The Newcomer is a great summer is a great summer beach read. It has mystery, romance and family-even if they are not blood relatives. Letty finds her sister Tanya dead. Letty goes on the run with Tanya’s daughter Maya. Tanya told Letty that if anything happened to her, she needed to take Maya. Letty goes to Florida after finding something in Tanya’s go bag. She ends up at the Murmuring Surf Inn with a cast of characters. They come down every winter. Ava the owner lets Letty stay in the storage room, after she cleaned it out. In return, she helps out Ava with the Inn. Joe is Ava’s son and is a police officer. He figures out Letty’s story but gets to know her and realizes that she is okay. The book lags in some parts by but then Mary Kay Andrews reels you. Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

The Newcomer grabs your attention from the first page to the last. The books starts in New York City but ends up in Golf Coast Florida at an old Florida style motel. Mary Kay weaves the plot brilliantly around the main characters leaving you wondering who the guilty party could be. Loved how she described the motel and the repeat seasonal vacationers that come every winter to stay at the Murmuring Surf. My family stays at a similar type of motel near Fort Myers and reminded me so much of that place that I felt like I was there with the characters. The only disappointment was that the book ended. Loved it!!!

This was the first book by Mary Kay Andrews that I have read, but it won't be the last. This chick-lit/mystery set in sunny Florida makes for a great summer read!
The book was fast-paced, however I felt it was a bit long and the story could have been wrapped up a bit faster. The main character, Letty, has just arrived at the Murmuring Surf Motel with her 4 year old niece, Maya after Letty's sister (Maya's mom) Tanya has been murdered in NYC. Throughout the novel we learn that Letty arrives in Florida based on a clue Tanya has left her in a "go bag" with the instructions to take Maya and keep her safe. The rest of the cast of characters include Ava, owner of the motel, and her son Joe, who also happens to be a local police officer, along with many seniors who are regulars at the Murmuring Surf. This was a 3.5 star read for me.
I received a copy of The Newcomer thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is part mystery, part romance and all about family. When Letty is awakened in the parking lot of The Murmuring Surf motel in Florida, she had no idea that policeman Joe who awakened her would play such a big part in her life. Letty was running from NYC and had her niece Maya with her, a precocious four year old who wants her mommy. Unfortunately, Letty had discovered her sister Tanya dead on the floor of her NY condo and had fled with Maya, escaping the possible murderer. The story has some parts that are too coincidental, but all of the pieces flowed together well and made the story an awesome read. The characters were fun to read about, especially the snow birds who inhabited The Murmuring Surf and made constant demands on Ava, the owner and Joe’s mom. Ava was a determined owner of a classic motel, setting high standards for her tenants and providing all kinds of opportunities fo them to socialize. Her acceptance of Letty without asking questions made the story. There were too many minor characters to name, but one of the most memorable is Vicki Hill, the FBI agent who reminded me of Stephanie Plum from the Evanovich series. She was bold, brash and reckless, but she also got the job done. The plot was an enjoyable read with some unexpected twists and a great ending! Fans of romance with mystery will love this book as much as I did.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I found a new author to add to my favorites!!! The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews is a fun light suspense novel. I say light, because there are so many humorous moments interwoven in Lettie and Maya's journey.

One day in just a few short yet traumatic hours, Lettie's life is shattered and she becomes a fugitive, wanted by the law and plastered all over the news as the primary suspect in her sister, Tanya's murder. She heads out with her four year old niece, Maya to safety. In the Go Bag that her sister had told her to take, she finds a magazine article with a hotel in Florida circled, so that is where she heads. The rest of the novel is layered with Lettie's secret, staying safe, and finding out who murdered her sister.

What I love about this book are the characters. Even the side characters at The Murmuring Surf are feisty, stories waiting to be told but entertaining us in the meantime! My favorites are Ava and Vicky - both of them need their own books and their own sweet happy endings. I kind of want Vicky to move to Treasure Island, Florida!! These characters are flawed, but capture your heart fast. Even the cranky oldsters at the resort wind up finding a place in your heart!

I predict that The Newcomer will fast become a favorite for another reason. The layers. There are a few stories that are intertwined within this novel and I like the way the questions are answered toward the end of the book. I love having some surprises in the plot, so that everything isn't guessed or known right away.

#TheNewcomer #NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and author Mary Kay Andrews for this delightful suspense novel that kept me up way too late last night! As always, my opinions are my own!

