lacking tolerance. Gwen needs to hide who she was, and Caleb needs to hide who he is.

In a town run on rumors, nobody’s secret is safe.

Buy this twisty page turner to see if you can decipher the truth from the rumors.
Adult language and sexual content.

What readers are saying.
"Another great book by one of my favorite authors! I loved reading the different points of view of the main characters. I think the author did a great job making them all feel real and true to life." - Rachael M. ★★★★★

"Rumors tells the story of lies and manipulation. It is a story played out in our lives every, single, day. This is a book that I couldn't easily put down. When I did have to put it down, I was thinking about it and anxious to get back to it. Williams is a masterful storyteller. It's difficult not to become emotionally invested in his characters." - Kendra M. ★★★★★

“I started this book at 3 p.m. Yesterday and here it is 2:22 a.m. & I'm done! THATS how good this book is. Please take the time to read, you won't be sorry!” – Carrie ★★★★★

"I loved this book and had to put it down to sleep at one point and raced through the next day's events just so I could finish it! I'm used to the author writing really realistic characters in very believable situations that often scare the hell out of me because they could really happen!" - Teresa F. ★★★★★

“The characterizing of the various personalities was so dead on, I thought I could name the people that the characters could have been based on. The intrigue and reality of small town life was dead on. An excellent and captivating read.” – Cacher ★★★★★

“What a great book. Kept me on tender hooks for a few days. I usually take a week or longer to read an average book but this one I couldn’t put down.” – Larry B. Utterback ★★★★★
Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Page-Turning Literary Fiction
  2. Print length
    492 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    March 14, 2019
  6. File size
    1317 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Another great book by one of my favorite authors! I loved reading the different points of view of the main characters. I think the author did a great job making them all feel real and true to life." - Rachael M. ★★★★★

"Rumors tells the story of lies and manipulation. It is a story played out in our lives every, single, day. This is a book that I couldn't easily put down. When I did have to put it down, I was thinking about it and anxious to get back to it. Williams is a masterful storyteller. It's difficult not to become emotionally invested in his characters." - Kendra M. ★★★★★

"I started this book at 3 p.m. Yesterday and here it is 2:22 a.m. & I'm done! THATS how good this book is. Please take the time to read, you won't be sorry!" - Carrie ★★★★★

"I loved this book and had to put it down to sleep at one point and raced through the next day's events just so I could finish it! I'm used to the author writing really realistic characters in very believable situations that often scare the hell out of me because they could really happen!" - Teresa F. ★★★★★

"The characterizing of the various personalities was so dead on, I thought I could name the people that the characters could have been based on. The intrigue and reality of small town life was dead on. This book also highlighted the very real problems of bullying and teen suicide and also, sadly, the corruption of our education system. I know so many hard working and caring teachers, and yet so often those in power above them are the ones who make decisions that hurt the kids and teachers alike. An excellent and captivating read." - Cacher ★★★★★

"What a great book. Kept me on tender hooks for a few days. I usually take a week or longer to read an average book but this one I couldn't put down. This book has quite a lot more pages than the average but I finished it in three days. I lost sleep but got so engrossed in the book and its characters that it was worth being bleary-eyed for a couple of days. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone anytime." - Larry B. Utterback ★★★★★

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07P3WDZ37
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Phil W. Books; 1st edition (March 14, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 14, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1317 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 492 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1943894493
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 757 ratings

About the author

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Phil M. Williams

Phil M. Williams

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Phil M. Williams is the author of twenty-five books primarily in the thriller genre. His thrillers span many subgenres, such as: murder mysteries, political, domestic, dystopian, legal, psychological, and technothrillers. His stories often feature regular Joes and Janes in extraordinary situations that are ripped from today’s headlines.

Williams lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife, Denise. When not writing, he can be found tending their permaculture farm.

If you’d like to read two thrillers for free, go to http://PhilWBooks.com.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
757 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

My Blissful Books
5.0 out of 5 stars A time forgetter, page turner
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2020
Verified Purchase
Rumors is a compelling realistic story about the damage that rumors can and does have on the lives of everyday ordinary people. Having grown up in a small town just like that portrayed I have seen this very thing happen.

Phil M Williams gave you the mindset and point of view of the gossipers and the victims. He brought in the harms of the technology the mass majority uses, Facebook. How it can help tear apart and destroy, how it can help spread the truth. Williams shows both the good and evil in people.

His characters are believable. You root for some, hate others and cry for a few. You watch as real situations unfold. Real meaning situations that are happening all over the country right now. Allegations brought on due to jealousy, blackmail, greed and power.

This is a powerfully written and extremely thought out book. It flows so well that you don’t want to put it down. You need to find out what is going to happen next. How each person is going to dig out of their hole or further compound their situation.

It’s been a while since I have read such a compelling and thought provoking page turner. It will make you think of the type of person you are. What side of the rumor are you on?
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Susan L
5.0 out of 5 stars Rumors was a remarkable story on many levels
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
Written by Phil Williams, the book was a bittersweet commentary about what happens when people are easily led, especially children who are many times defenseless against bullies. This was a compelling story about a high school almost destroyed by a megalomaniac. Janet Wilcox, assistant principal had the “scoop” on everybody she used to achieve whatever she wanted; whether it was her son’s position on the football team or her goal to become the principal with the superintendent position as her next step.

Janet had her moles and there were no depths too low for her to stoop including blackmail, at anyone’s expense. You will read about courageous students, teachers, administrators, and townspeople in this small central Pennsylvania town. You will also be astonished (or maybe not) by small-minded people who are easily led astray by gossip, propaganda, and lies.

