This was a mix of unique characters , mystery, suspense, and romance with a little humor thrown in. It was a great beach read and kept me entertained until the last page. I look forward to MKA’s new book each year, and she did not disappoint with this one. I liked that plot and the atmospheric setting of Treasure Island. I live is a small beach town and MKA’s rich descriptions were right on.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Newcomer will be a hit for the summer beach read season. It includes murder, fugitives, romance, interesting and fun characters, and the real hook, a precocious four year old girl. We meet Letty as she is on the run with her niece, afraid she will be accused of her sister’s murder. She ends up at a beach front motel in Florida full of interesting and entertaining characters. There is enough suspense, humor, and plot twists to keep most every reader intrigued and and rushing to the end — but hating to let go of these characters so soon. I enjoy all Mary Kay Andrews books and this is a great one

This is going to be the beach read of the summer!! I literally could not put this book down and finished it in two days. You'll fall in love with little Maya and her Aunt Letty. All of the characters in this book are totally lovable and you'll just want to know what happens next.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read an advance copy of The Newcomer. I always enjoy a Mary Kay Andrews novel.
When the story opens, the heroine, Letty Carnahan, is on the run. Her sister, Tonya, has been murdered in her plush New York City apartment, with her four-year-old daughter, Maya, looking on. Tonya left instructions that, if anything happened to her, Letty should take Maya and a go-bag of cash and hightail it out of town. Letty is a suspect in her sister's murder, but she believes the killer is Evan Wingfield, a crooked real-estate tycoon with whom Tonya was in a heated custody battle over Maya.
Letty ends up at the Murmuring Surf Motel in a Florida gulf coast beach town, drawn there by a hint that it's connected to her sister's sordid past. She endears herself to Ava, the owner, who immediately falls in love with Maya. Ava's son Joe, a local cop, although suspicious of Letty at first, becomes a love interest.
I had to suspend disbelief at times; there were a few too many coincidences and perfect alignment of the stars. But the heroine was likable and it was a fun read; I kept turning the pages.

Review
Mary Kay did her usual fantastic job on this book. But I must tell you her writing style has changed a lot from her beginnings. The topics are way less frivolous. The storylines and characters are more profound and more mysterious. The last few books have less humor and off-the-wall characters in them. In this book, the main mystery is quite complicated, and because there are actually 2 mysteries going on, it can get a little complicated. There are some stereotypical characters in this book (the usual Florida Olde Pharte, for example), but you can see why as you read. I loved it.

This book was filled with mystery, intrigue, family, murder, unlikable characters (and I must admit that it took me a very long time to connect with and warm up to, Letty Carnahan and her niece Maya, our main character's) lies, romance, and the usual luscious descriptions of the deep South.

I have to admit that this book's twists were phenomenal, and I hope that there will be a book about Vikki Hill. She was a great secondary character!

This book will be a must-buy for avid Mary Kay Andrew's fans, and I highly recommend this book to those that love a good mystery and tales of the South. This is going to make for an exceptional beach read this year!

*ARC supplied by the publisher, author, and NetGalley.

I was interested in this book from the first page! Letty was a woman who I was able to get into her mind and follow all along. What she goes through, during the span of the book, is very moving. Both physically and emotionally. Mostly emotionally. Trying her best to keep her lovely niece Maya safe from all harm as she runs and hides from the law. Throughout the book, her new "family" comes to trust, love and want to protect her and Maya from all harm. This book will stick with me for a long time. Thank you so much Mary Kay for such a wonderful read! I'm looking forward to reading more of your books, now.

I am unable to put this review online yet. I will when the book comes out!

I found The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews to be at first frustratingly slow going, to the point I nearly set it aside, to an ultimately fast paced and engrossing read. By the novel’s end, I understood why Ms Andrews wove the story as she did, as it mirrored the secrecy of the late Tanya, at best a morally ambiguous person but one who deeply loved her child, and one who did all she could to protect her. The story takes place after Tanya’s murder, and follows her sister Letty, who is on the run with Tanya’s daughter, Maya. They end up at an older beachside motel where Letty finds sanctuary and protection from Ava DeCurtis and her family. The motel is occupied with crotchety seniors, mostly snowbirds escaping the cold northern winters. They add both frustration, color, and a occasional plot twist to the book. There is also a brewing romance between Letty and Ava’s son, Joe. Hands down I loved Ava and all she brought to this book the most.

I recommend this book and think it will be a great beach read this coming summer. Four Stars.

I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley and the publisher. I was not compensated nor required to write a positive review and the opinions stated are solely my own.

