THE NEW MOTHER by Nora Murphy

If you like a slow burn domestic thriller, add this to your list. Natalie, a new mom struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety, finds a friend in her new neighbor/stay-at-home-dad, Paul. Paul seems to be the perfect daytime companion— he listens to Nat and can get her colicky baby to sleep in his relaxed arms. Told from Nat’s and Paul’s POVs, you’ll see their friendship has a use for Paul. But what’s his plan?

The struggles of new parenthood are accurate. I felt for Natalie battling with depression and psychosis and just wanted her to get help. But as in reality, there’s a stigma around depression and Nat feels constantly like a failure. Thank you, Nora Murphy, for adding resources at the end of the book and sharing your own story. I hope more will normalize this topic and encourage people to get help when necessary.

I liked the cat-mouse aspect of this thriller, but it was slow first half. I couldn’t put down the last half. Overall, good book & recommend it to anyone that likes the cat-mouse hunt!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks @netgalley and @minotaur_books for this eARC! Available now!

A postpartum depressive journey through what is set up to be a murder in the neighborhood, and I am 1/3 of the way into the book and cannot go on. The descriptions of these characters is like trudging through quicksand- they are negative, nasty and I simply don’t care about them or the plot enough to go on. The writing itself if worthy, but that’s all I can say about this book.

This story really hits deep if you are a mother. It really touches on sensitive topics regarding postpartum. I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me.

This s is more of a domestic drama than a thriller. There is no mystery to solve, but you do wonder throughout who will take the fall for the crime. The main character is a new mother. One who is struggling with her new role (and life) and is probably dealing with some depression as well. One problem I had is that she is not very likeable...and therefore did not garner much sympathy from me. Not a bad plot, but I did not feel a connection that may have made it a better read for me. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

Book Review: "The New Mother" by Nora Murphy 📚✨

Natalie Fanning, a new mom in an unfamiliar neighbourhood, faces the daunting challenges of isolation and exhaustion. But when her neighbour Paul enters the picture, offering solace and support, things take a dark turn. As Nat becomes entangled in Paul's sinister plan, will she uncover the truth before it's too late?

This book instantly hooked me with its relatable portrayal of postpartum depression, drawing me deeper into Nat's world. While the suspense kept me engaged, I felt that the story could have been more concise. The pacing occasionally dragged, stretching the tension longer than necessary.

Overall, "The New Mother" was a three-star read for me. Its depiction of the main character's struggles resonated, but the length and pacing held it back. Nonetheless, it provided a sympathetic and bone-chilling take on motherhood in suburbia.

Special thanks to the author and publisher for providing an advanced reading copy! 📚💙

#TheNewMother #NoraMurphy #BookReview #PostPartumDepression

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an eARC of Nora Murphy's novel, The New Mother.

I feel like this book had twists and turns right from the beginning. My heart went out to Natalie and the difficulties she had in the beginning of motherhood. Finding someone who seems to be on your side when you're feeling isolated, lonely and sad must feel so hopeful, only to find that you're the pawn in someone else's awful plan.

I so very much enjoyed reading this novel, I've never been a mother, but it's easy to see how lonely it can be to be a new mother and this was such a good depiction of the possibilities.

This riveting thriller takes place in a tranquil neighborhood with secrets tightly concealed behind doors. Natalie is an overwhelmed new mother with a colicky baby. Paul is a stay at home dad who befriends Natalie to help her feel less alone. Is this friendship too good to be true? What about their spouses? When Paul’s wife goes missing, neighbors start talking & the race is on to find out what happened to her and who was involved. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Oh this was such an interesting book! It has me pulled in early and I was very engaged the entire time I was reading this one.

This is the author's second book. I read and enjoyed the last one. THE FAVOR. I think it was much better but still this one was ok. The problem is it was just ok.

It's about Natalie and her neighbor Paul. Told from each's pov.

Natalie is a new mother and all that entails. She's suffering from sleep deprivation and postparturm depression. It's told in four parts and the first half is pretty monotonous. At least it was for me. Very repetitive and somewhat boring.

It ended to fast and seemed to just end. Some things were still unclear for me and I did not like any of the characters. They were just not easy to relate too.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this copy.

Was really excited for this one as it was supposed to be a chilling mystery and thriller. I wasn't though. It was a domestic drama and while I really did understand the postpartum depression, the book just wasn't what I thought it would be. The hard parts of motherhood and PPD are definitely a major point of the book, and I was ok with that as a mother myself, but again--where was the actual thriller/mystery? I think maybe if the murder hadn't been overshadowed by soooo much description of the hard parts of motherhood/breastfeeding this could have been a winner.

