This book gives insight into the struggle of new mothers. The author creates so much empathy for new mother Natalie as she struggles after the birth of her baby only to be taken advantage of by the sympathetic neighbor. Good read.

WOW! This book was more captivating than I imagined! We all remember how tired we were as a new mother and this book describes it perfectly! But we all suspect more is going on with Nat than just the regular tiredness of being a new mother. Then, you throw in a weird male neighbor next door and I am truly hooked! I keep reading to see what the neighbor is up to and why he has his sights on Nat, This book progresses quickly and keeps the reader engages and hungry for more! I thought the ending was perfect and I felt, after finishing the book, that this was a story that could happen in any neighborhood! I certainly recommend this book to any reader that loves a thriller! Well Done Nona Murphy!

The New Mother started off as what I thought was going to be a typical unreliable narrator in the form of new mother Natalie who is suffering from what might be post-partum depression. While Natalie comes across as an unsympathetic character, Paul the perfect neighbor enters the scene. Suddenly, someone is murdered, and the police investigate while being sort of shoved back and forth by Paul and Natalie saying “he did it” “no she did it”.
Overall, an interesting story and I really appreciate the light it sheds on post-partum depression and how important it is to ask for help. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed The Favor by the same author, but I still would recommend for those who are looking for a new mystery to read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story follows Natalie who has just given birth to her first child. She’s struggling. Mightily. She tries to go back to work and knows she’s not effective, so she and her husband make the decision that she’ll take a sabbatical and stay with their very fussy baby. She brings some of it on herself by not trying to sleep when the baby does although he’s not a good sleeper. She’s worried which is natural. Her neighbor, Paul, can sense her desperation and preys on her to his own agenda. He’s plotting and she’s falling directly into his trap. The consequences could be devastating for everyone. The way the author portrays her struggles sucked me in at times to be extremely empathetic for her and at times be very upset that she was being so dense. I detested Paul from the beginning; a perfect villain. Dark cautionary tale.

The New Mother, Nora Murphy's latest release, is a slow burner that details the isolation new mothers can feel while not being able to trust their instincts. When Natalie and Tyler, both successful lawyers, become new parents to baby Oliver, Tyler is overjoyed but Natalie is unsettled. Feeling alone and that only she can feed Oliver, she begins to battle with an intense lack of sleep, a constant fear that Oliver is in danger and anger at Tyler. When friendly stay-at-home dad Paul runs into Natalie and Oliver it seems like a saving grace. Paul can actually quiet Oliver down, Natalie can rest and she finally feels like someone understands what she's going through. Enter Murphy's twists-Paul is not what he seems and has his own end game. Just what does he want with Natalie? Will she realize or is her world about to crash down? Told through alternating perspectives Murphy's follow up to The Favor is not to be missed.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

The New Mother by Nora Murphy

Published: May 30, 2023
Minotaur Books
Pages: 304
Genre: Domestic Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Nora Murphy attended law school in Washington, D.C., then worked as a judicial law clerk before transitioning to private practice. During law school, she participated in two clinics through which she represented and studied the issues facing survivors of intimate partner violence. A practicing attorney, Nora writes as much as she can, usually long before the sunrise or on her phone for brief moments when the inspiration strikes. Nora resides in Maryland with her husband, young son, and five rescue pets.

“I was a mother now.”

Natalie and Tyler are new parents. Natalie is nervous, anxious, and worried she won’t be a good mom. As she dives into her new life, with very little sleep, constant crying, feeding, and rocking, she starts to feel like she is losing herself. Paul is looking for an opportunity, and when he sees it, he takes it.

This was such a devious game of cat and mouse! I loved how this was a dual story and how they connected. The build-up was so smooth.

Natalie was such a great character. I wanted to help her and tell her she was doing great. Tyler was a fine side character. Paul was a creep.

I am not a mother, so I cannot speak to how carrying and birthing a child feels. But how Natalie was created, described, and brought to life was so vivid that you understand and feel her struggle.

This was a fantastic book. I love the positive spotlight on parenthood and that struggling is okay. I loved that Natalie trusted her gut. I love that this novel showed how difficult being a parent can be, and how exhausting mentally, emotionally, and physically.

The representation was solid, and I am excited to recommend this book!

