The Newcomer

I loved this book. It has everything you want in it. A little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance and lovable characters .I thorough enjoyed the story of Letty, Maya, and Tanya! I could picture everyone . It was like watching a movie as you read. I would recommend this enjoyable read to everyone!

I so enjoyed this story, wanted it to last so much longer! Letty discovers her sister’s dead body. Her sister, Tanya, had told her that if anything happened to her, it is probably the fault of her ex, Evan, and she should take her 4 year old daughter, Maya, and run. So Letty does just that. She ends up in Florida at a motel which was featured in a magazine left by her sister. From this point the action ramps up. Letty knows Evan will be after her for Maya. Many secrets kept by Tanya come out but Letty wants Maya to be safe. She meets Joe, the son of the hotel’s owner and there is chemistry between them. I really loved the story!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

All I can say is WOW!!! Mary Kay Andrews knocked it out of the park on "The Newcomer". I totally loved the characters and the plot which made "The Newcomer" very difficult to put down. The plot and characters were outstanding. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I can always count on a Mary Kay Andrews book to take me away and give me a heroine that I love. The Newcomer did both of these and exceeded my high expectations for Ms. Andrews' work!!

The Newcomer was impossible to put down from start to finish and all the different threads of the story were braided together beautifully.

I adored almost every character in this novel from charming Maya to the annoying Oscar. All of them were perfect and enjoyable to get to know.

What I think I loved most about this novel is that the ending wasn't super rushed. It drew out a bit so that it didn't feel abrupt and I enjoyed that a lot.

I'd also read another story just about Vikki!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I have read several books by Mary Kay Andrews and this was by far my most favorite to date. I loved the plot and the way the story unfolded. Personally it had me on the edge of my seat as you start with Tanya's death and the disappearance of her daughter with her sister Aunt Letty. I loved the characters that you meet at the Murmuring Surf. Letty's character truly breaks your heart as you watch her journey and solve the mystery of who killed her sister.

How have I just now discovered the author, Mary Kay Andrews? Thank you to #netgalley for the ARC of her new novel, The Newcomer, coming out in May 2021. I loved this book and cannot wait to seek out her other titles. The heroine of this delightful novel is Letty Carnahan who is on the run with her 4 year old niece, Maya, after discovering the body of her sister Tanya, who is murdered in her townhouse in NYC. Her sister, Tanya, always told her that if something bad happened to her she should take Maya and run with her. Tanya said she was afraid of her estranged boyfriend, Evan, who is Maya’s father and who also happens to be Letty’s former boyfriend and employer (because that adds a layer of drama to the relationships). Letty leaves without knowing what happened to her sister or having a real plan. She decides to follow the clues in her sister’s go bag, which includes an older magazine article about a motel in Florida called the Murmuring Surf Motel. Although the sign at the motel says there is no vacancy, the owner has a soft spot for Letty and Maya and lets them stay, to the dismay of the eccentric retirees and snowbirds who inhabit the motel. Letty does not know how long she should stay or who she can trust. Of course, it does not take long for Maya to win over all the residents and for Letty to realize she may have feelings for the owner’s son, Joe, who also happens to be a police officer. Can she allow herself to fall for him or does she have to keep up her guard? And who really killed Tanya? This story was such a blessing to read in the midst of this crazy pandemic. There were so many fun characters and I could easily picture the charm of the hotel and the desire to live by the sea. The second half of the book contained more suspense when an out of towner provides an unexpected update on the case and a mysterious stranger starts lurking around. There are plot twists I definitely did not see coming. Readers will definitely stick around to the end as they root for Letty and Maya and justice for Tanya. Thank you to #netgalley for the ARC. I cannot wait to recommend this book when it comes out this spring! In the meantime, go read everything else by this author. A new favorite!

Mary Kay Andrews has done it again! A great read filled with intrigue and surprises in one of my favorite places-Treasure Island in the Gulf Coast.
Letty has gone rogue with her sister, Tanya’s child after she discovers her dead. They escape to Treasure Island and a motel called The Murmuring Sands. What a cast of characters she discovers there! She and the child are safe for awhile until her sister’s past comes back to threaten. A great beach read!

