I read this book at the beach during vacation. I really loved the characters, and the mystery. This is a very good book! All of my patrons at the library love MKA and are looking forward to reading this book. They will not be disappointe! Great Book!.

I really enjoyed this book! Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints! I was on vacation in Florida when I read this so it was a perfect beach read for me! Thanks for the advanced copy of this!

I really enjoyed this book. You meet many different characters that you love to hate. Letty is someone you are not sure if you can trust or not because she is afraid to open up to anyone about what has happened to her and why she ran away from New York City with her niece in tow.

I want to live at the Murmuring Surf Motel with all the wonderful characters Mary Kay Andrews created in The Newcomer. As each was introduced with their individual quirky ways, I was able to identify similar personalities from the retirement community in which I reside. What a hoot!

Letty tries to do right by her niece, but obstacles keep popping up. The storyline presents several different dilemmas at once which makes it difficult for the protagonist but shouldn’t bother the reader in the least.

As it typical with all the author’s books, this should be a bestseller at its release. I recommend it.


I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

I love picking up one of Mary Kay Andrew's books because I know that I am going to be in for a treat and will be escaping into a wonderful world for a time. The Newcomer offered just the escape that I was looking for. What a fun, exciting story full of interesting, quirky characters. And there was plenty of drama and tension as well.

I have loved all of MKA's stories and this one is right up there at the top of the list as one of my favorites. I loved everything about it and highly recommend it!

Review: Such a great read for the summer! Letty Carnahan finds her sister Tanya murdered and her four-year-niece Maya hiding in a closet. Tanya’s left behind a go-bag with cash and a magazine article with a Florida motel, Murmuring Surf Motel, circled. Since Letty had been warned by her sister to run if anything bad happens to her, Letty and Maya travel to Treasure Island, Florida. As the designated wintering spot for several retirees and couples, there is rarely a vacancy. The owner, Ava, is a soft touch and offers Letty the storage room, if she can clear it out and clean it up. The owner’s son Joe, a police detective, is definitely not a soft touch and is often found around the motel. He, along with all the regulars, find this newcomer a bit suspicious. The character development of the retirees will draw you in, even while you try to figure out who and how Tanya was killed.

Note: I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own. #TheNewcomer #NetGalley

This had really good suspense and I really enjoyed it. I love MKA books so much, so this one was definitely not disappointing.

One of my go-to authors for the summer beach read is definitely Mary Kay Andrews, and I have been loving the dash of mystery they include as of late. The Newcomer is no different, and it is chock-full of mystery, romance, and... murder!! I fell in love with Letty, her niece Maya, and all the retirees at The Murmuring Surf Motel. Honestly, the best part of the whole book might have been the retirees and snowbirds, and they provided a lot of comic relief throughout the novel. Most of the characters are quite likable, although we do have a couple of bad guys as well, and the women especially were mostly strong and empowered which I always love. And can we just talk about the cover? It is perfect for the story and I am in love with the colors and the whole look!

I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Kathleen McInerney and it was AH-mazing. Even her voice for Maya was on point, and she brought a lot to the book for me with her narration. There is a lot going on in the story but at the same time is a slower burn, so I really enjoyed having the audio to listen to. It is also quite the chunk at 448 pages (almost 14.5 hours for the audiobook), and having the audio made it go by much faster than if I would have read it. However, this makes it the perfect read to take on a beach vacation, and it gives you all the summer feels. I loved every single thing about The Newcomer except the length and I do think it could have been considerably shorter. That aside, I adored this book and already can't wait for MKA's next novel!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is set in Florida and is the perfect beach read. As a Floridian I think it perfectly captures the essence of a beachtown and even the local Publix. Letty is on the run from her sister’s boyfriend and Maya’s father and only had the chance to grab Maya before fleeing as far as she could. Down to Flroida she went to blend in with the locals. She ends up in a motel that houses a lot of “snowbirds” that are an eclectic band of characters. As Letty begins to let her guard down with the local sheriff, will he be able to help her or turn her in? This was honestly one of my favorite reads and I highly recommend it.

This book was so good, I found myself not wanting to put it down! It was such an easy and engaging read. This book had a little bit of everything in it. There was murder, mystery, and even some romance. This book would be a hit for anyone. All the characters in this book were great, and I loved the location being a motel at the beach. It made it a perfect summer beach read. This book will make you laugh, gasp, and sit on the edge of your seat. You will not be able to stop turning the pages!

If you’re looking for a summer beach read, I highly recommend bringing this one along! I listened to it on audio as well as read it physically, I recommend it in either form! Though, I have to say, I really did love it on audio.

Another fun read from Mary Kay Andrews. Her books are always entertaining and this one certainly was. There was a bit of mystery and suspense, along with the romance.

When Lotty discovers her sister dead and her niece crying while hiding under her bed, she knows her worst nightmare has come true. Her sister warned her that if anything happened to her, take her niece Maya and her 'to Go bay's and run. She does that ending up at a small motel in Florida.

The fun begins as the snowbirds residing at the hotel test her at every turn. She uncovers secrets about her sister that the explain a lot. When the past catches up to her, Joe, the motel manager's son and local police detective is on her side. The snowbirds antics along with other characters, make this is a hit for me.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

I enjoyed this! It was a nice mix of murder mystery and a touch of romance. It was a bit slow for me at first so it took a bit to get into but once I did, it was smooth sailing. I absolutely loved that the location was right by my city so it was cool reading about places I know about!