Never has a book hit me so close to home. This glimpse (not really a glimpse as it was the majority of the book) of new and early motherhood was terrifyingly accurate and definitely the most spot on with my personal experience. From the lack of sleep, phantom cries, physical and emotional pain, sense of loneliness, and the need to feel like a martyr, so much of myself connected to Natalie.

It was easy to get lost in the world of new motherhood with Natalie but the book takes an even darker turn over halfway through when it becomes a thriller/mystery. I think for many readers, this delve into the early days with a new baby will be too much and could have perhaps been abbreviated. However, it really did set the tone for Natalie to be taken advantage of and fall so far as she did.

I listened to this novel on audio and really did not enjoy the narrators. The woman was extremely mechanical and robotic, overenunciating words and lacking emotion. It was hard to tell if this was intentional or a lack of experience. The man had a lisp which I just found to be an odd choice for Paul.

Overall, the book really captured by attention but most likely because I connected so much to Natalie. I think more readers would enjoy this novel if the mystery/thriller aspect was introduced earlier on and there had been less of deep dive into Natalie's post partum state.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio, Minotaur, and NetGalley for the copy.

Holy moly, the plot twists just kept coming. An in-depth look at the trials and tribulations of becoming a new mother and how it can look rock your entire world. A neighbour takes interest in the new mom and cat and mouse game certainly unfolds. The writing was so raw you couldn't help but relate to some of the moms emotions and that helps enfold you into the desperation, loneliness and utmost bewilderment she soon began to face. A must read!

Thank you Netgalley for this arc.

3.5 out of 5

A wolf in sheep's clothing is what they were...

Natalie and Tyler had a seemingly perfect life until their son, Oliver, was born. The birth of their first child changed everything. Hormones, lack of sleep, adjusting to parenthood...not to mention a recent move to a much larger home. Oliver proved to be a difficult baby. Colicky and desperately attached to his mother, Natalie found herself quickly spiraling down a hole that she couldn't find her way out of.

Enter her neighbors Erin and Paul. Paul was a stay-at-home father to their daughter, Petra. He and Natalie forged a platonic friendship. As an experienced parent, Natalie found solace and camaraderie in her new neighbor.

Strange things begin to happen. Natalie is forgetful, and paranoid. Tyler is withdrawn. Erin has a mean streak and a sharp tongue. Paul goes from hot to cold in a matter of seconds.

A body is found in the woods...the search for the killer leads to a game of cat and mouse. Who was it, and why?

Overall I enjoyed this book. I found it a bit slow to start, but around the 50% mark it picked up and I quickly finished it. The chapters rotated and were written from the POV of two characters. I really would have liked to see the others incorporated as I think it would have sparked more interest from me initially.

Finally, not so long ago I was a new mom, and found myself relating the emotions Natalie was experiencing. I would say that if you are sensitive to topics such as PPD / PPA / PPP the this may be a difficult book to read.

Nora Murphy's The New Mother was the most realistic piece of fiction I have read in some time. Career Driven and new mother, Natalie Fanning, decides to put her career on hold to care for her tiny newborn son, Oliver. From the moment she brought him home, Natalie struggled, both physically and mentally. She went through a tough labor and C-Section that kept her from being overly active. She also felt she was the only one who could comfort her son, so she often went without sleep. Her husband thought there was something wrong with her, and Natalie felt very little support. That is until she met her neighbor Paul. Paul was a stay-at-home dad who often talked and helped Natlie during the day while she was home with Oliver. He helped soothe Oliver, so Natalie could get some rest. Natalie finally felt supported by someone - she felt someone finally understood her and what she was going through. We also get a glimpse into Paul's life and story - and immediately, you know something is off with him. All the sudden, Paul became distant from Natalie, and suspicious instances began to happen, including the murder of Paul's wife.. Is Paul actually Mr. Wonderful? Or is Natalies exhausting causing her to imagine things that are not reality?

I gave this book four stars. I felt this was a slow burn for me. I appreciated the detail and how accurately the author described a mother who is battling postpartum depression. This is SUCH a real thing and not often reflected in fictious stories of new mothers, so I applaud the author for painting this picture. I felt the ending wrapped up rather quick and left me wanting more. Overall, a very well written story! Thank you to Net Galley for providing an advanced copy of this book!

