This is a good book to put in your beach bag and enjoy while basking in the sand and sun. This is a good book to put in your beach bag and enjoy while basking in the sand and sun.

Thank you Netgalley and St.Martins Press for the ARC. #Netgalley #TheNewComer

MKA does not let us down with her latest book! This one needs to find a place in your beach bag this summer, you will not regret it.
As always, her characters are well developed and likable, well most of them are likable!

This book is a great mix of a murder mystery, suspense, family relationships with a cast of characters that adds a lot of humour. Letty stepped up and took Maya to protect her and she does an amazing job with a four year old who has temper tantrums. Ava, Joe and Isabelle are a wonderful family and they are so open and welcoming to everyone making Letty and Maya feel loved. The guest at the motel are an eclectic mix of senior citizens that I found myself laughing out loud at some of their antics. The motel sounded like a place you would want to go and stay for the winter.

There is the suspense and mystery of who the strange man is and what Evan will do to get Maya back. While it is a murder mystery, I would say it is more a book on relationships and friendships with the murder haunting them.

The author created wonderful characters and I could easily feel empathy and love for them. The setting in Florida was magnificent and it sounded like the last of the small motels, the ones that still have the family owned charm and attention.

I read this book quickly as I wanted to find out who the killer was and what was going to happen to Letty and Maya.

Mary Kay Andrews at her best!

Not many good things happened in 2020, but the opportunity to read two books by Mary Kay Andrews was certainly a bright spot. Honestly, The Newcomer is probably one of my favorites. More suspenseful than a lot of her books. The Newcomer nonetheless delivers the satisfying romance her readers so enjoy.

Letty and her 4-year old niece Maya are on the run. Exhausted and desperate for a place to hide, they arrive at the Murmuring Surf Motel. They are taken in by the motel's softhearted owner, but her police officer son, Joe, is suspicious of the new guests. Letty and Maya are soon fixtures at the motel and Joe's suspicions are tempered by his growing feelings for Letty. Letty is interested but too overwhelmed by the threats she and Maya face to allow herself to wholeheartedly accept Joe's overtures.

The story moves along at a good pace and the characters are likable. The ending is exciting and satisfying. This book is the reading equivalent of a bubble bath. It is a wonderful escape from the stresses of the day.

Thank you, Net Galley, for an advance copy for an honest review.
I have read many of Mary Kay Andrews books which I have enjoyed. This one was good, and I did enjoy it. I liked the main character Letty- she is just a regular person who is doing the best she can. When her sister is murdered, she takes her niece out of harms way. She ends up at an old fashion motel on the beach in Florida where she hides out. I liked the characters who are staying at the motel and they really enriched the story.
The mystery was light and easily solved. The romance was good. I do like a book that is told from different points of view.
If you like Mary Kay Andrews and a nice story this is for you.

Mary Kay Andrews's books have been on my radar for awhile, but with an out of control TBR, it's been hard to get to one. When I received a copy of The Newcomer through NetGalley, I was thrilled to finally check out her work. On the whole, I was pleasantly surprised by this quick and easy read.

When Letty Carnahan arrives at the NYC townhouse of her sister Tanya, she finds the woman laying in a pool of her own blood and her 4-year-old niece, Maya, hiding under her bed. Letty's not going to hang around: her sister had warned her that if anything happened it would be at the hands of her sleazy boyfriend, Evan (also Letty's ex). Only things is, Evan's not the only suspect: Letty is as well.

So off she runs with Maya until she arrives at the Murmuring Surf Motel, a relic of a bygone era on the Florida Gulf Coast. She's not there by accident: Tanya had a magazine article tucked among her belongings, so Letty figures that there's no better place to hide out. Only problem is the owner's handsome son is a local police detective and he might end up throwing her in jail long before Evan could ever catch up to her.

The story is a bit cliche and so are most of the cast (why are none of the motel's "residents' anything other than crotchety old people?), but as I said, it's a quick read that I really got into (being a New Englander, and it being December, it was nice to read about Florida beaches) once I started. Unfortunately, there was a strange flow to it. It seemed to jump around from character to character a lot and abruptly (and at one point I think a cat was a POV?) and I can't figure out if that was just because it was a proof or not (this one was as badly formatted as I've ever received from NetGalley, including incorrect character names). There were also a bunch of side characters that weren't really fleshed out (Rooney, for example and the fact that all the seniors were angry) and the story itself was pretty run of the mill and straightforward with no real major twists. But I would definitely check out this author's other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to review this advance copy.

Once again combining romance and mystery, Mary Kay Andrews sets this new book on Florida's gulf coast. Letty Carnahan has had a tumultuous relationship with her sister Tanya but Tanya HAD warned her to blame Evan, Maya's father and keep Maya safe if anything happened to Tanya. So, after finding her sister dead in her apartment, Letty scooped up her niece and left New York. Tanya has also shown Letty where she keeps her 'go-bag' so Maya, grabs that as well and heads south.

With no real destination in mind, Letty finds an ad for a Florida hotel circled in her sister's things and so, with no real destination in mind, sets out for the Murmuring Surf. With the No Vacancy sign flashing, she manages to convince the owner to let her clear out a storage room and help out with the hotel duties. Arriving with a 4 year old child in tow doesn't make her very appealing to the elderly, long-term clientele but they eventually warm to Letty and Maya. Letty learns that the police are searching for her in regards to her sister's death and becomes worried and afraid that Joe, the hotel owner's son and a member of the local police course will put two and two together. Evan is also searching for her and Maya.

Doing more research on her own, Letty learns her sister hasn't been completely honest....about a lot of things. Read the book to find out if Letty and Maya get their happily ever after. It's a classic get-away read.

