The idea of becoming a mother for the first time can be exciting, but after the child’s arrival reality sets in and it can be a little frightening. Natalie Fanning and her husband were successful lawyers and she planned to return to work after her son’s birth. When Oliver arrives she finds that his demands leave her exhausted and isolated. When it comes time to return to work, she is concerned for her child and unable to concentrate. She loses track of time and suffers from anxiety. When she meets her neighbor Paul she feels that he is someone who understands what she is going through and comes to depend on his support. Paul is a stay at home dad who is in a struggling marriage. He had an affair with the previous owner of Natalie’s home and has plans to use their friendship for his own purposes.

Natalie’s post-partum depression and psychosis goes undiagnosed. When a murder occurs, evidence is manipulated to make her the prime suspect. Nora Murphy’s description of Natalie’s physical and mental state is well described and makes Natalie a sympathetic character. From the moment that Paul is introduced he is manipulative and preys on Natalie and her needs. While the ending was somewhat predictable, it was still a satisfying conclusion and provided an entertaining reading experience. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books for providing this book for my review.

The new mother offers a fresh take on the domestic suspense genre. Natalie is a new mother struggling with the burdens of new motherhood. She meets a friendly neighbor, Paul, who becomes a lifeline for her as she tries to navigate exhaustion and all the new demands of motherhood. However, Paul has ulterior motives for his kindness and what transpires is a game of cat and mouse between Paul and Natalie.

The new mother is compulsively readable and takes the domestic suspense genre into new territories. The plot is a slow burn and turns up the suspense as the reasons for Paul’s inclusion into Natalie’s life becomes clearer. Natalie is a sympathetic heroine and her battle with post-partum and new parenthood will be relatable to many readers no doubt.

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Phew! Nora Murphy really hit the nail on the head in describing the first few months with a newborn. The fear, the utter exhaustion, the monotony of if all. I was very impressed by that part of the book, but the main character, Natalie, annoyed me so much that I wanted to scream. The was a very slow burn murder mystery, with pretty little mystery, as it wasn't too hard to figure out how it would end up. I would definitely read other books by this author, but this was not my favorite.

This novel swept me right back to those early days (months) with a newborn, and the utter exhaustion a new mother experiences. You are so sleep-deprived (there's a reason it's used as a torture device) that you have no idea what day it is, what you are supposed to be doing, other than caring for the baby. And the rage, oh the rage, you experience towards your (sleeping) husband. And that's without post-partum depression and someone trying to pin a murder on you! I really enjoyed this novel, and the asides about being a new mother gave it a little lift out of the ordinary psychological thriller.

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

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.

Enter Paul, the neighbor.

Paul provides the lifeline she needs in what feels like the most desperate of times. When Paul is helping with Oliver, calmed by his reassuring, steady presence, Nat feels like she can finally rest.

But Paul wants something in return. It’s no coincidence that he has befriended Nat—she is the perfect pawn for his own plan. Will Nat wake up in time to see it?"

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

The New Mother is a fantastic domestic suspense thriller that I really enjoyed.
There is so much action and twists that I really enjoyed.
The characters were well complex, flawed and unreliable.

The ending was so shocking.

Natalie Fanning is a new mother in a new home, a new neighborhood, and staying home with a baby that won't let her sleep or rest. Her neighbor Paul is a stay-at-home father of a middle school daughter, and he's suffering from writer's block, a mysterious past and a crumbling marriage. By befriending Natalie, is he helping her, or using her to help himself?
Natalie is suffering from post-partum depression, which is described in extreme detail throughout this book. There's no doubt that this is a serious topic and light should be shed upon it, however it very much overshadows the plot of this book. I think this book would have been equally as powerful if there was more time spent developing the plot, particularly the ending.
I really enjoyed Nora Murphy's first book, The Favor, and I did like this book, although a little less. Murphy is an excellent writer and I look forward to her next novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story feels so tense, and part of that is because I remember well those bleary, beyond exhausted days of having a newborn who was a terrible sleeper and, just like Natalie in this book, can see how easily manipulated I could have been by someone who seemed helpful when I couldn't think clearly or see beyond that fog. This is a great, quickly paced neighborhood mystery.

I am more than sympathetic with new mothers. I did it with someone who would not even try to help. The sleeplessness was real. The resulting feelings and behavior were real. But still. I had no sympathy for this woman. I really hoped for some tension and intrigue. None of that here. A whole lot of whining. And if you ever want to know the status of her nipples at any given moment, you will be a happy reader. I was less of a happy reader. It was clear what was going to happen and then it happened. Eventually. For some reason, it was then reexplained at the end.

This book is really good. It is so realistic it’s scary. This is an interesting and very different plot for a book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 STARS

This book is a contemporary part thriller/mystery.

