Interesting story and wanting to know who the neighbor really is. I appreciate al the twists and turns. At times the main the character Beth was frustrating or the new neighbor Madeline seemed a little rigid or not willing to listen at times.

Beth Bradford works for the CIA, as do most of her neighbors. After Beth and her husband Mike send their last child, their son Tyler off to college things begin to fall apart in Beth’s world. They’ve sold their home, Mike is leaving her, and she’s just been taken off on of the most important cases she’s been working for years, and sent to teach (where all agents are sent for their careers to die). Beth is determined to still work her case by any means necessary and she believes the woman who moved into her old home may just be “the Neighbor” the terrorist she’s been after. Beth will go to any lengths to figure this case out, even if everyone around her thinks she’s going crazy.

I liked the suspense of this book, but the main character drove me crazy. I get that Beth was supposed to becoming unhinged, but it was extreme to the point that it made me question how this could be a CIA Agent making these kinds of blunders. The storyline was good and did keep me guessing I just wish the main character was more likable.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC (less)

This book had me hooked from the very beginning! I like to go in completely blind when reading a new book so when I first started it I was thinking it would be a typical domestic thriller ao after the first chapter I was like woah wait a minute this is different! Lots of twist and shock with in this novel! I loved it!

Beth Bradford has it all. A perfect home, the model husband, the ideal neighborhood, three healthy, happy children, and a career she loves, Beth is riding on top of the world—until it begins to crumble right before her eyes. Her CIA career in the CIC is forcibly taken from her, including the case on which she has spent the last fifteen years of her life, her home sells, her last child goes off to college leaving an empty nest, and her husband announces he is leaving her. All at once the illusion of her perfect life shatters. She becomes obsessed with (and basically stalks) the new woman that moves into in her old home, the one who is young, in love, with three young children and living in Beth’s old neighborhood, becoming friendly with Beth’s neighbors. Whether it’s paranoia, fact, or jealousy, Beth neither trusts nor likes her. Of course, that close-knit group of neighbors all have ties to the CIA, know almost everything about each other, and are keeping plenty of their own secrets. It certainly would be the perfect neighborhood for a spy to be planted from Iranian Intelligence, looking to access U.S. Government IT secrets. Beth believes by observing a series of specific clues, that Madeline, the new woman living in her old house, is the one she has dedicated her life to finding: The New Neighbor.

Karen Cleveland knows how to write a head-spinning, all-engrossing, incredibly powerful psychological thriller, and “The Good Neighbor” does NOT disappoint! It’s an addictive, page-turning read, and I was riveted by the story and beautifully written prose throughout. The reveal is mind-blowing; I thought I had it figured out, but I way way off base with my guess. The ending is another stunner, and the character involved is someone I would have never guessed—a character not even in the back of my mind—and I hope there will be a sequel to pick up where the “The Good Neighbor” left off. I was glued to my seat from start to finish (good thing it was a comfortable chair. You’re in for a wild ride—so make sure you pick a comfortable spot as well). It’s one of the best novels I’ve read this year by far, and I would gladly have given more than a five-star review had it been allowed. All thriller fans should read Karen Cleveland’s books; I cannot recommend her and her work strongly enough.

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Karen Cleveland, and Ballantine Books/Random House for the ability to read and review this novel.

“The new neighbor” isn’t what they seem. Who can you really trust? This isn’t the cookie cutter suburban neighborhood it looks like from the outside. This CIA thriller will have you asking many questions. I don’t usually read government thrillers but this was fantastic. I will definitely be reading from this author again.

My honest review is freely provided in return for the kindness by NetGalley and the publisher in providing me with an advance copy.

In pursuit of an intelligence threat to the US, Beth realizes the target is very close to home. There’s a little inconsistency with Beth’s behavior given her profession — a veteran CIA officer needs more depth. I would’ve like to have seen a more complex mystery, but the story premise is good. The mystery unraveling with the different tangents was compelling, and her personal situation with a touch of gaslighting worked well with the story.

The writing is very good, and it kept me turning the pages. I consider this a light read and give it 3.5 stars rounded up.

☆☆☆☆
This is my second book by this author. The first one was five stars so the bar was set high. This one didn’t quite live up to my expectations but it was a suspenseful thriller with a clever plot.

BOOK QUOTE:
“There are bears out here. Coyotes, too, and snakes. It’s why we never let the kids play here alone. Hundreds of acres behind our home, unspoiled, untouched. In my mind, this was where predators lurked. The cul-de-sac itself was safe, a refuge, a haven. How very wrong I was.”

Beth and her husband live on a welcoming cul-de-sac where they raised their children. Everyone knows each other, their kids play together and they frequently sit outside chatting and drinking. Sounds like the perfect place to live and raise your children!

Their youngest child has left for college so they’ve decided to sell and downsize. The move isn’t the only major change in Beth’s life. When she reports to her job at the CIA, she’s been reassigned and removed from the case she’s spent years on. Searching for an Iranian intelligence agent called “The Neighbor”. Upon returning home to finalize the move, she finds that her husband has seized this opportunity to leave and start a new life, without her. Talk about a bad day!