Thank you Netgalley, St-Martin’s Press and the author Nora Murphy.
Nothing is simple about being a new mom alone in a new house, especially when your baby is collicky. Natalie Fanning loves her son unconditionally, but being a mother was not all she wanted to be. Neighbor Paul comes to the rescue or so we are led to believe.
The new Mother is a very good read, suspenseful, and brought back memories of when I was a new mother and all the challenges that came with it.
Fast paced, good read
Recommend. 4 Stars

Natalie and Tyler have found that perfect house in the perfect neighborhood to raise their newborn son, Oliver. But when Natalie finds herself in a daze after giving birth, struggling to stay awake and raise a colicky baby, she finds solace in her kind neighbor Paul. Paul, a stay at home dad, understands. But when Paul suddenly begins to treat Natalie as a nuisance, she can’t understand why. Natalie tries to navigate raising a newborn and maintaining a friendship, but at what cost?

This one was thrilling and keeps you on the edge of your seat not wanting to ever put it down. It will make you think about it when not reading it. I love that not only was it entertaining but it also had a good lesson on dealing with a baby while having postpartum. Would love to read more by this author

I read The Favor by Nora Murphy & absolutely loved it! I was so excited to read The New Mother.
Natalie has recently given birth to her perfect baby boy. Once home & settled with her baby she's quickly learning motherhood is absolutely nothing like she expected. Due to sleepless nights & mistakes at work she decides to take a sabbatical to be a stay at home mom. She starts feeling isolated & lonely. She soon finds comfort & help from her neighbor, Paul. He knows exactly how she's feeling as he's been a stay home father himself.

Every new mom can sympathize with exactly how Natalie's feeling. This story had no twists. Readers pretty much know exactly how it's going to play out which took a little away from the story for me. As well as some of the choices Natalie makes with her new baby. However, because I've never experienced the mental health problems in play, I tried to not let that frustration ruin the story for me.
I'm very satisfied with how it all wraps up & absolutely love that Nora Murphy brings such realness to situations to her stories.

Natalie Fanning has just begun her journey into motherhood, giving birth to a healthy baby boy alongside her devoted husband. but newborns are no walk in the park, & Natalie is quick to encounter the trials & tribulations of being a mother. between a colicky baby, pure pain & exhaustion, and juggling a full-time job, Natalie is just about at her wit’s end.

then neighbor Paul seems to enter Natalie’s world like her knight in shining armor, offering words of encouragement & help with her baby, from one parent to another. Natalie is overwhelmed by Paul’s kindness amid her loneliness & postpartum struggles; so much so, that she lets her guard down, which is exactly what Paul wants.

this book is categorized as suspense/thriller, which is always an instant go-to for me. unfortunately, the only “suspense” I felt when reading this was in regard to becoming a mom 🙈 this book heavily depicts a mom unknowingly suffering from PPD (trigger warning!), and maaaan was my anxiety high throughout most of this book. as someone who hopes to start a family in the next few years, I can tell you that this book certainly did not have me looking forward to it 😳 this book made motherhood sound like the most miserable thing in the world. and I know that people who suffer from PPD may honestly feel that way, so I will commend Murphy for depicting PPD in a manner that was so raw & uncensored.

that being said, I went into this book expecting suspense in the form of crime/kidnapping/murder; the usual. there is a murder investigation that happens in the story, but it seemed very unrealistic, a lot of “he-said, she-said”, & it just kinda seemed to be unenthusiastically pieced together overall. the book definitely focused more-so on the complications of PPD, which is fine, it just wasn’t quite what I was expecting the majority of the book to be about.

overall, if you’re looking for a book that explores the ins & outs of PPD, this might be up your alley; but if you’re looking for a genuine thriller, this ain’t it (IMO).

thank you to @netgalley for my #arc!

I found this book to be an eye-opening look at post-partum depression. Unfortunately, I felt myself frustrated with the main character. She seemed to always be complaining when she wouldn't let anyone else help her. It wasn't until the end - reading the author's note that I realized these are classic signs of the disease. Then of course, I felt disappointed in myself for judging her mothering throughout this book. I guess that is the best thing about books - they really teach you about things you know little about.

This story revolves around a career-minded first time mother who struggles, struggles, struggles with a baby who doesn't want to sleep or be away from his mother. It seeps into every part of her life - zapping her energy, making her constantly on edge and thinking everyone has it so much easier than her and quickly pulling apart her marriage. Enter a male stay-at home neighbor who seems too good to be true. He is sympathetic, a great listener, great with her son and feels like he has all the answers to her struggles. Hmmm, could it be that he is too good to be true?

I thought this book was interesting - but they thriller part itself did not seem airtight - instead it felt barely plausible - but I was still interested throughout the book. Looking back, I really appreciate the intimate look into post-partum depression. I think this is important for so many reasons - for mothers who have suffered the same disease, those who have seen it in others and didn't realize what it was, and especially for mothers-to-be - who may be able to see what it happening to them before it takes hold of their life and they are able to seek help.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC to read and review. Recommend - but it helps to read the author's note BEFORE the book.

