"Isolated. Lonely. Tired. It's hard being The New Mother. Sometimes it's murder."

I was disappointed with this one as I was expecting it to be more of a thriller so don't go in with that expectation. It's definitely more of a slow-burn domestic suspense. I'm a mother so the description sounded right up my alley but the beginning was definitely hard to get through and honestly made me feel a little claustrophobic. Maybe that was the point but I already had all those feelings when I had each of my babies and I didn't really enjoy revisiting those times through Natalie's eyes. I did enjoy the second half more but by then I wasn't quite invested in the story enough to care how it was going to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

this book was interesting to say the least. it definitely gives the perspective how new mothers minds can be when they first have a baby. postpartum depression is so real and I love how much the author really digs deep into it.

Oo yes, y'all this one was a great book that instantly captured my attention. I loved the writing and I thought that the characters especially the main one were complicated and brought a whole new vibe to the storyline. Great read!

Nothing is simple about being a new mom alone in a new house, especially when your baby is collicky. Natalie Fanning loves her son unconditionally, but being a mother was not all she wanted to be.
Enter Paul, the neighbor. Paul provides the lifeline she needs in what feels like the most desperate of times. When Paul is helping with Oliver, calmed by his reassuring, steady presence, Nat feels like she can finally rest. But Paul wants something in return. It’s no coincidence that he has befriended Nat—she is the perfect pawn for his own plan. Will Nat wake up in time to see it?
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me an advance copy.

This is a domestic thriller with a lot of twists and turns. It wasn't really all believable and even the ending seems out of left field. I do like this author and her writing style. I plan to read more from Nora Murphy for sure.

I went into this thinking it was a thriller since it was marketed as such and thus was very disappointed. It's more of a drama with a strong focus on postpartum depression. As someone who has experienced PPD twice, I can obviously relate in a way....but at the same time I cannot because this is one of the most miserable books about motherhood I've ever read. This was so repetitive and difficult to read.

This book was an amazing feat, to deceive the post party in experience is quite an undertaking. As a new mother it was a bit challenging of a read for me but one that others will enjoy for sure.

Some of this was relatable being a new mom, but also hit close to home. It was hard to read at times, but was a good glimpse into the world of a new mother. It had a great amount of dialogue and action.

This book was bananas - but not in a good way. The plot was absolutely bonkers and unrealistic. It was hard for me to believe that a character could be so easily manipulated by someone, even if she is a sleep-deprived mother. This read less like a thriller and more like a contemporary fiction focusing on the struggles of motherhood and postpartum depression. Maybe it would have been more successful if that had been the purpose of the book, but as a thriller/mystery it really didn't come together. It was equal parts unrealistic, boring, and irritating. Natalie was unlikable, and despite trying to highlight the struggles of motherhood, her complaints made her even more unlikable. Paul was just plain bizarre. He was like a caricature of a villain instead of a well-developed sociopath. I don't really have anything else to add because I'm frankly just exhausted from reading about the struggles of being a new mom.

With all of that being said, I've heard good things about Murphy's other book "The Favor" and will still consider reading it.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

I really wanted to love it, but unfortunately, I did not and I really struggled to finish it. First, it is marketed as being a thriller/mystery-but it is far from that. It is more so about the struggle for the main character experiencing post partum depression and her struggle with it. It was rather boring, repetitive, and nothing at all what I was expecting (and not in a good way, unfortunately). This one was not for me, and I probably should have DNFed it.

Natalie is having a hard time coping as a new mother, and as a new mother, your world is turned upside down for your child. Then, Natalie feels isolated and feels distant from everyone I can relate to that. Plus with all the stress and fatigue of being a new mother her son Oliver has colic, then when her husband tries to help she won't let him and she feels like she is going insane with it all.
Then Natalie meets Paul, he is a neighbor and he has a daughter. He and Natalie bond and he sympathisers with her so of course they make fast friends. However, Paul's wife is not enthusiastic about their newfound friendship and warns Natalie to stay away from her husband. Not long after the encounter Paul's wife becomes missing and Paul plays the part calling the cops. This is all part of his big plan, will Natalie realize the wolf in sheep's clothing is right there or will she find out too late in the game?
This was a wild ride and a hard-to-put-down book! If you are looking for a good mystery then this should be your next read! Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the extraordinary opportunity to read and review this one!