Nora Murphy’s latest novel “The New Mother” takes an excruciatingly hard look at the obstacles new mother’s face and just how vulnerable they are when battling postpartum depression. Murphy exposes an even harder side of it with her character Natalie, dealing with an extreme case of undiagnosed postpartum psychosis. This is a dark psychological thriller that is hard to read as we watch Natalie spiral uncontrollably. Her neighbor Paul immediately latches on to her vulnerable state and exploits her for his own devious purposes.

The book is beyond painful to read for a few reasons. On the negative side, Natalie is unbearable. We are aware of her struggles and absolutely sympathize with her but some of her decisions and justifications are beyond annoying—and you can’t blame it on her depression.

This is a slow-burn thriller that really only picks up in the last quarter of the book, so watching Natalie’s decent into delusion, isolation and bad decision making is excruciating. It’s slow and painful as we prod along watching Paul use Natalie like a puppet. With mostly dual points-of-view between herself and Paul it plays out like a cat playing with it’s catch before it devours it. We do get insights from other characters as the book progresses but it’s towards the end and right before the rather odd and abrupt ending. I appreciate the epilogue for clarification but was shocked at the suddenness of the end right as things had picked up.

The book left me with mixed feelings. On one hand, I appreciate the need to write about new mother’s and what they face postpartum. The insights into what it means to be a stay at home mom, working mom and how they are often pitted against each other is necessary as well. This is a real problem in society and I appreciate Murphy brings it to attention. On the other hand, the characters are almost unbearable and even unbelievable and we are left with an ending that feels unfinished. Overall, "The New Mother" will appeal most to those who enjoy slow-burn psychological thrillers that are heavily character driven.

Wow. What a gripping, and sometimes heartbreaking, look at new motherhood through the eyes of someone suffering from postpartum depression.

I loved the issues this book approached. The unspoken rules of moms vs. dads. Why do we question and judge whether a mom works or stays home with their children, but never ask the same questions about fathers. Why do mothers feel like they have to be martyrs— sacrificing their bodies, their sleep, their jobs, their goals and dreams, sometimes their sanity, for their kids. The mind maze that is being so willing to do it all, but feeling some resentment at the same time.

There are so many complex, heavy and deep emotions that come with being a parent. Especially for someone who carried and gave birth to that baby because there are some chemical things added to the mix as well. I really, really admired the way Murphy shined a spotlight on them here. I hope all parents know it’s ok to feel allllll the feelings about parenthood— good, bad, beautiful and ugly— and that sometimes you’re going to feel them all at once.

This book moved a touch slow and felt a bit repetitive at times, but I can’t help but feel that was intentional on the part of Nora Murphy. If you’ve had a baby you know how the days can jumble together, all feel the same, without a lot of variety.

I really enjoyed the perspective here and would recommend this to anyone who struggled in that newborn stage but has lived to see the other side of it.

*3.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"It wasn't a neighborhood for murder."

Neighbors change neighborhoods. In The New Mother, by second novel author Nora Murphy, overwhelmed Natalie moves into an over priced suburb and nothing will ever be the same.

Natalie's resentful of her husband Tyler who gets to leave, go to work, get a promotion and she stays never sleeping just breastfeeding, changing diapers, and responsible for keeping her baby safe. She is on edge, moody and having dangerous thoughts. When a neighbor is killed she's the suspect. She knows she didn't do it...right?

Natalie is heartbreakingly fervent dealing with the pressures of new motherhood. Charismatic Paul helps Natalie cope with a cunning intensity. We learn the truth early but proving it is a new story.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I always love a thriller surrounding new moms, and this one was no exception! I will say that the first half of the book is not really a thriller, but more about Natalie’s troubling time as a new mother. The second half is when the thriller part really comes in.

I loved the writing for this one! Natalie clearly has postpartum depression, and the decisions she makes are frustrating. She also becomes an unreliable narrator, which I always enjoy. As someone who had horrible postpartum depression after my firstborn, I could relate to a lot of Natalie’s inner monologue and the struggles she was going through.

The thriller aspect was cool because the villain is revealed from the start and we get to see how that all unfolds. I did feel a little underwhelmed by the way things ended, but it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. And I still loved the reading experience, so it didn’t bother me that I felt something was missing.

