I really wanted to love this one but unfortunately it fell very short. The first 184 pages were glimpses into the life of a new mother with postpartum depression. This is a case of a book being incorrectly marketed as a thriller/mystery. There’s a murder, yes, but after it happens, it’s discussed abruptly in a few chapters and we’re back to the 2 suspects discussing her infant’s sleep schedule. The plan for the murder was just predictable and downright ridiculous. The repetitive storyline of an “overtired, sleep-deprived” mother (so-she-must-be-going-crazy) is so played out and tired. I did not connect with the mother MC and found her obnoxiously annoying.

This just was not the book for me. If you want to read about postpartum depression and are looking for a domestic drama (NOT a thriller), you may enjoy this book.

The slowest of slow burns! But also…if you don’t go into this book expecting a fast-paced thriller it’s actually super interesting to get involved with these characters and understand their journeys. That being said- if you don’t like character-driven reads, this one probably won’t be for you. The first ⅔ of the book feels heavily character motivated, but I really enjoyed understanding what it was like to be a new mother from Natalie’s point of view. The twist isn’t necessarily hidden, but because I’d gotten to know the characters so well, I was still dreading it when it came. I enjoyed the resolution and the epilogue- leaving me with just enough questions to keep thinking about the book!

This is described as a thriller/mystery read, and while there is definitely that element to it, I enjoyed how this book was multifaceted in that it actually spoke to issues affecting new mothers. It was entertaining, and yet it had a real message surrounding mental health and our health systems including general and personal care for new mothers.

An enjoyable read for sure!

Clap clap clap! This slow burn twisted thriller had me turning the pages late into the night. A huge nod to Nora Murphy for capturing the hardship and challenges that is motherhood especially during the first few months of a newborn life. I felt very seen and I am ecstatic she did not hesitate to showcase the gritty. The unfold of the twisted intentions are natural and clever, and I rejoiced at the ending.
I felt any one of us could be the protagonist Natalie, Murphy did a wonderful job having us relate and root for her.
The insights from other POV’s also added great value to the story. I am excited to read more from this author.

I think this book would be great if you can relate to motherhood (which I can't) with a sleep deprived baby and trying to get back into work after maternity leave. The first half of this book deals with this and lost momentum for me because I couldn't really relate.
The second half got more interesting but by then had lost me already.
3 5 stars rounded up

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
This was a tough time for Natali- she was a new mom- trying to do everything right, little sleep, baby always crying, needing to nurse, feeling alone. And before she knows it- time to go back to work. This is a real struggle so she decides to take more time off. Her husband is always working- she feels so alone until Paul, the neighbour pops I. And holds the baby, comforts her- leading to numerous visits back and forth.
But Paul is not the person he portrays- will Natali realize this before something happens? What does Paul want?

First of all i want to thank Netgalley, Nora Murphy and St Martin's Press Minotaur Books for and advanced copy of this book.

This book was a slow ride until it became a crazy ride. The characters in this book were all psychos. Natalie (the new mother) was overwhelmed by becoming a new mother to Oliver. Oliver was a collicky, cranky, baby who didn't sleep much at all. Natalie was slowly going insane, sleepless nights, depression, and no help from her husband Tyler. Then walks in the neighbor Paul, who befriends Natalie and tells her he had went through the same thing with his daughter when she was an infant. Little does Natalie know that he is psycho and is using her for his master plan. Natalie confides in Paul thinking she has a friend that can be there to help with Oliver. Then there was Erin who is Paul's wife, she becomes jealous of Natalie and Paul's friendship and verbally attacks her at a party where all the nosy neighbors see this altercation. I can't say to much more without giving away spoilers, but it was time for Natalie to snap out of mind fog and protect herself and her family. Oh what a tangle web we weave, I was so proud of Natalie and how she took care of the situation and used her head to get herself out of the scam she was placed in. I enjoyed this book and rated it a 4 star, it was a bit slow and dragged at first but then it became quite interesting.

I related so hard to this book. Murphy perfectly captures the exhausted, claustrophobic, hallucinatory horror of early motherhood. The baby who needs to be held all of the time and won't let you sit down. The baby who screams endlessly and nurses constantly and never sleeps and is never happy. The horrible physical pain that lasts long after childbirth (THAT NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT AHEAD OF TIME). The feeling that you have to do everything yourself because you are The Mother and should somehow know what you're doing and should be able do that thing on no sleep and be happy about it because you love your baby even though you are also sure this time will never end and you will never sleep or feel like a normal human again. Oh, and then go back to work after eight weeks. haaaaahahaha sob. I'm getting sweaty and upset just thinking about it, and my screamy, angry baby is now 14 years old and remarkably pleasant and fun to be around.

Anyway -- in addition to nailing the motherhood parts, the thriller-y buildup of the relationship between Natalie and Paul was super tense, and I loved this. Read it!

