Murder, drama, fugitives, romance and much more! The Newcomer had it all and I loved this beach read!

Letty is on the run. She found her sister dead and she knows it was her sister's ex who did this. Letty grabs her niece, Maya, and hits the road. She isn't sure what she's doing but she keeps driving until she gets to a motel in Florida that was in a magazine clipping Letty found in her sister's apartment. Letty convinces the motel owner to let her and Maya stay there in exchange for working at the motel. The owner's son is a cop who thinks there's something off about Letty but is also flirting with her. The motel's regulars don't like someone new in their midst and Letty knows she can't stay on the run forever. She needs to figure out how to prove her sister's ex killed her and put together the truth about her sister's past.

This book gripped me from the first chapter and I couldn't put it down. I read it in 2 days and was suspicious of everyone the whole time I was reading it. There were great characters in The Newcomer and they all played a part in the story. I loved Letty and the people at the motel who helped her. There was some predictability in the plot but I felt like the character's knew exactly what they wanted to do in order to catch the bad guy and followed through with their plans. Lots of secrets about the sister's past came out throughout the book and I liked the twists, not too shocking but just enough to keep it interesting. I liked the romance between Letty and Joe, though it felt a bit rushed and I wanted them to have more time as a couple. The murder mystery aspect was excellent and I liked all the ties between different characters, and how they all linked together. This was not a strict thriller and had a good balance between the mystery and the romance with a happy ending for all.

I'm sure this will be a very popular beach read this summer and would highly recommend it! 5 stars for this addictive romance/murder mystery set in a Florida beach town.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I almost didn't take NetGalley up on the email offering this ARC because I haven't enjoyed many (most?) Mary Kay Andrews books. This synopsis sounded a little more robust so I gave it a chance.

I very much enjoyed this book because it was a good story set at the beach instead of a beach read with flimsy plots and annoying main characters. More of this please, MKA!

It was nice to have some drama and intrigue along with some interesting characters.
I liked that we didn't get all the back story at once on why Letty and Maya take refuge at The Murmuring Surf.
I loved the cast of characters that made up The Murmuring Surf's regular roster of snow birds.
I thought there were enough twists in the mystery to keep me engaged.
There were quite a few comedic moments to liven up the story as well.
The dramatic ending to the mystery had more Law & Order vibes than Scooby Doo which was very much appreciated.

Definitely recommend you throw this one in your beach bag this summer.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews

9781250256966

448 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: May 4, 2021

Fiction, Mystery & Thriller, Suspense, Romance, Florida

Letty is on the run with her niece, Maya. She flees New York and arrives dead tired in Florida at the Murmuring Surf Motel. She found an article about the place in her sister’s bag and thought it was a clue to her future. She meets Joe, the local policeman, and Ava, the owner of the motel. Letty convinces Ava to let her clean out a small room so the two of them could stay there. No one there is aware of the recent events and that she could be a fugitive of the law.

The book is written in third person point of view. The characters are well developed, and the story is well paced. I absolutely loved this book! In fact, I stayed up all night to finish it. I live near the location in Florida and loved the local. It is obvious the writer is familiar with the local setting. Even her description of sugar sand is accurate for St. Pete Beach. If you enjoy Florida mysteries, strong women characters, and a little romance, you will love this book. I am recommending it to all of my friends.

#FirstLine ~ It was still dark when Letty pulled into the parking lot.

I loved this book. I also loved that I was in Florida during the time period the book was set. Being form Wisconsin and all! This book was original, a bit gritty and very entertaining. It is more than your average beach read because there is a level of depth to the story that draws the reader in and creates an investment in characters. I loved this book and I had a hard time putting it down. It was a great book to take on vacation and to escape into when the sun is hot. I loved reading with my toes in the sand and ocean waves as my backdrop! A must read for spring or summer!!!



P. S. I will create a post on bub date as well and share at the below places:
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MKA is usually at the top of list for my summer beach reads. I’ve never read one of her books I didn’t like. I marvel at her ability to wrote and keep readers engaged. The Newcomer is a totally beach readable novel. It’s setting is, at the beach at a delightful motel, the Murmuring Surf. There is tragedy, loss, Intrigue, murder, and joy. I loved the colorful cast of snow birds who reside at the motel. I chuckled at several scenes, especially with Trudi and her walker. I liked Letty, Joe, and Maya, but the character who stole the book was Vikki. Initially, she is portrayed as one thing, but then readers are allowed a deeper look. The scene with her on the beach with Joe is a true classic. I liked her crusty no nonsense attitude and her drive. MKA covers are usually terrific and this one is no exception.

MKA has been a summer staple for my last 20 summers, and her latest novel is another great addition. I instantly loved Letty and Maya, and I wish I could meet Ava in person. I enjoyed the journey with Letty and Joe, and the final chapters kept me on the edge of my seat. Whenever you read a novel by MKA, you're guaranteed to be swept away to a beautiful beach with a thrilling story.