Synopsis:
Nat is a new mother trying to figure out how to juggle a newborn and leaving her work life. She is really struggling to adjust to being a mom and seeks help from her neighbor Paul. When there is a murder in the neighborhood things take a crazy turn.

The first half of this book is about being a new mom and a woman suffering from postpartum depression. As a mom myself, I found the first half of the book COMPLETELY relatable and you could tell the author was living it as she wrote the book. It was a bit lengthy, but I didn’t mind because I got where she was coming from. Once it got into the thriller part of the book, it picked up and I liked the “new mom” being part of the mystery in addition to how exhausted and worrisome you are as a first time mom. I found the ending a little predictable mostly because I read a lot of thrillers (it might not be for some) But, overall it is a very relatable, entertaining thriller. I would read her other book!

Thank you Minotaur Books & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! 👶🏼🏡

Natalie is having a difficult time adjusting to motherhood. When she meets her new neighbor, Paul, she finds hope. He’s so good with babies and has a calming presence. But Paul has a plan and a reason for befriending Natalie.

It was a little slow to start but I am so glad I stuck with it. Once you realize what’s going on, you’re in for the ride. It becomes quite exciting and a bit of a cat and mouse. I wish that part had been extended even more; there was potential for even more drama but it was still a very entertaining story that I enjoyed. I loved the post partum representation and how that played into the story. The ending was very satisfying. I also had a feeling that it took place in my area; and then I saw the author is from my state so I was likely right!

“As my son came to life, as he entered the world, something else was in the process of dying.”

The New Mother comes out 5/30.

THE NEW MOTHER, by Nora Murphy, brought back so many memories, not good ones either: those of endless days and sleepless nights with a newborn, of achy swollen breasts and chronic fatigue, of loneliness and isolation, of ineffective mothering skills and feelings of hopelessness. In my opinion, this part goes on a little long, but that could just be me. I’m not anxious to re-live those years.

Natalie is a brand-new mother suffering all of these conditions. Baby Oliver will not stop crying, and she needs some sleep. And although it’s obvious that she’s struggling, husband Tyler is not able to provide any worthwhile support. Natalie begins to resent him. Neighbor Paul, on the other hand, is a stay-at-home dad who manages to worm his way into Natalie's life. He’s skilled at baby care and oh so understanding and comforting. No worries. They’re just friends.

The mystery begins, and a crazy plan, when hatched, results in a murder. Don’t you want to read this? Nora Murphy writes a well-organized story with twists to keep the reader captivated.

The New Mother by Nora Murphy [Book #81]

Nat Fanning is a new mother, struggling with exhaustion, loneliness and missing work. She loves her son but, going from a busy lawyer to stay at home mom has been a bigger adjustment than she thought it would be. 

Paul has been a stay at home dad for 10 years and he loves it. The two hit it off and he becomes a big part of her day to day life, helping take care of Oliver so she can get some stuff done. Although he's not doing it to be a helping friend, he needs something in mind for her as she falls perfectly into the plan he has in store. 

The New Mother is an intriguing slow burn story told via alternating perspectives of Paul, Nat and others. Although there are suspenseful and exciting parts to the story, I'm not sure that I would consider this a thriller / mystery.  It was a quick read that entertained me from beginning to end, the writing was great and the author covered postpartum depression well.I will say that the ending felt a bit rushed, I was hoping for a little bit more information and excitement. Overall, I enjoyed it! 

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC in exhcange for an honest review.

Natalie enters motherhood and soon finds herself isolated, sleep deprived, full of complex emotions, and forgetful. When she befriends Paul, her stay-at-home-dad neighbor, she thinks she's found her savior - a relatable friend, a sounding board, and also someone who can calm her colicky son and provide her respite. How much trust will she place in him before she realizes that she doesn't really know much about him?

While I thoroughly enjoyed The New Mother, this one is going to have a niche audience. The first half of the book heavily focused on the complex and varied feelings a new mother may face. Natalie's experiences with new motherhood won't be universal for all, but it was so true to my own feelings when I became a new mother. I applaud Murphy for giving a voice to postpartum mental awareness, especially in an unconventional way, which may reach a larger audience.

Although the first half of the book didn't feel overly thriller-like, the atmosphere was "off," which gave it a creepy feel and also paralleled Natalie's own feelings. The second half was where the action started. Overall I enjoyed it, but for a die hard thriller lover, this one will probably be a miss. The conflict and resolution were too flimsy and quick to make for a 5 star thriller.

The best audience for The New Mother will be those looking for a light thriller read and/or new motherhood material.

Thank you to Reading Group Gold, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Publishing Group for the opportunity to read the digital ARC!

