This was a slow burn of a thriller, that I had at one point almost put down. I am so glad I didn’t. It is told in sections, with different view points. The first section is about the FMC’s postpartum depression experience, which resounded deeply with me as I suffered from it with my first child. It then goes on to a psychological thriller told in current time from both the perpetrator and the innocent telling their points of view. It was kind of nice to not have to guess the mystery and instead focus on the insidious nature of both mental illness and bad people. Overall a good story.

Natalie and Tyler just had their first baby, and Tyler went back to his job at the law firm fairly quickly. Natalie loves her son and wants to be a perfect mother for him, but he just doesn’t sleep. As she spirals, her husband doesn’t understand. The only one who does is one of her neighbors, Paul. They form a friendship bonding over his experience as a stay at home dad, and her son seems to love him. Her son actually even lets him hold him, and he won’t even let his own father do that? But then Paul’s wife is killed and all of a sudden everyone and everything is under suspicion. It’s fine that she loses periods of time and sometimes hears and sees things that aren’t really there. She’s just tired. There’s no way she killed Paul’s wife, right?

I'm going to preface this review by stating that I am not a mother, I've never wanted to be a mother. I like certain kids, but not all of them. I much prefer dogs to children.

When Natalie brings her baby home from the hospital, she has no idea how hard things will be. Being a new mom is alien to her, and she finds herself struggling in a way she can't explain to anyone else... that is, until her neighbor Paul enters the picture.

I'm not entirely sure why this novel was labeled a thriller because it really isn't thrilling in the least. I felt bad for Natalie much in the same way I feel bad about a lot of women who change their entire lives for a small little human (that sounds really mean, I know most mothers become mothers because it is their calling, I just struggle to understand wanting to completely change your life in that way) and I wish that she was more able to rely on her husband. It was clear from the get-go that she was struggling with post-partum depression, and the fact that neither she nor her husband could recognize that was concerning.

And while I felt bad at Natalie, I also wanted to shake her, because she never did anything to help herself. I kind of hated her as a character and didn't really care what happened to her.

Maybe next time.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for graciously providing my complimentary copy of The New Mother by Nora Murphy. I'm leaving this review on my own with my own thoughts and opinions.

This was an engaging read and as a first time mother who suffered from PPA and PPD, I felt for Natalie. It is heavy on the depictions of new motherhood and Natalie's PPD, so that could be triggering. The tension between her and her husband felt so real because when you're in the throes of new motherhood suffering from PPA/PPD, it feels like no one understands or can help, but as an outsider you realize that's not the case.

I was wary of Paul and the whole dynamic with him and his wife was odd, but maybe that's just me.

I wanted more at the end. It felt like it wrapped up too quickly and I felt like there needed to be more of an explanation or something.

Overall, I enjoyed this one.

Thanks again, Minotaur!

First and foremost: the parts of this book that focus on PPD are beautifully written. Tragic, dark, and so so real. As a mom who went through this, I could completely relate to Natalie's struggles with her child, losing her working self, feeling her marriage come apart. Finding solace and comfort somewhere that doesn't quite make sense. If the whole book had stayed in this vein, I probably would give it a much higher rating.
I don't understand the 'thriller' concept. I don't think it really added to the story...I felt like it was completely out of place and a bit heavy handed? The male POV makes a very strong left turn (although you can tell he isn't quite right the whole book) and the pacing of the story, which really delved into motherhood and that post partum journey slowly for the first half, sped up waaay too much in the second half.
Not an awful read, but definitely one that just felt disjointed, like two pieces of two very different books sewn together.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

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

I read 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿 by this author not too long ago and really enjoyed that book. I did a combo of the digital and audio versions of this book. I went into this one with such high expectations, and while I did like parts of it, it did feel a bit underwhelming compared to the previous book.

This is being labeled as a thriller, but I honestly wouldn’t put it into that genre. It felt more like a literary fiction story, it does talk about motherhood issues.

I definitely was expecting this to be action-packed, but unfortunately, it was so underwhelming. I do think I would have enjoyed this more if I went into it expecting something different than what the synopsis gave.

The book is broken down into four parts. I struggled so much with part 1 but decided to push through. I did enjoy the second half of the book a lot more, I wish it would’ve been like that throughout the whole book.

Also, the characters… like I’m sorry, but I just did not care for Natalie. Yes, I felt bad for her… but it was so difficult actually rooting for her.

