This book was little chaotic. It was definitely a fast paced thriller but I found the amount of twists and turns were too much for me.

I loved almost everything about this thriller. It left me with trust issues that make you question the things you're suppose to trust. Keep your eyes open on this book and don't sit on it for too long! This was a great one.

So many twist and turns!!! You need to stay focused on this one.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes I get an urge to read a spy novel and other times I don't. I had to put this down until o was ready and I am glad that I did. My second attempt to read this book

My first book by Karen Cleveland but it won't be my last  What a well written, perfectly paced, spy thriller. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Apologies for delay - I posted my review on GoodReads right when I finished, and thought it would auto-post here. Guess not.

Here's my review from right after I read it:

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley.

Really great premise. How well do any of us know our neighbors, What happens behind locked doors and drawn shades? Is it possible that one of us is… a Spy? Especially in a cup-de-sac where most everyone works for the CIA or FBI !

That’s the premise of this novel. Really great idea. BUT… too much “YOU’re the spy… no, YOU’re the spy…”.

This book races forward with twists and deceptions, but the resolution that comes is… we’ll, not resolved and also points straight into the sequel.

So I enjoyed, but it was a bit all over the place. Will I read the sequel? Well of course!

I normally don't give a lot of 1 star ratings. I just could not get into this book at all. My fault, not the authors.
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read this advanced copy.

Man, this book was crazy! But in a really good way. What are you supposed to do when you can't trust anyone, in a place where you're supposed to be able to trust everyone? That's the major question this book answers, and I love a good Alphabet Agency thriller. 4 stars!

Oh I really liked this!! I read a ton of thrillers and can't ever recall reading something with a premise quite like this - a woman spending decades of her career in Intelligence searching for an elusive enemy target only to uncover friends in her own neighborhood may be leaking info and she must figure out who before it's too late. I was hooked from page 1 and quite enjoyed how the author wove in stories from the past as a way to move the plot and keep the reader guessing. I did feel like Beth, the main character, did some wildly outrageous and unethical things in order to uncover the truth and that bothered me a bit. Seemed kinda odd for people who work in highly classified areas of intelligence would be so loosey-goosey but I suppose it is fiction.
Again, loved the different take on a thriller and was very invested in finding out who was The Neighbor! Solid 4 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review.

I did read this. I have no notes though but gave it 4 stars on goodreads. Must have been a good twisty thriller.

Catching up on some old arc. I was assuming this book would be your typical neighborhood suspense story. Boy was I wrong, lots of twist and turns with this CIA thriller. Beth Bradford, CIA analyst, wow! I throughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you #NetGalley, #BallantineBooks, #KarenCleveland and #TheNewNeighbor was the ebook for my honest review.

This was an interesting and intriguing book. I liked the CIA plot mixed with the others for a cohesive story that kept me entertained.

Captivating, very well written (and well researched novel). Author is skilled at turning up the intrigue steadily and skillfully in stages, and before you know it you are dying to find out how an apparently impossible precarious situation (threatening the safety, freedom and well-being of each US citizen) reaches a resolution. I enjoyed not only the primary CIA plot, but also (being a techno junkie) the Info security subplot. Will look for more from this author! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the Advance copy!

I just did not connect with this book. I can't say much more about it other than it was just not enjoyable for me.

This review was also posted on Goodreads.

I got this book as a ARC a while ago and just got around to reading it and omg it was so so good i wish i would have read it sooner! Favorite book of 2024, so far!

What a great book! It is a page turner for sure, one that you should pick up and read for sure! It has more twists and turns than any mountain road! Enjoy the ride! Thank you Karen for writing such a great book!

Beths life is straight out of a a true crime CIA movie and she has set it up that way. Beth lives and breathes the CIA, hangs out with members of intelligence community almost exclusively. When her life is turned upside down and she feels close to closing the case, her life falls apart and all she can do is watch as her friends and community embrace her suspect. It's filled with mystery along the way.

I received a free copy of this book, but the review is my own.

Karen Cleveland skillfully navigates a web of suspects, challenging readers to discern the trails that genuinely lead nowhere. Beth Bradford, leading a seemingly quiet life in a suburban cul-de-sac while employed by the CIA, finds her world upended as her eldest son heads to college, and her marriage unravels. As she reluctantly relocates, tracking an Iranian intelligence agent named The Neighbor, Beth becomes entangled with her new neighbors, questioning their choice of her former home and discovering unsettling connections that might have been right under her nose.

Having not delved into a Karen Cleveland novel in quite some time, I found this one reminiscent of my last read from her—a spy-infused thriller. While not my preferred sub-genre, the book maintains its allure with short chapters, just enough CIA jargon, brisk pacing, and poignant moments, especially in the initial stages where Beth grapples with the loss of her old life and familial bonds slipping away.

However, for a supposed CIA operative, Beth displays a surprising lack of savvy, consistently landing herself in imprudent situations and feigning astonishment when caught red-handed. Yet, the paradox arises as she adeptly navigates the world of burner phones, leaving readers puzzled about her inconsistent sharpness.

Cleveland introduces the somewhat overused trope of a Female Protagonist Who Can’t Be Trusted Because She Loves Wine, a narrative element that initially grated on my nerves as Beth constantly oscillated between potential suspects. However, with eventual revelations, Beth’s character becomes more tolerable.

This book emerges as the ideal summer spy thriller—a cinematic, action-packed escapade providing a dose of mindless enjoyment. While Beth’s occasional lack of foresight might test your suspension of disbelief, embracing the narrative for its popcorn-worthy entertainment value proves to be the key.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The story development and twist were amazing. It is just the book I needed at just the right time

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
I give this book 3 stars.
I wasn't interested in the CIA details that seemed to keep going on and on.
Did have many twists and turns, some of them not very believable.
I have read better books by this author.