3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

This is the second Mary Kay Andrews book that I"ve read and not only did I forget it was in my NetGalley queue, I forgot that I really enjoy her writing.

In my head, this was a beach romance story, but it is so much more. It is a clever thriller that happens to have beach elements and a female protagonist.

This is the story of Letty Carnahan. We meet Letty as she is fleeing the scene of her sister, Tanya's gruesome murder at the hands of her ex-boyfriend/father of Letty's niece, Maya. Items In Tanya's townhouse lead Letty to flee to the tiny seaside Florida town of Treasure Island. Now, we get the romance and the mystery.

I enjoyed this book and will definitely read more by Mary Kay Andrews.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

I love to read a Mary Kay Andrews book. It is always a pleasure to read and review them. So when I saw that Netgalley sent me an arc of The Newcomer, I couldn’t wait to get started. This was an original read for sure. Letty Carnahan, finds her sister dead in her NY a townhouse. She has no doubt who is to blame. Knowing doesn’t help her any because now she has to get her niece, out of town and away from her father. Tanya and her ex Evan, have a volatile relationship. They don’t agree on anything and the divorce is as hostile as their marriage. Tanya begged Letty, that if anything happens to her that she take Maya and run. But how is Letty supposed to do this? Where is she going to go? How can she outrun Evan and the law? Needless to say, she does find a safe place.. She starts a new life and although.. most of the town is suspicious of her.. it works. Treasure Island and The Murmuring Surf Hotel becomes their safe haven. Letty tries to help Maya settle in and tries to unravel her sisters wild life.. she can’t help but make new friends but who can she really trust? This was a fast paced read for me. The story kept me reading until I could see how it would end.. I couldn’t put it down. Could this end anyway that was good? You will have to read, to see… this was a four star read for me. I want to thank Netgalley & the author for my copy, for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review it. I hope you enjoy it too.

Letty flees to Florida with her niece Maya. Her sister is dead and she Warner Letty to run if anything happened to her. ARC from NetGalley.

I always look forward to MKA books! The Newcomer had her signature style and I definitely recommend it.

In "The Newcomer" by Mary Kay Andrews, readers are taken on a thrilling journey filled with mystery and suspense. Letty Carnahan is on the run after discovering her sister Tanya dead on the floor of her New York City townhouse, with the suspect being Tanya's sleazy ex Evan Wingfield. Determined to protect her niece and uncover the truth about her sister's past, Letty sets out on a journey to the Florida beach town of Treasure Island.

As she settles into the Murmuring Surf Motel, Letty is met with suspicion from the close-knit group of retirees and snowbirds who winter there. But she soon finds a glimmer of hope in the form of the motel owner's attractive son, Joe, who just happens to be a local police detective. Despite the danger that seems to be closing in, Letty is determined to heal her niece's heartache, uncover the key to her sister's shady past, and find a room at the inn.

The journey that unfolds in "The Newcomer" is filled with twists and turns as Letty navigates a world filled with secrets and danger. Will she be able to outrun Evan and the law, find the truth, and put the wrongs of the past right? The answer lies within the pages of this heart-pumping tale.

Read this book! Total page-turner of a mystery/thriller, with a dash of romance. I also found the motel regulars totally endearing.

Fun beach read that's got romance and mystery, some interesting characters, but runs a little too long for the story. And maybe a bit too quaint and convenient. I like my characters to have to face some hardships. Will require many readers to suspend their disbelief to enjoy the novel, but if you're looking for an escapist beach read this might be it.

MKA wrote another great mystery in a small beach town. The main character Letty was on the run with her niece following her late sister’s directive. It was a great beach read and that’s right where I read it!

Once again, Mary Kay Andrews does not let us down! I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Newcomer". A story of romance, suspense, found families and friendships. The characters at The Murmuring Surf Hotel were so lovable (even those who were not supposed to be). I loved that the community came together to support Letty and Maya, who were the true victims in this story. I will happily read anything that Mary Kay Andrews publishes!
#Netgalley #TheNewcomer

Loved it! MKA knocked it out of the park again! This had all of her trademark sass and spunk and heat and I loved every minute of it. 5 stars!