Overall, I think this book was just fine - the beginning is not so great, but the ending is where it picks up (with a murder). I am a fan of this author's writing so I will definitely pick up more in the future, I just struggled at times with this one. It did not give me the thrills I was looking for. I will say though - the author’s note was appreciated: about postpartum depression. I would still recommend this to certain readers, just don’t expect this to be as thrilling.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the eARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This one wasn’t for me and it was a bit of a struggle to read. It was long and drawn out and reiterated the same thing for most of the book. Postpartum depression is a real thing and something I’m familiar with and I can’t believe it went unnoticed by the doctors, her husband and herself when she had all the tell tale signs and read all the parenting books. Heck her male neighbor recognized it right away and used it to his advantage to manipulate her.

Trust me, I know each baby is completely different (I have 3 who were each very different) and I’m a stay at home mom and I understand completely the isolation after having gone from working to staying home with a kid and the struggle in those first few months. There was nothing shocking or some twist with the story so I wouldn’t really classify it as a thriller. I thought it would have been different or more suspenseful based on the synopsis but it basically was a narration on the struggles of first time motherhood and postpartum depression and it’s chaotic feeling. Based off the reviews I’ve seen, everyone says to read the author’s first book so I’m not gonna write her off yet.


Thank you publishers and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Really enjoyed this book. The subject matter was tough at times (postpartum depression), but I thought it was handled well.

This was my first book from this author, and I also really liked the writing. I felt like I was there, observing from behind a tree or sitting at the next table over eavesdropping. The suspense was *there*, forcing me to keep reading to know what was going to happen. It didn’t quite go where I expected, but then I’m never really good at guessing!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for offering this ARC.

The New Mother begins with a look at the life of Natalie, a new mom dealing with a colicky baby in a new home on her own while her hubby works. Good neighbor Paul stops by and in Natalie’s eyes is a godsend, as he is so good with baby Oliver and gives her the break she needs. Sadly, good old Paul had ulterior motives in befriending Natalie, of course. The first half of the book describes post-partum depression and was hard to read at times, and the mystery with Paul was pretty much as expected. I think it needed a little twist in it! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of The New Mother.

What if your creepy neighbor took advantage of your loneliness as you adjust to becoming a new mom and completely tried to frame you? What a great read, I stayed intrigued the entire time. I received a free copy for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book!! It's heavily centered around motherhood with a newborn. All of the feelings and emotions of that time clearly had an impact on the author as they were so clear in her writing. And her writing was phenomenal I devoured this book and motherhood type thrillers usually aren't my thing. I'd recommend this!

Thank you netgalley foe the earc in exchange for an honest review

From Nora Murphy, The New Mother is both relatable and nerve-wracking, sympathetic and bone-chilling—a fresh new twist on motherhood and murder in suburbia. In this gripping tale, Murphy takes readers on a roller coaster ride through the complexities of being a new mom, blending the relatable struggles of isolation and exhaustion with an eerie undercurrent of suspense.

The story revolves around Natalie Fanning, a new mother who finds herself in a daunting situation: alone in a new house, grappling with a colicky baby. The author skillfully captures the emotional turmoil and challenges faced by new moms, making Natalie's experiences relatable and authentic. Through Murphy's vivid storytelling, readers are drawn into Natalie's world, feeling her exhaustion and empathizing with her longing for more than just the role of a mother.

Enter Paul, the neighbor—a lifeline in Natalie's darkest moments. Murphy expertly builds tension as Paul becomes an integral part of Natalie's life, offering respite and comfort when she needs it most. The contrast between Natalie's weariness and Paul's reassuring presence adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative. It becomes clear that Paul has ulterior motives for befriending Natalie, and this realization propels the story into a nail-biting exploration of manipulation and deceit.

The character development in The New Mother is commendable. Natalie's vulnerability and Paul's sinister charm are skillfully portrayed, heightening the suspense and keeping readers engaged. As the story unfolds, the sense of foreboding intensifies, and one can't help but be captivated by the question of whether Natalie will awaken to Paul's true intentions in time.

While The New Mother successfully blends relatability and suspense, it falls short of reaching its full potential. The pacing occasionally lags, hindering the overall tension buildup. Some plot developments feel predictable, which slightly dampens the impact of the story's twists and turns. Additionally, certain secondary characters could have been more fleshed out to add depth and further enhance the narrative. Nevertheless, Murphy's ability to evoke empathy and create a chilling atmosphere make this novel a worthy read for fans of psychological thrillers with a domestic setting.

I was really excited to read The New Mother, which was billed as “a spine-chilling game of cat and mouse”, but the execution fell a bit flat for me and instead of feeling like a thriller the book was more of a domestic drama and discourse on motherhood and postpartum experiences with a minor side plot of murder.