There are many twists and turns and at times you will feel all the highs and lows not to mention the surprises that will await you.

I also see this town and these people as a microcosm of this country today. In the book there were those at the precipice of a good or bad outcome in their lives. I saw this as a commentary of how our country is also at the precipice of being led by courageous people for whom the welfare of this nation is their goal or those who indulge in false information and whose goals are power and wealth.

I recommend this book for being a good read and for its example of how truth will win out. I hope we are that lucky.
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charna
4.0 out of 5 stars Great job
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2021
Verified Purchase
I would give 4.5 stars as this is an awesome story. Strong characters and a great storyline for a definite page turner. I always recommend the author.
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Unka Heshie
5.0 out of 5 stars Like Going Home!
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2021
Verified Purchase
I was born in Lebanon County, and grew up in the City of Lebanon. This is the first novel I've read that even covers my home turf, and does so with complete accuracy. Imagine my surprise reading about Palmyra and Myerstown, two towns that hardly anybody - not from there - has ever heard of. And mentioning that Hershey's street lights are shaped like Hershey Kisses!

But even more important is that Rumors is an incredible story, with amazing realism. The protagonists are good people, but not perfect people. The antagonists, like Janet, Heather, Ashlee, and Rachael, are very real and perfectly bad people!

There are jocks but not a single one is a dumb jock, some are just misguided. Other characters are individual, well crafted personalities. The plot truly thickens, and thickens ... until it's easy to take sides and cheer for Good to triumph.

It's easy to say I loved this book and was sorry when I finished it. I think others might enjoy it as well. Truly an excellent who-done-it. Bravo!
One person found this helpful
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SJ
5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to Put Down
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
“Rumors” by Phil Williams is a book that can be enjoyed by a wide swath of readers, from teens thru old folks like me. The topic of rumors and lies is one with which this country is having to deal, right now, and it would behoove schools and libraries to put this book on their shelves as an example of how dangerous and malicious lying can be. Especially when those doing the lying are in positions of power.
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JR
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly amazing story
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
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The author has created a masterful and representative story about the political corruption in many of the schools in the country and how it is possible to have a good ending.
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Saundra Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2021
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I don’t read the blurbs for this author’s books anymore. I just add them to my reading list. So I never quite know what to expect. What I do expect, and what he continuously delivers, is excellence.

Each book handles a controversial subject with very real characters facing life in our world. If you want to read something that will stay with you, make you more self-aware, and see the world and our society differently, read Phil M. Williams .

Rumors tackles high school, sexual identity, bullying and what can happen to good people and how our experiences change us; all within compelling plot. Fantastic book!
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luv2read
4.0 out of 5 stars Another good Read from Phil M Williams
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2023
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Yet again, Mr. Williams has achieved a first rate novel. It is filled with believable characters who deal with adversity and overcome challenges. There was a stark contrast between those with good moral fiber and those without. I have enjoyed this author in the past, and this is yet another well written book about interesting characters, common life situations, ultimate justice and personal triumph. I highly recommend the aptly-titled book Rumors by Phil M Williams.
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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Rumors
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
Phil M. Williams writes adult themed novels that are true page turners. Rumors is full on with blackmail, bullying, school politics and the occasional sex scene. As always ... A terrific read.
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Lexie Sallows
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely amazing!
Reviewed in Canada on March 3, 2021
Verified Purchase
5 out of 5 stars!

TRIGGER WARNING: SUICIDE, DRUG ABUSE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, SEXUAL ABUSE, HOMOPHOBIA.

I will begin with the only negative thing I have to say about this read, and it is more based on reviews for the book as there was no trigger warnings about how deep this book can hit some pretty serious points. This book ran multiple views, from multiple characters, and all pieces ended up together from the puzzle perfectly in each scenario. When I had first found this book I was under the impression it was more young adult, high school drama based, and an easy read. I was proved wrong, (thankfully) when the drama exceeds the high school students, and is based more so upon a corrupt school system, with corrupt adults. I believe this book could be beneficial to anyone, at any age as this book demonstrates the struggles of our current society with technology, bullying, sexual abuse, and suicide on the rise. This book can teach a young person the consequences of their actions and how serious they can be. This book can teach educators how important it is to put students first and look deeper into mental health. Overall, an amazing read and I will definitely be looking for another book by this author. Great job!
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reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well developed characters
Reviewed in Germany on January 13, 2020
Verified Purchase
The book sucks you right in with the visit in the prison,the evil vice-principal, and the locker room drama.
I liked the headlines of each chapter, the reader knows exactly whose POV he gets along with a hint what to expect.
The whole plot was very informative for me as a German. Our school system is completely different with no school board or conspiring politicians. There is no varsity sport, all sport activities take place on a private level with no connection to the school.
The story enfolds slowly, the reader is always fully informed what is going on.
I will surely read other books by this author.
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Merle Hampton
5.0 out of 5 stars Real and Raw.
Reviewed in Australia on March 21, 2019
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A novel that demonstrates human frailty and how easily rumours can influence people, regardless of the truth. Each and every character is so real and intertwined in a story that engenders every human emotion, from heartbreak to anger and frustration to tears. Thanks for another great read Mr Williams
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V. Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars Whoo, that was so good!!
Reviewed in Canada on January 18, 2020
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When I first saw the chapter list (146 of them!) I wondered how that would work. But the great narrative set-up and the fast-paced chapters really caught me up and took me along with them. Rumors is a book about human nature (good and bad), fake news, the importance of going to the source, and ultimately, love. I would recommend this book to everyone. Now, I'm off to get some more by this fantastic author!
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