In Karen Cleveland's latest domestic suspense thriller, set a suburban neighborhood in the suburban DC area in McLean, VA—THE NEW NEIGHBOR is a cyberwar spy mystery to discover— Who is "The Neighbor?"

EVERYONE HAS SECRETS!

At the novel's opening, CIA counterintelligence analyst Beth Bradford is dropping her youngest child off at college, one married and one out of the country. An empty nester, she is sad because she is moving and her life is changing. Her house is up for sale. She must say goodbye to the home and neighborhood where she raised her children after her husband announces he is leaving her.

On top of this, another stab in the back. She is being demoted to a mere training role instead of continuing her 15-year pursuit of a U.S.-based covert Iranian operative known as "The Neighbor."

She is not ready to let go of the case. She knows more than anyone about the subject and is convinced the new resident is THE NEIGHBOR. The new neighbors who purchased her old house are Madeline and Josh Sterling. She is sure Madeline is THE NEIGHBOR, and she sets up surveillance of a cul-de-sac in her old neighborhood and appears increasingly unhinged to her friends and former neighbors.

Madeline has what Beth once had: an adoring husband, three beautiful young children, and the close-knit group of neighbors on the block. Now she has it all. And Beth—who can't stop watching the woman stepping into her old life—thinks the new Neighbor has something else too: ties to Iranian intelligence.

The Neighbor is an access agent —and by extension, a notoriously tricky target. Put simply, access agents are recruits who take over the recruiting role. Individuals who agree to work for a foreign intelligence service sell out their own country —by recruiting more traitors. And they are nearly impossible to find because they blend in. They do not know who The Neighbor is nor who they have recruited. Employees with security clearances feed sensitive information to our adversary and have been for years. The FBI's focused on finding The Neighbor's recruits, learning what secrets they've exposed. Putting an end to all of it before it is too late.

Beth then thinks there may be a silver lining to the empty nest since she can focus entirely on THE NEIGHBOR and will keep her busy. However, Beth becomes obsessed and unhinged. Will she determine that the new Neighbor is the exclusive secret agent?

She makes all kinds of mistakes and jumps from one suspect to another. Everyone thinks she is mad, paranoid, or crazy. From secrets, jealousy, and scandal, THE NEW NEIGHBOR makes for an intriguing slow-burn thriller as you are racing to the unveiling of THE NEIGHBOR (which will be at the end).

It is not what you expect and reaches a satisfying conclusion. This complex, multi-layered tale will keep you guessing. Even though Beth was not a strong female character lead (nor did she behave like someone in her position with all kinds of mistakes), you are not fully invested in her nor know if she is a reliable narrator. It gets to the point it is almost crazy and comical.

Overall, a cross between DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, the movie THEM and THE AMERICANS. You envision the lawn chairs lined up in this neighborhood, watching in the seemingly perfect neighborhood with families; however, darkness and secrets beneath this facade.

"Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies." — Jane Austen

Mostly entertaining and not a lot of suspense and thrills. Cleveland knows her spy stuff and is a brilliant writer. However, Beth was not my favorite character.

Looking forward to her next book!

Thank you to #Ballantine #RandomHouse and #Netgalley for an ARC to read, review, and enjoy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: July 26, 2022

Fast-paced spy thriller pits a demoted CIA agent against a clever and cunning enemy.

Beth Bradford had an idyllic life in a lovely home with her husband and three children. Until she didn't. In just days, Beth's husband has left her, her house is sold and she has to move, she has an empty nest, and she has been taken off the case that she has been working for over a decade. Of all of those losses, being removed from her position tracking an Iranian intelligence network and the asset known as The Neighbor, is the worst. She can't stop trying to find them to try to prevent their hacking into CIA computers.

And, she's really resentful and overly curious about the woman who has moved into her old house on the cul-de-sac where she raised her children. Madeline Sterling quickly becomes friends with Beth's old neighbors and Beth feels like she is being shut out of everything she once held dear. But, could it be more ominous than just a new person on the street? Perhaps Madeline is connected to Iranian intelligence and is actually the entity she has been searching for through the years.

