Mary Kay Andrews really outdoes herself as a storyteller with The Newcomer. Letty finds her sister murdered and herself the prime suspect. Afraid for their safety, she decides to take her 4 year old niece, Maya, and leave the city for the rundown motel The Summering Surf in Treasure Island, FL. She convinces the owner, Ava, to let her rent a storage room and even winds up working at the motel. In the beginning, Letty is very wary of Ava’s son, Joe. Joe is a local detective and suspicious of Letty from the start. These two have a rough start, but Joe goes with his instincts and as the full story unfolds the two grow closer together as impending danger to Letty and her niece creeps closer.

I really enjoyed all the characters in this book. The residents don’t take quickly to Letty and Maya. After all, they are newcomers and everyone at the motel likes things to stay the status quo. In the end, Letty finds a family in the people of the Summering Surf. I laughed out loud multiple times at the antics and loved how they all came together and stood up for one another on the truly important matters of life. The other thing I loved about this one is the pacing. Andrews writing puts you in that slow-paced southern mood. From the budding relationship between Letty and Joe to the unfolding events of the situation Letty finds herself in, Andrews refuses to rush through the minor details that may seem insignificant at the time but find you with a fully formed world that you hate to leave.

The Newcomer perfectly blends women’s fiction, romance, and mystery/thriller in a way that makes this book great for anyone. I have been a fan of Andrews for quite a long time, but believe this to be one of her best. 4.5 stars!

This book had a predictable ending, but I enjoyed it immensely anyway. ALL the characters were likeable, and I was rooting for the female protagonist (Letty) to get justice for her sister. Great addition to our library.

There is so much to enjoy in this book. Letty Carnahan found her sister, Tanya, murdered just days after she had warned her that her ex might do something to her. She takes her 4-year-old niece and drives away from New York and to a little hotel in Paradise Island, Florida because she finds the name of it amongst her sister's go-bag. This is how the search to stay safe and figure out who killed her sister begins. There's a big cast of interesting characters, including the handsome cop son of the motel's owner, that keep things interesting throughout the twists and turns the story takes. It's full of revelations about Letty, her sister, and the past Letty knew nothing about.
It's a great mix of cozy mystery and women's fiction with a little bit of romance adding in the perfect amount of spice to make the whodunit story extra exciting.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the exciting read!

Thank you to Netgalley for a chance to read and review this ARC for an honest review. Oh how I love love love Mary Kay Andrews and all her books! Her characters are so loveable and the adventures are an easy light hearted read. I would highly recommend any of her books to everyone!

I really loved this book! The setting was amazing. I love this type of book. I love the characters and how they all interact with each other. The love story between Letty and Joe was done just the right way and pace. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I wish there was another book to update us on how their life turned out!

DNF ar 30%. I was not a fan of the writing style. I tried to stick it out but the book wasn't holding my interest.

A fun mystery! MKA expertly draws the reader into the beach side motel and the drama. Throw in some drama, secrets and romance and this book is a hit. I could not read it fast enough. It felt like a little beach vacation from my comfortable home in the Midwest. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a little getaway with some heat!

Mary Kay Andrews is an absolutely winner of an author when it comes to beach reads! The Newcomer is a fresh breath of summer air. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of this novel.

Due to a family illness, and unexpected events, I am very far behind in writing my reviews.I found my self reading one book after another without writing the review -- that was a big mistake. I truly enjoyed this book, as I do all of Ms. Griep's books. I happily Due to a family illness, and unexpected events, I am very far behind in writing my reviews.I found my self reading one book after another without writing the review -- that was a big mistake. I really enjoyed this book, as I do all of Ms. Andrew's books. I happily gave it 5 stars.

WOW! I LOVED this book so much!!!! The writing was excellent, I felt so engaged with the storyline. I loved the characters, I just loved it all! So good!

This book seemed a little confused to me, and in turn made me just as puzzled. The genres were so wide and varied, I think the author was trying to put too much into the story and could definitely have been more refined. It was a long book, which made it more of a chore at times, when I feel there were scenes that could have definitely been removed.
The characters were good, I didn't really connect with them but I did stay interested in their story throughout.
This was a good read, but I expected more from such a well respected author.

