The New Neighbor is a suspenseful domestic thriller that blends personal drama with questions of trust and secrecy. The story follows a former intelligence officer whose life begins to unravel just as unsettling new neighbors move in. As suspicions grow, so does the tension, with the line between truth and paranoia becoming increasingly unclear. Karen Cleveland’s background brings a sense of realism to the story, and the pacing keeps readers turning pages. While some character choices may feel exaggerated, the novel remains gripping throughout. It’s a solid, twist-filled read for fans of psychological suspense and domestic intrigue.

This is a cul-de-sac with families who seemed close but held secrets, both personally and professionally. There is spying and assuming and we know that doesn't end well.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

WOW!! I loved this book and listened to it in two days. Beth works for the CIA and has been investigating “The Neighbor,” who is a spy for Iran. However, Beth has been taken off the case, and she doesn’t know why.

But that’s not going to stop Beth. She continues investigating and begins to suspect that the woman who moved into her home, Maddie, is the spy. Everyone in her cul-de-sac has ties to the CIA, so maybe Maddie didn’t just move in for the house and its good schools.

This book was so much fun. Beth sounds like a lunatic for most of the book because she’s pulling at strings that may or may not actually exist, but don’t be fooled. Beth is much smarter than people give her credit for.

Serious Arlington Road vibes! In this thriller, CIA agent Beth is tasked with finding "The Neighbor" who is an Iranian intelligence agent. Beth is taken off the case suddenly, but she won't let it go. She hears a clue about a cul-de-sac and also remembers a clue about "use the children". Armed with this information, she begins studying everyone in her old neighborhood, convinced that one of them is the neighbor.
As Beth becomes more involved, her obsession takes over. However, the outcome is one I didn't expect.

After some big changes in her life, CIA agent Beth sells her house. Along with a divorce, and her daughter going off to college she struggles with the loss of her old life. To somewhat fill a void, she continues to spy on her old neighbors and the new owners of the house. While I really enjoyed this book, I thought some of the things Beth did were strange for an intelligent agent. But I enjoyed the story and works recommend it to others.

Twists and turns is right! I found myself having to pause a few times because I felt like so much was happening. Definitely a rollercoaster - a fun one!

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with a digital ARC of Karen Cleveland’s “The New Neighbors.” I apologize for taking so long to read and review this book.

“The New Neighbor” is the second novel I read by Ms. Cleveland, and I must admit I enjoyed the first book more than this one. Beth Bradford, the protagonist, is a CIA analyst who has been trying for over a decade to unmask the identity of an Iranian intelligence agent, Reza Karimi, aka The Neighbor. She believes The Neighbor is trying to secure U.S. top secrets and resides in her former cul-de-sac. Beth’s personal and professional lives are in shambles, making her an unreliable, irritating character. Her sole focus is on bringing The Neighbor to justice. She obsesses over catching him and accuses one person after another, after another, of being the infamous The Neighbor. She is a dog with a bone, unable to let go of her pursuit. Beth is impulsive and judgmental and makes choices that conflict with her CIA training.

This fast-paced novel is sometimes repetitive and filled with secrets galore, aha moments, twists and turns, dangling clues, and betrayals. Initially, I felt sorry for Beth, but then I wondered if she was losing her mind. Would she lose her life in pursuit of The Neighbor?

While reading the novel, I found the narrative frustrating; however, the revelation surprised me at the end.
2.5 stars/5 stars

As fast paced and "kept me guessing until the end" this thriller was, I felt that the ending was rushed! I did get anxiety and slept with the light on after reading but I wanted more. Overall I did enjoy it and have recommended it to friends who are in for a quick thriller, thank you for my ARC.

This story seemed to go around the cul de sac several times. Readers learned way too much about everyone living here as the main character is searching for the spy she's pretty sure lives in her neighborhood. At one point, I decided she was the spy but no, she wasn't. This was a good, not great thriller that did manage to keep me guessing with each new chapter.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and read it in one sitting. I was surprised at some of the twists and didn't see it coming. I would definitely recommend this book.

This is a cul-de-sac with families who seemed close but held secrets, both personally and professionally. There is spying and assuming and we know that doesn't end well.

This book just wasn't for me - Government/CIA/political thrillers just aren't my thing, so that's not a knock on the book. I'm just not the audience for this book. Overall it's written well, and a compelling enough story, but this book just wasn't to my personal taste.

Great twisty read, perfect for a rainy weekend read!

Kept me guessing all the way through.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Although this is a fast-paced thriller/suspense/spy tale, I was really annoyed with the main character most of the time. She is constantly making bad decisions! After her youngest child goes off to college, they sell their house, her husband moves out, and (final straw!) she is demoted in her job, Beth is determined to finish the project she has spent years working on. Despite being ordered to abandon her investigation (she's CIA), she still stalks the new owner of her house who she suspects is a foreign spy.. There are lots of twists and turns, but I just felt it was like a bad spy movie. I spent lots of time just shaking my head. If you want a quick read that's difficult to figure out until the end where everything is wrapped up nicely, this is the book for you. For me, just MEH.

This book was little chaotic. It was definitely a fast paced thriller but I found the amount of twists and turns were too much for me.

I loved almost everything about this thriller. It left me with trust issues that make you question the things you're suppose to trust. Keep your eyes open on this book and don't sit on it for too long! This was a great one.

So many twist and turns!!! You need to stay focused on this one.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes I get an urge to read a spy novel and other times I don't. I had to put this down until o was ready and I am glad that I did. My second attempt to read this book

My first book by Karen Cleveland but it won't be my last  What a well written, perfectly paced, spy thriller. I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Apologies for delay - I posted my review on GoodReads right when I finished, and thought it would auto-post here. Guess not.

Here's my review from right after I read it:

I received this book courtesy of NetGalley.

Really great premise. How well do any of us know our neighbors, What happens behind locked doors and drawn shades? Is it possible that one of us is… a Spy? Especially in a cup-de-sac where most everyone works for the CIA or FBI !

That’s the premise of this novel. Really great idea. BUT… too much “YOU’re the spy… no, YOU’re the spy…”.

This book races forward with twists and deceptions, but the resolution that comes is… we’ll, not resolved and also points straight into the sequel.

So I enjoyed, but it was a bit all over the place. Will I read the sequel? Well of course!