Letty is on the run with her niece Maya. Her sister has been murdered and Letty is trying to protect Maya. She arrives at a hotel in Fla, exhausted and looking for a place to stay.
I loved this book. The story grabbed me from the beginning, it has both mystery and romance, I didn’t want to put it down. There is a good cast of characters, especially Maya who is adorable. This would be a great beach read. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

DNF @ 28% - A little slow, and there's just not enough exciting things happening to keep me hooked.

**SPOILER ALERT**

Once it said that Letty was the legal guardian of Maya, all the excitement kind of got taken away. She's running away for no reason. The obvious romantic storyline was about to start up, and the murder-mystery didn't have me that intrigued for some reason.

Mary Kay Andrews is an author to check out! A wonderful indulgence for yourself. The story has a little bit of everything to reel you in and keep you hooked till the end. The characters are authentic. The storyline riveting.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this novel and give my honest review.

Lettie finds her sister Tanya murdered and takes her niece and flees. In the weeks before her murder Tanya had told Lettie she was afraid of her ex, Evan, and that if anything should happen to her she should take Maya and run - which she did. As the events of this novel unfold you are swept away in a world of lies and deceit only to wonder what the truth really is. As each twist and turn unfolds you are drawn deeper into the story and anxiously await the next twist.

So hard to put down, this story would make a great movie.

Thank you NetGalley, Mary Kay Andrews and St. Martin’s Press for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

The editing on this ARC was terrible and made it very hard to read the book! I liked the story. It was a little far fetched at times but I liked all of the characters and really enjoyed the book as a whole.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this novel.

I was so happy when I got approved for this ARC! Mary Kay Andrews is in her own league :)

I was immediately drawn into the suspense and Letty and Mayas life. Joe was the perfect love interest and you have to love Ava and Isabelle too. After a while the pace stalled a bit and here the editor have more to do. I think you can easily edit away 100 pages, if you think about the whole books. For example, Letty and Tanya's backstory wasn't that interesting.

I loved the setting, Florida and an old motel. Perfect vibes.

Overall, it's a great novel and perfect to bring to the beach!

I predict that Mary Kay Andrews new novel "The Newcomer" will be a favorite summer beach read. The book has a little bit of everything including mystery and romance with a bunch of deftly developed side characters. The main character Letty, is on the run with her young niece Maya. It takes a bit of time to discover why they were on the run. Letty and Maya end up living at a small beach hotel in Florida called the Murmuring Surf where Letty ends up working. There is a wonderful cast of older people who vacation at the Murmuring Surf each year for extended stays. Their antics made me chuckle many times. The love interest Joe is a cop who patiently waits for Letty to slowly open up to him and share her troubles. Definitely recommend this read for light escapist reading. It will bring a smile to your face!

I received this novel as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. In typical Marg Kay Andrew’s fashion. This latest novel makes a great beach read. Filled with romance and suspense I couldn’t put it down.

I really enjoyed this book. Thank you for NetGalley allowing me to read this book. The Newcomer has a little romance and a little mystery in it.
This book was amazing. You won't be able to put this book down!

“If anything bad happens to me – it’s Evan. Promise me you’ll take Maya and run. Promise me.”

Mary Kay Andrew’s newest book, “The Newcomer,” is a perfect beach read that explores the lengths we’ll go to protect those we love and the importance to lending a hand up to those in need.

After finding her sister, Tanya, murdered in her New York townhouse, Letty Carnahan takes her 4 year old niece, Maya, grabs Tanya’s ‘to go’ bag and heads off in her gray Kia towards Florida.

The first chance she gets, she opens Tanya’s duffle bag and finds thousands of dollars and a magazine with a motel advertisement marked in pen. Not knowing why it’s circled, but realizing it must be important to her sister, Letty and Maya drive to the Florida Gulf Coast searching for the Murmuring Surf Motel. When they arrive, they find it’s a snowbird surfer’s paradise for seniors on their annual trek South. Thanks to Maya’s sweetness, Ava DeCurtis, the owner, warms up to Letty and offers her the storage room as the motel is booked. The stereotypical seniors, with nothing better to do than quarrel with each other, find Letty suspicious and let it be known that they aren’t happy there’s a child at the hotel. The owner’s son, Detective Joe DeCurtis, isn’t too happy with them staying at the hotel either. He’s convinced Letty is hiding something.

