The Newcomer is the third book I’ve read by fern Britton and is the one I’ve least liked, this is not to say it’s a bad novel it just didn’t hold my attention like the others did.
This book is based again in Pendruggan, Cornwall and sees a relief vicar come into the village, Angela Whitehorse, her husband Robert, daughter Faith and also her Aunt Mamie who I have to say was my favourite character along with Queenie.
The storyline was ok it started off great and somewhere between a third and two thirds of the way through it lost me as it didn’t seem to be moving anywhere which I’ve not experienced in any of the other novels I’ve read before. The ending ties everything together nicely though and on the whole I enjoyed it but it could have been so much better.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Cosy, warm reading. A delightful village saga.

I was just glancing in here, and straightaway there was a hook! I wasn't expecting that. A body had been found. How did she die? Was she killed?

Robert, and Angela, the new vicar, are from London. Reverend Angela Whitehorn, her husband, daughter Faith and aunt Mamie will be staying in the vicarage. This will be Angela's first gig as a vicar.

This was cosy, warm reading. A delightful village saga, coupled with a possible murder mystery. A lovely reading feast. I have read one of Fern Britton's fiction books before (The Postcard). That wasn't the first in the series and it didn't matter that I hadn't read any of the others. This also works as a standalone too. Very enjoyable and hooks you in right from the start. Intriguing.

Then the book goes back to six months ago-when Penny and Simon were at the vicarage. Simon and Penny and their 7 year old daughter Jenna will be going to Brazil for a year for Simon to do missionary work.

There's nothing better than sitting for a spare hour or two, a mug of steaming coffee in your hand, and reading this lovely book. With lovely atmospheric descriptions, it intrigues, and makes you smile too.

Fern has been a household name for years. Obviously she has a way with words-she's had to think on her feet on live TV. She tells her stories so expertly, you soon sink cosily into the pages. Interesting that I've just read a non fiction book where the author went to do missionary work abroad-Borneo-and then the vicar in this novel is also going to do missionary work far from home. Penny is thinking of some of the hardships they will encounter, animals, snakes etc.

Well-observed, with lovely, natural dialogue which moves the story along nicely. A sweet saga set in Cornwall. You do get a bit of background-there is a recap about some of the villagers-so it doesn't matter if you're reading it as a standalone. Or if you've read another in the series a long while ago-good to jog your memory.

Certain elements about it are just a little bit like the wonderful Vicar of Dibley-and in a good way-a new woman vicar comes to the village. She suggests a possible pets service-actually says she knows it sounds a bit Vicar of Dibley. Some of Mamie's tall tales reminded me of Nessa's in Gavin and Stacey-and that made me chuckle. A cosy village saga combined with mystery. Set against a beautiful backdrop.

A delightful, cosy read, bursting with warmth. Perfect for lazy weekends. With unexpected, and everyday happenings. Life in a seaside village; gossip, friendly chat, helping each other, confiding, lending a friendly ear. Beautifully told with warmth and emotion. This was really good, it kept me guessing, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A great feel good holiday read. Read this in a couple of days as I got caught up in the characters. Never been to that part of the country, but felt transported there.

Coming back to Pendruggan is like coming home to a much loved holiday home. It really makes make want to go to Cornwall and soak up the atmosphere. Like any small village everyone knows too much about each other . Temporary vicar Angela and her dashing husband Robert have to try to fit in while each finding their feet in their new home. Angela wants to make a good impression but also mix things up and put her stamp on the village. Can she make new friends and bring the village together with her new ideas. I absolutely loved Angela, Robert and Faith especially Mamie who is such a larger than life character. A fantastic read

An ok read, but a little disappointing. I've enjoyed Fern Britton's other books, and this one sees a return to Pendruggan and a few familiar characters, however, the storyline of this one just didn't really do it for me. All felt a little convoluted and didn't really go anywhere.
I didn't not enjoy it, I just expected more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.

The Newcomer by Fern Britton a four-star read that will welcome you in. This isn’t the first novel set in the great little Cornish village of Pendruggan but you don’t need to have read any of them as they do all tell a different story. You will feel like you are there in the village, the descriptions are so good you can picture everything so well. This one will suck you in as its not just how you imagine its going to be, there is a drama and darkness at times in the story, so don’t go in thinking its all sunny and right in Cornwall.