📖My Thoughts📖

First of all, I want to say how very impressed I am about how descriptive and accurate the author portrayed postpartum depression. Despite being a mystery, it showed exactly what it can be like for a new mother that has postpartum depression and even postpartum psychosis. It’s scary and unfortunately often pushed aside by some saying that it’s just a lack of sleep or getting used to having a new baby. That being said, this seemed like the perfect theme to weave the plot into. A new mom feeling alone and secluded, feeling like nobody cares or understands. The neighbor who happens to be there offering the support and comfort that nobody else seems to be doing, understanding everything the new mom is struggling with. The inattentive wife and mother, so consumed with her work, yet so intent about appearances. It’s the perfect scenario. I thought the book flowed well and was fast paced, keeping my attention. I really enjoyed this one. This was my first time reading anything by this author, but I will be on the look out for future books.
Thank you Netgalley, Nora Murphy and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The New Mother by Nora Murphy is a slow burn suspense novel that takes a deep dive into postpartum depression. The story is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters to give both sides of the mystery involved.

Natalie Fanning is a new mother who feels like she is failing extremely at taking care of her new baby. Constant crying and late night feedings have Natalie’s world turned upside down and her husband, Tyler, is no help as he returns to his job leaving Natalie alone to spiral further down her rabbit hole.

One day Natalie meets a very helpful neighbor, Paul. Paul is a stay at home father to a ten year old daughter who now putters his days away while his wife is working and his daughter attends school. Paul is a baby whisperer and immediately Natalie trusts Paul to help her sooth her new infant giving her those precious moments of peace she so desires but should she really be trusting this charming neighbor??

The New Mother by Nora Murphy is one of those novels that seems to be a hit or miss with the early readers and I found myself being one of the ones that enjoyed this one. The author didn’t miss a thing when it came to developing Natalie’s character and I felt I wanted to jump in and help her myself. The mystery takes a while to develop but I was invested the entire way and actually found I enjoyed the wrap up after all the slowly built suspense throughout. I’d definitely come back to this author again in the future when finished.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The title to this book is a giveaway about what it's about. It centers around Natalie Fanning, half of a power couple of lawyers, who just moved to an upscale neighborhood in the last trimester of her pregnancy. The book opens with Nat just giving birth. Her feeling of overwhelming, sometimes overpowering love for her new son, Oliver, dominates the story: she would do anything for him to keep him healthy and safe. At the same time, being an intelligent, high-powered lawyer, she wants to be successful with mothering as much as she had been successful so far as a lawyer. Unfortunately, Oliver is a colicky, "difficult", "needy" baby. To top it all off, Nat doesn't want to give him anything "artificial" like baby formula. She doesn't get any sleep at all, so that meant she is constantly tired; her mind is getting foggy, absent-minded, forgets stuff that she never would have prior to her pregnancy, and she seems to lose time, i.e., time passes without her being aware of it--all things that never happened to her prior to her giving birth to Oliver. It’s like her life is divided into pre-pregnancy Nat and post-pregnancy Nat. So she decides to take a sabbatical and becomes a full-time mom. Her situation becomes the perfect backdrop to Paul Riley, one of the Fannings' new neighbors. He seems to have all the answers and knew how to help Nat. Paul uses Nat and her growing dependence on him to put his plan in action: get rid of his wife. We're in the middle of the book when we find out this is Paul's plan. How he executes it is also not a secret. The "mystery" is, does he succeed in framing Natalie for the murder?

What I liked about this book is that it is fast-paced, has short chapters, and a relatable heroine. Any working mother is familiar with Nat's situation. The onus for women to be good mothers as well as working professionals takes its toll in all aspects of a woman's life: working, family, and social life. I didn't like the rest of the character development, though: Tyler, Nat's husband, seems such a shallow, unsympathetic, not-there-for-his-wife type of husband; there's your typical nosy neighbor; Paul could have been portrayed more strongly in his role as the bad guy; his wife, Erin, could have used a brief background on why she is such a shrew--her failing business notwithstanding; the detective investigating the case was so stereotypical of the unsuccessful, second-rate TV detective that maybe solves cases or maybe not; and what's with that neighbor suddenly coming forward and being chummy with Nat, and revealing info that she supposedly doesn't want to reveal?? I would classify this book as a mystery, but wouldn’t go so far as to call it a thriller. To me, a thriller has twists where you don't know what's coming up, you don't know who the murderer or what the crime is, you're kept on tenterhooks until you find out what the crime was or who the bad guy is. That being said, this was a good book. If you like fast-paced mysteries that read like a beach read, this book is for you.

New Mother Natalie Fanning is suffering from PPD, and overwhelmed with a wailing baby Oliver who seems as if he never sleeps and wants to nurse all the time.

When one day, while out for a walk she meets who she thinks is the "baby whisperer." A man named Paul who lives in her neighborhood

Paul has the magic touch when it comes down to baby Oliver and Natalie is overjoyed.

For once Natalie is able to get the rest she has been craving.

Meanwhile, Paul is all too willing to make sure to cause doubt and concern between his wife Erin and Natalie.

But why? Isn't Paul the friend that Natalie thinks that he is?

Nora Murphy does a great job of weaving a fine web of intrigue in this book.

This is one story you will read in one fall swoop.

Be prepared, because the ending is "PRICELESS!!!"



Thank you, NetGalley\Nora Murphy\St.Martin's Press.Minotaur Books\ For this eARC in advance for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.