Well, this was quite a convoluted and entertaining story. Beth often seems unhinged and irrational as she defies orders and continues to work her case even though she was ejected from her office and reassigned. No one is above suspicion as Beth unearths the secrets in the cul-de-sac and uncovers some startling connections in order to identify the spy. As she entertains one suspect after another, her behavior seems motivated by paranoia and there is little she won't do to pursue this hunt. As usual, everyone thinks Beth is in need of psych help and discounts her.

I always find it frustrating when the narrative tries to make the main character look unreliable and unbalanced. As Beth skips from one possible Neighbor to another, it keeps the reader guessing, but the big reveal at the end was a bit of a surprise after all and the book seemed to end quite abruptly without the full resolution I was hoping to see. Not that I want any more of Beth or this plot line, but I do like a concrete conclusion. I've read all of Karen Cleveland's previous books and this was probably my least favorite. But she is definitely an author whose next work I will definitely seek out. It makes a good beach read for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

Beth ’s life is falling apart. As her third child goes off to college, her house in a neighborhood she loved is sold, her husband leaves her, and she is removed from a case she has been working on for years at the CIA. Determined to solve that case, she goes rogue. As clues point to neighbors she had been close to for years, it seems to some that she is becoming unhinged.

This is a domestic story and a spy thriller. Scenes shift back and forth from the present to earlier times in her life and neighborhood. I thought Cleveland was at her best when describing the breakdown of a marriage.

I have a hard time when women who are supposed to be intelligent and in professional positions act impulsively and inappropriately. I also find it difficult to believe that a seasoned CIA agent would behave the way Beth did. The more she pursued the case inappropriately, the more annoying she became. But, of course, since this is fiction, she had to be right.

This is the second book I have read by this author and both have a sub theme of how far parents will go to protect their children.

I vacillate in how I would rate this book. Despite the annoyance, it was an engrossing, fast read.

Thanks to #netgalley and #ballentinebooks for the arc.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

Beth’s life changes in the matter of a day … her son leaves for college making her an empty nester, she’s abruptly demoted at work, and her marriage unexpectedly ends. As a CIA counterintelligence agent, Beth has spent fifteen years focused on finding The Neighbor, a recruiter for the Iranian intelligence service. Despite her life falling apart, she’s not ready to let go of this important case; she knows it better than anyone. Based on new information, Beth’s convinced she’s identified The Neighbor. She believes it is the woman who recently purchased Beth’s house. Is Beth seeing something that isn’t there? Or, has Beth finally identified the elusive secret agent? Has Beth brought a spy into her former neighborhood?

The combination of secrets and jealousy in The New Neighbor makes for an intriguing, slow burn thriller! This complex spy story kept me guessing and surprised until the very end. Beth didn't appeal to me as much as other strong female leads in other Karen Cleveland novels. Still, I enjoyed this clever, suspenseful story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The New Neighbor doesn't have much high drama or suspense but held my interest as if it did. I was enthralled from beginning to end. If you enjoy intrigue, unexpected twists, and great writing check it out!

This was a fast paced read and despite knowing little to nothing about the CIA/FBI, it was fairly easy to follow. Beth as a narrator felt very sophomoric. The way she went on accusing each and every person throughout the book felt very much like a Pretty Little Liars novel, and they were in high school. I’d expect a CIA analyst to be a little more keen. I also have to imagine a lot of the protocol that was broken was highly unrealistic. That all to say, I did enjoy this, but I don’t know if I’d stick around for Cleveland’s next book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The New Neighbor is a mysterious story about a CIA agent, Beth, whose life is not going as planned. Her youngest child has just left home for college, her husband wants a divorce and the home they lived in and thoroughly enjoyed is being sold. She should have been a great character to read about, as I enjoy stories with strong women. She was not, she faltered quite a bit, made stupid decisions, and in general was a mess. I have enjoyed other books by Kaaren Cleveland and have to say this is not as good as others. I did finish and also solve the major problem before the end of the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC.