Mary Kay Andrews always delivers good beach read and this one does not disappoint. It was the perfect vacation beach read. It has some thriller but mostly sweet and light-hearted. Even though this book is on the longer size for his genre, it was a page turner. The little girl is the cutest addition to the story. The mystery part is kind of weak but Lenny and the niece relationship and the love story made up for it.

4 out of 5 stars
Received a free e-copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews is the tale of Letty struggling to keep Maya safe after the death of her sister. Letty finds Maya sitting in the same apartment as her dead sister's body. When Tanya told her to always keep Maya safe, she had no idea running away with Maya was what she meant. Letty takes Maya and retreats to The Murmuring Surf Motel. She found the advertisement in the bag Tanya had prepared for her. Once there, Ava, the motel owner, takes a special liking to her. Ava can spot a troubled soul in a room full of people. Ava takes Letty under her wing and lets Letty work at The Murmuring Surf in exchange for a discounted room rate. Letty works hard to keep Maya safe and suspicion low. Over the few short months there, Letty slowly lets the locals and a few of the regular motel goers into her little world. She actually breathes a sign of relief. Could this work? But one evening, someone spots someone creeping around. Then there is an FBI agent snooping around too. Letty finds herself having to let people in and let them help her. Is Letty going to be able to keep Maya safe? Overall, the sweetest story! I will always pick up a Mary Kay Andrews book! Good writing, good story plot, good characters! I wish I had read this earlier than I did, but I am glad I read it. I would love to visit the quaint motel and meet the characters that frequent the place. I will be recommending The Newcomer to all my reading friends and will always look for new works by Mary Kay Andrews. Special thanks to NetGalley, Mary Kay Andrews, and St. Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheNewcomer #NetGalley

This book was a plesant little surprise! As I have read many Mary Kay Andrews books, I thought I knew her formula: pure beach read, Hallmark movie escape. This one had some mystery and darker drama behind it while still being a beach read, Hallmark movie. Let me tell you, this formula worked for her! I loved the Newcomer!!

This was my first MKA book. I have to say I enjoyed it immensely! MKA knows how to write a good story. A little mystery, with a little romance thrown in. You just can't go wrong. I actually have also read her new book The Homewreckers and enjoyed that one as well.

I really enjoyed the the Narrator of the book as well. I had actually listened AND read this book and will probably end up buying the physical copy to have on my shelf. Anyway, I think the Narrator (Kathleen McInerney really makes the story THAT much better. She set the tone for the book. This was a 4 star read for me.

This book was amazing. I loved how the characters interacted, the suspense and the romance aspect. It was a very unique plot where Letty's sister was murdered and nothing seemed right. It had lots of twists and couldn't put it down.

Mary Kay Andrews is like a soft blanket for me! In my eyes, she can do no wrong. Her latest book, The Newcomer, is amazing!! The characters were real and fun to read about, and I loved the plot!

When Letty Carnahan discovered her sister's body she ran with her niece Maya to the Murmuring Surf Motel in Treasure Island, Florida. They had Tanya's "go bag", Maya's stuffed elephant, and the clothes that Letty hastily packed before leaving NY.

In Florida Letty is given a job at the Murmuring Surf Motel and begins to build relationships with the regulars. Meanwhile, in NY Evan Wingfield her sister's estranged husband is insisting that Letty murdered her sister and kidnapped his daughter. 

This is a great beach read with intrigue and romance. The characters were likeable, relatable, and some are downright evil. If I could find a place like the Murmuring Surf Motel to take my early vacations I would be making reservations for next summer. The setting of this book was utterly charming. Mary Kay Andrews' descriptions of time and place are beautifully written.

This is my first May Kay Andrews and I definitely read more from her. This was a enjoyable read. There is mystery, romance and found family. It didn’t hurt either that the majority of the story involves the setting of a beachside motel.
Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.

Loved this one! Such a feel good, chick lit book. Little Suspense, romance, drama. It has a little of everything! Great beach read!

A new Mary Kay Andrews novel is one of my favorite announcements of summer! There is definitely something to be said for the comfort of a familiar author and genre and this author always delivers. I love the direction her last few novels have taken, mixing in some mystery and suspense with the beach romance and humor. Letty's story seemed more complex than her previous novels. I have my fingers crossed we haven't seen the last of Vickki Hill, FBI agent. I vote she gets her own series!