It's been some time since i have been to Cornwall and Fern Britton's books always bring back happy memories. It was a real pleasure to read 'The Newcomer', in which i thank Netgalley and the Publishers for my ARC. It is the sort of book whereby i enjoyed curling up in bed at night and let my mind drift along with the story. Loved the characters and the setting and made a welcome change to read a nice light read. I am not going to write what the story is about as i prefer one to read the book for themselves, but i do highly recommend.

This is the first story from Fern Britton I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was like being transported to rural Cornwall, a place I have never been but I would now very much like to visit.

The characters and their relationships are well developed and you get a feel for each of them throughout the story (Mamie is a particular favourite for me with all her tales).

Not everything is plain sailing for the new Vicar in Pendruggan and I like that there is an element of her having to overcome numerous obstacles rather than everything falling into place. It certainly helps make her a likeable character despite my thoughts that she is sometimes trying too hard to fit in.

This seemed a good intro to the village of Pendruggan and can easily stand alone from the normal stories. I didn't feel like I needed to know any more about the absent characters than was shared in the book.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to read #TheNewcomer in return for an honest review.

Wow another great read from Fern Britton once again taking the reader to beautiful Cornwall
This novel contains lots of humour, mystery, suspense and heartwarming material
The reader can easily identify with Angela the new girl in a new job, we have all been there at some time
Angela has the idyllic life in the beautiful Pedruggan or does she?
There are times in our lives where we think everything is perfect only to realise we are missing the very obvious and Fern brings that to life through the eyes of Angela
Thank you for allowing me to read this book I have thouroughly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others😊

My third book by Fern Britton and my thanks to HarperCollins publishers and NetGalley for this ARC of The Newcomer. When I have overindulged in thrillers and police procedurals this is my comfort zone. Fern loves Cornwall where she lives part of her time. I too love Cornwall. This time the locale is Pendruggan, a village full of wonderful characters who will soon make the acquaintance of Reverend Angela Whitehorn, her handsome husband Robert, daughter Faith and Angela's aunt Mamie Buchanan. The resident vicar, Simon Canter and his family, are off to Brazil for a year. Pendruggan will be Angela's first parish following her ordination. Vicar of Pendruggan. Vicar for a year. What can go wrong....?

The scene is set for another delicious family saga as Angela works to fit in with the locals, including the local battle-axe Audrey Tipton and her henpecked husband Geoffrey. And then there's Helen and Piran and the delightful Queenie, an elderly, no-nonsense woman who runs the village shop. She and Mamie become close friends and Mamie knows how to sort out Queenie's arthritis with a spliff or two!

So much goes on here. There is love, drama, suspicion and great sadness, but above all this charming tale is uplifting. A lot of fun to read, curled up under a duvet with a cup of hot chocolate.

Thank you Fern. You've done it again!

This latest story from Fern Britton is set in the small coastal village of Pendruggan again, and recounts a year in the life of its inhabitants. It is the year in which the village gains a new vicar and her family (a temporary appointment while their well loved vicar goes off to work in Belize for a year). The new vicar arrives full of enthusiasm and ideas which meet with a variety of responses! Her family includes Aunt Mamie, a wonderfully larger than life character. A very enjoyable read, and a credible setting, perfect for the reader who enjoys escaping to Cornwall in their imagination.

When I first started this book, I thought Fern had changed genres, but as the story unfolded, all became clear. A good story about family, friends, community and the larger environment. I also like the way she brings other relevant issues into play, such as bullying and gender. A good well rounded story.

Loved this book. Amazing characters and so well written. Stunning sun lounger read. I would recommend this to anyone.

I loved this book! It is the second book of Fern Britton’s I have read about the village of Pendruggan. It was like coming back to visit some old friends.

Newly ordained Vicar Angela, and her handsome husband Robert, and their teenage daughter all come to the village to take over Simon’s church whilst he and his wife work abroad for a year. They are shortly followed by Angela’s Bohemian Aunt.

As Angela tried to make friends in the Village, and start a few new initiatives to make the Parish her own, someone seems to have their nose out of joint and Angela starts receiving anonymous letters.

A great story, with a little mystery and intrigue. An early fatality, but somehow I forgot that as it happens at the very beginning of the book, but the book goes back and shows the events leading up to the death, and you have forgotten it happens by the time you reach that point in the book.

Can’t wait for the next one.

An enjoyable light read, set in Cornwall. There are some nice characterisation - echoing people we'll all know in real life - and several strands to the story.

Recommended as a light holiday read, or when travelling - would also make a nice "book at bedtime" read.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.