Now that her life is empty, Beth can’t let go of the case she worked so hard on. As she pursues The Neighbor, every one of her old neighbors on the cul-de-sac becomes suspect.

The characters were so life-like, it was easy to become invested in their lives. I didn’t want any of them to be guilty!

Thanks to Ballantine Books and Karen Cleveland for providing this gifted ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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Meh.. Had I known this was a Spy/Espionage thriller I would have stayed away. It was a bit slow and drawn out for my taste. A woman moves to a sleepy culdesac after her marriage is left in shambles, but she's there to do a job as well. Spy on the "perfect" neighborhood in hopes to crack a case.

Another fantastic thrilling story by the CIA master! All of this author’s stories are fast paced with so many twists and turns and the endings always leave me in shock. The New Neighbor kept me guessing until the end and sent me down so many rabbit holes! I can’t wait for her next story!

i really enjoyed this book and all of the twist and turns it had. I love books with a good mystery with a story behind it. Would definitely recommend this for book clubs to discuss.. Characters were very engaging and well thought out.

Catching up on some old reviews, and realized I never formally gave one to this!

I'll be honest, this one was tough to get through for me. It dragged. I think it was both a combination of the narrator and the writing style that made it more difficult to get through. I kept wondering how Beth was actually a CIA agent? It didn't seem plausible at all? Her demeanor throughout the story didn't make me feel like that was true? Her character/character arc disappointed me to say the least. And. The. Twists. I love a good one, but this felt like an overload of them. I think it made it harder for me to read the story because I just wanted to learn the answer already. It was both a mixture of being bored and being too confused by everything going on.

Overall, not for me, BUT I'm happy to see that so many other readers enjoyed it!

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the chance to read in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fast-paced, intense, and wild ride! Beth is thrown into a maelstrom when her husband suddenly leaves her and she is taken off the CIA's case involving an Iranian plot and The Neighbor. Desperate to solve this case anyway, she investigates on her own as she becomes convinced that it involves someone in her own culdesac. But since she's had to move, spying on her old neighbors is difficult as even her friends become suspicious of her car being seen everywhere. Lots of action, red herrings thrown in, and everyone's a suspect! Had me reading long into the night to finish this awesome thriller!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I've read quite a few "neighborhood mystery" books lately, so I was pleasantly surprised to find one that took a different approach with its leading character. Don't avoid this one if you're fatigued by this corner of the thriller genre: this story is new and unique, and it will take you on a thrill ride where you won't be able to tell what could possibly be coming next. Some people may find this confusing, but I welcomed the change in atmosphere. Paranoia and deception abound in this twisty book.

This was not my usual mystery - the CIA aspect was both intriguing and unique for me and only added to the enjoyment of the book, learning about and experiencing something new in the pages. Details of the CIA throughout the book were authentic, which makes sense once I figured out the author's CIA experience, and only added to Beth's story throughout. As someone who doesn't understand or read much about espionage, I found it easy to follow and engaging throughout.

Short, engaging chapters always keep me interested and reading. Plus plenty of twists to keep me guessing! The writing style was what kept me going, however there were times that details got a bit confusing or the twists were so abrupt I was like, wait - what??

Overall an enjoyable story, I would definitely read more that Karen Cleveland has to offer. This one was good to get me out of my usual zone and experience something new.

This book was not at all what I was expecting, but it was amazing. I was expecting more of a domestic thriller, but it was heavily focused on CIA analyst Beth Bradford trying to solve a case she has spent the majority of her career working on. Filled with twists and a whodunit vibe, this book had me guessing until the very end. And the ending blew my mind! I am definitely adding Karen Cleveland’s books to my TBR list.

A huge thank you to the author, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

On the day Beth sends her last child off to college she sells her house, her husband leaves her, and she is loosing her position at work just as there is a new break in the case. Beth works for the CIA and has been searching for The Neighbor, an Iranian recruiter, for the last 15 years. She cannot believe that she has been taken off the case that she begins working it on her own. The new intel leads them to look for The Neighbor on Beth's block.

Beth suspects everyone and does not know who to trust. Does someone she has been friends with for 17 years be the person she has been looking for? Or is Beth loosing her mind with all of the changes in her life.

Karen Cleveland has written a thriller with twists that you only see shortly before Beth does. If you like spy novels that are not action heavy (this is about an analyst anyways) this one is definitely one to try.

This book was too far fetched and out there for me I struggled through it but it just wasn't for me.

I found it to be confusing and hard to believe. It was off to a great start but quickly lost me

I am such a sucker for nosy neighbors story! If you like those kinds of stories too.
This book will satisfy your need for stories of cukoo characters in a very deliciously
devious book.

The New Neighbor - Karen Cleveland
I was excited to read The New Neighbor by bestselling author Karen Cleveland. The premise sounded really good. Unfortunately, for me at least, it was a slow-burning confusion of a story. I really can't say too much about this because honestly, I don't remember what exactly I even read. This was a no for me.

3 stars! The New Neighbor is a spy thriller that turned out to be a well-paced, quick read. If you're a fan of this sub-genre then you'll enjoy this book.
Thank you to Karen Cleveland, Randon House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.