Karen Cleveland just became one of my new favorite authors with this suspenseful, thrilling, & unputdownable read. I was on the edge of my seat while Beth took us for a ride to find out who The Neighbor really is and just when I thought I had it figured out, turns out I was wrong every single time. I wasn't expecting The New Neighbor to be who they were either.

Beth works for Counterintelligence trying to find The Neighbor. She's worked for years to take this person down. Her life is a full blown mess with her youngest going off the college, one getting married, one living out of the country, her and her husband Mike are selling their home where their children grew up, all while her own marriage is in shambles. If that isn't enough, her work life just imploded, but now she's more determined than ever to find out who this Neighbor is and take them down even if it means risking her life & her career. She begins to distrust everyone and questions everything around her. Is she as crazy as everyone makes her out to be, can she trust her friends of 17 years, can she trust her co-workers, or is she hallucinating? It's well worth your time to read to find out.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book lives up to its genre, mystery/thriller, from the time you pick it up....because even the title is not what you think it is! Beth Bradford's life is in upheaval with more than just an "empty nest" syndrome as she and her husband, Mike, drop their youngest off at college. She returns to work in the CIA's counterintelligence division to find that she is no longer involved in the espionage case that has consumed her for a long time and then find's out that her husband is leaving her. But she can't let the case go and against direct orders, continues her search for "the neighbor". As she delves into a case where the reader can't tell for sure if she is suffering from paranoia or if it is reality, she begins suspecting and watching those who she considered friends/family for years as they lived in the same neighborhood. The twists and accusations come at you at warp speed sometimes, which is sometimes difficult to follow. However, what we find out is that there are many components and characters that are entwined in the web of "the neighbor'. Best of all...whenBeth seems to have all the answers she needs.........the twists continue on through the ending. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #TheNewNeighbor #NetGalley.

The New Neighbor was my first time reading a Karen Cleveland novel. There are lots of twists and turns and the story will keep you guessing as to who the new neighbor is, I liked it, but didn’t love it. This reads like a beach thriller; I’d definitely read another one by this author.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.

Attempted reading this multiple times but it was a little too slow a start for me. I had to force myself to pay attention because I would just keep losing interest… decided to DNF around 20%. Will probably not pick up from this author again.

This was a good book with twists and turns that made you want to read quickly in order to get to the bottom of it.
After Beth’s life is upended in just about every sense - her last child leaves for college, her husband asks for a divorce on the eve of moving out of their perfect family home, Beth is demoted from her life’s work at the CIA…in the midst she becomes closer than she ever has been to catching “The Neighbor”. In the process, Beth questions the closest relationships in her life, and brings truth to the theory that you never truly know your neighbors.

The New Neighbor is a fairly typical spy novel. Beth is a middle-aged CIA analyst, whose youngest kid has just left for college, and whose marriage and career are falling apart. She becomes obsessed with the woman who bought her house, and becomes convinced that she is the spy Beth has been tracking at work. Of course, her colleagues think she's lost her mind. I won't give anything away, the book was fun and entertaining, but loses steam at the end with all the twists and turns. The most action packed scene is pretty anti-climactic.

An Intricate Tale of Intrigue and Suspense

SUMMARY
Beth Bradford is having a bad week. She is struggling with an empty nest and a broken marriage and is moving out of the palatial Langley Oaks house she has long called home. To top it all off, the CIA had stealthily removed her from the one case she had worked on for over fifteen years. Beth had been tracking an elusive Iranian Agent known as The Neighbor and now has been assigned to a menial teaching position.

Madeline Sterling is moving into Beth’s old house. Madeline has everything Beth once had; a handsome husband, three beautiful children, and a quiet cul-de-sac with a close-knit group of neighbors. Believing that Madeline is The Neighbor she has been searching for, Beth begins drinking, stalking Madeline, and making late-night visits back to the cul-de-sac. Is Beth just jealous? Is she losing a grip on reality? Or is something else going on?