The best part of this book for me was the last line. I won’t spoil it, but I gave my husband a Father’s Day card with the exact same sentiment inside, so I laughed when I saw it at the end.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

A new house and a new baby should be the stuff of dreams right? Not for Natalie! Baby Oliver is too colicky, and Natalie is determined to keep feeding him to keep him calm and satisfied. But the price she pays is sleepless nights.

But along comes Paul. He's watched her and seen her frustration. He loves babies. And he's confident. So when he picks up Oliver and he stops fussing, Natalie is in own. Pretty soon she's having chats with Paul, and even catching some sleep while he watches Oliver.

And then, her mind starts playing tricks on her. Or is Paul just not the person she thought he was?

Much of the book was a review of Oliver's crying, Natalie's leaky breasts, pumping milk, awkward attempts at feeding Oliver and frustration over him not sleeping, combined with Natalie's desire to go back to work. We spend a great deal of the time waiting for the mystery part of the book. But, anyone who has had a colicky baby and sleepless nights will relate 100% to Natalie's vulnerability and desperation.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this reminder (even though it was fictional) that we need to be aware of the danger of postpartum depression.

2.5 stars.

Isolated. Lonely. Tired. It’s hard being The New Mother. Sometimes it’s murder.

In short, my main issue with this is that it is being marketed as a thriller, when, in my opinion, it really isn’t one.

The author succeeded in writing a realistic and (I imagine) relatable depiction of new motherhood and postpartum depression. However, I was also expecting this to simultaneously be a riveting mystery, and in that regard it fell short.

The mystery itself was very predictable and also ended very quickly in a way that felt less like a natural ending and more like the author realizing that the book should probably wrap up soon.

Maybe it’s because I’m not a mother(?), but I really just didn’t enjoy the ongoing descriptions of the MC’s boobs and nipples in lieu of more thrilling elements. Like, no need to convince me not to have kids, I was already convinced before reading about raw bloody nipples lol.

I think ultimately I was the wrong target audience for this, which isn’t the author’s fault. I think this could benefit from being marketed as more of a drama than a true mystery/thriller.

Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for gifting me this e-galley so that I could read this and give you guys an honest review!

Being a new mom can be a very isolating experience. So when struggling new mom Natalie befriends stay at home dad Paul, she clings to him, leaving her vulnerable to some sinister plotting.

I read most of this book at 4am while nursing my own 3 week old baby. So while I could relate to some of this book, it also at times rubbed me the wrong way.
While it was a good portrayal of a mother clearly suffering with postpartum depression, there was just something about Natalie’s whiny nature that irritated me.
She repeatedly pushed her husband away, her husband who seemed desperate to help, and tuned to a complete stranger who for some reason became her saviour.

This book trudged along slowly, and it was passed the halfway point before the real plot emerged.
By that time it was obvious, and to be honest I was kind of hoping the bad guys would win.
After nothing happened for so much of the book the author then flew through the ending, it felt rushed and unfinished.

I do feel that characters struggling and dealing with mental health issues is important to see in books. But the story still has to be good.
I felt as though the author hung her hat on the PPD trope, and should have put a little more into the rest of the book.
While I did not hate it, I did not necessarily enjoy it either.

Thanks to The Favor, Nora Murphy books are on auto-buy, so imagine my excitement to dig into The New Mother.

This is a different style of thriller than The Favor. It features a reachable, identifiable character (Natalie) facing the isolation and struggles brought on by new motherhood. At her wits end, the arrival of her neighbor, Paul, is perfect, or so she thinks. She could use the break, and he's there to give her some well-deserved rest time.

While much of the story is spent in Natalie's head, the plot moves, lurks, bends. The story's focus is on the darkness that hides in plain sight. This is what makes the read thrilling. You lose yourself in the ideas, the imaginations, and forget what's right under your nose.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read. I look forward to the next Nora Murphy novel.

Probably the most intense book that made me not only feel for a first time mom, but also sit on the edge of my seat the whole time I read it!

I must say that this book surprised me, and I'm so glad I got the chance to read it!

I would definitely put this in the slow burn, literary thriller and it worked for me! I am a fan of complex, motherhood stories and the author did a great job in painting the picture of a difficult, postpartum experience that leaves a mother depleted and desperate for help. I had some thoughts about where the plot was going but I felt that the page turning increased toward the end, and it was overall a satisfying read!

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC!