This book was so good! I was definitely surprised at the end of the book. You never know what you will do when peoples lives are put in danger.

Wow! This book had so many twists and turns. It was a slow start but mid-end of the book was a true whirlwind.

This was quite the ride! I loved the premise of the book and it did not disappoint. Cleveland wove in some well-timed slow-burns and some unexpected twists. Have already recommended to friends who love a book with a CIA plot line!

If you loved the TV show, "The Americans," have I got a book for you!

This was my first book by Karen Cleveland and it won't be my last. "The New Neighbor" is about a CIA agent, Beth, who is removed from a case she has been working on for 15 years. The case is around Iranian intelligence and a suspect that goes by "The Neighbor." Beth has hit a crossroads in life as her husband has left her, and her last child has gone to college. As she is totally alone now, she can't resist trying to figure out who "The Neighbor" is, even though she has been told multiple times to stop working the case.

This book is not too technical, and the story is told in a straightforward way that still builds suspense. It kept me guessing throughout and I even felt sympathy for the spies. The author did a great job keeping me guessing and I can honestly say I did not see the final twist coming.

Bravo Karen! I can't wait to see what you write next!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The New Neighbor by Karen Cleveland.

Beth Bradford is going through a tough new chapter in her life. All of her children are grown and out of the house, she is planning to move away from the cul-de-sac where she has spent the bulk of her child raising years, and her husband has just left her. But the devastating cherry on top is losing her work assignment that she has been pouring her heart and soul into. Beth works for the CIA and for years she has been hunting for The Neighbor, until suddenly she is not.

But even though she's no longer on the job, she can't help but notice the suspicious new neighbors who have moved into her house. Living in the area that she does means lots of secretive government workers, but are these new neighbors trying to thwart the efforts of those around them? But Beth's investigative work might end up landing her in a lot of trouble.

This was okay. I know that the author has worked in the field, so I really appreciated that aspect. I can only imagine the interest and intrigue that working for the government would hold. This story however, read more like a vignette if you will? A not quite fully baked story, but more an outline of how the story might go. The characters needed more development, as well as the plot. And it felt rushed enough to be messy, and not exactly clear. But like I said, plenty points of interest.

This is a fast paced spy thriller with lots of twists and turns. Beth, the main character in the story, is determined to find the CIA informant where she works. Her neighbors, soon to be ex-husband, are all under her suspicion as she gets demoted but never gives up. A good plot kept me wanting to find the answer despite the dizzying twists. Well written! #TheNewNeighbor #KarenCleveland #NetGalley

This was a very good plot and highly engaging.
Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was FANTASTIC. I read this quickly and it kept my interest the whole time. I will definitely be talking about this book to friends and getting them excited to read it. Cannot wait for this author to write more.

A gripping spy thriller with a realistic main character. Kept me guessing but also questioning Beth's sanity. I love a good female spy book and this one did not disappoint.

Genre: Thriller
Synopsis: Swipe

Likes
- This was very fast paced - once I got into the story it took me about 24 hours to read, and I just kept wanting to discover what was next
- The plot twists were great and really keep you guessing as to who did it, I couldn't put it down once we got close to the conclusion of the story
- I really enjoyed the setting of Northern Virginia and the plot points surrounding the MC’s job, and the neighborhood/neighbors in general
- The ending was really well done - can we get a sequel?
- The author really pulls you into the suburbia life, and you feel for the MC when a bunch of things happen to her at once that just don’t seem (for lack of a better word), fair.

Other Thoughts
- The flashback scenes took me out of the general story a bit too much at times, but the further along we get the more we realize it’s relevant (hang in there!)
- I do give a certain leeway to thriller plots because in general they tend to often take liberties with actions/consequences in order to move the story along - but some of the MC’s actions were just plain unbelievable and unhinged at times
- This would’ve really benefited from a multiple narrator view throughout the story IMO
- This is a generally good thriller to pick up when you want a quick read and to be drawn into a story

Lots of twists and turns in The New Neighbor! Beth is a CIA agent whose life is falling apart around her—her children have all moved out, her husband wants out of their marriage, they’re selling their dream house, and she just got demoted. Then, she goes into a spiral trying to crack the case that she got demoted from. The author threw the kitchen sink at this plot, it seemed like every thriller trope was in here. It wasn’t awful, but it was a lot to work through as a reader.