I was given a copy of the story in exchange for an honest review.

Tanya has been murdered and Letty is on the run with Tanya's daughter.

It's up to Letty to keep Maya safe while staying off the radar of NYPD' as a suspect and the revenge thirsting d baby daddy.

This plot has it all - Murder, dysfunctional family dynamics, illegal air bnb, failed acting careers, grifters a seaside motel filled with nosy octogenarians and sisters who had no clue who each other really are.

Fun, fast read that keeps layering story line upon story line.

What level would you go to keep a promise? For Letty, it was “all in”, dropping everything and running with her sister Tanya’s 4 year old daughter, Maya. Letty and Maya end up in Florida at hotel full of quirky guests and an owner who treats them like family. The NEWCOMER is a suspense filled roller coaster ride, as they try to manage their new circumstances and resolve the past that they ran from. I enjoyed this book and fell in love with Maya right away! I bet you will too. Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press and netgalley.com for the ARC.

You're going to want to read this in one sitting!
We meet our heroine, Letty, as she is pulling into the parking lot of the Murmuring Surf. As the tale unfolds we get glimpses to the past incidents that ultimately forced Letty to flee New York City with her four year old niece, Maya, in tow.
The Murmuring Surf is a charming, if aged, Florida beachside resort that is filled with regulars, those that have visited every year for decades. The guests have formed a tight knit community and they are a bit resistant to Maya and Letty's presence at first. Letty only knows she needs a safe place to keep Maya while she tries to decide what to do next. The one complication is Joe, who is a cop, but also the son of the Murmuring Surf's owner. His presence makes Letty nervous but she may have to trust him.
This book is a perfect beach escape filled with characters that come to life in a way that only Mary Kay Andrews can deliver. I highly recommend this story that delivers just the right balance of suspense, family, love and laughs.

Very good book. The characters evolved as the story progressed and were very lifelike. Of course, everything ended tied up in a nice bow.

Beach season will be right around the corner when this fantastic new book is published in May, 2021. I am reading it in January but it still gave me warm thoughts of the summer ahead.

Mary Kay Andrews is one of those few authors who NEVER disappoints her readers. Her new book is another fantastic read for lovers of books about strong women who are faced with huge obstacles to overcome.
Letty shows up in the parking lot of the Murmuring Surf Motel in Florida with her 4 years old niece Maya asleep in the back seat of the car. Letty's sister (Maya's mother) had told her that if anything happened to her, she wanted Letty to grab Mia and get as far away as she can. When Letty finds her sister in a pool of blood in her NYC apartment, she knows that she has to save Maya and flees to Florida. Even though there were no vacancies at the motel, the owner helps her find a store room that can be cleaned out and lived in and gives her a job at the motel. The elderly snow birds at the motel as well as the owners son, Joe, a policeman, all treat this newcomer with suspicion and hostility. Will Letty be able to keep Maya out of harm's way and right the wrongs of the past?

This book is full of suspense and keeps the pages turning to make sure that Letty and Maya stay safe. Along with that are humorous scenes with the snowbirds at the motel. They have all been wintering there for years and feel like they own the place and are very resentful of anyone new plus having a child living there really bothers some of them. They were all very set in their ways but I found a lot of humor in their attitudes toward the motel and each other.

This is a wonderful about family - both the family that you are born into and the family that you create out of the people who love and take care of you. This is a must read for the summer of 2021.

Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This book was hard to put down. I read it in two days. Letty Carnahan finds her sister dead on the floor in her NYC townhouse. Her sister made her promise months prior that if something ever happened to her, then Letty should take her daughter Maya and run away where her dad couldn't find her. Gripping story of her life on the run to save her 4 year old niece from her wealthy and narcissistic dad.

Another hit by M.K.A I really enjoyed the story of Letty and Maya. It was inspiring to see them flee a bad situation and build a new life for themselves.