A 3.5 rounded to 4 stars. Here's the deal...the plot of this one takes a backseat to the thorough description of the struggles of postpartum. I very much related to the extremely raw and accurate descriptions of what it's like to be a new mother. Murphy captures the physical, emotional and mental struggles beautifully but also in such a way that I was (reluctantly) taken back to those days of utter exhaustion and anger. With all that said, the actual plot doesn't even start until 50% in and is fairly lackluster. I wanted to finish for the sheer knowledge that I didn't miss a big reveal of some sort, but honestly I enjoyed this one more for it's incredibly relatable subject matter than the actual story. If you enjoyed The Husbands' take on motherhood, you might also enjoy this one.

The New Mother is a terrifying emotional journey about one mother’s life after giving birth to her first child. What was supposed to be the happiest time of her life, turns into a nightmare with irrational feelings, inability to cope with the smallest things, fear, delusions and exhaustion which then leads to a breakdown in her marriage with the man living next door who then preys on her vulnerability.

Natalie and Tyler Fanning have moved into a new home to await the birth of their first child. With the excitement of the soon to be newborn growing, all seems great! Yes, Natalie, a lawyer will be taking a short maternity leave, but she is excited that she is heading towards becoming partner and although she knows it will be difficult with a baby, she’s sure she can handle whatever is thrown at her

And then their son Oliver is born.

From the beginning, Natalie can’t seem to settle him down. He cries all the time with the exception of when he’s in her arms. She spends hours breastfeeding him and holding him and is unable to sleep. She’s sometimes resentful of her husband Tyler who sleeps through the night and then leaves to go to work in the morning. She is exhausted, stressed and alone.

Enter Paul, the sympathetic neighbor from next door who is a stay-at-home dad who is a writer whose wife works outside the home. He not only has the magic touch with Oliver but understands Natalie’s fears and problems as he too went through the same issues when his daughter was born. He becomes Natalie’s cheerleader, and she starts to rely on him more and more.

But Paul is not who he pretends to be. He is in a bad marriage and has not been happy for a long time. He begins to form a plan as he starts to see a way out of his miserable situation. Unfortunately, Paul’s plan would not help Natalie at all and even put her in jail but, those are the breaks when you need a life change.

The longer Natalie needs Paul’s help, the better off his plan has of working, and when there is a party at his house for the neighbors, he sets his ultimate plan into motion. Natalie doesn’t understand what is happening and now to add to her exhaustion she is confused as to what is going on.

But Natalie begins to see Paul for what he is and realizes she is his patsy. Can she somehow through her exhaustion, forgetfulness, loss of time and now with her husband disbelieving her save herself and her family as she becomes the main suspect in a horrible crime?

The New Mother is a true cat and mouse psychological thriller which also touches on the effects of post-partum not just on the new mother, but how it can affect all those around her and how there can be a light at the end of the tunnel if you can find someone who says something’s wrong.

Thank you #NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #TheNewMother #NoraMurphy for the advanced copy.

More of a suspense book than a thriller, this was a really interesting read. The story flowed and I found the premise to be relatable. A new mother is usually a sympathetic character and I saw that here. This was a solid read.

I really enjoyed this thriller. It was fast paced and intriguing. The characters really captured my attention. I felt they were well developed and I was excited to watch how their stories played out. I was definitely surprised by how things played out and almost wished this was a bit longer to prolong the game of cat and mouse. These are one of my favorite types of thrillers so I wanted to enjoy this for a bit longer. I thought this was a familiar but fresh take on a common trope. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was really a 2.5 star read but i rounded up because I was feeling generous and I think the subject matter is one that hasn’t been explored much.
First time mom, Natalie, is dealing with colicky Oliver and all the changes to life that a newborn brings. Hormonal, physical, mental, sleep deprivation, putting career on hold just to name a few. She treats her husband, Tyler, like a nuisance rather than someone who can help and she randomly develops a friendship with a new neighbor, Paul, a stay at home dad, who seems to be a baby whisperer. Paul is unhappily married and soon Natalie and Paul are spending loads of time together-that is until Paul’s wife turns up dead.
Both Natalie and Paul are suspected of course because they have motive and Natalie has to prove that she did not do it, while continuing in her sleep deprived new mom state. She’s had some black outs-is it possible she really is guilty? What is Paul hiding?
This could have been a lot better but it spent the first have talking about how hard breastfeeding is, which it definitely is, but in a thriller it didn’t warrant that much time being devoted to it. It ideas address post Partum depression and post partum psychosis and I really that Natalie was a more likable character because then it would have been easier to feel for her, but as it was, she was so brittle it felt like I couldn’t.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

This is a great novel. Psychological manipulation occurs to Natalie when Paul enters her life. It is a deeply emotional journey of a new mother balancing on the edge. The characters can embody the reality of many mothers. The author has made this a very interesting story and one readers will enjoy.