Wow! I’ve read a lot of Mary Kay Andrews books and this was by far the best. The Newcomer was a great balance of romance and mystery/thriller all combined in one attention grabbing book, but I don’t want to give too much away!! The characters were well thought out and detailed descriptions of characters made you feel as if you were there with them. I would highly recommend this book to any romance, mild mystery/thriller, and MKA fans! #thenewcomer #netgalley

2021’s Summer Beach Read!
This was a great summer beach read. I read this novel while on vacation in Florida - which made it even more enjoyable! I loved that the story had romance, semi-thriller, mystery, and drama! While the story was never intense it definitely checked a lot of boxes. Typical beach read mostly contain romance and an easy to follow plot line - I love that this novel took a step further and had you guessing what was going to happen next without being complicated! I have already recommend this book to mother who loves Mary Kay Andrews!

Mary Kay Andrews always ends up on my "beach reads" list and for good reason, so I was super excited when NetGalley and St. Martin's Press offered me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Letty discovers her sister, Tanya, dead in her NYC brownstone, Letty does exactly as Tanya had requested weeks ago when she foreshadowed her own demise - she scoops up Tanya's 4 year old daughter, Maya, and runs as far as she can from the city. She winds up in Florida at the Murmuring Surf, a beach side motel that Letty had found an advertisement for in a bag that once belonged to Tanya.

Everything seems to be going well for Letty and Maya - Ava, the motel owner, gives them a room to stay in and puts Letty to work. It doesn't hurt that Ava's police officer son, Joe, is easy on the eyes. Things start to unravel, however, when an FBI agent shows up and informs Letty that Tanya's ex and baby daddy is looking for Maya - and is willing to do whatever it takes to get Letty out of the picture and Maya back in NYC.

All in all, "The Newcomer" was a good read. The "snow birds" staying a the Murmuring Surf were some of my favorite characters and the story line flowed well. The only thing I was quite into was the inevitable romance between Letty and Joe. There was no build up, flirting, or tension, so it was kind of weird when Joe was just kissing Letty out of the blue.

Despite the lukewarm romance, fans of Andrews will enjoy her latest thriller/mystery, due out May 14.

Another great story by Mary Kay Andrews! I love the fun characters, setting and the mystery. This took me away to Florida and made me wish that I could spend time with these characters at this fun motel on the beach. I will continue to read everything that Andrews publishes! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Letty hides out in a small Floridian town with her young niece after her sister is murdered unexpectedly. Tanya, Letty's sister, had warned her that Evan (her husband) was getting dangerous and if something were to happen, Letty needs to take her niece, Maya, and run. After escaping to Treasure Island, Letty begins to find herself comforted by the motel's owner and finds herself making a life by getting a job and also having a crush on the motel owner's son, who just so happens to be a cop. Despite her beginning to build a life for herself, she knows Evan is hot on her tail and begins to get worried about what kind of life she can provide for Maya. Letty starts learning more about the motel, and in turn also tying two and two together to discover why Tanya had left her a hint to go to the small town. Tanya's criminal past life becomes unraveled and it leads to more issues for Letty and Maya's safety as it draws in a new threat to their lives.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book! It had lots of twists and turns of a thriller while also sprinkling in some humor and romance. I could picture myself sitting on the beach, reading this book and drinking a margarita!

Want romance and a mystery set in a beautiful setting? This book delivers. The main character, Letty, is on the run with her niece. Letty is a likable character and there are a host of other fun characters at the hotel. This is an ideal beach read because it takes place in Florida. I rated 4/5 stars because I felt like the story was drawn out longer than it needed to be. Thanks for the ARC.

What a joy to read! Even after writing nearly thirty books, Mary Kay's voice still feels fresh in her newest book, The Newcomer. Her characters feel like people from your hometown put into unthinkable situations and danger. I didn’t want the story to end, and yet I couldn’t help but keep reading. It was entertaining and addictive!

When Letty arrives at her sister Tanya’s apartment and discovers her body, Letty runs with her 4-year-old niece, Maya.  Suspecting danger, Tanya had warned Letty to run with Maya if anything happened to her. They flee from NYC to a small, old-Florida style motel that caters to long-term seasonal retirees. In time Letty, the “newcomer,” is accepted by the close-knit residents and the local cop, son of the motel’s owner, becoming part of the quirky “family.”  

Letty suspects Maya’s father in the murder although another suspect could also be a danger to them. And then there’s the small problem that Letty was seen leaving Tanya’s apartment making her a suspect as well. Can she trust Joe, the cop, to help protect them and catch the murderer?

Readers will cheer for and worry about Letty and Maya. A murder mystery with romance, family complications, and greed surrounded with quirky characters at the Mom and Pop motel in Florida – so much to love! The Newcomer will be flying off the shelves as beach read season approaches. Get your pre-order in now for the May 4 release date! (Pre-orders really do help out authors.)