I’ll admit that after reading the synopsis, I wasn’t completely sure, but after really enjoying Ms. Murphy’s first novel, The Favor, when I was invited to read this, I figured it couldn’t hurt to try it.

Well, wow, this one pulled me in immediately and I read it until I got a slight headache, which is the only reason I didn’t finish this in one day.

Nat and Tyler are brand new parents of Oliver. Giving birth = having your life and hormones fluctuate like crazy - you’re elated, you’re miserable, you don’t feel like you, you’re amazed at what your body is capable of, while also wondering when you won't be scared to use the toilet and if your nipples are ever going to stop hurting, and don’t get me started on the horror of getting one or more babies into their car seats to go on solo errands. Going out alone becomes a golden mecca, a paradise. That’s kind of where Natalie is at. It’s a rough season to get through.

This took that completely off the rails, in an incredibly stressful and fun way.

Although I found some aspects of the plot implausible, I kept at this and read it over two days - it’s a definite page turner and one I enjoyed. I look forward to reading whatever’s next from the author.




Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the DRC!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for this ARC of The New Mother by Nora Murphy.

I really enjoyed Nora Murphy’s book, The Favor, plus I love books about isolated women becoming undone so I eagerly requested this copy.

It did not disappoint. Even though it is a thriller, I was captivated by the mental and physical health damage that a new baby can bring upon a woman with few resources.

Cue neighbor Paul, who turns into a source of comfort and support as a practiced isolated parent himself.

There begins the thriller plot of the story and I was equally enthralled with it as I was with the earlier post-partum narrative.

Nora Murphy writes sympathetic characters who might not otherwise seem to be, and she excels at drawing out suspense.

In this book, the reader experienced the reality of not achieving a happy family despite all of the criteria, and how miserable and desperate it can make someone.

I could not put this book down.
Four stars and I will read more from author Nora Murphy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. If I didn't have other responsibilities in life such as a job, a husband, pets, I would have read The New Mother in one sitting. It was one of the most fraught and vivid descriptions of new motherhood that I've read in fiction or nonfiction. Natalie is young, married woman who just had her first child. The baby never seems to sleep, wants to be nursed constantly and can only seem to be held by Nat. She eventually takes a sabbatical from work after she finds it impossible to pull it together enough to work and be the mother of an infant. She and her husband are new to the neighborhood and she is fairly isolated. Her neighbor, Paul, is a stay at home dad of a 10-year old and begins inserting himself into her life under the guise of being a friend to her. As Nat continues to lack sleep and proper care for herself, Paul finds ways to manipulate her since he is in an unhappy marriage. Ms. Murphy's view of Nat's post-partum depression, her loneliness, her willingness to trust a stranger with her child are all perfectly laid out and understandable for any mother who has been left alone with a newborn for any period of time. At the end of the book Ms. Murphy states that The New Mother is not her autobiography but that she shared many of the same experiences of post-partum depression as the character of Nat. It was impressive that the author also left resources at the end of the book for any new mother seeking help in dealing with the overwhelming task of caring for a child.

Natalie and Tyler are bringing their new-born boy Oliver home from the hospital. A new chapter in their lives as they embrace parenthood. But wait a minute! Nobody told them how difficult it was going to be!

Realizing that Tyler is of no help at all (in Natalie's eyes only), Natalie turns to her neighbor Paul for support. He’s a certified stay-at-home dad so he gets it! Only Paul has reasons of his own for befriending Natalie.

Depressingly, the first 50% of this book is fully dedicated to Natalie’s sleep deprivation and Oliver’s constant crying. I think this could have been covered efficiently in under 20%.

But I understood this was going to be the set up for the mystery. Unfortunately, the actual crime and investigation appeared only as an afterthought. Leaving no reason for me to dust off my detective’s cap. It was a mystery…that really wasn’t.🤷‍♀️

My best description of this book would be that it's a story of new motherhood and (view spoiler). Billed as a thriller but minus any bona-fide thriller aspects to it.

I did enjoy the previous book by this author, The Favor, so I will likely be reaching for her next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press

“The New Mother” by Nora Murphy looks at what happens when the mother of a newborn becomes a little too sleep deprived. Natalie has just given birth to her son Oliver, and her life couldn’t be more different than before. Going from a small house in the city to living in suburbia is tough, especially when you’ve just had a child. Long sleepless nights really start to effect Natalie, but she finds solace in her neighbor Paul. Paul’s a stay at home dad himself, and he’s all too happy to give Natalie help with her son. But the reason he’s willing to help isn’t so innocent.

I loved this novel. I want to say first off that I’m not a mother so I can’t attest to Natalie’s experience as a parent. I did feel like I really related to her though because I’m incredibly type A. I’m anticipating I may have a similar experience of always wanting to be the ‘best’ and wanting ‘the best’ for my child. The book is able to take a critical look at how society perceives new mothers, and how much contradiction and pressure we put on them.

Minor spoilers below.