REVIEW
THE NEW NEIGHBOR is an intricate tale of intrigue and suspense. Author Karen Cleveland's writing is engaging, imaginative, and full of twists and turns.

Beth Bradford’s character was somewhat disappointing. I am a huge fan of strong women characters who, in the face of adversity, put on their big girl pants and save the day. Beth forgot to put on her big girl pants. She drinks too much and manages to make one bad decision after another. For being a trained CIA agent, Beth must have failed her basic surveillance classes, because she made a mess of repeatedly getting caught trying to spy on her neighbors.

I have thoroughly enjoyed two of Cleveland’s previous books and look forward to more in the future. Author Karen Cleveland is a former CIA Counterterrorism Analyst and a New York Times best-selling author of Need to Know (2018), Keep You Close (2019), and You Can Run (2021). She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Publisher Penguin Random House
Published July 26, 2022
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

This is the fourth book by Karen Cleveland that I've read and though I'm not usually a fan of spy stories, I enjoy Cleveland's writing and how she weaves personal stories in with the espionage. She does a good job with the characters to make them believable and the mysteries are complex enough to make it fun trying to guess who the 'bad guys' are!

A domestic thriller with a side of espionage. Who is telling the truth? Who is the New Neighbor? Nothing is as it seems.
This was my first Karen Cleveland read and I couldn’t put this one down!
Her twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end.
The final action scene, so to speak, was a little lackluster and for that I can’t give 5 stars. However, I did thoroughly enjoy this book and will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this eARC.

Fun, fast-paced thriller about domestic spies recruited by foreign agents. Every character is paranoid. Many seem to be involved. Good twists. Epilogue is awesome.

"Idyllic neighborhood, perfect family, meaningful career. CIA analyst Beth Bradford has it all—

Until she doesn’t.

Now, facing an empty nest and a broken marriage, Beth is moving from the cul-de-sac she’s long called home, and the CIA is removing her from the case that’s long been hers: tracking an elusive Iranian intelligence agent known as The Neighbor.

Madeline Sterling moves into Beth’s old house. She has what Beth once had: an adoring husband, three beautiful young children, and the close-knit group of neighbors on the cul-de-sac. Now she has it all. And Beth—who can’t stop watching the woman stepping in to her old life—thinks the new neighbor has something else too: ties to Iranian intelligence.

Is Beth just jealous? Paranoid? Or is something more at play?

After all, most of the families on the cul-de-sac have some tie to the CIA. They’re all keeping secrets. And they all know more about their neighbors than they should. It would be the perfect place to insert a spy—unless one was there all along."

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

The New Neighbor is a cleverly written suspense novel by Karen Cleveland, a new author to me. I chose the book based on the NetGalley description and general theme, and I very much enjoyed reading it. Focused on a bunch of FBI and CIA operatives, the protagonist is in search of a spy gone rogue... and it just so happens she and her husband have sold their house, leaving a new neighbor to move into the cul de sac with all their former friends. Which one of these people knows something about the rogue spy? The novel held my attention, but it has a slow first half. The suspense is in the neurotic obsession of the main character who is entirely too focused on being removed from her top case. There are reasons tho, and she may not figure them all out. Right down to the last ten pages, we're unsure who the bad person is, and when it's finally revealed, a definite surprise... I kinda guessed but wasn't emphatic about it, so it still felt shocking. Good writing, and I'll read her next book too.

This book was a bit hard to get into in my personal opinion. It was very technical in terms of the CIA and super family oriented to the point where I just wanted to know when the twists were going to happen instead of hearing about her life beforehand. As someone who doesn’t really care for agency type stuff, it felt only catered to the people that do. The writing itself was very detailed and well written so I appreciated that. I just wish I was more interested in it to enjoy it.