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booksadoodle's review
3.0
Does anyone really know their neighbors and the secret lives they lead?! Having read and enjoyed another of her books, I was excited to delve into this new thriller from Karen Cleveland. It does keep you guessing through all the twists and turns, but I did figure this one out about halfway through. Was good and kept my attention the whole way, but wasn’t one of my favorites of hers.
asiabree1's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
ashleypd88's review
3.0
At first, I wasn’t too crazy about this book, but it picked up beautifully! I think the only thing that made me not want to give it 4 stars was the predictability of one of the major plot twists — maybe that’s just me being a well-versed thriller fan. Overall, I thought it was really cool to have an actual former CIA person write this book that so heavily relied on CIA things. It made the story feel a lot more real, and I loved the psychological elements throughout this novel.
themspeterson's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.5
tatterededges's review
2.0
It was pretty convoluted.
And I’m just a bit over the whole female character being gaslit by everyone in the book even though there’s absolutely no valid reason for all these people to turn on her, plot line.
And I’m just a bit over the whole female character being gaslit by everyone in the book even though there’s absolutely no valid reason for all these people to turn on her, plot line.
agapsch's review
3.0
In Karen Cleveland’s The New Neighbor, Beth Bradford is on the precipice of two big life changes: her youngest child leaves for college and as a result of their empty nest, Beth and her husband decide to sell their house. However, Beth quickly learns she has two more changes in store, neither of them voluntary, as her husband asks for a divorce and she is removed from the case she worked on for years. Beth soon becomes suspicious of the woman who bought her house, despite the fact that she mirrors Beth’s previously happily family and fits in with the cul-de-sac neighbors. Throughout this thriller, Beth secretively continues work on the case, which involves an Iranian intelligence agent working within the CIA, and several clues lead her to the neighborhood she just recently left.
The New Neighbor combines two popular thriller subgenres: the spy thriller and the domestic thriller. With tropes from both, including copious amounts of wine from the domestic thriller, and an agent working against their supervisor’s direct orders from the spy thriller, Cleveland concocts a fresh mystery. Unfortunately, I found the characters to fall flat in this book. Ultimately, Beth made for a rather amateur detective, despite her background in the CIA. She worked through every suspect possible, impetuously leaping from one to the next and holding each new suspect against the evidence she had collected for years. There was not much sophistication in her game, which is very similar to how I play Wordle: I simply try on letters until a word is formed, instead of organically coming to the solution. In addition to being a subpar sleuth, I struggled to connect to Beth. I ended up rating this book 3 stars for an intriguing concept and mystery, though it lacked an imaginative protagonist.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Ballentine, for the early release copy.
The New Neighbor combines two popular thriller subgenres: the spy thriller and the domestic thriller. With tropes from both, including copious amounts of wine from the domestic thriller, and an agent working against their supervisor’s direct orders from the spy thriller, Cleveland concocts a fresh mystery. Unfortunately, I found the characters to fall flat in this book. Ultimately, Beth made for a rather amateur detective, despite her background in the CIA. She worked through every suspect possible, impetuously leaping from one to the next and holding each new suspect against the evidence she had collected for years. There was not much sophistication in her game, which is very similar to how I play Wordle: I simply try on letters until a word is formed, instead of organically coming to the solution. In addition to being a subpar sleuth, I struggled to connect to Beth. I ended up rating this book 3 stars for an intriguing concept and mystery, though it lacked an imaginative protagonist.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Ballentine, for the early release copy.
lindseyslittlelibrary's review
4.0
Love it when a book surprises me. This one was a totally mystery from beginning to end.
kyvenn's review
4.0
Okay so, I really enjoyed this book. I was left guessing the entire time, on the edge of my seat! I would lay in bed and say ok one more chapter, ok one more, ok one more. I flew through this book as fast as I could and read it whenever I had a spare moment. I was left guessing the entire time but as time went on I had a feeling it was either Alice or Mike. I was right about Mike, and it made sense as the story went on and everything was explained, BUT, the ending felt a little rushed and I was disappointed. I felt like Madeline and Beth didn’t really get justice on their ends. They both were so similar to me. Losing everything, even living in the same house so I thought that was wild! But I was left wondering at the end because we don’t know what ended up happening between the women. And then to find out Aubrey was the new neighbor? Kind of a shock and a twist, didn’t see it coming, trying to still make sense of it. But Beth did say she was a daddy’s girl. I just wish there was more to the ending, and we got to know more and see if Aubrey ever got caught. All in all, I really enjoyed it, and even I thought Beth was going crazy! I will definitely be buying this book when it comes out in 2022!
judithdcollins's review
4.0
In Karen Cleveland's latest domestic suspense thriller, set in a suburban neighborhood in the DC area in McLean, VA—THE NEW NEIGHBOR a cyberwar spy mystery to discover who is "The Neighbor?"
EVERYONE HAS SECRETS!
At the novel's opening, CIA counterintelligence analyst Beth Bradford is dropping her youngest child off at college, one married and one out of the country. An empty nester, she is sad because she is moving and her life is changing. Her house is up for sale. She must say goodbye to the home and neighborhood where she raised her children after her husband announces he is leaving her.
On top of this, another stab in the back. She is being demoted to a mere training role instead of continuing her 15-year pursuit of a U.S.-based covert Iranian operative known as "The Neighbor."
She is not ready to let go of the case. She knows more than anyone about the subject and is convinced the new resident is THE NEIGHBOR. The new neighbors who purchased her old house are Madeline and Josh Sterling. She is sure Madeline is THE NEIGHBOR, and she sets up surveillance of a cul-de-sac in her old neighborhood and appears increasingly unhinged to her friends and former neighbors.