This was my first time reading a book by Mary Kay Andrews. I've been wanting to read her work, and was drawn to this latest effort due to its being set in Treasure Island/St. Pete/Tampa, which is where I'm from. I liked how authentic the details of the setting were; Andrews perfectly captures the seediness and quirkiness inherent in the area that is, on its surface, an easy, breezy beach town. The entire beachside motel community is portrayed with vivid accuracy, from the ramshackle pool furniture, to the entitled, cheapskate clientele of snowbirds. I liked Letty as a protagonist and her relationship with her niece Maya. I do, however, think this book is geared towards an older audience than myself. It feels a bit dated to me, and it's way too long. I found myself ready for it to end about halfway through. I would recommend this to someone like my grandma or great aunt; older ladies who devour mystery fiction audiobooks by the dozens and need quantity over real depth or ingenuity.

Queen of Beach Reads is back with a delicious, intriguing, engaging, addictive, unputdownable gem to devour at one bite!

This is fast pacing, action packed, exciting murder mystery centered at the pop motel in Florida Beach-town.

Quick paced story starts with new comer/ fugitive Letty Carnahan’s arrival at the parking lot of Murmuring Surf motel with her sweet pie 4 years old niece Maya.

They are running from authorities because she finds sister lying on a blood bath at her house as her little nice is scared and traumatized. Her sister Tanya warned her about her ex Evan who is biological father of Maya could harm her before and her predictions eventually come true. Letty keeps her promise she gave to her sister: she takes her niece and she runs away because the scumbag ex Evan might have killed her sister and now he’s coming after her!

She views the magazine her sister left behind and sees the Murmuring Surf’s name has been pencilled. She thinks her sister tried to give her a message by directing her to this motel.

But as soon as she opens her eyes in her rental car Kia, she sees scrutinizing eyes of officer Joe banging her car door to warn her pull out her car because there is no vacancy at the motel.

Thankfully officer’s mother Ava who is also owner of the hotel is more helpful and merciful to her. She offers her to clean and move in the older storage room which has a bed and kitchenette with a reasonable price.

She takes the offer and tries so hard to provide a clean and happy place for her niece even though the old guests of the motel consisted of retirees and snow birds find that young lady’s sudden movement suspicious and give her hard time just like officer Joe did to her as soon as they met.

On the other hand Evan does everything he can to find her, sending a corrupted police officer/ detective behind her to arrange a contract killer. As Letty reads the news about herself showing her suspect from her sister’s murder and feels the doubtful looks of the guests she gets more panicked.

But we also witness how Ava and her teenage daughter Isabel starts forming an intimate bound with her. Ava gives her job at the motel and she realizes how she manages the place professionally and it seems like Joe starts liking her, too. Maybe his feelings more than liking her as a friend.

But as soon as Vikki arrives at the motel, the woman Evan hired to find her, things get more complicated. Letty has to come clean and instead of running away, she has to face with her demons and find the killer of her sister!

This is unputdownable, riveting, exciting, heart pounding murder mystery. I loved the back stories of hotel residences. The sweet Maya stole my heart. The romance part between Letty and Joe was a little instant. The enemies turned into friends and lovers way too much quickly. Joe was douchebag at the beginning and just like switching his buttons he turned into genuine, good hearted, caring boyfriend. But instead of that I enjoyed the whirlwind mystery and small holiday town motel premise.

This is one of the best books of the author which made me rounding up my 4.5 to 5 palmy, Floridian, sunny stars because the clever mystery and emotional story of sisters!

Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this year’s one of the most anticipated books’ digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Mary Kay Andrews comes through with another fun rom-who-dun-it-com! This one is set in Treasure Island, Florida, and yes that's a real place! The setting is the Murmuring Surf Motel, an old-school mom-and=pop motel. Letty Carnahan is on the run with her niece, Her sister Tanya (Maya's mom) got entangled with a shady NYC real estate shark. Tanya had prepared Letty that if anything happened to her, Letty was to take Maya and the "go bag" that Tanya has hidden in her closet. In the bag, Letty finds a boatload of cash and a brochure for the Murmuring Surf Motel.

Once in Florida, Letty is befriended by the owner of the motel, Ava DeCurtis. Ava's son, Joe, is on the local police force. He has an idea that Letty is hiding something. But, he also sees her innate goodness and is willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

In between Aloha Bingo and Ping Pong tournaments, Joe and Letty and FBI agent Vikki Hill work to solve not only Tanya's murder but also other schemes and scams.

Along the way, Joe DeCurtis becomes mighty fond of Letty. I thought Joe was just adorable.

This is just a fun read that will leave you smiling, with some crazy Floridian characters. It actually takes place in the county where I live, so it was fun to see so many familiar places and names - Publix, Tiki Gardens, Derby Lane, and more.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for the ARC!

A easy, beach read with a bit of romance and some mystery. The main characters in this book are easy to like. The storyline keeps you reading. I would say this is a solid book for its category much like Mary Kay Andrews other titles.

I would definitely recommend it!