Sometimes the writing feels a little clunky with lines like “The Neighbor is what will keep me busy.”

The final twist was what elevated this book from a 3 to a 4 out of 5. This was a decent read and I’d probably recommend it to readers that like to stay guessing until the very last page. 4/5.

This is a real page turner! I loved this one...not too heavy on the police procedural, this one reads like you are watching a movie in your head! Very hard to put down!

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this novel, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Karen Cleveland's books all center around a woman who works for the CIA or, in one book, the FBI - different women in each book, but with several common features. They're typically women with children, women working at headquarters, rather than in the field, and women who find themselves in excruciating situations in which they have to balance their jobs against protecting their children.

It's difficult to discuss the plot, without giving away too much and ruining the wild ride. Beth is a CIA counterterrorism analyst, who has been trying for years to identify the Neighbor, a person living locally who is recruiting agents for an Iranian agent. Her world suddenly collapses around her - her youngest child leaves for college, she and her husband have sold the house, her husband announces that he's leaving her, and her boss takes away her access to any information about the Neighbor case and sends her off to teach an analysis class.

Beth is not willing to give up this investigation, and continues to work on it on her own, regardless of the fact that she's digging herself deeper and deeper into trouble. Her friends, family, former boss and colleagues - all think she's having a mental breakdown.

I found myself worrying the whole time - "please, don't do that, you're going to get killed!" It's a nailbiter. It's a fast, wild ride, and I gobbled it up without wanting to stop!

I flew through this book in one day and had to take some time to process my thoughts. It was fast-paced and definitely had me wanting to get to the end and find the answers. I struggled with the amount of twists and turns this book took. I typically like the “red herring”-esque novels that make me want to try to best the author and figure out “who-dun-it”. However, there were so many twists in this one that I was just left with feeling worn out by reading it. Still, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to many people I know that appreciate this genre. It reads like a movie, which I love!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Everyone's a suspect in this suspenseful story about Beth, a CIA analyst working to uncover "The Neighbor" (code word for a foreign agent attempting the ultimate hack into our government's computer grid), despite being removed from the case and sent off to pasture teaching new agency inductees. Once demoted, her persistence in continuing to investigate on her own knows no bounds. The twists and turns come as fast as a revolving door, and Beth keeps putting herself in danger, coming up with ways to dig up evidence. Honestly, if she had put this much effort into finding The Neighbor's identity during the many years she was on the case as she did once she was off it, she'd have solved it sooner.

4 stars for fast pace. 3.5 stars for believability. I found the ending a bit anti-climatic. I have not read many books in this genre, which I've found I enjoy, so I look forward to reading the author's next one.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House-Ballantine, for the ACR.

This is my first read by Karen Cleveland but won't be my last. I really enjoyed the New Neighbor. Now I am looking at all my neighbors wondering what secrets they have.

The book was well written, with plots twists, irrelevant information to through the reader off the trail of who The Neighbor really was. I was surprised at the ending, not guessing who it really was.

Thank you Karen Cleveland, the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy to read and review.

I wasn't expecting to like this one as much as I did! I requested it on a whim and am so glad I did! lots of twists and intrigue! Definitely recommend picking up this fast paced read.

I enjoyed this book a lot, got me invested right from the start. Beth has devoted her life to her family and her mission at the CIA of finding The Neighbor. She loses access to the case and does her own investigation, in particular of her friends in her old neighborhood. People whose lives seem together, people she has known for years and trusts. But can she trust anyone? Esp with our national security on the line against Iran. Fast moving and interesting 4.5

How well does anyone know their neighbors? It’s the nagging question Beth Bradford has after receiving coded CIA intel that a pressing threat to national security may be secretly lurking in her cul-de-sac.

Beth’s hunch turns into a full-on investigation . . . a rogue mission to uncover spies, espionage, and Intrigue tucked into the quiet corners of her cozy neighborhood. This novel was so entertaining and I highly recommend it to fans of cozy mysteries and domestic thrillers!

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of The New Neighbor for my unbiased evaluation. 4 stars

I haven't read a book this good in over a year. Its suspenseful and keeps you guessing through every page, very well written. I could see this easily being made into a movie or series for TV. Run, do not walk!