Ava is a gem and I would love her to be a stand in grandmother! Maya was an adorable 4 year old with an entertaining character. Letty was a bit annoying sometimes but I think she was amazing with Maya and did everything she could to keep her safe. I absolutely loved Joe. He immediately stepped in and knew he could help and wanted to be a part of it. I thought the relationship between Joe and Letty was a bit forced and wasn’t believable but I still enjoyed how it ended up.

The Murmuring Surf sounds like such a fun place to stay for a summer. It reminded me a bit of Schitts Creek and it made you feel like you were really a part of the motel family.

Overall I really liked it. It was a bit longer than I would have liked but I would definitely recommend!

I love every book Mary Kay Andrews has ever written. She is an author that is an auto- read author for me. I love reading her books in the summer and The Newcomer had me craving summer even more. I loved the small town feel and the mystery had me guessing every step of the way. NEW FAVORITE from Andrews!

This is one of the best Mary Kay Andrews book yet. It has some of the southern charm she is known for, the happy ending she is known for, the romance she is known for and in this book the mystery that she was known for when she was Kathy Hogan Trocheck. Maya brought humor to the book with her language, Letty is one of her best characters. ever, independent by yet so vulnerable, and Joe is every woman's dream. With a whole cast of memorable characters--the oldsters, FBI agents, and of courses the "bad guys". A fun read==great plot, great characters, and a really great ending!

An enjoyable, heart warming and beach worthy read that will keep you reading until the end. A book about family we have and the family we choose, and the goodness in people that shines through the bad things we face. Letty and Maya’s stories will pull you in and have your rooting for them until the end.

This is probably my least favorite MKA book. The chemistry between all of the characters felt so forced, like the author knew the end game and didn’t take the time to build the story. Very far fetched and unbelievable.

“The Newcomer” is enigmatic from the first page. Letty Carnahan trusts no one, not after what happened. She is fleeing the city accompanied by four year old Maya and Ellie, Maya’s stuffed elephant. Mya sleeps so calmly, so untroubled, yet when awake, she screams “I want my MOMMY!”
Letty “Spaghetti” and Tanya “Lasagna” were sisters; they shared; they connected. Now Tanya is dead, murdered, and Letty is running, technically a fugitive from justice. The sign at The Murmuring Surf Motel says “No Vacancy,” but this is her destination. There are things to be done if she can survive long enough to do them. She should make plans; perhaps she will tomorrow.
This book is about the characters; they drive the plot; they plan the future, and they hide their secrets. Letty wants to resolve past transgressions, but that resolution is out of her hands. This is all about the money, and others will determine not only Letty’s fate, but also that of Maya. That past could provide a successful resolution to Letty’s present difficulties, but it also could turn on her with a vengeance.
“The Newcomer” centers on family dynamics, revenge, and murder. Relationships make this a complex and compelling novel. I received a review copy of The Newcomer from Mary Kay Andrews and St. Martin’s Press. It is an emotional journey that grows in intensity on each page. When Aloha bingo is finished, the outcome is appropriate for all involved.

Title: The Newcomer
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Genre: Mystery/thriller
Rating: 3.8 out of 4

After she discovers her sister Tanya dead on the floor of her fashionable New York City townhouse, Letty Carnahan is certain she knows who did it: Tanya’s ex; sleazy real estate entrepreneur Evan Wingfield. Even in the grip of grief and panic Letty heeds her late sister’s warnings: “If anything bad happens to me—it’s Evan. Promise me you’ll take Maya and run. Promise me.”

With a trunkful of emotional baggage...

So Letty grabs her sister’s Mercedes and hits the road with her wailing four-year-old niece Maya. Letty is determined to out-run Evan and the law, but run to where? Tanya, a woman with a past shrouded in secrets, left behind a “go-bag” of cash and a big honking diamond ring—but only one clue: a faded magazine story about a sleepy mom-and-pop motel in a Florida beach town with the improbable name of Treasure Island. She sheds her old life and checks into an uncertain future at The Murmuring Surf Motel.

The No Vacancy sign is flashing & the sharks are circling...

And that’s the good news. Because The Surf, as the regulars call it, is the winter home of a close-knit flock of retirees and snowbirds who regard this odd-duck newcomer with suspicion and down-right hostility. As Letty settles into the motel’s former storage room, she tries to heal Maya’s heartache and unravel the key to her sister’s shady past, all while dodging the attention of the owner’s dangerously attractive son Joe, who just happens to be a local police detective. Can Letty find romance as well as a room at the inn—or will Joe betray her secrets and put her behind bars? With danger closing in, it’s a race to find the truth and right the wrongs of the past.

I’m kind of on the fence about this novel. I almost DNFed at about 15% but decided to continue on. The cover makes it look like a rom com, but it’s definitely not. The “romance” is lackluster at best, and there was never much question of who actually murdered Tanya—who was a pretty horrible person herself. The retirees at the motel are almost universally cranky busybodies with nothing to set them apart from each other, and Letty basically lets life happen to her instead of taking action herself. Perhaps this was just a case of the book not being a good fit for me, but I’d say it’s solidly so-so.

Mary Kay Andres is a bestselling author. The Newcomer is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

This was my first read from this Author and certainly won't be my last. This has got to be the best book I have read so far this year. A murder mystery that is action packed, twists and turns galore and great characters. This book is classified as a Mystery & Thrillers, Romance and Women's Fiction read that definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins press and the Author Mary Kay Andrews for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 4th book that I have read by Mary Kay Andrews and I really enjoyed. It took about 1/3 of the book to really get into it, but I am very glad I read it. Actually I ended up listening to it, although I had received a copy of it from the publishers and NetGalley.3.5 stars since it took me a 3rd of the book to really get into it. This is a combination of women's fiction and mystery with some romance sprinkled in.