Thanks goes to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

https://robinshelley.com/2021/03/31/the-newcomer-by-mary-kay-andrews/

Formulaic and repetitive mystery with a light romance.  We do not need the same story told to every person the main character meets.  Too many characters and too many pages.  However the characterizations are great, just need a little leaning.  Not a bad book, but recognizing this as an ARC, it needs a good edit and cut for length by at least 5 chapters/50 pages.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this quirky mash-up of rom-com, murder mystery, and a beach read, Letty Carnahan finds her sister on the floor of Tanya’s upscale New York apartment; she was the victim of a brutal crime. Letty has no doubts who is responsible because she worked with the lowlife who then dumped Letty for her sister. Tanya and Evan have a four-year-old daughter together; Letty is determined to keep her from the perpetrator so she goes on the run with little Maya in tow, ending up in a quaint Florida beach resort that has seen better days.

The Murmuring Surf Motel is seasonal home to a gang of crotchety, impatient, and demanding retirees who add comic relief after the grim details of what happened to Tanya. The snowbirds and retirees who populate The Surf enjoy squabbling, finger-pointing, and generally being a PIA to the owner/manager, Ava, who has a big heart. She gives Letty a job helping out at the motel. Ava’s son, Joe, is a local cop as well as the motel handy-man. He is suspicious of Letty making it his business to find out who she. Joe wants to know why Letty showed up on their doorstep obviously in need of help.

Letty ended up at the tattered old motel because of a magazine advertisement in her sister’s go bag which also included with a big wad of cash. Letty eventually enlists her new friends to do some detective work figuring out what Tanya had been up in the past with some illicit associations plus finding a way to prove Tanya’s ex-partner guilty. Joe is interested in Letty beyond her dilemmas; however, she does not feel this is a good time for a relationship.

Fans of Mary Kay Andrews will likely enjoy this beach romp with lots of eccentric characters living the good life in wintertime of Florida. It is not completely a light read because of the murder mystery; however, other parts of the story have some entertaining and heart-warming moments.

A new Mary Kay Andrews book always signals to me that Spring is here and Summer is coming, and I look forward to her newest novel every year! I *loved* The Newcomer. The core cast of characters are just such good people, making the best of what they have, that I immediately fell in love with Letty, May, Ava, and Joe. The mystery - who killed Letty’s sister and why? - was well done and kept me speculating right up until the end. MKA never disappoints but I think The Newcomer was an exceptional book, one of her best. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC!

Another great novel byMary Kay Andrews! I love how she makes her characters come to life. I’ve not read many of her books so far but will definitely be reading more!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review...
Things I liked: easy but not too gushy "beach read" from a reliable author. The side characters were fun and added a quirkiness to the story.
Things that I didn't love: 448 pages & included a lot of details that could have been eliminated to improve the story's pacing

The Newcomer is my first book by Mary Kay Andrews and it was quite enjoyable. I think it is what you would categorize as a cozy romance which is not my typical choice of romance. I typically like something a bit edgier. This was a fine book about two half-sisters, one good, one kind of messed up, but hey this is not a big surprise in the plot department. Lettie the good sister ends up suddenly leaving New York city with Maya, her sister, Tara’s four-year-old daughter when Tara is murdered. Letty heads to Florida and ends up in a kitschy old motel with a bunch of eccentric old people, a kind-hearted motel owner, and a gruff, but good-looking cop, slash handyman to mix things up.

Letty is on the lam as she is the main suspect in her sister’s murder, but she knows that her niece's father is who the police should be looking for and she will do anything to protect Maya. Joe is a dedicated police officer, but he can’t stop thinking about the mysterious woman who showed up at his mother’s motel and he wants to get to know her better.

I live in Florida and I loved the bits about old Florida motels and all the delightful kitschiness. The colors and design are just something that gets in your blood. The story was a little far-fetched at times, but I just went with it and enjoyed it. The ending was a little bit hard to swallow as I’m not sure I believe a grown man would wait that long for a woman to make up her mind, but hey, this is fiction, and it was happily ever after so whatever. I gave it three stars and I thank NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read it.

"You can't sleep here, ma'am." It was a man's voice. He was peering at her through the window. He was wearing aviator sunglasses, and some kind of dark blue shirt with a badge pinned to the breast pocket. A cop!"

Letty was on the run, and had no one to trust. Her niece is in danger and she is the only one that can protect her. Letty needs to find out who killed her sister. She has no idea why her sister had a magazine with an advertisement of Murmuring Surf circled. So here she is, at a hotel she knows nothing about with her niece, who may have seen the murder of her mom.

This story has some great twists and turns. It was my first read by Mary Kay Andrews and I really enjoyed it.