Letty, ignoring them all, continues to uncover the web of lies and deceit her sister left her to sort out. She’s determined to create a life without fear for herself and Maya and that means putting her sister’s boyfriend (and Maya’s dad), Evan, behind bars. It doesn’t take her too long to figure out that the FBI have been watching Evan Wingfield, too. Their plan involves Letty helping them.

Andrews has created a wonderful cast of characters. I absolutely loved Letty. She’s loyal, smart, resourceful, protective and a real badass. I’d want her on my side if I was ever in trouble. I’m an auntie and I’d do whatever it took to protect my niece and nephew, so I could identify with Letty. It was heartwarming to read of those, who, although struggling themselves, did what ever they could to offer a hand up to those in need. The world needs more of those kind of people. I also love a story where justice is served. In this case, there’s a side of romance.
Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoy books that cross several of my favourite genres, and the Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews does just that. This author returns to her roots as a newspaper journalist and tells a story that not only has a strong female protagonist, but also has all the intrigue of a good mystery.

Letty Carnahan discovers the dead body of her sister Tanya in her New York City townhouse. She’s pretty sure that Tanya’s shady ex boyfriend Evan is the murderer. Tanya had noted that Evan had been threatening her, and showed Letty her personal “go-bag” in the event of her death. Tragically, Tanya’s four year old daughter Maya was in the home when her mother was killed. Letty isn’t sure if Maya actually observed the murder and isn’t about to ask her. Despite the shock of her sister’s death, Letty recalls Tanya’s request to take Maya and escape if anything should happen to her. So that’s what Letty does.

Determined not to be found by Evan or the police, Letty and Maya leave with the bag of Tanya’s hidden valuables and head to the location mentioned in the magazine article left in this stash - The Murmuring Surf Motel on Treasure Island. Here she hopes to learn the secrets of Tanya’s past and to start to heal Maya’s heart. What she finds here, is so much more.

I really enjoyed this book. The mystery itself slowly unfolds and I was absolutely captivated. The characters are well developed, likeable and interesting. Not only is this a story of a strong woman with determination, but it’s equally one of trust, friendship and compassion. The elderly residents of this motel community and their scheduled lifestyles are absolutely charming. There isn’t one moment where I felt myself drifting from this book - I just wanted to sit down and read it from cover to cover. I highly recommend this book to those that enjoy mysteries with strong female characters.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

The Newcomer is a mystery beach read. When Letty’s sister is murdered she flees NYC with her sister’s 4 year old daughter, Maya. Letty ends up in a quaint beach motel in Florida. She meets quite the cast of characters and learns how to love and trust again.

It took me a bit to get into the story but once I did I was invested. I ended up loving most of the characters, especially Maya and Letty. The mystery felt a little disjointed at times jumping from past to present or person to person without great transitions but overall I enjoyed the story.

May Kay Andrews, The Newcomer, returns the reader to the days when she wrote mysteries as Kathy Trocheck when suspense and laughter were the norm. The Murmuring Surf Motel provides the story with an interesting setting for the unraveling of this fast paced romp. This book is wonderfully written and filled with believable characters like soft hearted manager, Ava, her hot cop son, Joe and a slew of geriatric characters who want what they want when they want it. There are also a host of villains who make your skin crawl and keep you guessing.

Two sisters, Tanya and Letty, are estranged until Tanya shows up on out of the blue. She needs clothes, money and a place to live. Good hearted Letty offers her a new beginning and gives her an opportunity for a new life. Letty’s boyfriend, real estate investor, Evan Wingate, dumps Letty and takes up with Tanya. Evan proves to be trouble for both sisters.

Letty stumbles upon her dead sister’s body and her hysterical niece. She panics thinking the police will blame her and remembering her sister’s words- if anything happens to me it will be due to Evan so take my go bag, Tanya and get her to safety. Tanya made Letty promise. And so Letty is running for her and Maya’s life. She finds an old newspaper clipping about the Murmuring Surf Motel in her sister’s bag and makes up her mind that this has to have some meaning for her sister and decides to head to Treasure Island. Life will never be the same for Letty and Maya and that’s a good thing. An enjoyable read for all fans of both Kathy Trochek and Mary Kay Andrews!

I really enjoyed this book! The author weaves together several storylines and mysteries together very well. Once I got about 1/3 of the way through the book I had to know what was going to happen and read late into the night. It’s a great summer read. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.