Mary Kay Andrews' new novel, The Newcomer, depicts Letty and her young niece Maya fleeing from New York City to the warm shores of Florida. While in Florida, we meet a slew of quirky characters who help Letty, unbeknownst to them, solve the mystery of her sister's death and learn more about her mysterious life.

Although at times the book seems a bit unrealistic, I really liked it. Its quirkiness was just what I needed. If you are looking for a quirky book with a little mystery, this would probably be a good choice for you. I enjoyed the different characters and the little getaway in print. Thank you NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Letty and her sister were basically on their own as kids. Letty was determined to make her way in the world by working hard and taking care of her younger sister Tonya. Unfortunately, Tonya makes bad choices in love and life. The best thing to happen to her is the birth of her daughter, Maya. The four-year-old has even brought the sisters together again after their lives took different paths. Even though Evan, the man Letty previously dated, is the father of Maya, Tonya tries her best to keep her daughter away from him. Both sisters are happy to be together again.

Their reunion is short lived. Tonya is found dead, murdered in the luxury apartment bought by Evan before she can get out of the city with her daughter. Letty is the prime suspect and she is on the run with Maya. Her sister’s mistakes and lies have cast doubt about many things in her life, but not her need to leave New York to keep her ex-boyfriend away from his daughter. Letty leaves with her niece, taking the go bag her sister wisely had stashed in her closet and little else.

In the bag was the name of a small resort in Florida, Murmuring Surf, so Letty heads there. Finding a safe haven, she begins working for the owner to earn her keep. Always wary of Evan finding her and Maya, she shies away from almost everyone. Especially Joe, the owner’s son who is also a cop. Surely, he has seen the APB sent to all law enforcement agencies when a suspected killer and kidnapper is on the loose. Safe for now, Letty adjusts to life in Florida, but will she have to run again soon? Will Evan, with all of his resources find her and Maya? Letty fears for the worst.

The Newcomber is an interesting, well plotted novel. Finding out who the killer is in the last few chapters is well played. The characters are diverse and real. Ms. Andrews not only created realistic, well rounded main characters, but the bit players are fun to meet. Especially the residents of the Murmuring Surf. They are quirky, cranky and could be people you have encountered. Picture some grumpy old men fighting over parking spots.

I really enjoyed this book. It is not part of a series. Ms. Andrews is a prolific writer. She has written several best-selling books under the pen name Mary Kay Andrews since 2002 as well as being nominated for many literary awards. I have read several of her books, including The High Tide Club and Blue Christmas. She is the master of telling a great story with a side of romance.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2021 Laura Hartman

This romantic suspense novel has a lot going for it: a believable, flawed main female character, an appealing low-key romance, and a suspenseful situation involving a child hunted by a criminal father. Secondary characters, some quirky and loveable and others menacing, also add to the enjoyment of a good read. The writing is assured and skillful, so the story flows well. I finished the novel in two days. This is the first novel I’ve read by this author, and I will certainly seek out more of her work now.

I've read a few of her books and I put this in the category of a beach read. Type of book you can pick up read and not think. The book was predictable but still an easy read.

The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews is a good read. It took me away from the real world for a bit. I like the intrigue and character development. The secondary characters deepen the story because they are so colorful and humorous. This fun and easy read, if maybe a bit too long, is highly recommended. This is may be my first Mary Kay Andrews book, but it will not be my last.

***** I received an ARC from NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my honest review. *****

I want to start by saying that the storyline was a good idea. Letty goes to visit her sister, Tanya and niece, Maya and finds her sister murdered. Tanya had told Letty that her ex, Evan, might harm her and if that happened to take Maya and run. She ends up at a motel in Florida and spends several weeks hiding from the ex and keeping Maya safe. Letty ends up finding out some secrets about her sister and has more questions than answers. It seemed like would be a good fast read. Unfortunately the delivery fell super short for me. The book was too long in my opinion and had lots of what I call “filler” scenes that just weren’t necessary to build the story. There were also parts that were a but far-fetched, one in particular, which I don’t want to give to much detail for fear of spoiling. This is my first book by this author and it will probably be my only read by her. I am bot the biggest fan of her writing style.

The Newcomer was a nice little surprise from Mary Kay Andrews. As a Tampa resident, I loved being a part of the setting with locations near and dear to my heart. The novel is not a traditional romance as much suspense is weaved throughout. I enjoyed this story even though I felt the end lagged and was a bit predictable.

Only Mary Kay Andrews can combine the sophistication of NY and the struggle to get there with the simplicity of the south and the beach. She put together a wonderful combination of mystery, thriller, and love. Letty’s love for her sister takes her on a journey with her niece Maya. A journey of secrets and discovery. As she tries to keep her adored niece safe she also discovers truths about her sister Tanya. This is a cannot put down story from page one. Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my requested copy of this wonderful book.

A really fun story. I enjoyed both the story and the characters. It was well paced with just the eight amount of suspense and twists.