I was very excited to read this book as Mary Kay Andrews has become a must read for me. While this was another quality story, it was not one of my favorites of hers. I don't know if it was a case of too many ideas in one book, but some parts felt a little disjointed.

I really enjoyed Letty as a character, and how she selflessly stepped in to save her niece Maya, and bring her to a safe location in Florida, after finding her sister Tanya murdered. I liked how The Murmuring Surf Motel became its own character, and all the regular guests brought life and fun to the story. Letty was originally seen as an outsider by the regular guests at the motel, and they certainly didn't want a young child around, but slowly started to earn their trust through various positive interactions.

While Letty tried to figure out what happened to her sister, bits and pieces of her sister's past came to life. There were many twists and turns in the story just related to the sister's murder, and I would have been ok with the story if that is what unfolded. But I struggled with the introduction of the grifter and jewelry thief, and how everything tied together. There was a little romance thrown in, which can never hurt, and a happily ever after. Definitely a good read, and a good mystery.

Mary Kay Andrews did not disappoint! I always enjoy her books and this one is no exception. The premise was different and enjoyable to watch unfold. The characters were real and i especially loved Ava - i think because i could easily identify with the strong woman who trusted too easily. I definitely recommend The Newcomer to anyone looking for a good read.

This was an engaging story. It was a story where I where I developed such great feelings for the characters. I loved the relationship development between Letty and Joe. There was such chemistry between them. The plot developed smoothly throughout the book. The cast of characters developed also developed nicely throughout the books. Except for Evan and Tanya. I really enjoyed all the characters. Letty was way too good of a sister to Tanya.. The book did keep you guessing all the way through. I was convinced that Vicki was on Evan's side almost up to the end of the book. The book is a quick read because you don't want to put it down. Good way to spend a cold winter afternoon in front of the fire!

Thank you NetGalley for this great read! I enjoyed The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews. I loved the main characters and how they interacted with each other. It was a murder mystery and romance story all in one. There was nothing believable in the plot, but it just didn't matter. A fun, engaging read.

When Lexie Carnahan finds her sister Tanya dead on the floor of her apartment she knows who killed her. Her sister always told her if anything happened to her that her boyfriend Evan would be responsible and to take her hidden cash and her daughter Maya and run. Lexie found a magazine her sister had with a motel in Florida circled. She decides to escape to the Murmuring Surf to escape the police who thinks she murdered her sister and Evan who wants Maya. She finds a job and a haven at the motel. She starts finding out about her sisters stay at the hotel and tries to keep Evan and the police at bay! She is finding a place for her and Maya to feel safe but will it last? Good read!


Thanks to Mary Kay Andrews and St. Martins Press for the book!

The Newcomer is one of the most riveting books I’ve read recently! The story line drew me in and and kept me wondering what was going to happen next. You really get to know and love Letty, Maya, Joe, Ava and Isabelle, (and a host of “snow birds”). This is my first read of Mary Kay Andrew’s books and it is a must read if you like suspense with a little romance. Bad choices, bad luck and good characters vs bad. Grab a drink, and curl up with a cozy blanket by the fire. Once you pick this up, you won’t want to put it down!!!

The Newcomer tells the story of Letty Carnahan and her four year old niece Maya. After finding her sister Tanya dead she remembers her warning that if something ever happened to her to take her daughter and just run. She left a packed bag behind containing money and a well worn newspaper clipping for a place called The Murmuring Surf Motel. She convinces the owner to let her stay in what they were using for a storage room in exchange for her working there. This motel has their group of regulars from up north that spend their winters in the warm Florida sun but they are not very welcoming to the newcomer. Letty works hard to earn their respect and hide out at the same time. Always worrying that she will be blamed for her sister's murder or Maya will be taken away from her. When her worst fears come to her doorstep can she protect her niece and the life she has started to build for them in this Florida town?

Another great read by Mary Kay Andrews! She never disappoints!

Mary Kay Andrews has another hit. I truly enjoyed this book from start to finish. Letty and Maya are on the run. They wind up at the Murmuring Surf Motel on the Gulf coast in Florida. They become part of the ragtag community of snowbirds staying at the motel. Joe is the son of the motel owner and a local cop. The situation Letty and Maya are running from catches up to them and they have to take some action to ensure their future living safe from the dangers of their past. My only criticism is that it hasn’t been edited yet, but it was an ARC, so that would be why. The characters were very well developed. This took me back to old Florida with the lovely small motels. I was rooting for Letty and Joe from the first meeting. The story was fast paced and never lulled. I would recommend this book to all who love a good story and love Mary Kay Andrews like I do.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC copy. This was a great book! It seemed a bit long in the middle but once I finished it - you really need all the middle information to appreciate the end. A cute Florida beach hotel full of the most interesting elderly characters, help to tell Letty’s and Maya’s story. A mystery to decipher, a relationship to understand about past family members and new ones too. A summer beach read that shouldn’t be missed. Mary May Andrews has done it again.

The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews was a quick and fun read. Part suspense, part romance I really enjoyed this book. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I love books with the beach and kids. A hot cop thrown in didn't hurt either. I could just picture the regulars at the motel. I see a group like them at our favorite beachfront motel. I love all her books.

Another knock out of the park for Mary Kay Andrews! I have been a fan of hers for awhile so I was very excited to receive a copy of her new book. Perfect murder mystery with some romance! This is a great summer read that everyone should add to their list.

MKA did a nice job on this story. To be honest, I had a hard time reading it at first. I felt it was going to be predictable about 25% of my way through. I put it down and didn’t pick it back up for about a week. I am glad I did. I finished the story in 24
Hours. The characters are likable and the regulars from the hotel are fun. I would recommend this book for a nice, lazy day on the beach. I received an ARC of
This story from the publisher and this is my honest review.