When Natalie Fanning gives birth to her baby boy, she realizes that life with a newborn isn’t exactly what she expected. Instead of the challenges of her high-stress job as a lawyer, she is dealing with a different set of challenges: postpartum depression and anxiety, isolation, and struggles to accept the many changes to her life and marriage. Just as her frustration with life as a new mother comes to a head, she meets her neighbor Paul. Paul happens to be something of a baby-whisperer and Natalie is so relieved that someone can soothe her fussy baby that she trusts him immediately. But Paul isn’t exactly what he seems, and is dealing with his own family drama… and unbeknownst to her, he sees Natalie as the way out of his own challenges.

As a mother, I can certainly relate to the challenges of the newborn phase, and the author’s note at the end of the book brought a lot of clarity to what Nora Murphy was trying to portray with this novel. Ultimately, I wish that she had picked a side - the thriller aspect had a lot of potential but I think Paul’s character was underdeveloped, and I also felt like the entire plot line was wrapped up in one short chapter. On the other hand, I think the discourse about the challenges of being a new mother (especially in the United States where maternity leave is laughably short) we’re spot on and relatable, but felt repetitive in the book because I was waiting for more thriller and suspense elements.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. This book does a great job of showing what it is like to be a new mother, but it does so by repeating the same day over and over again just like new motherhood. It makes for a slow read. The mystery mixed in is good, but the pacing is slow.

Date is for the review, not the reading.

Natalie and husband Tyler have moved into a new home. A new baby, Oliver has arrived and Natalie is struggling with not sleeping and a screaming child. it is affecting her ability to focus on work or her husband, since Oliver is all consuming and only needs her. Trying to be the perfect mom is exhausting . The kind neighbor Paul sees her weakness and uses it to his own advantage; setting her up for the murder of his wife. While reading, I think too much detail goes into Nalalie’s postpartum depression. No one else seems to see it and the marriage is struggling.

This was a really dark and interesting read. I feel likethe plot of this one takes a backseat as you experience the thorough description of the inner struggles of postpartum. I have not yet become a mother so I cannot relate to these experiences but they seemed really well detailed and researched. Murphy captures the physical, emotional and mental struggles descriptively. Because of this groundwork, the actual plot doesn't start until 50% in and is a bit lackluster.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced arc!

Natalie and Tyler are excited about their new baby, but after Oliver is born, he is colicky and Natalie has a difficult time. Reading it, I immediately recognized post-partum depression and psychosis, but none of her family or friends seemed to understand that she was suffering, not even her doctor friend!
This allowed a neighbor, Paul, to worm his way into her life, and frame her for the murder of his wife. He is sneaky and takes advantage of Nat's weakness.
I liked how the book ended, but I was exhausted by all the craziness that Natalie was experiencing, and how she refused help or using formula.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As the title suggests, the story revolves around new mom, Natalie. Her and her husband Tyler have just purchased a new home, she has taken a sabbatical from work to stay home with baby Oliver and she is struggling. She doesn't sleep, she feels as if she is constantly breast-feeding and she's just trying to find a new norm when she befriends neighbor Paul. A stay at home dad, he seems to know just what do to quiet the baby and he understands her. But when Pauls wife goes missing, Natalie begins to question everything.

I am not sure I have ever read a book that gave me so much anxiety. As someone who suffered from postpartum depression, there were moments I couldn't breathe reading this. Yet, I still kept coming back for more. While I wouldn't necessarily consider this a thriller, it definitely affected me. The main focus is much more on postpartum than the mystery surrounding the missing woman. It is definitely a slow burn and not twisty and full of thrills, if you are good with that, then I would highly recommend it!

I read this while also reading a very similar book, which had be lowkey confused for some time. The other book was almost a better version of this one, but I’m not sure if I’d think that if I had read it at a different time. Either way, what I’m certain of is that this MC was hard to root for. The book addresses post-partum psychosis (a real thing) but also had other unreliable characters that made it feel kind of chaotic.

3.5 ⭐️’s

I feel like I need to stop reading books where authors make motherhood sound awful lol

The writing was fine and super easy to read, but there’s so many books out there like this. The story just screams “let’s take advantage of new mothers!!”

Thank you Minotaur for my ARC!!

With a fussy new baby, a career put on hold, and a new neighborhood where she knows nobody, Natalie is really struggling. Her neighbor, Paul, seems too good to be true. A stay-at-home dad/writer, Paul has all the time in the world and a knack for soothing babies. Natalie soon finds herself spending hours with Paul, confiding in him while he holds Oliver.

At the same time, she is increasingly worried about her forgetfulness and her husband's seemingly obliviousness to how sleep-deprived and anxious she is. When Paul's wife is inexplicably hostile and then disappears, Natalie's fragile new reality crumbles around her. When Paul's wife is found dead, Natalie does not immediately realize suspicion is focused on her.

Thrilling, page-turning suspense that is all-too-relatable to many parents of extremely fussy babies. #TheNewMother #NetGalley