Madeline has what Beth once had: an adoring husband, three beautiful young children, and the close-knit group of neighbors on the block. Now she has it all. And Beth—who can't stop watching the woman stepping into her old life—thinks the new Neighbor has something else too: ties to Iranian intelligence.
The Neighbor is an access agent —and by extension, a notoriously tricky target. Put simply, access agents are recruits who take over the recruiting role. Individuals who agree to work for a foreign intelligence service sell out their own country —by recruiting more traitors. And they are nearly impossible to find because they blend in. They do not know who The Neighbor is nor who they have recruited. Employees with security clearances feed sensitive information to our adversary and have been for years. The FBI's focused on finding The Neighbor's recruits, learning what secrets they've exposed. Putting an end to all of it before it is too late.
Beth then thinks there may be a silver lining to the empty nest since she can focus entirely on THE NEIGHBOR and will keep her busy. However, Beth becomes obsessed and unhinged. Will she determine that the new Neighbor is the exclusive secret agent?
She makes all kinds of mistakes and jumps from one suspect to another. Everyone thinks she is mad, paranoid, or crazy. From secrets, jealousy, and scandal, THE NEW NEIGHBOR makes for an intriguing slow-burn thriller as you are racing to the unveiling of THE NEIGHBOR (which will be at the end).
It is not what you expect and reaches a satisfying conclusion. This complex, multi-layered tale will keep you guessing. Even though Beth was not a strong female character lead (nor did she behave like someone in her position with all kinds of mistakes), you are not fully invested in her nor know if she is a reliable narrator. It gets to the point it is almost crazy and comical.
Overall, a cross between DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, the movie THEM and THE AMERICANS. You envision the lawn chairs lined up in this neighborhood, watching in the seemingly perfect neighborhood with families; however, darkness and secrets beneath this facade.
"Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies." — Jane Austen
Mostly entertaining and not a lot of suspense and thrills. Cleveland knows her spy stuff and is a brilliant writer. However, Beth was not my favorite character.
I look forward to Cleveland's next book, which hopefully will feature a more robust and competent female lead.
Thank you to #Ballantine #RandomHouse and #Netgalley for an ARC to read, review, and enjoy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded to 4 Stars
Pub Date: July 26, 2022
EVERYONE HAS SECRETS!
At the novel's opening, CIA counterintelligence analyst Beth Bradford is dropping her youngest child off at college, one married and one out of the country. An empty nester, she is sad because she is moving and her life is changing. Her house is up for sale. She must say goodbye to the home and neighborhood where she raised her children after her husband announces he is leaving her.
On top of this, another stab in the back. She is being demoted to a mere training role instead of continuing her 15-year pursuit of a U.S.-based covert Iranian operative known as "The Neighbor."
She is not ready to let go of the case. She knows more than anyone about the subject and is convinced the new resident is THE NEIGHBOR. The new neighbors who purchased her old house are Madeline and Josh Sterling. She is sure Madeline is THE NEIGHBOR, and she sets up surveillance of a cul-de-sac in her old neighborhood and appears increasingly unhinged to her friends and former neighbors.
Madeline has what Beth once had: an adoring husband, three beautiful young children, and the close-knit group of neighbors on the block. Now she has it all. And Beth—who can't stop watching the woman stepping into her old life—thinks the new Neighbor has something else too: ties to Iranian intelligence.
The Neighbor is an access agent —and by extension, a notoriously tricky target. Put simply, access agents are recruits who take over the recruiting role. Individuals who agree to work for a foreign intelligence service sell out their own country —by recruiting more traitors. And they are nearly impossible to find because they blend in. They do not know who The Neighbor is nor who they have recruited. Employees with security clearances feed sensitive information to our adversary and have been for years. The FBI's focused on finding The Neighbor's recruits, learning what secrets they've exposed. Putting an end to all of it before it is too late.
Beth then thinks there may be a silver lining to the empty nest since she can focus entirely on THE NEIGHBOR and will keep her busy. However, Beth becomes obsessed and unhinged. Will she determine that the new Neighbor is the exclusive secret agent?
She makes all kinds of mistakes and jumps from one suspect to another. Everyone thinks she is mad, paranoid, or crazy. From secrets, jealousy, and scandal, THE NEW NEIGHBOR makes for an intriguing slow-burn thriller as you are racing to the unveiling of THE NEIGHBOR (which will be at the end).
It is not what you expect and reaches a satisfying conclusion. This complex, multi-layered tale will keep you guessing. Even though Beth was not a strong female character lead (nor did she behave like someone in her position with all kinds of mistakes), you are not fully invested in her nor know if she is a reliable narrator. It gets to the point it is almost crazy and comical.
Overall, a cross between DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, the movie THEM and THE AMERICANS. You envision the lawn chairs lined up in this neighborhood, watching in the seemingly perfect neighborhood with families; however, darkness and secrets beneath this facade.
"Every man is surrounded by a neighborhood of voluntary spies." — Jane Austen
Mostly entertaining and not a lot of suspense and thrills. Cleveland knows her spy stuff and is a brilliant writer. However, Beth was not my favorite character.
I look forward to Cleveland's next book, which hopefully will feature a more robust and competent female lead.
Thank you to #Ballantine #RandomHouse and #Netgalley for an ARC to read, review, and enjoy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded to 4 Stars
Pub Date: July 26, 2022