Mary Kay Andrews’ newest release came out yesterday and I got to read an advance copy of The Newcomer. If you like mystery without a CSI feel and like a romance story with characters who’ve been around the block before, this is your new beach read! Let’s go!
The Characters
Letty: dependable, steady job but no career to speak of, unlucky in love
Tanya: Letty’s younger sister who can only be described as a hot mess.
Evan: slimeball businessman, a bit crooked, started dating Letty (his employee at the time) but dropped her once he met Tanya (I hate him even more).
Maya: Tanya’s 4 year old daughter
The Newcomer
Tanya and Letty have finally patched things up after 3 years. Clearly, Letty getting dumped for her sister screwed the pooch on all things sisterly in this case.
Tanya has shared with Letty how scary and intimidating Evan can be. In fact, he can be downright awful. Tanya makes Letty promise that if anything should ever happen to her, Letty would take Maya and get outta dodge.
Sadly, Tanya is found murdered and Letty follows Tanya’s shockingly accurate request to a tee.
Letty and Maya arrive in Treasure Island, Florida, at a motel Tanya had circled an article in a late issue of Southern Living. Why this motel, Letty has not a clue. But the residents make sure Letty knows the newcomer isn’t very welcome.
The Local 5-0
Local officer/detective Joe finds Letty and Maya at the motel and his ears perk up right away. Something doesn’t seem right. Although his mom, Ava, the motel owner takes a liking to Letty and Maya quickly, Joe knows something doesn’t add up.
As Tanya’s secrets from years past start to come forward, Letty is left to deal with more than just Maya’s care. And with nasty-pants Evan in New York trying to frame Tanya’s murder on Letty as a scorned lover move, Letty is now fending her own legal troubles.
Add to the mix the insane chemistry between Joe and Letty. Is Joe cozying up to Letty only to set her in a trap for what’s going on in New York? Can she trust anyone at the motel with Maya or her version of the story? And why is someone lurking around the motel days after Letty’s arrival?
One Small Note…
The cover of The Newcomer is darling. Like, does it not scream ‘beach read?!’
I love the cover but it has nothing to do with the book. Letty doesn’t put off the same vibes as the illustration on this cover. Not even remotely. Did I like the book? For sure! But it annoys me like nobody’s business when the cover is so far off from the story line. First world problems, I know. 😉