This is such a great beach read by an awesome author. It has everything I love in a story. Mystery, intrigue, friends, love. It's been one of the best books I read this summer.

Mystery? Love? Friendship? Yes to all and so fun! Another great beach read by this author who never fails to disappoint.

I like Mary Kay Andrews’ books as they often teach me something while entertaining me with a story and perhaps a romance too. The Newcomer is more story than with the main character Letty trying to figure out her life after her sister is murdered, and Letty is left to take care of her niece full time. Maya’s father is introduced as a bad father and person all around, so Letty does all she can to keep the little girl away from him, safe in another state.

Trying to start over while harboring a big secret can be difficult, as Letty discovers. However, she does manage to make some good friends, find a job, and start a relationship. But of course, she can’t let her guard down, especially when her sister’s past catches up with her. Letty has to use all of her wits to solve a mystery and protect her niece, while also trying to start a relationship. To her credit though, I liked how Andrews has Letty always puts her niece first, keeping her the priority.

I received this book through NetGalley and have written an objective review.

The Newcomer was an ok book. I enjoyed the characters, both the warm loving and the crotchety ones, and was happy with how everything wrapped up. This was my first Mary Kay Andrews read and I would read more by her if I was looking for a beach read.

My biggest complaint was how Maya was written. She seemed babyish for a four-year-old, and a little annoying, but I suppose that could be intended as the representation of what she's been through at such a young age.

The thing that made me smile was that my small hometown was mentioned by one of the regulars of The Surf as being her hometown as well. Represent!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for my review copy for my honest opinion.

Letty is on the run with her 4 year old niece, Maya, after discovering her sister murdered. Letty, now the prime suspect, heads to Florida where they find sanctuary at a beachside motel. While some residents and staff find her suspicious, others welcome her and Maya with open arms, and take them under their wing. Of course, the past always catches up to you, and she enlists the help of the owner's son, to help prove that she is innocent. All while trying to keep Maya safe.

The Newcomer is a perfect beach read. If you enjoy mystery with a little romance her books are the ones to get. Her books are normally a little long, but enjoyable. The characters were quite enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the old folks with their quirky ways.

This was my first book by Mary Kay Andrews believe it or not!! Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ebook copy!

I really enjoyed the story line. It was engaging and grabbed my attention right away! When Letty finds her sister dead in her NYC townhouse, she immediately knows who is responsible. She flees to Florida with her 4-year old niece in tow to hide away ending up at a motel full of snow birds as well as a cop who is immediately suspicious of her.

I alternated between ebook & audio for this one. I enjoyed both versions! Unfortunately, this one lost its steam for me about halfway through. It was obvious from the beginning who was to blame and seemed to take a long time to wrap up. I kept thinking I was near the end, but the story kept going! I really enjoyed all of the characters, especially 4-year old Maya who was a sweetheart. I loved the Florida motel vibes & the close knit community surrounding Letty there.

Overall, this was a darker mystery/romance read that was enjoyable. It focused heavily on the mystery and I would’ve liked to see more romance elements. It was also slightly long for me- but great easy read!

The Newcomer from Mary Kay Andrews is a Masterpiece!! There's really nothing else to say. This book was I believe Mary Kay Andrews best book yet!

When I began this Audiobook, I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy the narrator’s voice or not. It sounded a little nasally to me but within a couple of chapters it didn’t bother me at all, except for when she voiced the child lines (way too high-pitched).

The story was a good one, nice mystery, likable characters, enough action to keep the story moving forward however, the length of the book was quite long and really didn’t need to be. Sometimes all the little extra things that authors put in to the story to make you feel connected, are just overkill. This could easily have been 300 pages shorter and it wouldn’t have changed the overall effectiveness of the story.

But still, an enjoyable read. If you like Mary Kay Andrews writing style, then be sure to pick this one up.

You can't go wrong if you choose a Mary Kay Andrews book ! I would call this a "beach read" with a kick ! The main character is on the run with her niece after she finds her sister murdered. Her sister had told her that if anything were to happen to her, grab the kid and run. She did just that, all the way to Florida. She finds a spot to live and makes a life for herself, but will it all come undone ? Great story ! Fast paced.