This novel did a wonderful job of exploring postpartum depression and the less common postpartum psychosis. It’s great to have books bringing awareness to these conditions because they need more focus! As someone who’s researched these conditions fairly extensively, I’m happy to see them portrayed accurately in a fictional setting.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur for the ARC of this novel. “The New Mother” by Nora Murphy comes out May 30th this year.

This book started out sort of ho-hum. A new mother home alone with her difficult new born baby with no one to talk to or understand. Then she met her stay at home dad neighbor and a friendship developed, or so she thought. When the neighbor’s wife showed up dead in the woods behind her house, the new mom was the number one suspect.

A great twisted ending and a book I’d recommend to friends
Thanks to net gallery and the publisher for an advanced copy

New mother Natalie is suffering from unrecognized postpartum depression. Her husband Tyler escapes to work everyday. Neighbor Paul, a stay at home dad offers some moments of respite for Natalie when he uses some of his dad skills to calm constantly fussy baby Oliver. Paul is just the friend Natalie needs. Until he isn’t. Paul has a plan and Natalie has unknowingly become an integral part of it. Loved The New Mother as it twisted into a new direction for all involved. Couldn’t put it down!

Natalie is The New Mother, as she and her husband move into their new house with a newborn baby boy. Natalie is struggling with the finicky baby, sleep deprived and deeply depressed and distracted when her new neighbor, Paul, appears like a godsend, eagerly helping Natalie soothe the baby. But Paul is not as good natured as he seems, as Natalie will soon discover. A bit of a different plot here, and while this is a suspenseful slow-burn thriller, Natalie seems too oblivious to what’s happening around her in her postpartum fog. Her struggles with postpartum depression are center stage here, and it’s a core feature of the plot. Not crazy about the ending, which seemed to be wrapped up too easily, as compared to Paul’s methodical planning. Overall a good read. I received an arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book. I felt for Natalie so much. Super relatable, especially to any new mother. Liked the ending and the way it was ask wrapped up. Highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

Natalie has just had her son, and she assumed being a mother would be easy and things wouldn’t change. But much to her dismay, motherhood is much harder than when she thought. Oliver her son is colicky and rarely sleeps. Here enters Paul the neighbor. He’s another stay at-home parent that comes to her aide. But Paul wants something in return for all his help and it might just cost her everything.⁣
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If you’re a mother, you can definitely connect with this story. There’s so many times I connected with the main character and how hard motherhood can really be. I would say The New Mother Is a slow burn mystery.⁣
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While I did enjoy it I thought the ending was a bit rushed for my taste but I still think this is a great novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The New Mother (ARC)
Author: Nora Murphy
Source: NetGalley
Pub. Date: May 30, 2023
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The New Mother by Nora Murphy seemed to have everything going for it. The pangs of new motherhood, a wealthy couple with their first child and new home, a super helpful new neighbor, Paul, who had many answers on how to take care of babies while working as a stay-at-home Dad to a 10-year-old, and then a murder. Tyler and Natalie are super in love, and both are very successful in their law practices. Natalie is a bit smarter than her husband (this part is very believable). Then comes the pretty traumatic birth of her baby, and if you have ever had a baby, and I had three, there is not a single birth that is without issues unless they knock the mother out cold, and she doesn’t know what happened to her poor body. Natalie feels sorry for herself from the start…she doesn’t like her new home, she won’t let anyone help with the baby, Natalie will only breastfeed, and she doesn’t allow herself to sleep. I personally lasted two nights with no sleep before I found the complimentary bottle of formula from the hospital and handed Baby Girl #1 over to my husband so I could log four solid hours of snooze time. So, I will admit that I may have a “jaundiced” view of this book. Natalie sets herself up to be a martyr from the start, and without asking for help, no sleep and a colicky baby, you are asking for trouble. I also feel that telling the story through the participants' thoughts was shaky, the death convenient, and the ending rushed. There are lots of potentials here but not enough. This was a class of clueless characters. #TheNewMother @netgalley @stmartinspress @minotaur_books #baby #sleeplessness #colic #newMomFog #mystery #generalFiction #badbaby #ask4help #book #books #bookstagram #bookishfirst
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to @minotaur_books, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this book. Pub. Date: May 30, 2023.

So many of us have been there, depression after child birth. This drama/thriller brought back sad memories (not the baby, the slog through the weeks of fog). This new mom had an extra boost and a deviousness to contend with, along with her oblivious spouse. It is a good read.

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book at first. It was too real and too raw about those feelings that new mothers can have, and it took me back to when I had a newborn. I almost DNFed it because I didn’t want to be inside the head of someone dealing with PPD.

But I did end up sticking it out, and I’m glad I did. Natalie is struggling to balance being a new mother with the demands of life and trying to go back to work. She meets a neighbor and stay at home father, and they quickly become close with so much in common.

This is a psychological thriller, and it can be dark. There’s not a mystery to solve but a game of cat and mouse. I found it to be very entertaining once I was able to get past the more triggering moments.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!