The New Mother
Nora Murphy

As a nurse and a mother - I really empathized with the story and Natalie - the difficulties of being a new mother, a colicky baby with lack of sleep, the pains of delivering a baby and how it changes your body, a professional career on hold, and then the hormones and post partum depression. Then a friendly neighbor appears and seems like all is well until it isn’t. And oh my goodness is this terrifying when you are so vulnerable.

I thought the premise is great and the story shrouded in suspense and the feeling that something is just not right.

Overall, I enjoyed the wonderful storytelling.

Natalie is a new mother having a hard time adjusting to the demands of motherhood. When she meets her neighbor, Paul, he seems to have a magic touch with her son. But Paul has an ulterior motive for befriending Natalie.

The New Mother is told using the dual points of view of Natalie and Paul. The characters were interesting, but the buildup was slow. I had a hard time getting into this one.

This is novel focuses a lot on Natalie and her postpartum depression. Recommended for readers who enjoy slow burning domestic thrillers.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up: The New Mother by Nora Murphy is billed as a thriller, but that didn't really ramp up until the last part of the book. The beginning dealt with a woman who was struggling with her new role of mother. Natalie Fanning loves her son unconditionally, but being a mother was not all she wanted to be. She ended up taking an unpaid leave from work, she couldn't sleep, she was sore from all the nursing and her husband didn't give her any help at all. She was struggling, so when her neighbour, stay-at-home dad Paul, took Oliver from her arms and he stopped crying, she wanted his help and friendship. Paul was a university professor who left his job after accusations of inappropriate behaviour with a young female student. That was over 7 years ago. His daughter was in school and he was supposed to be writing a book. It felt like an emotional affair to me, but then something happened to change the tone of this story.

I have to say that I related well to Nat, even though she wasn't easy to get to know. I had a baby like Oliver who fed constantly, spit up all the time, cried like he was in pain and didn't sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time. He was two before he slept through the night. What was different, is that I didn't have post partum depression/psychosis. What I didn't like was how repetitive that part of the story was. Once Paul's wife disappears, the story picks up and becomes a cat and mouse story. Nat has to prove her innocence, but it seems Paul is one step ahead of her. I enjoyed this part of the story, but I found the ending very abrupt. I liked her writing, but the narration even had a hard time keeping me interested at times. Overall, I can see promise in this story and author so I will look for other books she has written, but this one was just okay for me.

As a literary fiction novel, I think this would have been excellent. Unfortunately, it was labeled a thriller and I don’t think the content matches the label. The focus here is much more on the postpartum experience than on the murder and mayhem usually included in a good thriller.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Holy cow! I didn't expect this book to engross me the way it did! I was immediately drawn in and it was one of those books I couldn't put down! I had to find out what happened. I loved the twists and turns. I liked the twisted ending....not just a plot twist, but a twisted end as well. If you want a good thriller that takes place in a neighborhood and has you questioning your own sanity, this one is for you!

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for the copy!

It’s hard work being a new mother. It’s even harder with a colicky baby but Paul enters the picture. Is he really the help she needs? I don’t want to say too much but this is a great twisty tale.
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Thank you #minotaur and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This is a gripping suspense novel that will grasp you from the start! I could not stop reading to find out what twists would come and where the characters would go next. It is intriguing and brings up some great questions throughout. I really enjoyed this one!

This book y'all!!! I'm reading thinking I know what is going to happen. And if I know what is going to happen, so many others will be able to predict the ending. Well, I was WRONG! I did NOT see any of that ending happening. It was fast-paced ride that you do not get off until the very end. It was a pleasure to read this book.

And that epilogue!! It is not thriller material. It was raw real life sh*t about being a mom and struggling with post partum depression. Nora Murphy, You get extra points for putting that epilogue in this book. You made a book that was purely entertainment into something wonderful!! I personally did not struggle with post partum depression (I do have clinically diagnosed major depression that was diagnosed years later after my son was born) but so many women do struggle daily. This is such great reminder that you are NOT alone and to please reach out to your doctor for help. It is okay to not be okay! It is okay to need help. I reached out and got the help I needed when I noticed I didn't feel like "me" anymore. It was one of the best decisions of my life!

Another book part of Arctober where I listened and read the book. I like both versions equally! They were great!

Read this Book If:

On my Scale of Buy, Bargain, Borrow, Bud or Bust I rate this book: BUY. I need a physical copy for my library.