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A review by amandasbookreview
The New Neighbor by Karen Cleveland
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you, Karen Cleveland, NetGalley, and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this book! This book was just released yesterday, July 26th, 2022.
I read Karen Cleveland’s debut novel, Need to Know when it first came out and I loved it and I have been eagerly awaiting the adaptation being produced and starring Charlize Theron. So I was so excited to read The New Neighbor! Beth Bradford is a CIA Analyst and when their family was just starting out they found the perfect house with the ideal neighbors. Their little cul-de-sac is filled with other members of the CIA but they bond and raise their families together. However, 20 years later, the kids are gone, they are selling the house, and Beth’s husband has left her for his secretary. But the final straw is being taken off her case where she has been tracking The Neighbor. She refuses to let it go and starts investigating The Neighbor on her own. Her investigation leads her back to her old neighborhood asking which neighbor is a traitor to the country?
One thing that I absolutely love about Karen Cleveland’s novels is that she is a former CIA analyst. She gives the books a very real quality! While this book goes at a slow burn pace there is a wonderful build-up and moments of speculation. However, I was not a fan of Beth Bradford. I completely agree with the CIA for taking her off the case. She was not reliable, obviously didn’t follow protocol, and was way too close to the case. When it comes to the ending, it was a little scattered, but I am hoping it leads into a sequel.
I did appreciate the twists. The author is great at leading readers to believe one thing and then changing it all in the blink of an eye. I would love a second book that would focus on some of the other characters and get to know their backstory within the CIA. Overall, a fun spy read!
One thing that I absolutely love about Karen Cleveland’s novels is that she is a former CIA analyst. She gives the books a very real quality! While this book goes at a slow burn pace there is a wonderful build-up and moments of speculation. However, I was not a fan of Beth Bradford. I completely agree with the CIA for taking her off the case. She was not reliable, obviously didn’t follow protocol, and was way too close to the case. When it comes to the ending, it was a little scattered, but I am hoping it leads into a sequel.
I did appreciate the twists. The author is great at leading readers to believe one thing and then changing it all in the blink of an eye. I would love a second book that would focus on some of the other characters and get to know their backstory within the CIA. Overall, a fun spy read!