I was delighted to receive a review copy of Fern Britton's new book and I was not disappointed in this welcome return to Pendruggan and its familiar cast of wonderful characters.

Vicar Simon and his wife Penny are going to Brazil for a year and into the village comes new Vicar Angela, her handsome journalist husband , Robert and her teenage daughter, Faith. We are also introduced , through a sad prologue, to Angela's larger than life Aunt Mamie who has plenty of tales to tell about a glamorous life well lived!

Angela has lots of plans for throwing herself into village life, some successful, others not quite so and she maybe misjudges the impact of the move on her family. There follows Fern's usual mix of wit and great story telling, though this time tinged with a little sadness. I have to admit, I was so engrossed in what is happening and the antics of the villagers, particularly Mamie's friendship with Queenie, that I had forgotten the prologue but the ending brought the story round nicely.

Thoroughly recommended!

When Angela Whitehorn arrives in Pendruggan she wants to make an impact. She is only going to there for a year and she wants to make a success at her first job. 

Angela Whitehorn likes to be called; Angela, Reverend Whitehorn or Vicar. Because that is who she is - she is to take on the parish of Pendruggan when the current incumbent Simon, his wife Penny and daughter Jenna go to Brazil. With her handsome husband Robert and teenage daughter Faith, Angela hopes she has all the support of her family as well as the new friends she hopes to make. When her Aunt Mamie becomes a fixture at the vicarage as well and embracing village life wholeheartedly, her year in Pendruggan seems a positive move.

She has new ideas for the village, empowering women through other means than the rigid structure of the WI, a pet blessing service and being there for people who need her help, spiritually or otherwise. Having been through a tough time herself, Angela wants to share her experiences and pass on what she has learnt. 

Unfortunately there are others who think Angela is not the right person for the job and should go back from whence she came. When the letters start it seems as if this quiet Cornish village is not so quiet after all. But who is sending them? I had my suspicions and I so wanted it to be one person, if only for them to get their comeuppance - they did but for very different reasons! The culprit well I didn't see that coming but how upsetting it was. 

This book whilst being jam-packed full of Cornish weather and scenery that leaps off the page and paints a picture of the grey skies as well as the blue ones. Also deals with some serious and not so serious subjects in a sensitive and well thought out way. Cancer, abuse, drugs, jealousy, friendship, witches and curses are all covered in this book.

Personally I would like to have known a bit more about how Simon and family were tackling life in Brazil but that was just me. The story has enough to keep you reading and also embraces the village of Pendruggan and it's inhabitants and if this is the first time you have visited then go back and read the others and find out what a real sense of community can mean to some people.

I do hope Fern Britton returns to Pendruggan again.

Set in the beautiful village of Pendruggan , the story centres around Angela Whitehorn (the new vicar) arriving in the peaceful ambient surroundings, and setting into action her own ideas, not to the approval of everyone!

The story includes many of the characters written about previously by the author, which gives a warm familiar feeling. Charismatic characters such as Queenie (from the corner shop), Helen and Piran are involved in this warm, humorous and entertaining story, set in beautiful, rugged Cornwall, an area that Fern knows well and loves.

Not much plot at the beginning of the story as Angela and her family settle into the village, getting to know everyone. But as the story evolves, strange disturbing things start to happen - poison pen letters and items going missing, make Angela begin to feel disturbed. The ending of the story is totally unexpected and a complete revelation.

Having read and enjoyed all of Fern’s previous books, the characters feel like old friends who you don’t want to leave behind. This enjoyable, entertaining story is bound to be another best seller, which I highly recommend.

I have enjoyed Fern's books and have bought another two for my kindle. I'm afraid I didn't like this one so much. I felt it was a non story. We started at the end,with a death and after that nothing happened except who caused the death which actually fell a bit flat.
I don't understand why Fern killed off Mamie who was intending to live in the village, a whole new book could have been written about her adventures there and her past life, bad move Fern.
The new vicar came to stand in for Simon who was off abroad. She didn't even stay for the year she was supposed to. .
It was nice to see characters from previous books being brought into the story,but what happened to Helen? She disappeared halfway through the story never to be mentioned again.
This won't stop me reading more of Fern's books,in fact I'm reading one just now and enjoying it.
Some books you just don't gel with and this was one of them.

3.5
I really enjoyed this one, but I felt like there could have been more details and depth to some of the characters - especially Robert. Although Faith was really well portrayed. A great summer read, set in the beautiful Cornish countryside - idyllic.